Shed - research

SHED - \'shed\

1. Verb (1)
a. to set apart. to cause to be dispersed without penetrating (duck's plumage sheds water). c. to cause *blood* to flow by cutting or wounding. d. to pour forth in drops (shed tears). e. to give off or out (shed some light on the subject). f. to give off, discharge or expel from the body of a plant or animal such as to eject, slough off, or lose as part of the normal process of life or to discharge usually gradually especially as part of a pathological process. g. to rid oneself of temporarily or permaently as superfluous or unwanted.

2. Verb, intransitive (2)
a. to pour out. b. to become dispersed. c. to cast off some natural covering (such as fur or skin). d. to cause death by violence.

3. Verb, (3)
to put or house in a shed.

4.. Noun (1)
a. obsolete. b. something that is discarded. c. a divide of land

5. Noun (2)
a. a slight structure build for shelter or storage. b. a building that resembles a shed. c. hut

6. A Dance (1)
Shed is a contemporary dance solo that will premier as part of the Reading Theater Project's 5-Minute Fringe Festival. Get your tickets here.

Re-view. Re-flect. Re-new.

“Re”: a prefix of Latin origin . Meaning again and again.

I’ve REpeated throughout 2018 that this year was “The year of RE-...” During my REflection on this last evening of 2018, I REalized that, despite feeling my world was in a constant state of REcovery, REbellion, and REvolution, I was also the REcepient of beautifully REcycled and REcently discovered gifts of the Universe in 2018.

Over the past year, I’ve REmoved myself from much of the public, virtual sphere to REconnect, REcharge, and RElease myself from REsidual expectations. I REturn to this blog with REverence and REspect for the lessons I learned during the past year. I’ve REduced the many REvelations down to 18 elements for which I’m extremely grateful:

18 REwards from 2018 (in no particular order):

Professionally...

1. Returning to Berks Ballet Theatre to teach and set a new work on the company. The piece, (re)tracing weathered veins, was performed at the Philly Youth Dance Fest in Philadelphia, PA and in Reading, PA. I created the piece to the music of veteran and artist Jude Eden and Reading native Jill Haley (with permission).

2. Engaging in new, raw research that resulted in a solo. Stained Glass physically reflected on aspects of my first year as a mother. AND performing Stained Glass in Reading and in Philadelphia.

3. Co-producting a performance in Philadelphia that benefitted Mary’s Shelter in Reading, PA. Little Things was a part of SOLOWFest. We were able to give a nice monetary donation to Mary’s Shelter along with several things on their Wish List. For me, this was one of the ways I began to understand and develop a relationship with my community in Reading.

4. Getting to know some of Service Learning folks of Penn State Berks’ and Albright College through the This is Reading Dancers project.

5. Presenting at the icommit RIZE Mindfulness Workshop for Youth in Reading.

6. Performing as part of the D.O.T.S. (Dancing on the Streets) Festival in Reading.

7. Collaborating with writer and film-maker Jake Buczewski to re-investigate and re-discover the potential of artmaking while seemingly isolated. AND creating my first dance on camera production in collaboration with Jake Buczewski and premiering it in Philadelphia.

8. Returning to the Lehigh Valley to teach at the DeSales Summer Dance Intensive and as part of the
Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange’s Master Class Series.

9. Developing a Contemporary Dance Summer Workshop series for adults in Reading (and local dancers responding!) resulting in an ongoing Contemporary Dance Movement Practice for EveryBody at The Restorative Center.

10. Leading several sessions of dance classes with members of Alvernia’s Seniors’ College.

11. Celebrating a year of Dance for Wellness classes at the Tower Health/ Reading Hospital Rehab Center.

12. Developing 10 original dance pieces for Widener University and continuing the creative collaborations within the Fine Arts Department.

13. Accepting a position as Artist in Residence at Alvernia University.

And personally...

14. Justin and I celebrated 10 years of marriage.

15. Celebrating Tristan’s first birthday and Baptism.

16. Purging physical, mental, and emotional stuff.

17. Finding a gathering place for like-minded, curious people at The Restorative Center.

18. Rediscovering constant gratitude for family and friends who are on this journey with me and continue to support and challenge me.

What are some of the lessons you learned in 2018?

What are your hopes for 2019?

Happy New Year!

Photo by Mike Hurwitz

Photo by Jake Buczewski

Berks Ballet Theatre performing (re)tracing weathered etchings photo by Julieanne Harris

Veterans' Day 2018

Thank you. Welcome home.

"Happy" Veterans' Day.

I've struggled with writing and sharing this year, in part because of time (its hard to sit at a computer when there's a precious little one asking for my attention). And in part because I've been struggling with so many questions -

What is my role as a mother?
What is my role as a professional?
What is my role as an artist?
Where is our country going and how can I help shape my small piece of it?
Is it possible to protect, create safe spaces, and allow for vulnerability? How? Where is this appropriate?

In the past, I would listen to the trauma on NPR on my daily commute and walk into the studio with tears in my eyes and heart, but resolved that creating dance was a responsible answer. Through dance, I was honing my body and the body is a place of protest. The body is a place for joy. Dance making, performance, and viewing is a place where people come together. Art making is challenging and scary because it demands a sense of vulnerability and authenticity. It demands bowing to a personal truth and to something greater than the self.

