Life Update
So… to say the least, 2020 has definitely not gone as planned!
This pandemic and the shifts in life that have taken place in the past couple of months have only been another reminder that, as much as we may try to plan and know how things will turn out, life can always change at a dime. I am now more than ever, learning to flow with life and the ever changing world around us, and reminding myself that the present moment is all we really have.
That being said, the past few months have been a whirlwind. From the immediate closing of my full-time job at Sleep No More, I went from feeling like I was at the busiest time of my life, to in a day, having almost no obligations whatsoever. I went from commuting to and from several places in one day, to not leaving my apartment unless to go to the grocery store (one block away) for weeks on end. My life got flipped turned upside down, to quote the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, as did much of the world. And here we are, still navigating this new reality six months later.
Once everything shut down, I took the time as a well-deserved break and perhaps indulged in this newfound feeling of having nothing to do. I continued to stay active as best as I could, exploring new ways to keep moving, learning, and training inside the confinements of my apartment. The first couple of weeks of lockdown felt like an overload of all the dance and fitness classes being offered, and that initial wave seems to have mellowed out. I now stay active with pilates, yoga, fitness workouts, bike rides, walks or runs, or a ballet barre. Dancing has been difficult because as many of my friends agree, it is hard to keep the motivation when you are constantly reminded that this is not the way you want to be dancing.
In addition to navigating this new life, I have also continued to work on my pilates mat certification! I am grateful to have been able to complete my hours virtually, and I’ve taught several private and group classes over Zoom and Instagram Live!
I’ve also been continuing work with Megan Williams Dance Projects during this time. When our show “can I have it without begging” was cancelled in March, we took some weeks off but picked back up with rehearsing over Zoom. We also have had several rehearsals outdoors in parks, socially distanced and wearing masks. We are working to produce a film in the near future.
Megan was also commissioned to create a film to be presented at the Katonah Museum of Art Virtual Gala. KMA The Gala 20/20: (Re)vision will be held on Saturday, October 3. Click here for info and tickets for the gala!
And most recently, I was grateful to dance in a music video for the band, Decibel and the Boom for their song Running In Circles. A fellow dancer and friend Eliza Woitinnek choreographed the film, and I learned the choreography in my living room through videos that she sent me. It was such a blast to be involved in the video, and I’m so excited to see the finished product. Stay tuned for the music video release!
I will be making another post, in addition to a new section of my website, about classes and other offerings I’m excited to share. It has taken me some time to get to a place where I want to share and give, but I feel ready to offer my skill sets and knowledge to others.
All in all, this time has had its ups and downs, but it’s been a valuable learning experience. I want to continue to learn and discover more about myself - with a sense of hope, optimism, and love and compassion for myself and others.
Be well :)
x Michael
