PHOTOS: Happy 2009 :)

I danced into 2008 with reckless abandon. By Spring I was ready to return to the comfort of myself and quiet...

I got so quiet that I took a break from writing, salsa dancing, podcasting and playing the piano. Its now 2009 and the most important place to me is the quiet that I find in my solitude.

To begin writing again...

And being myself again...

The borders of jnetsworld have stretched to new horizons. There are not enough words to express who I am now. But perhaps in pictures....

Snapshots of 2008...


My solitude found a family. (above: E, C and M)

My place was no longer only about my music and rehearsals. I danced for pure enjoyment to be with my friends to laugh and play. I am normally not as social as these three have drawn me out and stretched me. These three created the salsa dancer I am today... all great teachers, technique perfectionists, and friends ... who have made permanent marks into my heart and soul.. as well as a permanent home in jnetsworld :)

I learned how to make art with flips of laughter somersaults of silliness. I didn't miss my solitude. I didn't miss writing. The world fell apart in little ways with tiny dramas along the way... like disagreeable roommates... not having enough students. But I had my loyal friends and an energetic front line.

Spring 2008 was a wild garden. Jnetsworld was LIVELY and growing.


Work and play came to a new level. And salsa opened to expanding my love of photography. C was working on a friend's project and together we had good work chemistry. In turn, pulling the volume down on salsa and working me to a balance. I took lots of pictures... and I still didn't miss my solitude. Podcasting went on break... blogging went on break... new connections and roads were made.


My world of notes and words expanded into color. Friendships grew into creative bonds and projects were born. Jnetsworld's art is part of so many other worlds. So many new friends came into my quiet world this past year...



"Facebook ME." Became the hello to people that impressed themselves upon me.

Salsa dancing evolved to an at-home-only-with-friends activity. I danced only at KNL rehearsaI, saving my energy to concentrate on performing at the Ford. I had 6 hours at least of rigorous dancing during the hot summer months. I attempted podcasting but hit upon so many technical difficulties with the computer, phones and headsets.

I was writing and podcasting... but in my head and drafted thoughts collected in my archives... or became canned. The Ford performance was a sold-out success though.


Beyond dancing and photography. I sought to speak beyond my blog... beyond podcasting. I stepped away from my safe internet world and joined Toastmasters. Again, stretching myself away from solitude. I missed practicing the piano. I missed writing. But I was up to new things.


The question came up often....Where is my writing and podcasting? Where is the mathematician? I once blogged to document life. But I got caught up in so many different things and a mulitude of thoughts marched through my head... but I never sat down to really tie them down with my words. And a certain sensibility left me. Where did I leave my words, my reflections?

All on the backburner... Yes, I felt that tinge of "missing" but I was on an adventure that I know will lead me back to home.


In the space of new friends, my royal court of friends who have been with me through the years grew with me Thoughts were sorted through quick text messages. I am still so busy that the best way to reach me is via email or text messaging.

Busy with my work, my projects, my rehearsals, my friends and then of course ... my family.

A family with nieces and nephews... many brand new :) A family of brothers and sisters in law... a family with a mom who had two surgeries and a year of physical therapy. 2008 was intense and beautiful in the family front.


And it made me wonder....

Can I do all the things I love to do and build a kingdom for myself like my brothers??? I stretch my thoughts on salt shakerhood as I flirt with couplehood. I could be happy with work and solitude... and I could be happy in other ways too. I learned to look beyond that world called friendship. Through dance, someone wanted to show me a glimpse of the possibilities in his mind.


Love and life always teaches...one to grow... I am having a good and terrible time figuring out how my dreams will look like in the future...

I know I can always be happy with my world as it is... Full of friends, family, love, fun, adventures in work and play. That I still think of solitude and I think of me.

It is 2009... I am back to writing... and shortly to podcasting....

The mathematician did return .. by the way...after I shared with him the vision I was growing in my world, he thought it was a good time to say hello.. I have a couple of hellos on the go :) My mind is spinning with wonder... I can only hope to write more often to make sense of my world.


What makes sense for my world is the continuing journey. I am still playing with my color, with my music, with my words and with my dance.


2009 is going to be lots of fun...

I love watching life unfold. It's beautiful... isn't it? Happy New Year.

JNET

PHOTO: Obituary of a Teddy

*as written by gordonopolous



TEDDY. Passed away July 4, 2008 at the age of one and a half weeks.

Teddy was a lifelong Los Angeles resident, born into a modeling career and faithfully served as an inspiration to the Women's group for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Manhattan Ave branch. With his talent and cute, cuddly looks, he effortlessly won a role as a demonstration for a cake decorating class held at the church.

