Victor/victorious

You might be shocked & saddened to hear that I experienced a rather large loss just 48 hours ago. At a dance night someone helped themselves to my leather jacket (with smartphone & car keys in), and my bag containing my best dance shoes, purse, perfume, event flyers, shades, torch... all the essentials for a girl on the road!

After the initial shock had worn off, I, as is customary for me, thought about how I could turn this into a positive? It didn't take me long. In my last post I think I mentioned something about me wanting to reduce the time and energy I spend on facebook - quickly accomplished! I am STILL without a phone and have another 72 hours to endure yet - the longest since I purchased my first one over 10 years ago!

I consider it a gift that I have been left with more of my own thoughts during inbetween times yesterday and today - eg upon waking, at the bus stop (my spare car keys were on their way to me), in a queue, any spare second used to be spent checking for messages, updates, new likes on my page! & whilst I doubt I'll abandon facebook any time soon, the amount of time I have regained is noticeable, so I thank you thief, for that. New hard soled brogues with a block heel (on my list of things to acquire - now accomplished!). Thank you thief. 

In addition, the outpour of support and help from all quarters has been so uplifting, again, I choose to thank the thief! 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating thievery as an admirable profession - even though I DO love Hustle! I am pointing out that we can't control what happens to us but we can control how we react to it, & every so often something happens to show us something exciting about ourselves that we just keep overlooking. I always knew I was generally pretty great in a crisis, but during this one I was assisted very closely by a very new friend during my 'critical' 24 hours afterwards. Numbers for lost/stolen cards & phones were found for me, supper was prepared for me (at 2am). Firefly was deployed to suitably distract me til I finally gave in to sleep around 4am... Emergency cash was also lent to me - by someone I had met only an hour or so before! AND surrounding roads and gardens were scouted for me, in the hope of finding a jettisoned pair of #sweatysize4s.

Next morning, a replacement designer leather jacket was offered to me & I woke to dozens of well wishes on facebook - #oohtheirony! 

This post was due to be about how much I enjoy dancing Switch (Lead &/or Follow), hence the Victor/Victoria pun. I still wish to celebrate that but may save some of it til next time. Before all this drama I had just been back up to Newcastle for a Love Balboa weekend with Zack Richard & Maryse LeBeau. Fab dancers, cool types - they invited me over there to stay with them. Looks like I'll have to fit in Canadia too when I pop across the pond. Shame... Here's a (very short!) video of me dancing with Zack from Montreal, courtesy of Jazzy Lemon, #photographeextraordinaire!

Soon after dancing here I swooped through Yorkshire for another couple of quick Balboa fixes with BalboaNorth (Leeds) & Bella Balboa (Sheffield). Then, Cotswold Balboa Festival for a full one! What is there to say about this except well-executed event? Great crowd, inspirational teachers, oh and as is customary, an awesome afterparty. This came complete with pub dancing - told you I'm at home on this trip - other people wanna get up to it as often as me! Throw in a requested (correction, demanded!) acapella performance from me & superb cardistry from Gontran Galinier - one very talented and hard working guy, & there you have it! The teachers were all from Studio Hop in Toulouse so the people and families there really did have something to moan about this week. I consider myself very lucky to have just had possessions taken. I'd say blessed if I believed. Let's say I'm grateful, thankful... full!


So what was the new fact I needed to learn about myself...? I figured out (properly this time!) that whilst I'll always be strong, resilient, self-reliant, obsessively efficient, a leader, an entrepreneur, businesswoman, performer, entertainer, resourceful - in short, worthy of praise for what I have done / can DO...
I am in fact, loved and cared for - by virtual strangers as well as family and friends - because of WHO I AM.
I daresay the same can be said of you - if you just look again. So, before we all rush to prove ourselves & chase 'new likes', let's BE at peace with who we know we are and the rest will surely follow.

Oh and Gontran and I did a Switch dance - he is 6'5" and it was videoed so you'll see it as soon as I get a copy...Til then, adieu! 

Relocation, relocation, relocation

As promised, the Granite City Livin' the Blues was an epic weekend in more ways than one. Having the privilege to work with Ruby Red and Justin Riley again so soon - this time appearing on the same teaching bill (result)... exactly 4 hour sleeps each night and waking wide awake a few minutes before the alarm, refreshed & recharged? Yes please - that never used to happen!`

Spending lots of time rediscovering solo movement & having the opportunity to dance to a wide range of music throughout the weekend truly helped me reconnect with my mind, body & spirit in a way I've not done for some considerable time. What made it even more special was that I could feel many of the dozens of other dancers around me making the same journey. Taking part in my first Solo Riffin' & Cuttin' competition was liberating & awesome, particularly for a show off like me ;) ... Given that I only discovered this artform 2 weeks ago, coming 2nd in the competition for it was a strong enough debut for my liking.

