It's My Job: A Redefinition

Gooood afternoon everyone 🌤
Happy Monday!

Here are today's thoughts. . . 

It's time I grab hold of my life. There are too many things at play, too many obstacles to let get in the way. Strength doesn't grow on trees, and so I've learned that I have to find it within myself somehow. I say all of this because as a student, and an artist, I'm given many opportunities to throw in the towel. To give up, or to say no. To give less than my best. But I've learned that no matter what, I have to keep going. I have to keep pushing myself. I can't let my emotions drag me down, or my mentality grow negative. It's my job to redefine who I am, what I represent, and to steer myself back on track. I have to be patient with myself, my growth, and my progress. I have to recognize what isn't working, and what is. The adjustments I need to make, and what needs to change. It's my job to stay interested, stay engaged, and stay open. If there are a million voices in my head telling me to stop, I have to create that one voice to drown all those others out. I have to be my own support, my own foundation, my own ground to stand tall on. It's my job to know when to move, and when to be still. When to hold on, and when to let go. Life is about balance, and it's my job to define what that means for me. We will always be "figuring it out" in life. Once you know it all, you might as well be dead. There is way too much out there to see, feel, and experience, for someone to claim that they know it all. This world is much too big a place for ignorance to take root. It is my job to stay creative. To redefine myself and the world around me.

Peace & love,

MSB 

P.S. SAVE THE DATE >>> SUNDAY, Sept 24th !!

WHAT: Contemporary Open Class w/ MIKE ESPERANZA 

WHEN: 7:30pm-9:30pm

WHERE: PMT Studio 69 West 14th St New York,NY 

Only $10! 

Stay tuned for upcoming posts! 

Visit our website for more info! Movedipr.org

Follow us on instagram! @movedipr @difned @msb.words 

Inspiration Anyone?

Hi everyone,
Coming to YOU all this week for some much needed inspiration🙏🏽
As artists, it is our job to feed off one another and to gather as many ideas as we can to further enhance our work. Yes, dancing is a performing art, but it is also an invaluable form of communication. It is a language. And so, I'm coming to you. What have you all been thinking about lately? What's been bothering you? What is upsetting? Has anything been just eating away at your soul? Your conscience? Feeling stuck? Unable to create? Comment your thoughts below or message us directly at one of the pages listed! Let us know what you'd like to see more of! Let's talk about it. Let's investigate. This is an open space for all.    

Peace, love, & prayers,

MSB

P.S. SAVE THE DATE!! >> FIRST MD OPEN CLASS!! 

When: Sunday, 9/17 @ 7-9pm

Where: 218 W 57th St 

Only $12!! 

Stay tuned for upcoming posts! 

Visit our website for more info! >> Movedipr.org 

Follow us on instagram! +move DIPR! @difned @movedipr 

Power as a Tool, Not a Weapon

Sooo.. I think the problem is power. We want too much of it. We don’t get enough of it. Whatever it may be. I think it is within our nature as human beings to seek positions of authority or power. So actually the problem isn’t power itself but rather what people do with it. But here’s the thing: it's not others that we should be seeking power over, it’s ourselves.

          The moment that we seek power over others, we put ourselves at an unfortunate disadvantage because we are trying to accomplish something that isn’t meant to be done. I've watched too many people seek power over others because they don't know how to take control of their own lives. Human beings were never meant to dominate. They were meant to share, to collaborate, and to learn and grow from each other. Power creates divides. Power instills fear. People cannot prosper or thrive or be their best selves if they are living in fear. If there are powerless. Look at the black man. Why else do we see him angry? Why else do we see him distraught? As a criminal? Living in fear destructs the soul. It paralyzes passion and it exhausts the human spirit. And sometimes it can be inescapable. If we are overcome with fear, we cannot create. We cannot love. We cannot live.   

Peace & love,

MSB

Stay tuned for upcoming posts!

Visit movedipr.org for more info about the organization!

Follow us on Instagram! @movedipr @difned

Patience

       What I'm learning is patience. This past week, I was given many opportunities to get frustrated, and I did. And it brought me to a very toxic state of mind. The political climate of the world is really taking its toll on me, and as a woman of color, it's near impossible to avoid it. Oppression is real, and so are its effects. We're given every reason to be angry. And to carry that anger with us wherever we go. But if we neglect to give ourselves what we need, the situation becomes much, much worse. 

        As an advocate for social change, I'm learning when to take a step back and realize that I can't do it all. Now more than ever, I need to handle my emotions so that it doesn't affect work. I need to keep myself on track. I can't afford to be so overcome with pain that I can no longer create. And so I guess I'm writing this as a part of that moving-forward process. 

       My takeaway from this past week is to be kind to myself. Pain can fuel art, but it shouldn't drive it. Now is the time to heal and move forward into something new. Something deeper. 💪🏽 Have a good week everyone! :) 

Peace & love,

MSB

Stay tuned for upcoming posts!

