Before surfers venture out to sea, they perform their rituals. They put on their wetsuits in their cars, along PCH, or in the parking lot, apply sunscreen on their face, and gather their board from the back or atop their cars. They wax their boards and tie them to their ankles. The excitement builds as they take the walk towards the ocean, looking for the perfect entry.
They paddle out and sit and wait for the swell to build. The waves don't get too high, usually around three to four feet tall, but they enjoy the exhilaration of riding them. They get up, carve and maneuver their way along the wave, fall down, or eject, but get back up to paddle out again. The ocean is their playground. They heed its call time and again. To surf is to be alive.
To breathe, to dance, to fly.
To be whole.
To be present.
To be free and independent.
To be true and authentic.
To take chances.
To believe.
To let go. To set free.
To be fearless.
To give.
To soar.
To pursue happiness and light.
To follow the sun to Jupiter and back.
To dream.
To fill darkness with light.
To be forever hopeful.
Venice, California, the skate park comes alive with skater boys who practice and show the world their tricks on their boards. They dip into the bowls and their motion, centripetal force propel them around. Their momentum keeps them going. The sound of the wheels of their skateboards against pavement signal their advance. They flip, turn, and jump high into the air to land, hopefully, on their boards. They come from different neighborhoods and backgrounds, but in their skate park, they are united and differentiated by their talent.
Skater boys inspire and exhilarate. They are fierce and fearless!
Ballet, dance, and movement inspire me. Dance is the reason for living. Dance mirrors life in that it vanishes as it happens. There's no holding on. It is life, passion, and love. It requires a strong body and mind. I dance, swim, and play volleyball. I do anything to strengthen my core. Beauty and strength come from within.
Through dance, I leave my mark in time and space. My body is my instrument, with which I carve volumes and create shapes. Dance isn't just about motion, because stillness adds meaning, and allows for pause, pace, and reflection. With beauty, strength, and grace, I dance to express what I can and cannot say in words.
Life is unimaginable without dance.
Living in California, I am immersed in the surfing and skating culture. My style, influenced by the casual, relaxed look of hanging out on the warm sand and hot pavement, is simple and minimal. I'm inspired by the beauty of nature, of life, of love.