Not forgetting I sang with The River Devils - one of the strongest Bluesin' outfits in Scotland - for the opening night & I had epic fun doing so! Confessing now that I enjoyed watching the dancing whilst I sang Titanium that it's now officially part of the repertoire, #sothere



A quick video of a bit of social dancing on my last night in Edinburgh. The microphone pick up on the video camera is very sensitive - it seems to hone in on horns (& my vocals) and distorts them ... blurgh...

To round up, as it's time I did: when all around you are losing their heads and blaming it on you? It's time to make a change. I suggest movement - specifically, connect with your body, and then the ground. (In a dancer's case this is the floor, of course!) Always seek to ground yourself before you seek to connect with others. To all my anchors that are there for me whilst I enact 'relocation, relocation relocation': I thank you. Every time I say good bye it is in the knowledge that the parting is only temporary and we will be united again, whether it be through our love of music, dance or some other connection. Whilst the dancing can only be done together, the rest may be felt as we close our eyes an breathe in. So do that if you haven't already. Go on, close your eyes, breathe deeply and think of the best ever connection you ever made. If it was with yourself embrace that with pride. If it was with another, breathe them in too... Who knows, they may be doing just the same thing at this moment...

Stop the Cupidity

An eventful jaunt over to Sheffield occured last thursday whilst on the way to teach Balboa,  as I noticed a small, but nonetheless definite puff of clear smoke emanating from under the bonnet of my trusty Rover 214. Given that this was  the night of the severe weather warnings & I was about to head onto the Snake Pass alone, at dusk, I felt it prudent to summon a roadside assistance representative. I WAS very pleased to see him by the time he turned up 1 hour 10 mins later, whilst the rain poured, the sun departed and the temp dropped... and dropped...
Once Green Flag's Mr G Sharp (I kid you not) had arrived, he did his job superbly, & even collected me from the McDonald's down the road where I had fled (still in the freezing rain) for a well overdue pitstop. My host in Sheffield was also most understanding & a Balboa-related disaster was, you'll be pleased to know, averted.













This week I focus on messages - over and above what we ourselves type, what messages are we set to receive? What (literal & metaphorical) messages are we putting out there all the time, and how conscious of them are we?

Depth charged fun delivering a Blues workshop for bluesFusion in Edinburgh. Not one to disappoint the fans I sang a couple of songs and on Facebook the next morning they declared: "You have an amazing voice, beautiful  tunes on Sunday, thank you, xXx" This is the kind of message I travel, at varying levels of comfort and & get to bed/get up at 4am where necessary for!

A late night commute back to Glasgow, abundant with banter, snacks & a 2 am round up after a fine vintage. That'll do. A lovely vibe & my guest spot was fun - a mind-expanding intermediate class rounded off the night:  "Great class, very useful tips that made a real difference to the look and feel of the dance - thanks Velody, catch up with you again soon!"
Sarah, Glasgow Lindy Hoppers.

4 Valentine's in the inbox & I felt quite loved up the next morning. Mind you, I choose to feel that way! Not least because I place a high value on connection & embracing the entire experience, whatever it be.

Again, the messages I work for continued this week as I shared a recent song for the new likes on my facebook page (I'm entrusting the universe to achieve 500+ likes for my birthday!)

"nice song, it calmed me down" ... From what, he didn't expand but it spurs me to continue my lyric writing for tunes I'll be debuting in Aberdeen for Livin' the Blues. Who knows what we all go through between our connections? I do know this, I choose to boldly go...

We're jammin'

Gratifying as it is to achieve the recognition of one's peers, elders, betters, wisers... this post is about recognising when we make brave choices & highlighting how our lives are enriched when we do so. I have seen this in others so frequently over the last week or so. Despite muscle aches, lack of sleep, & not packing a hat for this week in London (brrrrrr!) it continues to be an unadulterated pleasure to walk (& dance!) on this earth.
Last weekend I had the privilege of compering and singing at DJam, a highlight on the UK Swing weekender calendar, & it brought a lovely end to my first & longest residency whilst on the road for my year of dance (& related activities). It's been a pleasure to start my year with Lindy Jazz & I look forward to next year's DJam!

A breath in between killer teacher social dances...

European Blues Invasion was at once uplifting, humbling & eye-poppingly stunning. It is not an underestimation to say that it has changed the way I will move forever. Not one to be shy at getting down I was surrounded by many likebodied others & from the moment the first class kicked off I just knew I was home. Whoever said you can't live on the road and still have one hasn't met this crew!

