V-Day Hearts Project: Prep

The best part about weekly therapy sessions in LA are the subsequent, weekly, retail therapy!  Pink Sparkly Stilettos?  Um, yes please!

I’m designing two new costumes that were completely based around red cowboy boots.  And I was walking back to my car after a successful “materials” shopping trip, arms laden down with foam, fabric and trim.  But then I saw these!  Uhhh, I might have to redesign the whole costume concept now, or these might not make it into the photoshoot.  Buuutttttt, I’m sure hot pink, glitter, high heels will always come in handy, for something….

Stay Tuned For Valentines Day Themed Costume Updates, Sketches & Photos!

 

What is Somatic Movement Therapy?

Movement therapy addresses social, emotional, behavioral and physical patterns held in an individual’s body.  Addressing these issues, via movement, allows a therapist to tap into depths that other forms of therapy can’t always access.  A somatic approach uses an educational model with more hands-on facilitation than other types of therapy.  These tools help increase awareness in the mover’s body, enhancing synapse connections between body and brain.

Somatic Movement Education Therapy works by:

• engaging and addressing the whole person in a holistic approach
• enhancing sensory motor skills through brain based learning

There are many approved modalities within the field of somatic movement therapy.  A short list of these modalities can be found here.  A full list of internationally approved modalities and training programs can be found on the ISMETA (International Somatic Movement Education Therapy Association) website.

Dynamic Embodiment™ (DE-SMT), which uniquely combines principles of Laban Movement Analysis/Barteneiff Fundamentals (LMA/BF) and Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen’s Body-Mind Centering® (BMC®), is an ISMETA approved modality.

Benefits of a DE-SMT™ “Hands-On” Approach:

• helps regulate a person’s response to stimuli
• helps monitor proprioceptive (internal body) feedback
• can facilitate movement possibilities that open new neuro-pathways
• can help reduce levels of Cortisol (the “stress” hormone)
• helps develop motor, developmental & perceptual integration

DE™ Somatic Movement Therapy Helps Foster:

• greater self-awareness
• greater ability to focus
• sensory & motor-skill integration
• improved coordination
• neuromuscular re-education
• memory enhancement
• dynamic social skills

* this synopsis of somatic movement therapy & Dynamic Embodiment™ was derived from an article written by Dr. Martha Eddy & Scott Lyons. Info: Center For Kinesthetic Education www.wellnesscke.net

 

Somatic Movement Modalities & Resources

There are many forms of Somatic Movement.  These are some of the internationally recognized modalities:

Halprin Process

Vocal Dance & Voice Movement Integration

A full list of ISMETA approved modalities and training programs can be found here.

 

San Francisco Trip- Caliope: Children’s Dance Space

On my recent visit to SF, I reconnected with an old friend and colleague.  Much to my delight, I discovered that Rosanna, originally from Columbia, not only lives in California now, she is the proud owner of Caliope Dance Studio, in hip Noe Valley.

Classes offered are not just dance.  Tumbling, yoga & somatic movement therapy are offered as well.  A highly skilled staff supports an incredibly creative environment.  If you live in SF and have children, I highly recommend checking it out!

 

Artsy Business Tips

I ran into my friend Cath Masi, owner of Ciara Obscura, in Trader Joe’s yesterday.  We got to talking business, and she shared this wonderful website with me:

Elsie Larson, of A Beautiful Mess, also offers a business e-course, for a super low price.  Info here:

For those of you in Southern California, here is an upcoming series of business courses for artists.  Tons of fantastic, invaluable info.  Taught by highly skilled professional artists (performance & fine), for only $15 a pop.  See you there!

http://www.awolsb.org

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

Jan 9, 2012  “Let’s Put On A Show! OMG! Now what do we do?” Julie McLeod   will share a check­list and time­line on how to put on a pro­duc­tion from con­cept to clean­ing up the dress­ing room. Julie was in the orig­i­nal Broad­way com­pany of West Side Story and pro­duced close to a hun­dred pro­duc­tions for her stu­dio, Dance Ware­house, and Santa Bar­bara Dance Alliance as their past Exec­u­tive Direc­tor. She is the founder/director of Art With­out Lim­its. Loca­tion: Rabobank 914 Carpin­te­ria St by the round­about on Mil­pas St.

Feb 13 “The Busi­ness of Show Busi­ness” Mar­sha Bai­ley of Women’s Eco­nomic Ven­tures will give guide­lines on busi­ness plans, bud­gets, and how to run your art form like a business.

Mar 12 “Copy­rights – Why can’t I just use it?” From why and how to copy­right to get­ting licens­ing and per­mis­sion to use other’s material. This will be a panel of experts cov­er­ing all art fields; visual, lit­er­ary, per­form­ing and media.

Apr 9 “Insur­ance? Who needs it? I do?”

Future work­shops will be held on; Keep­ing Finan­cial Records and Bud­gets, How to talk to a Gallery Owner, more on Mar­ket­ing, How to form a Non­profit, What is Fis­cal Sponsorship, Performance and Exhibit Venues and so much more.

Sug­ges­tions for addi­tional sub­jects are grace­fully received.

Wanna come to these events? Pop an email to info@sbstage.org to sign up. You may pay at the door. 

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One last one.  Superb business classes, consulting and networking.  Not just for artists, but anyone interested in growing or starting a business.  Targeted for women, but open to all genders.

http://www.wevonline.org

 

Guatelmala- Xela Aid

Why Thriller?  Why Micahel Jackson?  Who Benefits? (Guatemala does!)

Interview with Thriller Dancers & Organizer of the event:

World Dance Class & Thrill The World Santa Barbara raised a total of $7,475, to cover 4 projects in the village of San Martin, Guatemala.

Education Forever- Schooling for 10 children for a year: $3,250

Children’s Health Clinic- Parasite eradication: $2,500

Leadership Training- San Martin Clean project: $1,000

Women’s Literacy program for one year: $725

More info on Guetamala project here.

Thriller Thanks You’s, More Pics & Vids here.

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 Thriller 2011/Guatemala- Xela Aid RECAP

 

“Encanto”- Summer Solstice Parade 2011- Hip Brazil Promo Video

 

SB-ADaPT photos, videos

Click image above, full article pgs 8-9

Watch the entire Wallflower piece, from the Omega Program, below:

Wallflowers backstage:

More SB-AdaPT photos, videos, pages, info here:

“Dream Outside”- Kickstarter Project

In The Press

SB-ADaPT Festival official website

 

Hector Loves Somatics

 

“Dream Outside”- SB-ADaPT kickstart project

Click above to see video and kickstart info.