Geo, My question is…

What do you like to do in your spare time, if you have any. I always find it interesting to hear what choreographers do in their spare time. What’s your weekend schedule like or if you take vacations, what do you like to do?

Aretha, Dallas, TX

Spare time??? What's that??? LOL... Spare time is definitely hard to come by these days. I think anyone who owns a dance studio, or has as a thriving career would agree. Running a business while trying to stay focused and creative in the classroom is probably my biggest challenge. On top of my regular dance studio work, choreography and schedule, I still try to stay on top of the dance industry and my choreography outside the studio. Right now I am working on a couple different projects which I try to schedule before the studio opens, or late at night when we close. In turn it makes for long work days. A bonus is having a great facility to offer artists to rehearse in instead of having to travel to a rental studio in NYC. 

My weekdays are pretty hectic and busy. As far as weekends, I am currently traveling and teaching on a couple big dance conventions, Showstopper and Hollywood Vibe. I love to teach at conventions and work with talent across the country. It is refreshing to step out of the studio element for a couple days and teach in a different setting. Conventions host hundreds of dancers in a weekend so the energy is very different. As a matter of fact, I'm headed to Dallas in a few weeks with Showstopper, one of my favorite places, I'm a huge Dallas Cowboy fan!!! I love connecting with the kids on the road and seeing their excitement, but it also makes me appreciate my students back home at ICON. The teaching part is easy, the traveling is the hard part. Last weekend I taught 4 hours but traveled 13... you can do the math =)  What I'll try to do is sometimes tie in a small vacation into a work trip. If I am teaching in a nice place I will extend the trip and stay a few extra days to relax if I don't need to get back to the studio right away. 

Spare time usually comes at holidays, which I love love love! It means relaxing time with my family. Family dinners have always been one of my favorite things. One thing my Mom always made sure of was that we sat as a family and ate together, especially during the holidays. This is something that many families don't get to do these days with such hectic schedules, it's difficult. 

I don't watch much TV, as much as I would like to. I try to catch a Cowboy or Yankee game when time allows. No reason for TIVO, I'll never catch up! I love to go to the movies, get a popcorn with butter and a Coke with lots of ice!!! Yum! I just can't remember the last movie I went to, LOL. Although, I am going to see Michael Jackson's "THIS IS IT" next week ... I can't wait! 

I'm better off without spare time because I would probably go to the mall and shop all the time. I love sneakers... and clothes... a big part of Hip Hop culture of course. When you dress the part, you usually feel even better about your style and performance so I try to stay on top of my sneaker game! 

Someday when more spare time is possible I hope to get back to drawing and painting. I have always had a passion for drawing. It is very relaxing to me and takes me away from the everyday. But I must thank dance and choreography for letting me paint a picture and bring it to life through movement. Dance still allows me to be artistically creative in a different way. 

I think it is important for all of us to take some "me" time. Life is overwhelming, we get very caught up in the everyday and sometimes forget about ourselves. Take a moment, or a few moments and make it about you. We are constantly on the grind and sometimes forget about the things we really enjoy doing that don't require a deadline. We put them aside and sometimes forget they are there. 

Thank you Aretha for reminding me about some of the "me" things that I have put aside... I am going to try and find time to revisit them.

GO COWBOYS!!!

GEO

"BE ICONic"