SCAHPERD, Myrtle Beach, SC

Myrtle Beach, SC once again hosted the annual SCAHPERD convention November 8-11, 2007. I had attended this convention many times as a college student representing the Columbia College Dance Ensemble but this year I was actually a presenter! Gordon Brown, the inventor of the Body Bar Flex hosted me and we taught several sessions using the innovative Body Bar Flex. Dancers, dance teachers, middle school and high school PE teachers and college students all filled the room for our sessions. It was great working with Gordon who gave me many new ideas for my own classes. 

For more information on Body Bar Flex please visit www.bodybar.com

In addition I was asked to teach a modern technique class the following day. Although I only had 50 minutes it was a joy to have some many people in my class. Everyone from college students from Coker College, high school students from School of Arts to professionals from Charleston, SC like Jocelyn, Pam and Eliza. I think I had the most fun with my dear friend Bett Myrick. Still my idol and dancing up a storm! 

And to top it off Martha Brim (superhero dance professor at Columbia College) and Wrenn Cook (queen bee Dance Chair at Columbia College) both received awards from SCAHPERD. Congrats to you both. 

I hope to be back next year if they will have me. Many thanks to Stevie, Chepko, Wanda Ebright, Lori Williams, Pam O’Bryant and Crystal Bedford for all their support and organization.

Fine Arts Center, Greenville, SC

I absolutely love returning to the Fine Arts Center in Greenville, SC every year as the resident choreographer! These students work so hard in the 5-6 days that I have them and they give me 110%.  

This year (October 29-November 5, 2007) I choreographed a piece for 17 dancers in the morning class that was inspired by paintings by the Dutch artist Vermeer. The dancers contributed their own choreography to the piece and worked very hard on pulling it all together. 

For the afternoon class I set experts from a piece that I had originally choreographed for the Power Company in Columbia, SC. The Wonderful Thing features a large group section plus a series of duets to music by the Sun Ra Arrkestra and Al Green. Once again these gilrs amazed me with their maturity and willingness to go for it. 

Jan Woodward, the dance instructor at the FAC does an outstanding job day to day with the students and always has them well prepared from my short visit. And FAC director Dr. Roy Fluher drops in from time to time to check their progress. I think they get a little bit more excited to perform when he is watching! 

What the FAC is doing is SC is so important for dance, theater, visual arts, creative writing, music, film and video prodcution.  

Please check out their website at www.fineartscenter.net. 

The pieces will be performed several times in SC in early 2008. 

Break a leg!

Sports City, Mexico City

I had a great time as usual with all my friends in Mexico City for another awesome convention in October. This year I was joined by Petra Kolber, Robert Sherman and Keli Roberts. Yoga, Bosu, Reebok Core Board, Medicine Ball. Cycle Reebok, Body Bar, Pilates and Fitness Fusion trainings were all being held at two different Sports City locations in Mexico City. 
Daniel, Norma and their entire team outdid themselves yet again.  Many thanks especially to Lorena, Giovanna and of course, my dear Oscar. You all make my job easy and my stay enjoyable.  I will be back!!!

ECA Thrive in Fort Lauderdale

Once again I was pleased to present at another successful ECA event. This time it was in a new location in Florida, the beautiful Harbor Beach Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale. I presented Equilibrium: Flex Fusion for Body Bar as well as two lectures: Teacher Training 101 and The World is Your Stage. Although I was there for only a short time I got to hang out with fellow presenters Petra Kolber, Misty Tripoli, Calvin Wiley, Abbie Appel, Sherry Catlin, Sarina Jain, Keli Roberts and for a few minutes, Sue Hitzmann. As always Carol and Gary hosted a stellar event although I did miss Lilli’s smiling face. See you in  NYC in February 2008!

Shape Pilates for Breast Cancer

Liz, Lisa and Portia at the Shape Pilates Event in NYCI was pleased and honored to represent Shape Magazine in NYC on October 7 and assist top Pilates instructor, Lizbeth Garcia in this nationwide Pilates event to raise money for Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Lizbeth also choreographed and lead a Pilates in Pink workout DVD for Shape Magazine where $1 from every DVD sold goes straight to the Foundation. There is a 10 minute bonus on this DVD where I (yes, me, Lisa!) leads you in a 10 minute quickie Pilates based workout. Pick one up at www.shapeboutique.com.