Hey there you lovely lot, Happy New Year and all that jazz! Now that I'm slowly getting back to reality and finding some kind of routine again I thought I'd take a little time to look over the past year. Welcome to my 2017..........
Jumped bang into the year with a move to Edinburgh and 4 new Strut Sweat Smile classes to add to my other work at Falkirk Community Trust, North Edinburgh Arts Centre and fortnightly visits to the Arran Dancers. I decided this would be the year of better work life balance and also adding some new strings to my bow, which now seems slightly counterproductive.
Yoga has been something I've dipped in and out of over the years and always a lovely compliment to dance, but moving right next to a yoga studio gave me the kick up the butt to try different classes and find inspirational teachers to brighten my yoga path. A visit to the Om Yoga Show in Glasgow brought lots of other treats and a delightful encounter with Movement For Modern Life who know how to keep yoga playful and accessible. I had started thinking seriously about doing some Yoga Teacher Training but having dedicated this year to Pilates training decided to wait for the right time to present itself. Turns out I was ready pretty quick and started my training in November with lots of Christmas books to help the studying through 2018.
Having being introduced to the fabulous
Young Women's Movement in 2015 I had the pleasure of chatting all things female for their Status of Young Women in Scotland Report 2016, which was unveiled at an empowering event in Perth. After feeling hella inspired I decided to hold a Fierce Female Friday event to raise money for the charity. The night included: a performance from FYDC, power posing workshop and photo-booth ran by my badass sister Sage, self love station, bra pong and boob cupcakes and a generous selection of raffle prizes. As part of the night I ran a Fierce Female dance workshop and taught a routine to the One Billion Rising theme "Break the Chain". A Space Dance Workshop with Gumption Girls and a Wonder Woman Workshop added even more strong female vibes to my year.
My yearly jaunt to Norfolk and Norwich Festival's Spiegeltent gave lots of dress up opportunities and an interesting new place to practice yoga and Pilates. It's always amazing to get an up-close look at so may different companies, bands and shows and I always come away inspired. July brought my adventures to L&E Summer Camp as Head of Creative, putting my crafting skills to use and enjoying an amazing atmosphere of campfires, team building and happy children.
Second move of the year to sunny Portobello for beach living and rainbow room cooking and cocktails. August brought the usual Fringe shenanigans with my beautiful ladies of Hustle Dance Troupe as well as the start of my Pilates training. Trying to balance late night cabaret clubs with early morning anatomy study was an interesting mix but luckily I managed a cheeky holiday before getting back to term time. In September I added a new title of 'Baby Cuddler' at Rock A Barre Baby to my C.V. and found a lovely place to watch and learn while studying, as well as a community with great vibes and cute babies. I passed my practical Pilates in October and theory in December so now looking forward to getting our there and teaching.
2017 finished with an epic night Hustling at Brehemia, costume change in a taxi then running to Voodoo Rooms for our last performance of the year. No better way to finish a year full of
sparkle, fun and dress up!
So far the plan for 2018 involves..........teaching regular classes at Dance Base, Pleasance Sports Centre, North Edinburgh Arts Centre and Dianne Inglis Studios as well as a couple of exciting projects including the Audacious Women Festival and hopefully an even bigger Fierce Female event. Looking forward to new challenges, opportunities and collaborations and hopefully see some of you at a dance party soon :)