On the eve of the new year, I'm sitting back and reflecting on my 2013, and I realize that its been a rather nice year. These are a few of my memorable times/ moments this year:
1) Spending time, performing and rehearsing with my dance sisters from Ekakshara Dance Creations- there were so much of this that I find it difficult to think of one particular episode. We've done so many classes, performances, and workshops. However, I think for me personally, the most memorable one was our performance at Caledon, ON in January 2013. It was the first time that all of us were able to be in one location together. I have delightful memories with these awesome ladies, and it truly feels like a family.
My dance community in Toronto infact often feels like my family away from home, and on this note, I must mention Fethi Karakecili, Iana Komarnytska, and Ariane of Obskurah- I've shared much dancing joy and adventures, as well as fond memories with each of them.
2) My solo show ("Corpus Matris") at Toronto Fringe Festival (July 2013): This was definitely one of the highlights of my year, and I will probably dedicate an entire post to this experience sometime soon. I have found the Toronto Fringe to be highly supportive of all its artists. This was a great adventure, and I had a great team with me throughout the Fringe run (Stage Manager Nicole MacKinnon, Assistant Stage Manager Renee-Claude Gratton, and Lighting Designer Parker Nowlan, and the wonderful technicians at Theatre Passe-Muraille Mainspace).
3) Defending my doctoral dissertation (December 2013): The dissertation has been the culmination of the last few years of my research on history of the stylistic lineage of late Guru Debaprasad Das. Defending this dissertation and reaching towards the final completion of this made the whole journey feel like it has come full circle. I'm still working on the last few revisions towards the dissertation, which I hope to complete within the next few weeks.
4) Seeing much of my family over summer (August 2013): I do not get to see my family from India often and I was happy to see so many of them in one place this summer- I saw my maternal grandmother, my cousins on my mom's side, uncle (my dad's brother) and cousin, whom I hadn't seen since my trip to Odisha on the Shastri scholarship.
5) Finally, this post would not be complete if I didn't mention the wonderful roadtrip to Bluefield, WV with my significant other. Or for that matter, the many hours spent in watching movies, tv episodes and the entire run of Battlestar Galactica, attending weddings, cooking delicious meals throughout the whole of this year. I used the term "significant other," but "boyfriend" would be equally applicable here. I have a wonderful and extremely supportive boyfriend and I feel incredibly lucky for this. The times spent with him and his family have been truly memorable and have been greatly responsible for making this year as wonderful as it has been.
On the whole, I think this year has been a good year. It has been active, artistically and academically stimulating, and I've met wonderful new people, learned exciting new dance languages, and I end the year with a good feeling. I wish everyone a safe, joyous and successful 2014.
1) Spending time, performing and rehearsing with my dance sisters from Ekakshara Dance Creations- there were so much of this that I find it difficult to think of one particular episode. We've done so many classes, performances, and workshops. However, I think for me personally, the most memorable one was our performance at Caledon, ON in January 2013. It was the first time that all of us were able to be in one location together. I have delightful memories with these awesome ladies, and it truly feels like a family.
My dance community in Toronto infact often feels like my family away from home, and on this note, I must mention Fethi Karakecili, Iana Komarnytska, and Ariane of Obskurah- I've shared much dancing joy and adventures, as well as fond memories with each of them.
2) My solo show ("Corpus Matris") at Toronto Fringe Festival (July 2013): This was definitely one of the highlights of my year, and I will probably dedicate an entire post to this experience sometime soon. I have found the Toronto Fringe to be highly supportive of all its artists. This was a great adventure, and I had a great team with me throughout the Fringe run (Stage Manager Nicole MacKinnon, Assistant Stage Manager Renee-Claude Gratton, and Lighting Designer Parker Nowlan, and the wonderful technicians at Theatre Passe-Muraille Mainspace).
3) Defending my doctoral dissertation (December 2013): The dissertation has been the culmination of the last few years of my research on history of the stylistic lineage of late Guru Debaprasad Das. Defending this dissertation and reaching towards the final completion of this made the whole journey feel like it has come full circle. I'm still working on the last few revisions towards the dissertation, which I hope to complete within the next few weeks.
4) Seeing much of my family over summer (August 2013): I do not get to see my family from India often and I was happy to see so many of them in one place this summer- I saw my maternal grandmother, my cousins on my mom's side, uncle (my dad's brother) and cousin, whom I hadn't seen since my trip to Odisha on the Shastri scholarship.
5) Finally, this post would not be complete if I didn't mention the wonderful roadtrip to Bluefield, WV with my significant other. Or for that matter, the many hours spent in watching movies, tv episodes and the entire run of Battlestar Galactica, attending weddings, cooking delicious meals throughout the whole of this year. I used the term "significant other," but "boyfriend" would be equally applicable here. I have a wonderful and extremely supportive boyfriend and I feel incredibly lucky for this. The times spent with him and his family have been truly memorable and have been greatly responsible for making this year as wonderful as it has been.
On the whole, I think this year has been a good year. It has been active, artistically and academically stimulating, and I've met wonderful new people, learned exciting new dance languages, and I end the year with a good feeling. I wish everyone a safe, joyous and successful 2014.
