Movement + Music = Magic in Hong Kong

WOW, thanks everyone for the tremendous feedback to the call I made in my last blog post, supporting inspirational, creative women over fifty who are non-existent if we believe the media, and yet in reality, are changing the world.

I said (and you agreed in your droves) that we should cheer each other on and in following this theme, I simply must tell you about my friend Fiona, who never ceases to blow my socks off with her inspiring work. That's her in the picture above, wearing bright green with some of her students in Hong Kong.

Fiona Winter is the Director of her own company called Energy Moves based here in Wales. You've probably guessed that Fiona has dedicated her life to helping literally 1000's of people to connect with the magic of movement.

Her current DVD 'GRACE' is literally touring the world as it not only helps the likes of us to connect with movement, but there is also an instructors/teachers version. It is an 'elegantly crafted piece of movement medicine, designed to take you into a state of uplifting, joyous movement.' 

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GRACE HERE

So, you can imagine my joy in following Fiona's journey, as she is currently sharing GRACE in HONG KONG! Yes, Hong Kong. To think we have a Welsh Woman Creative in her fifties sharing her own Movement & Music routine on the other side of the world and no-one even knows about it! So, I'm setting that straight, here.

So far, Fiona has shared 3 classes and been part of a Ceroc Evening, focusing on connection, connecting to each other, to teachers, to the rest of the world, to the joy of movement.

Here's a little video showing us where one of her classes was held!

The thing is, if we don't hear about each others stories, triumphs, adventures, then we won't know they are happening. We are history in the making and yet still, we are virtually invisible. I can name you straight off, a long list of creative women who are not on the tip of anyone's tongue and yet are doing the most extraordinary things. And this gives me faith, hope, inspiration and drive to step into my own power.

So, well done Fiona,! I celebrate you, I am creatng a platform here to cheer you on, as my creative kindred, as an inspirational woman over 50 ...  and most of all, as my dear friend.

'Heron's Landing' Photo Shoot with Fiona Winter at Quiet Space

My dear friend, Fiona Winter, visited me today at Quiet Space Studio. Fiona is a dancer. She is the Director of Energy Moves and teaches Nia. She is also the most incredible energy worker. 

She asked me to take some photographs for her website and marketing. I love taking photographs. I only use my telephone camera but I find it offers me a flexibility. For this type of shoot I do quite a bit of work in terms of capturing personality & learning about a person's angles. I should add that there is no editing on these shots. They are authentic, real and of the actual moment, not a touched up version of it. That felt important in capturing Fiona.

After Fiona had asked me about doing the shoot, I scrolled through her existing photographs on facebook to study how we could reach the petite yet mighty Fiona: The naughty yet sensitive and empathic Fiona. The wise yet youthful.

The first part of the shoot, I took 50 or more shots of her at different angles whilst telling me a story. This way I can capture movement and enigma, a person's flow. We studied these shots together to discuss the angles that best capture her on camera. We then went to try these out against a backdrop that represents the spirit of Fiona.

Energy Moves is fluid and constant like the river, evergreen like the ivy, ever changing yet the same, like the sky ... I took Fiona to a place on the Teifi River where Heron's come to land. I go there a lot to watch them nest. With her winged scarf, it seemed the perfect location, it has everything that is Fiona. The Teifi has been inhabited since before time, it is ancient and wise, beautiful and powerful, it can appear light yet is deep and flooding.

And this shot below is my Fiona, my darling friend. I choose it because it's all about the depth and smile of her eyes.

What a wonderful afternoon at Heron's Landing, where grown ups can play as if they were still children, which off course, we are.

Dancing for Friendship : 1 Giant Leap

Sam Collins: Creative Artist

Whilst tucked away in New Quay on cat sitting duty/retreat, 3 friends popped in to visit me. One of them was The Dream Catcher from an earlier blog, my beautiful friend Sam Collins.

She was fresh back from a weekend with Jamie Catto (Faithless) who was one of the producers 1 Giant Leap, an amazing  project travelling the world for 6 months talking with and recording/filming musicians to edit into the most beautiful global film.

Sam went on Jamie's weekend and it sounds AMAZING!

One of the things that really caught me was a visualisation excercise that he did with them, asking them to think of their project and stating exactly what you want to happen with it ... no holes barred, cast away low expectations and modesty, ignore that which seems impossible, just to state exactly what you want, becasue that way the universe is aware, and so are you! (which is one of the same, cos if you think it through, we are the universe)

So, I'm going to have a go at it ... here's my first attempt!

• Dreamworks will contact me and ask to discuss the rights of The Dream Tree to make it into a film!
• I will be asked to come onto TV and Culture Programs to talk about the layers in my production!
• The BBC will contact me and fund me to make the next phase of The Dragon Tree ... I will be contracted to 'Fusion Inspire' all over the world
• I will be offered a publishing contract to make a series of books based on my Fusion Inspire Production
• I will be invited to travel the world recording Dolphin songs and make a global album harmonising with famous choirs and global dolphins
• My songs in the production will become part of everyday consciousness and in hunderds of years time people will still be singing them
• My new folk story will become part of history and people will believe The Dragon Tree has always existed!
• Heavens to Betsy, I will be the next JK Rowling!

Wow .. this is quite good fun! :) It's making me chuckle!! How naughty! Daring to visualise! Give it a go!

Thinking about it, I use to do this a lot when I was little and got told off for being an air head!


Anyways ... before Sam left she turned her msuic on and led me in a Nia Dance routine, just me and her (and Fudge with one eye sleeping) moving and energising to the pulsing rhythms of move specific composition. There's something very special about dancing with a friend. Thanks Sam! I felt completely energised and as she left, my next guest was arriving ...