All Articles by truth

Theresa Ruth Howard Dancer/Writer/Teacher Theresa Ruth Howard began her professional dance career with the Philadelphia Civic Ballet Company at the age of twelve. Later she joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem where she had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Africa. She has worked with choreographer Donald Byrd as a soloist in his staging of New York City Opera's Carmina Burana, his critically acclaimed Harlem Nutcracker, as well as the controversial domestic violence work The Beast. She was invited to be a guest artist with Complexions: A Concept in their 10th anniversary season. In 2004 she became a founding member of Armitage Gone! Dance. As a writer Ms. Howard has contributed to Russell Simmons’ One World magazine (art), and The Source (social politics), as well as Pointe and Dance Magazine. While teaching in Italy for the International Dance Association she was asked to become a contributor for the premiere Italian dance magazine Expressions. Her engaging, no nonsense writing style caught the eye of both the readers of Dance Magazine and its Editor in Chief who not only made her a contributing editor and has collaborated with Ms. Howard in See and Say Web-reviews. Her articles about body image prompted her to develop a workshop for young adult (dancers and non-dancers) My Body My Image that addresses their perceptions both positive and negative about their bodies and endeavoring to bring them closer to a place of Acceptance and Appreciation. She recently launched a blog by the same name to reach a broader audience (mybodymyimage.com) As a teacher Ms. Howard has been an Artist in Residence at Hollins University in and New Haven University in addition to teaching at Sarah Lawrence College, Marymount, Shenandoah, and Radford Universities, and the historical American Dance Festival. As a result of her work at ADF Ms. Howard was invited to Sochi, Russia to adjudicate the arts competition Expectations of Europe and teach master classes, and in Burundi, Africa where she coached and taught the Burundi Dance Company. Currently she on faculty at The Ailey School but also extensively throughout Italy and Canada. Ms. Howard's belief in the development, and nurturing of children lead her to work with at risk youth. At the Jacob Riis Settlement House in Queensbridge New York, she founded S.I.S.T.A (Socially Intelligent Sisters Taking Action) a mentoring program for teen-age girls where she worked to empower them to become the creators of their destinies. In addition she developed a dance program, which lead to an exchange with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Through her teaching and travels Ms. Howard began to observe a universal disenchantment and disconnection in teenagers that disturbed her, thus she set out to address it. Combining her philosophies of life and teaching, with the skills she garnered through outreach programs with diverse communities, she developed the personal development workshop Principles of Engagement: Connecting Youth to the Infinite Possibilities Within which gives teens a set of workable tools to increase their levels of success at tasks, and goals not only in dance, and all aspect of their lives. Theresa Ruth Howard is certainly diverse and multifaceted as an artist, and is moved to both write and create work; however she sees every student she encounters as a work in progress, and the potential to change the world one person at a time. The only was to make this world a better place it to be better people in it!

853 Articles
Uncategorized

Ailey Gala Night!

Well The RED WON! It seems that I was on trend as red was the color of the evening, even my hostess Lynne Greenberg wore red (and we did not talk about it!!) Great minds think alike I suppose! I have to give a great shout out and thank you to Peter Speliopoulos and Irene Pappas at Donna Karan and April Megan for the  Valerie Egee jewelry.

Here we are upon arrival at City Center.

I have to say that I was so excited (dress aside) to attend the inaugural season of the new Artistic Director of the Alvin American Dance Theater, Robert Battle. I was highly impressed by the whole evening, I thought that Mr. Battle took a page from Judith Jamison’s hosting book and was warm familiar, jocular and “down home”. He was relaxed and seemed to be authentically enjoying himself. The dance that evening was also highly impressive, and not only in the way that is usually is, but due to Battle’s choice of presenting Paul Taylor’s Ardent Court, a stylistic departure, he seemed to make a statement, “Expect something new!”. Without going into a full on review (to come later once I see a few more programs) I thought that it was danced beautifully, it was technically clean, and stylistically on point, (true it needs to settle, they need to become more comfortable and confident in moving that way) but as a departure from the “expected” Ailey aesthetic it was wonderful to watch (Rachel Mclaren is the new it girl! divine absolutely divine). The second offering of the the evening was a solo from Love Stories (the Jamison Section ) danced by Alicia Graf Mack who is  back with the company (the woman has nine Lives!) and R&B singer John Legend accompanied her playing and singing Stevie Wonder’s “If it’ s Magic”. Where she was lovely and he was great, there was something off in the pairing, is was a bit nonsensical, perhaps because the costuming for Love stories is sporty in an Eighties type of way, tights, legwarmers and a midriff top. Out of context with subtle lighting, a grand piano and an R&B crooner, is didn’t work, perhaps they if they had  put Graf Mack in a dress, or something a bit more romantic for the occasion it might have gelled…