He was then scheduled to travel to an Eagle Rock bowling alley to serve as a going away gift to a friend of the church, but that assignment never materialized due to an error by his creator in which he was inadvertently left behind and forgotten. He never recovered from this traumatic event.

After retiring, he served the remainder of his days in nearby Studio City, at the home of fellow Christians, where he became a centerpiece for their kitchen table. His realism and outgoing personality easily won him many friends and he became quite popular in his final days. He suffered from perishability, and after struggling for many days, his tired body gave out and he succumbed peacefully on the Fourth of July at 7:00 p.m., among many friends who grew to love him during his short but meaningful life.

He is survived by a small container of frosting, still in refrigeration at his former church home.

His cute face will be missed by all that knew him.

Memorial and interment services will be private.

PHOTOS: The Silence of Me

My life is a constant celebration of challenge and thankfulness that it only makes sense that the parades and toastings meet their balance in the silence that is me.

My birthday this year has been phenomenal thus far... the challenges that are put up against my heart makes me wonder if I will burst. My car is broken and stalled in San Diego and I am using my mother's car in the meantime. Mom just had surgery and is on the mend staying with my brothers. She was having a terrible time over it and was awful to take care of over Mother's Day Weekend... She's much better now but not without jumping some hurdles.

Romancing LA is now podcasting 3 midnights a week at blogtalkradio so that I may practice more rigorously my public speaking skills while balancing out my teaching practice and personal fun time on a pin. I have yet to grow my discipline with writing... to eventually publish that book of mine.

Laughter... and lots of it personify the spirit of my family and friends. There's not much room for misery even though there are cars to fix and bills to pay. The sudden advances of a friend from the past caught me off guard but the attentions of XYZ trump all efforts.

I've face painted, danced, toasted, played and power relaxed in spaces of minutes in order to fit everything in... that it comes as a welcome haven to meet my silence once again to write, play the piano, nap, garden and reflect to catch my breath.

I miss no one when I dive into the depth of my thoughts. Today is Monday, May 19th and I am enjoying the first day of silence to myself for the month. My greatest memories are appreciated when the parade is allowed to quiet itself down and enjoy thankfulness in silence.

JNET

PHOTOS: Angelic Babies and Naughty Mommies

I attended my first ever 1-year-old birthday bash, my niece's. I brought G along to share the special day with and to gleefully generate a bit of scandalous stares. (No, he's NOT my boyfriend... and yes, I know he's totally HOT but if you're interested in him, he's one of the best human beings I know that walk this earth and he is available.)

Baby R seemed to have a happy day. I don't think she realized the reason for all the people hugging and kissing her was to celebrate her. But there was one moment while everyone gathered to sing happy birthday to her... there seemed to come a second of recognition when awe and delight came across her eyes that the cake, candle, clown and 100 guests was all for her. She even looked quite touched by the sentiment.

She, of course, in her baby attention span forgot about it within 30 seconds.

I caught up with many friends and family extensions during the party. My brother's celebration of his new baby and sweet wife brought many folks we haven't seen since the wedding. Meanwhile, other cousins and such brought their brand new babies as well. The house was swimming with joyful cuteness.

A childhood friend even dressed up as a clown and did his magic act as well as created balloon animals but the crowd was yet too young that he entertained US big kids, teaching us how to do the magic tricks and sharing his experience with clown training. I made sure to go all out with getting my face painted and got a watch and ring painted on myself and wore the biggest balloon hat creation that he created.

As for the naughty mommies....

The babies were adorable and a household of newbie parents was charming. The naughty mommie was mi madre; the queen matriarch herself, of whom I have some concerns.

How did I turn into the parent?

Anyway, mom is hanging out with a new crowd and is getting a gossipy mean streak with them. She didn't know I could hear her friends and her gab across the room. I rubbed my fingers and gave her the "shame shame shame" symbol to which she came across to me and asked.. "Can you hear us talking, honey?"

"Of course, mom, and you are not talking nice. I don't think you are speaking fairly."

I have yet to connect to mom later this week. I want to think further how to approach her "new mean spirit" of being. If it was me during my teens, she would've grounded me from hanging out with a questionably nefarious crowd....

Anyway, I will be in San Diego again this coming weekend to be with D for his father's funeral. I was happy and surprised to see him at my niece's party though she is his god-daughter. It was good to catch up with him a bit and the circle of bestfriends was complete for my brother. What a circle of devotion!!!

So there, Life is good. Birthday parties, funerals, friends, and family. In the space of inperfection, it is all perfect all the same.

JNET

PHOTOS: J's Bar Mitzvah

by jnetsworld.

