"I think the reason dance has held such an ageless magic for the world is
that it has been the symbol of the performance of living"
"No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction; a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us ore alive than the others.
"For me, those bright mornings when we rehearsed in Central Park were the first irrefutable proof that being alive was worth it."
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I have danced for many many years. I have been very thin, not so thin, very strong,
not so strong, injured, somewhat recovered..... the important thing is that dancing
has remained as the only artistic form that I still express myself in front of others -- along the way, I had wanted to be a cheer-leader, a broadway dancer and an acrobat.
But in the end, Mathematics have taken all my time and my senses. Day-lights are measured by how
much they are left so that I can still finish what I was doing before the night falls.
I started practicing Martha Graham technique in 1999 with my wonderful teacher
and a great friend, Daria Ward.
I somehow am very detached from Modern dance nowadays as I have fallen completely in love
with the classical ballet. But I loved Modern Dance when I was young, and I guess
for its energy and kinetics.
But Ballet is so much more consuming in my eyes in every way than anything else now --
under the surface of the grace, the elegance, and the lightness were all the routines
practiced over and over again till exhaustion to reach the limit of each individual
dancer. When you are not exhausted, you are not satisfied, and you become very sad.
The picture was taken of Erin and me demonstrating for the beginner class many years
ago by a student studying sculpture.
The best thing about dancing is you are more alive than any other moment when you dance. And when you do not, you know such moments exist.
I was inspired greatly by the legendary dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov even before
I started my dancing in college. Through him, I know what it means to be contemporary,
a term I learned after I came to the states.
Finally, my favorite place to dance and practice yoga is on a big broad warm beach while breathing with the waves. Otherwise, doing somersault and hand standing felt
great on top of the big meadow of Schenley Park in Pittsburgh when I was really thin.
Dancing Links
Contemporary/Modern Dance Companies
Susan's Dance Page
Jennie Dance page
Estelle Souche Dance Page
dancer.com
Isadara Duncan and her
Foundation
Martha Graham [1]||[2]
Daniel Nagrin
Jose Limon
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Anna Sokolow's Player's Project
Paul Taylor Dance
Merce Cunningham Dance
Sydney Dance Company