what's the latest?

October 7th, 2011 OPENING NIGHT FOR THE TEMPEST!! It has been a really good process and its a great show. At Naropa University, it runs through October 22nd. 3 weekends, please come see it. A tight cast and music inspired by The Flaming Lips and Arcade Fire to name a couple. Check out this article on Gary Grundei, the Musical Director and co-conspirator :)

After a good solid 6 months at least of consistent training at my dojo here in Broomfield, I am very proud to announce that I passed my Black belt exam ! I'm official Shodan in the Danzan Ryu Jujitsu system. 7 years ago I started in NYC at DZRNYC, with Bob Seiler as sensei. Now being run by Sensei Islander. I was with that dojo and those people for 6 years. Last year, when I made the move to Boulder to pursue my Master's I took up with Sensei Paul Krusee. We have been working together for a year now. Me and two other people went to Utah to Paul's sensei's dojo and tested. A congratulations goes as well to Chad Booth and James Butler.

August 31st, 2011

School started and rehearsals started. Singing some beautiful music with The Tempest being in the round at Naropa's Performing Arts Center. Performances are the first 3 weekends in October. And more imminently approaching is my Black Belt test of Danzan Ryu Jujitsu. Last week, I had a mock exam and things went very well. The test will be in Utah, during the weekend of September 16th. Please send all of your shin and wishes my way!

I also put up a new video on my blog, a natural theatre. the sound and words, I created earlier this Spring and I finally sat down to put some images to it. I realized what fun it was to actually do it AND what a perfectionist I could be (no comment from the peanut gallery). Enjoy it and if you liked it send it on to others. It's a meditation on the afterglow.

It has been a week of calm and excitement to get back into school at Naropa University. We meet a new class and jump right into rehearsals for the Tempest. I'm excited at the exploration of Caliban and what that character is about. Very eager to hear what concept our director, Steve Wangh has come up with and happy to see my ensemble together again for our final year.

In other news, I'm going for my black belt in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu. I've learned so much from this practice. Gotten stronger and have been able to face aggression much more calmly than ever before. Last Sunday I had a freestyle competition (part of the requirements of getting a black belt) and I noticed that from when I started with this dojo a year ago, to where I am now...I felt very successful...sore, but yeah so what.