my story
I am a seeker. My curiosity and adventuresome spirit have led me to Ireland, Germany, Austria, Italy, San Francisco, South Africa, Israel, Russia, Belarus, China, Canada, Mexico, New Orleans, and back home again. I am a nomad, a bohemian, a sojourner. Along the way I have tasted delicious food, listened to the delightful lilt of foreign languages, kissed the Blarney Stone, cycled through Munich, ridden a gondola, cycled through the mist on the Golden Gate Bridge, hiked Table Mountain and picnicked at sunset, visited the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, wandered the streets of Moscow and Minsk, walked upon the Great Wall, danced along the beaches of Tulum, paraded in the krewe of Orpheus, and come to trust in the kindness of strangers. The world is actually a beautiful and inviting place, despite the daily news and our fearful mindsets.
No journey, however, is without its challenges. And I have taken a couple of hard falls, some urgent wake-up calls. “Curiosity killed the cat,” and my risky behavior has had some negative consequences. “Fiercely Fragile” is a reminder to myself. It is a recognition of the great power that is always available to us. We are indeed fierce. My favorite line of Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata describes it best: “You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars, and you have a right to be here.” God is I am, and we are.
“Fiercely Fragile” also reminds me of my vulnerability, my humility. At twenty-three, I discovered that I am not invincible, that I am not immune to universal laws. It is by the grace of God that I exist, and by grace alone. We are the recipients of incredible gifts. We have not earned them; we do not deserve them. And yet, we are blessed by a thousand divine, benevolent hands guiding gently through the unknown path.
“Fiercely Fragile” is the title of the first piece I ever choreographed. It reminds me of my relationship to the Great Creator. It is an invitation to join that sacred ancestral dance that has no end.