Dancing Rage

There are tons of ways that people use to deal with anger and feelings of powerlessness: go for a jog, meditate, yell into a pillow. But I think dancing to a really good fast-paced song is a really good way.

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Sophie BrassardComment
Why Dance?

Bred in a ballet background, I've always understood that there has to be a great amount of suffering for my art to be volatile, real, valued. You have to have slaved away in the studio every spare hour, or you can't really mean what you're trying to communicate with your physical self. You have to have pushed...

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Carly DavisComment
Dancing with Injury

Sometimes I feel like I just should push through the pain and finish class, but I’ve learned the hard way that that’s not the right thing to do. Dancers are so connected to being physical, that when we have no choice but to be stationary because of an injury, it can drive us insane! READ MORE...

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Finding the Right Frame of Mind

he hard part is silencing that little voice in your head; the one telling you that this is crazy, that you should pick a different career. Getting in the right mindset is essential as a role or a contract as a dancer isn’t like other jobs. You don’t have to nail an interview, or even a series of interviews. You don’t even necessarily have to meet a certain set of criteria. But you do have to be prepared, go above and beyond the expectations, and have that elusive “something” that sets you apart.

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Transformative Moments

After moving inwards we were asked to embody the essence of the experience through movement. This was intense and cathartic and by the end of the process I felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted.  I realized that opening to both my light and darkness, required forgiveness and acceptance. I feel this transcendence deepens our empathy and understanding of the world around us and allows our love to radiate freely.

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Rachel HeltenComment
Surfing the Waves

This was put to the test a month ago when I injured my back. I wanted to quit. I pitied myself, why me? All those voices in my head telling me I’m not good enough, I’m a failure, I can’t do anything right had become true in a split second. My mind told me the stories, and I believed every word. It’s always so easy to crawl into your cave and live in your shit, but so much harder to get out.

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My Dad

My Dad was always working with his hands to create beautiful things and some of my earliest memories are of him in his wood shop happily singing and working away.  Now retired, he seems to be calling on his inner artist more than ever to make stone sculpture.

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Desirée DunbarComment
Jumping In

The Catalyst dance program includes various challenges, some that seem achievable and some that are initially more intimidating.

“Dance like water!” No problem. I’m a trained contemporary dancer, I’m capable of embodying the fluid quality of water.

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Sophie BrassardComment
Reignited

As a movement artist who has performed in multiple venues, the experience at The
Mansion was a first for myself, and what a treat it was. Work felt like play, rehearsal felt like
recess, and above all else I felt fortunate.

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Jenna-Lee HayComment
Embracing Love, Confronting Fear

As RuPaul says, “If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else.” That love that you cultivate increases a hundred-fold when released willingly into the world. The beauty in dance comes from embracing love and confronting your personal fears because your courageous love empowers others to live fully. 

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