Now, I want to hug my baby a little tighter and retreat to Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Because of my own fear? A change of my own perspective? A shift in our cultural narrative? Am I responding the way that those in the highest offices want me to respond by shrinking back and away?

I've often been reminded of the importance of taking a step away from the noise and being quiet with oneself, one's family, and one's truths. Perhaps this is one of those times.

But, to that end, I've also been researching more in the wee hours of the night, after Little has fallen back asleep.
What can I do?
What is my role?
What is my worth?

To those who hold the line, Thank you.
You model strength and courage in the face of doubt and chaos.

To those who love those who hold the line, thank you.
You, too, model strength and courage in the face of doubt, fear, and chaos.

I've found and am sharing a list of resources that speak directly to family members of veterans (in no particular order and without compensation... I don't receive anything for sharing these, other than the possible satisfaction of helping someone else):

Road Home Program
5 Tips for a Healthy Relationship with a Combat Veteran
Top 10 Things your Combat Veteran Wants You to Know
What its Like to Love a Combat Veteran
FamilyofAVet.com
What a Combat Veteran and His Wife Want You to Know about PTSD
Do You Love a Veteran?
Home/Front A New Musical

May you/ we find peace and reasons to dance.

Katherine Kiefer Stark exploring the silent trials and joys of being a family member of a veteran in my piece
"Unspoken: Everyday Hope". Pic by Bill Hebert

Rediscovering...

This year is a year of "Re-"

Re-newal
Re-flection
Re-storing
Re-negotiating

Re-discovering...

especially of places and people I thought I knew.

To this end, I've been collaborating with writer and film-maker Jake Buczewski to take another look at the Reading area. We're premiering our dance-film tonight at KYL/D's InHale Performance Series.

KYL/D's InHale Performance Series October 12, 2018 from Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers on Vimeo.

You look like ME...!

My son was born 6 weeks early and we were cautioned against too much outside contact. So, we complied and were cautious for the first few months of his life.

We've been blessed - he's thrived as far as we (and our pediatricians) can tell.

In due time, we've tried to expose him to diversity - of time, space, person, experience, tastes, travel... and he accepts what we throw at him. Sometimes, he doesn't agree with our choice of food or music or crowd. He lets us know when he's uncomfortable and we try to be sensitive to his signs.

But he never said "I'm uncomfortable because they don't look like me".

Of course, at 6, 10, 15 months, he can't.

Until he can.

And I didn't understand how important that was - as an artist, as a student of anthropology, as a teacher of diversity, as an advocate for listening to unheard voices.

Until he told me.

As an artist and educator, I've tried to be progressive and understanding and democratic. I DO know what it's like to be devalued and abused and taken for granted, but I also see other folks who look like me on the outside, even if I don't know what they look like on the inside.

But...

We had a dear friend visit whose son is similar in age to mine. He's also light skinned and light haired and on several occasions, my dear boy just wanted to hug this young compatriot. It was if he was saying, "Oh! You look like me! We're the same size! We make the same sounds! You have the same coloring! We walk the same! You are like me! THANK YOU!!"

He just seemed so gracious so be in the presence of someone LIKE HIM.

And I felt so sad.

Sad because he's been with other children, but they don't look like him. Sad because he's been with adults who love him, but don't look like him. Sad because in all of my experience and education, I didn't realize how important this was... until I did.

So, to the students and friends and people for whom I advocate... I may not look like you, but I see you. And I hear you. And I'm aware that it's important to have someone to whom you excitedly say, "You look like ME!"

Thank you, dear boy... 

And to those with whom I share differences... I'm interested in the ways we can work together. Please, could we talk...?

Dancing with Parkinsons

Shout out to Tower Health/ Reading Hospital! Thank you for featuring me and some of my dancers in the Dance for Wellness class in your Health Break Video! Check it out, below:

(Yay, PT Stephanie for piloting these programs, especially designed for people with Parkinson's Disease!)

My classes are every Monday from 11am-12pm at the Tower Health/ Reading Hospital Rehab Center. Cost is $5 and drop in's are so welcome! 

"It takes courage..."

"Ya know... it takes courage to do what you know is going to be good for you."

On this particular morning, the weather was uncomfortable. It was a holiday week - one of those where the holiday is in the middle of the week so, it's a little awkward to celebrate. This student had not been feeling well, but came to class, anyway.

"It takes courage to do what you know is going to be good..."

I've been thinking about this a lot over the past few weeks. What is going to be good... for me? for my family? for my art? for my body? for my community?

As in dance, as in life.

My student was talking about coming to dance class. For some people who come to my class at the Rehab Center (and I'm sure for some people who don't come to my class...) it's a challenge to get out of bed, to travel, to come to class. It takes courage to complete complex challenges, but it also takes courage to be mindful and aware of seemingly simple challenges and work through them.

It takes courage to see and move with other people who might be different - even if they, too, are facing challenges, some visible, some invisible.

It takes courage to be present in a body that might not feel perfect - due to illness, injury, abuse, depression, frustration, self-perception, or any number of other reasons.

It takes courage to physically and mentally move through these obstacles to find (and admit) to the joy of dancing.

It takes courage to surrender to the vulnerability of making mistakes and learning from them. It takes courage to own these moments instead of shy away from a new step or creative goal.

It takes courage to trust that the class is a community embarking on a shared journey, if only for that brief time.

It takes courage to dance.

It takes courage to do what you know is going to be good for you.