What a great time tonight with a great group of dancers! Awesome to see my returning Tuesday ladies and welcoming back BJ!
If you are wondering what the heck I’m talking about, my classes are taking a different spin on Tuesdays for the winter session and I’m just playing along with everyone!
We have the space, we are booked for the next 9 more Tuesdays and we are both watching along with those dvds I have purchased over the years, as well as some digital footage I’ll bring out later!
Details are in my class schedule, and you can come by any Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m.; pay the drop-in fee of $10 to me; and PLAY!
 

2015 has come to an end and I’ve learned some stuff this year that I am choosing to work with as I move forward in my businesses and personal adventures.
Catch phrases that apply:

• I’m not as young as I used to be…
• Work smarter not harder…
• If your own cup is empty, you’ll have nothing to share with those who around you…

I’m not as young as I used to be…

This is a simple fact.  Not a self-deprecation, just a fact. I have arrived in a place where I have been pushing myself, mostly quite joyfully, sometimes stressfully, for years and lately I have felt the repercussions of perhaps doing a bit more than my body and sanity should have allowed.
Certainly, I have been choosing convenience eating and have the resulting physical manifestations of that occurring. I have benefited from therapy over the past year for anxiety issues, and have begun to process the changes I want to make in my routine that will contribute to me being healthier, both in body and mind.  One step at a time, and one day at a time, with some accountability worked in, but not too much pressure.

Work smarter not harder…

Self-employment has always been part of my income stream, and I have always tried to keep a logical head about outside work. For the past year, I’ve had the pleasure of a somewhat regular paycheque and the chance to work with some crazy fun ladies through bouts of high pressure and creative moments. Lots of challenges, and lots of rewards and LOTS of learning.  
Awareness dawned that working outside my studio space, even “part time”, involves a big commitment, and the rewards are worth it, so I’ll be looking at some “stepping back” from my dance related activities during my high sewing season, even more than I have in the past.
I will continue to offer classes through the Winter 2016 session, both sewing and dance classes. In the spring, I will step back from teaching Saturday sewing classes.  I need that time for clients, both my own and the shop’s.
I also have realized that with my work in the bridal world being full time busy from April through the summer, I cannot organize a June Ottawa Community Class Party.

There will be NO Halyma’s OCCP in June.

I hope to offer a community showcase dance recital again December 2016 – depending on interest, classes, etc., of course. Keep posted in the fall for that.
What this might mean for May/June is that other teachers/studio owners/ community members, either as a collective or on their own can take the opportunity to show off their event-organizing skills and hopefully extend the invitations to me and other teachers, continuing that community feeling I have worked to create for years. Or not.  We shall see.

If your own cup is empty, you’ll have nothing to share with those who around you…

And finally, this concept: I am finally ok with the idea that I must take some time for me. I’ve already begun trying new skills, exploring other creative paths, revisiting past creative paths, and some days, just being.
And as I find cool things that inspire me, challenge me in a healthy way, or excite me < yeah, if you know me, you understand the hyperbole of that phrase, but hopefully will allow for some degree of “excitement”- at least in my writing about it>, I’ll be sharing those adventures here or in my other social media places!

Happy seasonal greeting.
It was that time of year again last night as we came together dance, laugh, get all sparkly and party.
This is my Thanks to all post, and I’m pretty tired – it’s 5 a.m. the next day. So it will be brief.
General thanks and kudos goes out to all of the students who performed  – it’s never easy to bare yourself to the public < but it’s not that kind of show…>, so I hope you all were as comfortable as possible at our little shindig.
Thanks to the host teachers who accept my invitation to bring their classes and sometimes themselves out to share their skills as choreographers, improvisors, and guides for those who study with them.  And for the work you do to help with the show – dealign with tickets, herding the cats, getting them all prettied up and encouraging them to hit the stage, or just come out to watch their classmates.
The rogues are also most appreciated !  You soloists and duets who are either in between the ranges – you are an advanced student working on your own thing, you are a teacher looking to get creative beyond the expectations of your regular curriculum, or you are guest teachers who are able to come out and shine for us – thanks you all too.
I was contemplating how much I delegate/ should delegate/ find it hard to delegate. And I realized that for years, a core group of amazing OCCP crew have already been quietly undermining my sense of ” I must control everything”.  These ladies take charge of the tasks they have chosen to do at the OCCP and have made the night one where I can actually host.  I run around, checking on superfluous things and chat.  So thank you to Linda, Erika, Catharine, Laura, Michele, Safiya and Annie.
Without you offering very specific things that you can take on, I would not find it an easy thing to ask people. So thanks for figuring out that way to help that makes it easy on me!
And the folks who are stepping up to offer, but are never sure what might need to be done, thank you as well! Even if I did not constantly keep you busy, it really helps knowing that folks are ready to step up as needed and make the operation run smoothly! Tina, Cat, Cassandra, Tracy, andI am sure there were more of you asking if you could be of assistance – thank you!
Rogue photographers – thank for joining us for our colourful evening – we cannot wait to see the shots you get!  The flickr group  is set up https://www.flickr.com/groups/occp36/  so we can share them privately! Linda, Ivy, Tom and Robert your shots will preserve our memories of this fun time! And if anyone else got amazing shots of the evening your photos will be welcome too.
Tom – thanks for being my rock at home, listening to my rants and helping keep me on track. And of course for providing a video record of the evening .
NOTE: If you forgot to order your dvd, message Info@darnermedia.ca with what group you were in…
There are some lost and found things – I’ll add those later – but if you lost something, let  me know. If  I don’t have it, you’ll want to contact the university directly to see if the tech guys found it after we left.
And thanks to the tech guys! – Denis and JP – were awesome as always.
And I may edit this later to add on the folks I forgot – but thanks everyone!