The show was a huge success! J gave a performance that will have people buzzing for weeks. And he had a wonderful time which is most important to me. He was fearless, undaunted and poised through out the night and it was beautiful for me to experience my first bar mitzvah. The chief rabbi of Israel even flew in to bless the evening and welcome J into his spiritual adulthood. I loved learning about a culture that is particularly into mysticism, celebrating thankfulness and kindness.

These are the pictures of my student J (in fedora hat) and his friend, the boy next door, along with me and the rest of his tutors.




Teaching is such a pleasure. I also had a fun time hanging out with J's other tutors. I hardly get to see my collegues that are J's guitar teachers. It was good to catch up. And J's dance tutors were a fun and silly energy to have a giggle with.

JNET

PHOTOS: An Afterward of KNL's Habing Sayawit

I celebrated my first Christmas party with KNL last weekend. It had been nearly a month since I've seen them last. It was very nice to not be on concert mode and it was the first time I had been able to relax and have our hair down (literally... I haven't seen how many of the girls look like with their hair down!)



My brother took loads of pix and you may find them at this link ... I believe all the links are now in working order. If you want to see the pictures blogged thus far you may find them here. Act TWO's page has a link to take you back to ACT ONE... The pictures below are later additions plus our recent Christmas party... Enjoy.

JNET :)
















"It is not a question of who dances

but of who or what does not dance."


My friends adored the dance concert. My family is ecstatically proud and I can't wait to go for another year and see my new friends again.

To be part of this work is a very special experience. It is spiritual, emotional, and mentally demanding as well as rewarding.

"Prayer does not use up artificial energy,

doesn't burn up any fossil fuel, doesn't pollute.

Neither does song, neither does love,

neither does the dance."

"The real message of the Dance opens up the

vistas of life

to all who have the urge to express beauty

with no other instrument than their own bodies,

with no apparatus and nodependence on anything

other than space."

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."

"When you dance,

your purpose is not to get to a certain place

on the floor.

It's to enjoy each step along the way."

"To dance is to be out of yourself.

Larger, more beautiful, more powerful.

This is power, it is glory on earth and

it is yours for the taking."

"Many people are shy

when it comes to getting

out on a dance floor.

Dancing is an activity that...

reveals your inner self,

whether you like it, or know it, or not.

It is hard to fake it on a dance floor."

"Happiness, that grand mistress of the ceremonies

in the dance of life,

impels us through all its mazes and meanderings,

but leads none of us by the same route."

"He who would learn to fly one day

must first learn to stand

and walk and run and climb and dance;

one cannot fly into flying."

"Think of the magic of that foot, comparatively small,

upon which your whole weight rests.

It's a miracle, and the dance is a celebration of that miracle."

"We learn by practice.

Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing

dancing or to learn to live by practicing living,

the principles are the same.

One becomes in some area an athlete of God."

"I see dance being used

as communication

between body and soul,

to express what it too deep

to find for words."

"It was character that got us out of bed,

commitment that moved us into action,

and discipline that enabled us

to follow through."

2006 is going to be a great year!!!

PHOTOS: ACT TWO KNL .. Creation and Connection

Hello Friends,

Here are the photos from the second half of our show.. With many thanks to my brother and friends who've forwarded pictures to me. Be sure to check out the first half of the show too... and if any friends have photos that they would love me to include in my blog, please forward them to me... I would love to share them.

Many thanks to my family and friends... my new friends from KNL.. all your support and encouragement create a clearing in me making possible who I am and want to be..

Cheers :)

JNET





















ACT TWO:

SCENE 1: CREATION

Inspiration,

Creation,

Tribute


ALAGAD NG SINING

Kayaman Ng Lahi pays tribute to four Filipino artist icons who, by their vision, creativity and body of work, have defined the field of Philippine dance through their unique yet complementary achievements and successes. These "Alagad ng Sining," translated as workers of the arts, have truly excelled in preserving and presenting the rich and diverse culture of the Philippines. Their contributions serve as a consciousness that inspires us to continue this cultural celebration and journey into self and nation. They have inspired us to learn from the past and present in order to build our future.

Habing Sayawit means togetherness. The different regions, times, religions, and more put into one two-hour show. This shoud be interesting....

Janeil A.

Lucrecia Reyes Urtula / Bayanihan

Pattong / Vinta

Singkil

Francisca Reyes-Aquino & Jovity "Tita Betty" Sison Friese & Fil - Am Family

Pasikat Na Baso

Binoyugan

Rice Festival

Tinikling


Ramon Obusan /

Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group

Sugod Uno

Kadal Taho

Takiling

Ragragsakan

Jota Paragua

Bilang pagtangkilik at pasasalamat, sa lahat ng nagbigay inspirasyon, tanglaw na ilaw at karunungan sa aking culturing Pilipino, ito po ay para sa inyo... As my thanksgiving to all who gave me inspiration, vision, and knowledge in my Philippine culture, this concert is for you.

