Blythely Dancing

I love poetry! I enjoy reading it, writing it, sharing it, using it for teaching and inspiring choreography. What do you use poetry for? Who are your favorite authors? Every day during National Poetry Month (April) 2020 I shared a blog with favorite poems by other authors as well as my own work. Then I created a video to share some of my favorite resources for teachers, parents, and lovers of poetic verse: https://youtu.be/gvlBPVfounI   Correction: I misspoke about which website to go to for what purpose. The Poem-a-Day comes from Poets.org, videos of live poetry reading/recitation are on the Poem.org blog, and the Wild Poetry Forum is a live forum community for sharing and enjoying new works. I hope you enjoy these resources, and please share your favorites in the comments! Websites Poem-a-Day from Poets.org: https://poets.org/poem-a-day Poem.org Blog with Videos: https://wn.com/Poem Wild Poetry Forum: http://wildpoetryforum.com/phpBB3/index.php Books...

Somehow Friday the 13th has always been a positive, good-luck day for me. Maybe it’s my anti-superstitious, contrary nature, but I find that good things tend to come on this day. Well, and most days, since I’m also positive by default. But this blog is to uphold my commitment to checking in weekly on my habits and adventures.  How are my habits going? I have tried various methods of tracking this year, including hard copies (pictured) as well as the Coach.me app for a few months, which was convenient, but not as motivating for me.  What I know about making commitments is that life has a way of jumping up to interrupt. In this case, there was the bicycle tour that I was so looking forward to over the weekend, and after that I came up with a cold and then started up with my German course (more on that soon!) as well as my teaching schedule. So a look at my visual tracker is a peek at a profoundly human experience. It isn’t perfect! But it’s still motivating me to get b...

I have always loved Back to School. After a nice relaxing summer holiday of sunshine, reading, artistic input, inspiration, and travel, having taken time to reflect and assess my goals, I look ahead to a productive autumn leading into celebratory holidays and a fresh new year! Reflection is an important part of my process to ready myself for the coming season, and I enjoy checking in at least several times each year: at the New Year, my birthday (conveniently 6 months later), and then in August/September before the final push.  Having completed my teaching credentials in secondary education/dance and English this spring, and moved abroad this summer, this fall I go back to school for the German language as part of my assimilation effort here in Cologne. Of course, I’m always studying many topics and taking steps on various projects. This Autumn, I’m also back to my blog, and the goal is to check-in here once a week, more for myself than public consumption, although...

Stand/Theme/Keyword for 2018: VISION (2016: Connection & 2017: Service) By "Vision," I mean trusting what I see and perceive, through my senses, intellect, and intuition. Relying on my judgement and input from other trusted sources, gaining perspective to see underlying truths and act in accordance with the greater good. Seeing what is possible in dance and education and empowering others to expand their own capacities. Creative contributions and problem-solving. With an annual stand or theme rather than a list of resolutions, I create not a fix or changes, but a place to come from for the year, asserted on a daily basis. It aligns with my values and is a litmus test for my priorities and activities during the year. Then I revisit my projects and take on what is i n alignment with my Vision, update my commitments and timelines. In 2017 I celebrated many accomplishments, including my second semester of teaching DNCE:131 Beginning Modern Dance at WCC...

Curious what I’ve been up to since I finished my MFA in Dance program last spring? At first I was concerned that since I so loved being a student again that I would miss it horribly. Though I did have a wonderful experience in graduate school, turns out I’ve also been having a fantastic time developing professionally and personally as well as traveling this past year! I’ve been lucky to be dancing and teaching a lot, including serving as an adjunct professor at Hawaii Tokai International College, teaching at The Movement Center, Page Academy of Dance, and Island Tumblers Gymnastics, and substitute teaching at Mid-Pacific School of the Arts. In the Fall, I was honored to perform in “Midnight Moon” with the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble for their 40th Anniversary celebration, Ten Ten , at the Hawai‘i Theater. At Hawaii Tokai International College I designed and led a college class, HPER150: Introduction to Dance, for mostly ELA students from Japan, covering dance techniques, history, con...

