During my healing time in Michigan, I rediscovered my love of dancing. I rocked out – practically every day from mid-November through my departure in mid-April – all alone, in the little bedroom that was mine for those 10 months. The music & the movement of my body allowed me to come alive…completely. Once my inhibitions were lowered, I found that the way I was engaging with my old exercise favorites – biking, running, etc – had changed dramatically. I felt limited: I couldn’t move my body the way it instinctively wanted to move to the music if I had to ‘run’ or ‘bike’. So…I began dancing more and more.
These solo celebrations continued well into my move to Seattle. You can ask my cousin, with whom I lived or the folks that lived below us in our duplex. I danced & sang ALL the time! And it had an effect! A big one! One of many intentions that I have with my dancing, is to try to inspire folks to begin listening to more music and to not be afraid of one of the most freeing things ANYONE can do … moving your own body however it wants to move to whatever music is playing. There is no right or wrong. There doesn’t need to be any judgment. Just plain fun!
I am also test marketing 2-3 different business ideas I have pertaining to dancing in general, and to my “type” of dancing, in particular. Anyone watching is witnessing the creative stages of these businesses. At least one of them will be operational within months. And if you pay close attention, you will notice that almost always I am consciously engaging specific muscles/parts of my body as I dance for the toning work – calves, abs, glutes, quads, shoulders, etc. In the past 11 months, I haven’t lifted a weight and I’ve barely “worked out”. The only thing I’ve done consistently, is dance. And physically…I’ve never been in better shape.
As for the singing…I’ve loved to sing since I was young. VERY few people have ever heard me. The singing you are witnessing is completely raw and amateur. I’ve never had a lesson and I possess no formal knowledge or experience, whatsoever. Yet..I feel like it comes absolutely naturally. And I find I can match the range, tone and even accent to singers quite easily. I am determined to get much better as I continue to practice & hopefully, soon, gain more “formal” experiences. For now, I am loving every second I sing. I feel every lyric to my core. Singing…even more so than dancing, I think…moves my soul.
And finally…the drumming. You are also witnessing my very first drum “performances”. I’ve never had a lesson and truly only just begun ‘playing around’ with the hand drums within the past year. I have an enormous desire for this specific area of musical expression as well. My two drumming idols are my youngest brother and one of my first cousins. It is most certainly a dream of mine to continue to learn how to play the hand drums but also to learn to play the drum set as well. This too, like the dancing & the singing, seems to be calling me.
Everything within me at present seems to be yearning to be expressed via one of these creative vehicles. I feel more alive than I thought was possible when I am engaging with and/or creating music. It is unlike anything I’ve experienced in my past. The next months should be interesting.
Please visit the pages blow!
