Ven a Sevilla

Such a beautiful city. Sometimes I forget how nice it is to live here. I am struggling very hard right now in life. Feeling completely blocked. Not just in dancing but also as to how to manage my everyday life. I have somehow lost access to my creativity and sparkle and know only how to judge myself. I want to change this. The process is long, one step forward, two steps back. 

But now is the time. Please think of me, friends!

Half time

Calle Pimienta, Sevilla

Yesterday marked the end of my first half here at the Centro de Arte. The first 4.5 months are over!

After having serious doubts a month ago (already? Time flies so quickly!), I braced myself and plunged headfirst into the program. I have been trying to live life day by day. Some say it's the only way to live anyway. But since I live alone, there are also household issues, groceries, meal plans etc. to juggle with and which require some forethought if I don't want to be eating junk all the time or not having the clean clothes I need.

Some classes are great, some are not so good. But that's okay. I'm here to learn and take what I can. I realized that we are given 2 full hours worth of new material every week. So there's no way I can fully practice all of that anyway. I'm actually relaxing a bit now!

Hoever, our schedule has drastically increased since last Monday, because our class is preparing for a show! We have been given the chance to perform during a fundraising event on the third of March. We are very excited and have started to learn a group choreography - my first experience dancing as a 'company'. The task ahead is a bit daunting - not even three weeks left and a hard choreography to learn. I am currently spending more then 30 hours a week at school! But the group energies are good and we are having fun. 

Also, my beloved dad and his lovely partner are here for a one-week visit. We are planning to leave Sevilla for the weekend and go explore Sanlúcar, Cádiz and maybe even Gibraltar. Very happy about that! :)

Spot the orange

They're everywhere. I went on an orange-hunting photo tour the other day. It was fun! I love their vibrant colors on the pictures. Sevilla wouldn't be the same without them.

Too bad they're not sweet - they're bitter and used for marmalade. This actually inspires my to try to make some - have never made bitter orange marmalade before. Must ask my grandmother for the recipe. :)

Sometimes they meet a bitter end - ripped open by tourists. Splatted flat by car tires. They almost seem alive! They go hiding. They have group meetings. They go swimming. They pretend they are dogs. They go meddle in construction sites. They listen to music. They bask in the sunlight. Who knows what mischief they're up to at night?

Lunares

All right guys. You keep telling me how crazy I am with my obsession about red things with white polka dots. But I've finally met my match in polka dot craziness. 

I give you artist Yayoi Kusama.

Yayoi Kusama. Photo from here

Dots Obsession 2004. Photo from here

Ascension of Polkadots on the Trees 2006. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Yayoi Kusama is an over 80 years old conceptual artist from Japan and has been painting polka dots since the age of ten. She struggles with mental illness and lives in a health institution by choice. I'm fascinated by this woman. Her latest work, "Obliteration Room", is on currently on exhibit in Australia:

The Obliteration Room 2011. Photo from here