I was once social dancing with a person who was a relatively newer dancer who was not only self-conscious about her dancing, but also self-conscious that she was somewhat bigger than me (not that I’m exactly a giant!). She said, “I feel so heavy when I dance.” And it was an apt observation—she was indeed…
It is ironic, I think, that we consider the season in which nature seems to be shutting down for the impending winter as a season of new beginnings. According to a well-known office supplies company, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year,” as children begin school anew, eager and fresh-faced for the next chapter…
Dancing is one of those pastimes that takes a physical toll over time. For those who are serious about dancing, one can expect to experience at least one – if not a half dozen or so – injuries of various sorts throughout one’s dance career. And, let’s face it, knees, hips, shoulders, and feet suffer…
This past weekend, we celebrated my daughter’s fifth birthday with a big party in a local park. In addition to family (and “family by love”), we invited her friends from various places and times in her life. We had school friends, of course, and also friends she had made and kept contact with from preschool….
This past May, we received a visit from a producer for CBC Radio’s “Out in the Open” who also happens to be a former instructor with Salsaholics Anonymous. Debbie Pacheco was producing a segment on how “letting go on the dance floor became a metaphor for life.” The segment is here and, besides being well…
Last Saturday evening, I met up with a friend at the Beaches Jazz Festival and we sampled a wide array of bands and styles, occasionally if not literally, dancing in the street. Although my friend doesn’t dance salsa, there were the occasional Latin beats and some cha-chas to which I “shined” solo. Mostly we listened…
I sit here preparing to write my weekly missive to our wonderful members of Salsaholics Anonymous and I am sick. Sickened by the senseless tragedy that once again befell our city. Sickened by the loss of innocent life. Sickened by the thought of what those who survived but with “life-altering injuries” will have to face….
Last week, I had the opportunity to facilitate a session with some senior managers and directors on the theme of “Coaching for Leadership.” One of the segments was on Coaching for Complex Decision-Making,” which is required when there is no obvious choice, when any among several possible decisions creates different, unique sets of new problems,…
Twice since last Thursday, the same snippet of conversation has happened to me, prompted by the question, “So what do you do?” After explaining that my primary occupation is an Executive, Leadership, and Career Transition Coach, and I do organization culture work, I also toss in, “…and I also teach dance at Bloor and Spadina…
It’s an old joke from Borscht Belt comedians. A man comes to the rabbi and asks, “Rabbi, is it true that a man and a woman dancing together is forbidden?” The rabbi responds rather vehemently, “Yes, of course. It is forbidden for a man and a woman to dance together.” The man goes on to…