This week I felt it was important to not only count my blessings, but to reminisc on the amazing opportunities the arts have given me to travel. Globetrotting wasn’t a passion for me, but after 40 (or so) years of doing it, I realize it’s been a gift. One conversation leads to another and suddenly, I’d be on a plane. Seriously, I’m one of the most passive people you might meet, so I’d be sitting on a sand-dune in Denmark, sweating myself through Russian customs, throwing up in a long-train ride, or hunting down a pair of fashion boots in London without a blink. I’m grateful for keeping my passport ready to go.
Several years ago I performed in Assisi, Italy as a member of FLYT TRIO with Cynthia Doggett. We were one of the more interesting and unique programs of the Assisi music festival. I had the privilege of performing to one of the two movements of Gerald Finzi’s Five Bagatelles with the trio. Along with my original choreography Cynthia and Stephon, the pianist, also performed two movements of Nikola Resonovic’s Sonata, which she commissioned and premiered in 2010. “The multi-disciplinary nature and uniqueness of this concert certainly set it apart from others during the conference” (Masserini, 2013).
“We need women who are so strong they can be gentle, so educated they can be humble, so fierce they can be compassionate, so passionate they can be rational, and so disciplined they can be free.” – Kavita Ramdas
The best parts of this particular trip was seeing how the details came together. It worked out that I was able to trot around Amsterdam with Chloe Tinne Harley and Rome with Sarah Hall. Both women are inspiring dancers from Living Fountain Dance Company and dear friends. While we are uncertain of traveling during the pandemic, I encourage you to reach out and zoom, meet, or facetime with the precious friends overseas. You never know what collaboration might bring.
arts + more 