One Week

Reflecting

With only one week left of my trip, I am starting to look forward to the next few months at home in Seattle, but I am also looking back on all that I have been able to do here in Hamburg.

While here accomplished quite a lot.  I taught my first weekend workshop.  That went so well, that I also started a weekly Authentic Jazz class.  I partnered with this swing club this past month to teach two weekly Lindy Hop classes. I've learned quite a lot of Tap and am excited to keep working on that back home.  I also started German lessons for the first time.  I've picked up a lot so far, but I do plan on taking more when I come back again.  And finally, I created a piece of original choreography, taught that piece to dancers, and last weekend we put the piece on film. It won't be edited and ready for a while, but when it is I will post that too!  On Friday, the dancers and I will perform the piece at the local dance. I think it will be a great way to wrap up my trip, and hopefully when I come back I can pick up where I left off.

So yes, leaving is sad, but I will be back. And I have quite a bit that I can look back on too. In the meantime, I am full of inspiration and anticipation.  I love what I have accomplished so far and am only encouraged for the future.

-Ellen

I Am Three

Thomas has edited together a second video of the show we performed last spring. The show, Drama, was about expressing text through dance. Here, Thomas Marek, Thomas Kolczewski, and Laura Mogalle perform "I Am Three."

Back In Germany

Ellen Murray dances in Drama

I am very excited to be back in Germany for a few months.  It's been a long couple of weeks since I first arrived and I am finally now feeling a little settled.

Jet lag hit me really hard, much harder than it has in the past.  It took me nearly a week and half to get through it.  Somehow though, I've still been able to get a lot done despite the jet lag.

First, I got myself an extended Tourist Visa.  Originally I was applying for a Work Visa but they needed more info (no surprise), but the tourist visa will give me more time to get that all together.

Next, I found a cheap bike so that I can get around more easily. It's actually really cute and I love riding it around Hamburg.

Finally, I've been preparing to teach a Jazz Dance Workshop.  Yesterday was the first day of a two day workshop.  I had so much fun, but am really exhausted.  What I love about this workshop is the diverse background of the students.  Usually  in a work shop like this I'd be teaching fellow swing dancers. But Thomas Marek a tap dance instructor arranged this workshop so in the class I do have swing dancers but I also have tap dancers and a few who have never danced at all.

The photo at the top is from when I was here on my last visit.  I performed in a production put on by Thomas, so some of the students in my class were inspired by seeing me dance in the show!

Today I will teach the second half of the workshop.  I'm looking forward to it.  I know it will be a lot of fun.