Visit movedipr.org for more info about this incredible organization!

Follow us on Instagram! @movedipr @difned 

Out of the Dark and Into the Light

      So here I am. Laying in my bed, reflecting on another week passed, and another week to come. Not going to lie, these past few weeks have been full of ups and downs, and I’ve really been thinking about a lot. Mainly dance, art, relationships, love, and my role in the world. All of our roles, really. And how all of these precious things are connected. One of the things I’ve come to realize is that no matter how hard or difficult it gets, no matter how heavy the weight on our shoulders may feel, we just have to keep going. And that that struggle of pulling ourselves out of dark places every now and again, is part of what makes us human, and what gives greater meaning to our art. I for one know what it feels like to not be able to create anymore, to have no desire at all, and to  really be in a dark place. But, I’ve found that I just need to sit with those feelings and embrace them.
     SO.... as summer comes to a close and a new chapter emerges, I’m seeing things with fresh eyes. Now that the eclipse has come and gone, I see that transformation is among us, if we stay open to it. In fact, I’m not sure that art would even exist if it weren’t for some need to release parts of our soul. The parts that ache, and need to express pain and passion in whatever way possible. The turmoil of the world around us, the hate, the violence of the present day, are all what make art essential. They’re what make it that much more real. Art is active, art is healing, art is open. And art is new each and every day. More importantly, it has given me every reason to love more, and deeper. To learn when to fight, and when to let go. Which I'll probably be mastering for the rest of my life.

Guess that’s it for now. Until next time! :)

Peace & love,

MSB

P.S. I will now be posting every MONDAY. So stay connected to see where diprVOICE goes next :)

Also, **DATE TO SAVE >>> A DIPR Contemporary Wkshp !! LABOR DAY (Sunday, September 4th) 6-9pm @ Gibney Dance (280 Broadway) 

Stay tuned for upcoming posts!

Visit movedipr.org for more info about this incredible organization!

Follow us on Instagram! @movedipr @difned

Share your thoughts below!! We want to hear from YOU!

Nothing to Lose, So Much to Gain

           Good morning beautiful people! ☀ I’m here this morning to talk a little bit about expectations. We all have them. Some of us think we should lower ours. Others live by the mantra of having none. But expectations can be a good tool for success, if used properly. It begins with control. So much of what we gain out of experiences depends entirely on what we're willing to put into them. What we are willing to give of ourselves. Because here's an ugly truth: nothing is guaranteed in this career. Rarely will things be given to you other than constructive criticism, advice, guidance for navigating the industry, etc. So this is where you must take control and put in the work. Match the opportunities you're given with the effort you put in.

I get it. It can be discouraging at times. This is why it's important to remember that only you have the power to control the outcome of your progress, as a human being and as an artist. And only you know your own body. You know what you need to do in order to be able to give 100%. And you know on which days you won’t be that. But if we enter spaces with a willingness to learn, to create, and to grow, our experiences will begin to change. Having an openness as an artist is one of the best things you can have. A willingness to be vulnerable, accept fear, and push past it. This becomes crucial as we engage with one another as humans, and enter spaces to make art and share movement. Always be willing to move deeper!! -- Just my two cents. Happy Hump Day! J

Peace & love,

MSB

P.S. SAVE THE DATE >>> A DIPR Contemporary Wkshp !!

When: LABOR DAY (Sunday, September 4^th) 6-9pm @ Gibney Dance (280 Broadway)  

Stay tuned for upcoming posts!

Visit movedipr.org for more info about this incredible organization!

Follow us on Instagram! @movedipr @difned

Different

Good morning beautiful people! ☀       

Let’s talk a little bit about doubt. Self-doubt to be specific. Why we have it, how it manifests, the whole nine. Doubt by definition means “a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction; to be afraid of.” In a society such as the one we live in, it’s inevitable for artists to compare themselves to one another. We all do it. You see something or someone great, and you want to be great too. Or you want what they have. This in turn makes us question or doubt our own capabilities and capacity to be great. 

So, first thing's first. STOP COMPARING. I read a quote once that said: The presence of their beauty is not the absence of yours. I continue to remind myself of that each and every day.

Secondly, distinguish between what's real and what isn't. Society gives us every reason to doubt ourselves. Displaying images of misconceptions of beauty and making those who are different feel disadvantaged. All of that is just unnecessary noise. Pay no attention to it. This should light a fire under you. Listen to the voice inside your soul and let this motivate you to commit to your craft whole-heartedly, and you will see results. Embrace your different. Embrace your voice.

And finally, BE-YOU-tiful!

Peace & love,

MSB

Stay tuned for upcoming posts!

Visit movedipr.org for more info about this incredible organization!

Follow us on Instagram! @movedipr @difned