I'm now sharing my Teaching Values Statement on my website, along with an updated version of my CV and am interested in providing mutual feedback with other dance educators and teaching artists. What do you think is important in teaching and what are your strengths as an educator? How do you frame your experiences when applying for funding and employment?  http://blythecs.wix.com/blythe-stephens

My stand for 2016 is connection, so I'm reaching out, sharing what I'm up to, and welcoming contact and support. For up-to-date information about my artistic and professional work, please also see my other websites: Wix- blythecs.wix.com/blythe-stephens  Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/A-Blythe-Coach-159204794109227/  LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/blythekirkpatrick Twitter- ablythecoach I'm currently working on my online presence, aligning and updating my profiles, portfolio, and writing. I hope to soon share more samples of my work, such as syllabi, lesson plans, student work, and recent references, testimonials, and evaluations. Stay tuned for more dancing and coaching fun to come!

I absolutely love the positive “It Gets Better” campaign that has arisen from the tragic deaths of gay teens who have experienced brutal bullying. It is not right for young lives, who have so much ahead of them, be lost! Yet it is easy to lose sight of possibility in the face of so much hurt. The "It Gets Better" message is relevant to all sorts of young people, not exclusively those who have been bullied for being queer, although that can be particularly tough- any kind of difference can bring ridicule. To have so many people speaking out about what gifts maturing has brought them is an exciting shift for a youth-centric culture. In their messages, the celebrities and everyday people are sharing how they celebrate what growing up brings, how they've had the courage to embrace who they really are, and how they've created a supportive community, pursued their passions, found love, etc. Recently I’ve been lucky enough to be helping a small alternative high schoo...

The fireworks have burst, champagne corks popped, folks resolved to make exciting changes in their lives… and I have reflected, envisioned, committed, and eaten my black eyed peas. What does your New Year process look like? This New Year, I took stock of the last year’s accomplishments and challenges in creating my vision and practices for the future, as well as a bit further back, reading through old journals and notes back to 2004. 2010 was one of my most eventful and challenging yet, and in some areas I have been disappointed with my progress. Happily, taking just a slightly longer view revealed that I have been moving on an upward spiral towards my dreams, even with the tough times of life along the way, and some out and out failures! I continue to get more clear about what I want, and move step by step, of course stumbling and trying again, toward it. Here are some particularly relevant bits of my reflections and milestones over the last 7 years: February 2004- “I fee...

West Hawaii Dance Theatre Offers January Ballet Classes with West Hawaii Dance Academy Alumna BLYTHE STEPHENS January 22,24 & 29, 2011 Blythe began her dance education at WHDT from the age of 5-16, going on to graduate from North Carolina School of the Arts. She holds a BA in Philosophy from Whitman College and performed extensively with Whitman Dance Theatre and Whitman Dance Productions. Now residing in Portland, OR, she is the President of the Dance Coalition of Oregon, performs with Mythobolus Mask Theatre and The Dolly Pops, and teaches ballet at the Collins View Dance and Arts Center. Saturday Schedule 11:00-12:30pm Ballet Technique 12:30-1:30pm Pointe 1:30-2:00pm Performance Group Monday Schedule 3:30-4:15pm Ballet Ages 7-8 4:15-5:15pm Ballet ages 9+ 5:15-6:30pm Ballet III/IV 6:30-7:15pm Performance Group Phone (808)329-8876 West Hawaii Dance Theatre...

“Blythe’s approach is direct and kind.  Working with Blythe is a weekly reminder that I am in the driver’s seat of my life.  She listens for the awesome essence in her clients and supports that, reminding them to move in life towards what makes them shine.”  - JM “I can clearly see the many ways in which our time together benefited me: I routinely use and stick to an online budget to keep myself financially accountable; I regularly attend faith services and continue to grow on my spiritual journey; I go antiquing on the weekends and practice my armchair appraisal skills in preparation for an auctioneering career; and I have taken the much needed step of seeing a naturopath, which has had a profound effect on my energy levels.  None of the above were practices of mine before Blythe.  Blythe also made an observation about the way I approach stressful situations which has grown into a profound revelation for me and has really changed the way I approach prob...

Coaching Life coaching supports people in creating unprecedented results in their lives.  This can be in any area of life: career, relationships, leadership, spirituality, finance, health, and creativity.  Ontological  coaching defined Ontology is the area of metaphysics that has to do with being.  What this means in our work together is that we address your goals and actions ( doing ) in the foreground, while attending to the impact of where you’re coming from in your life ( Being ) on your results. Role of the coach The role of the coach is to provide perspective and facilitate insight and action.  My strengths are providing that kind of perspective and support with energy, enthusiasm, and passion.  Also, if you find yourself saying “I want what she’s having!” that’s a great indicator that a coaching partnership could be for you.  Let’s talk and see if there’s a fit! Many of my clients seek powerful...