May C.

Born and raised in the United States, KNL helped me to understand more about my Filipino culture. I learned to appreciate who I am and where my parents came from.

Michelle R.

To dance is to create a bridge between soul and body... to express love and passion... respect and beauty....

The meaning of Habing Sayawit symbolizes growth, innovation and evolution.. It is a unique relationship with art and with life. This event and this concept represents art and life coming together as a cycle and a story of soul.

Jed D.

I believe that my culture is an important part of who I am. I joined Kayamanan Ng Lahi to learn more about the Philippine culture and customs. Joining KNL give me pride and fulfillment to be one of the Filipinos preserving our culture.

Sandra M.

This project has taught me to recognize that all aspects of my culture, family, history and myself have always co-existed.

Grace C.



Kayamanan Ng Lahi

Philippine Folk Arts

Celebrating 15 Years of Cultural Legacy

Aratani / Japan America Theatre





Kayamanan Ng Lahi

1990

Founded by Joel Jacinto, Boy Angos, Barbara Ele & Ave Jacinto

Goals: To transform our members through education and presentation






Habing Sayawit is hard work but fun. I learn a lot about my culture through dance and songs. I love my teachers.

R. age 10











Dancing is making a poem with movements rather than words. I am always moved to tears by the beauty and intention of art. You can only be in the moment. To study art, I find that I study being in the moment and through the study of being in the moment, I find myself being in love with my life through all circumstances. Beauty will always shine through in practicing to be connected to passion.




Being present to life, to community... being PRESENT.. is to be one with the force of life... it is during the times that I am not present... when I am floating with my thoughts and insecurities that I experience life as mundane or scary. I experience the power and beauty of life by being involved, by claiming my life from the ticking seconds. I made many mistakes along the way, dancing the wrong steps and playing incorrect notes but I am not committed to my mistakes, I am committed to something bigger than my mistakes...



"Habing Sayawit" - translated as woven dance and song - weaves an array of Philippine dance, song and music into a seamless tapestry of cultural reflection.




















If there was anything I was more present to in my involvement with KNL, it was commitment. In getting to know the dancers and becoming friends, I learned that people in the group were having babies, getting married, going through school, commuted long drives and had FULL lives..






It has been in my experience that busy people committed to great things always find the time to make room for anything of heart value for their life. Commitment is to take on the work of being up to something, not getting stuck in one's self-defeating thoughts and not getting slowed down by anything. Commitment is affirming a love of one's life by doing one's best... and all things are possible with love.








Dance is the hidden language of the soul.




Does beauty come from technique or practice... a formula or the abstraction of passion?

My conducting professor always stated that "life is practice"..

Committing to practice whether to music or dance or learning how to live, I've learned that one can become an athlete of God... every moment becomes a blessing... every experience a present.

10 meaningful years of created passion, passionate intentions, intended connections and clarity of cultural traditions mark a chapter of my moving experience discovering the treasures of my people, and more important, the treasure within.

DS P.

This dance is very special to me, "Ragragsakan." I loved it so much and had the most self-defeating thoughts going through my mind through each rehearsal. I loved singing the chant but struggled with balancing the basket for several months. I did everything in my head to not lose it and cry with self-pity. Listening to loud music after rehearsal and having good talkings to myself, encouraged me...


















I am the newest girl in the company of these seasoned dancers. It is a humbling place to be a beginner; a student... as a music teacher in a new realm, I created my friendships with the youngest members whose fun and teachable spirit inspired me as a learner and I was also encouraged by the welcoming spirit of the seasoned dancers that took time aside to coach me, assure me and make me feel a part of the KNL community.



And here I am ... happy and loving the moment being part of something beautiful.



When I practice music, I don't think of making wrong notes, but during my dance practice I found myself worrying over making a mistake. "Ragragsakan" is a dance that celebrates the daily work of the women that live in the mountain regions of the Philippines. After learning the self-defeating game I had inside my head in learning the dance, I was able to be free to enjoy learning it and to perform it as a celebration of work.




We are all possibilities of beautiful expressions, of love, of passion, of community, of friendship... of any great endeavor we can fathom dreaming...



It was a pleasure to celebrate my humanity.... art... creation... culture... and connection...

And make new friends...

This is the fruit of commitment.









KNL... Kayamanan Ng Lahi Folk Arts