For those of you that want to see what I'm on about check the feedback & feel the love on facebook.
Watching & getting into solo dance offs (called cutting) at a level I've only previously seen onscreen really was something - the vibe in there was MASSIVE! Whilst I have wicked admiration for our visiting instructors who keep this alive at world class cutting edge level, an even bigger shout has to go to people who'd never done this before - including beginners - who all went in with serious attitude & kicked ass!
Oh and yours truly made it into the Finals in my first Blues Jack & Jill competition too - that was a seriously fun comp! ... If you are reading this and are in possession of a cool image or video from the jams or parties, then post away here!

Swingin' out between singing and MCing!

I took the plunge and did a dance clinic in public (where you get a mini private lesson whilst people watch you). If you ever thought those watching would be looking for your flaws, I can tell you I only felt respect and admiration at going first (or even at all). I picked up some great pointers as did the whole group. Which brings me neatly back to making brave choices and being proud to do so - we hear phrases like no pain no gain & throw them away, but ALL the instructors were inspirational to me and not just because of what they can do now. It's the commitment they've consistently made over the years to get where they are & that they encourage those following in their awesome footsteps to be courageous too. I had a moment on the dancefloor last night where time literally stood still & I suddenly cried in joy at how my life is moving forward. Whenever I am asked why I put up with with 4 hours sleep or less per night for days on end whilst working it for 15+ hours per day I can only reply thus: The freedom, connection & courage that we build through dancing...? Priceless.

So, adieu til next time, when I report back from my first Balboa class with Jeremy & Laura tomorrow night & head off to pass that inspiration onto dancers in Sheffield.

I don't often quote a Bedingfield but...

Given it's already well past Epiphany, I figured it's about time I had one & got on with the year!

This week I make light of my constant striving for perfection & reflect on the successes I've had in dealing with my trust issues! In the past, my concerns over quality control have led me to question my abilities & not maximise my potential, for fear of negative judgement from others. Ofcourse, the most successful people are those that are prepared to just get on with what it takes to achieve their success, whatever other's say.

I had a wonderful time welcomed to the bosom of the Bristol Swing dancing community at New Year & below I appear to have taken centre stage, although it happened organically, (promise!!)

Yours truly with all the last dancers still standing as the final song faded out at New Year Swing n Blues. 

The year on the road rolls on & as it continues I concentrate on developing trust in myself & in the right other people. You see, who you select to form part of your inner circle for however long & however briefly they remain there, really counts and the briefest of encounters can sometimes be the most enlightening...
Dancing is often referred to as a 3 minute relationship, & Blues dancing surely comes high up in the intimacy stakes. So, it was encouraging to spend this Saturday Leading Blues, a night (& a killer afterparty) in 'Switch' mode (ready to Lead & Follow at my partners whim), & Following Lindy all day Sunday.
Trust in self? Increasing. Trust in appropriately worthy others? Steady and rising. Trust in (the words & actions of) inappropriate others? Increasingly irrelevant.

I am even more blissed out with dancing again & a BIG shout to David Madison from Saint Vitus for enabling that to happen!

I have oft been praised for my optimism, so having passed the #gottagetthruthis moment into #pocketfulofsunshine I have a new observation ready to sink in. 89% good enough is a good place to begin & can always be bettered later! Afterall, it works for Microsoft...

I have also had to cultivate patience as my attempts to share my (imperfect) recent gig recordings have been thwarted so many times it IS almost funny, except it's my job to share wonderful creativity with the world, so not scoring 100% in the patience stakes in 2012 so far... 

Now it'll soon be time for me to catch up with series one of Sherlock. I did enjoy the powerplay in  A Scandal in Belgravia, so hope for more whilst catching up - as Mrs Adler didn't need rescuing as far as Conan Doyle was concerned. Sorry Robert Downey Jnr, however much I love your work, & despite me wishing I had been on set as you all clearly had a blast, the current film has been somewhat spanked by the BBC production.

Just because...

As the year begins to wind up, I think it's apt to leave you with something I wrote when I felt inspired to begin songwriting again! It's an ode to seeing the best in someone - something I'm consistently good at.
I think this will stand the test of time too!

It's a shame it soon became a farewell to charms...

I know there are many fabulous photos & videos from events in December taken by Jazzy Lemon & DaLord

Patience is a virtue I have had to cultivate over recent months, so I beg yours whilst I await the originals! 

Wishing a merry midwinter to one & all! 

6 weeks & 24 hours later...

I was SO happy to be almost back to mobile by 5.12.2011! A little bit of audio/visual to celebrate my recovery!




The following night, at Lindy Jazz Blues Club I sang a few tunes too, will let the picture conjure my 1000 words this week (as I'm really cataloguing last week!).

Despite some technical hitches along the way, I have been documenting and recording lots the last few months so once hitches are overcome (they always are in the end!) I'll have a lovely little showreel to share with you all!