You have not lived until you have seen Supermodel- and I mean SUPER model Iman up close, she is truly flawless it is hard to believe that her exquisite bone structure was once compromised.  She, with passion and great amounts of sensuality introduced the third piece, Prelude to a Kiss (Lar Lubovitch) which was danced with exquisitely artistry by the consistent duo of Clifton Brown and Lind Celeste Sims. Their performance was just about as sensuous and delicious as the introduction, which is saying a lot. Then of course there was Revelations (with 50). Where I loved the idea of using all the ages and levels of the School, Ailey II and the First Company (there was the tiniest little Indian girl in the brown section and Wade in The Water precession that I think should tour with them! adorable) The only thing I don’t care for in this version is the “I Want to be Ready” triad. It forces each soloist to hold back a little in order be together. I feel them all a bit stifled. Maybe if it were more of a dialogue, with each man doing a section, telling their portion of the same story then coming together in the end…

Either way Rev, is Rev, no matter how many times you see it, or how many people are in it, you have to enter and take the journey. It was a beautiful night, I am so pleased for  Robert Battle all of the new dancers and the vets!!! I am so looking forward to seeing more this season and am excited for what is to come!!!

A big hearty thank you to Lynne, Eric and Ben for the invite, we had a blast!!!!

 

 

Uncategorized

My Body My Image: Getting Red Carpet Ready Ailey Gala Preparations

1 Comment

So I have had the honor of being invited to the Alvin Ailey Gala party this year by my dear friend and My Body My Image Body Hero Lynne Greenberg. The annual Black Tie event is one of the grandest events in the Dance World. So what’s a gal to do when a red carpet worthy dress is in order? I called on my Faerie GodFather Peter Speliopoulos who is the Creative Director at Donna Karan to dress me. I met Peter when I was a member of Armitage Gone! Dance and he designed our costumes. We fell in love with one another and he dressed me for the company galas, always making me feel like Cinderella, the belle of the ball. It was always such a treat to go into the offices and have Peter pull dresses for me and have them altered if needed, I felt like a true celebrity! Though I left the company 5 years ago, Peter and I have stayed in touch and when the invite came in I knew I needed his help, and like a good Faerie Godfather he answered the call. Though in the midst of preparing a collection, he set me up with a stylist to do my fitting  and between conference calls and meetings he popped in to render his expert opinion. I have to say that weeks before I was a nervous wreck, where you long to have a such a personal high end experience, there is always a fear that the dresses won’t fit, that they will be ill fitting, and the stylist will have the sunken look of dismay and disgust, because you do not have the body of a pre- pubecent girl. Prior to the day I was on a mission no bread, minimal sugar (I can’t go cold turkey) and lots of salads. I was determined to get into those dresses!!!!

Irene Pappas, (pictured below) was the delightful young lady who assisted me and we had a ball in the celebrity closet, where all the dresses that go out on loan are housed. She had pulled a number of options (said in my best Rachel Zoe stilted accent) and went to work. I was pleasantly surprised that most of the dresses fit, even thesamples, or off the runway, although on one dress the hooks were so far over you would have to have an 18 inch ribcage. I joked with Irene that I had come off calcium for 3 weeks so my bones would be malleable. What I love about Donna Karan is that she is the queen of draping, and that all of the dresses, had enough give (all had a elastic underpinning slip, that allowed the fabric to fall correctly, while holding you in, but allowing you to breathe)  I loved her use of Jersey which is such sort of casual fabric but drapes beautifully, is comfortable, and also is a fabric that is not intimidating, you feel dressed up, but not over dressed.I wanted something fabulous but nothing that would wear me, or that I felt not myself in. The Aiely Gala (so I have heard as I have never attended the Gala before) is a dancing event so I wanted to be able to shake a leg but be classy and elegant.

I had such a wonderful experience, and I owe Donna Karan, Peter and Irene a debt of gratitude for extending themselves to me and being so generous with their time. Here are some of the options, I chose 2, but have pretty much settled on one, I would love to here your opinion. Let me know which one you think I should wear!

Irene Pappas of Donna Karan

Vote vote vote!

Uncategorized

One More Reason to Learn to Appreciate Your Body, as IS!

A Miami Gardens woman who wanted to enhance her buttocks was severely injured by a self-proclaimed doctor who injected her with a mix of toxins and sealed it up with glue

This is some crazy ASS S*%t!
The moral of the story is Acceptance Appreciation and Respect for your body can save your life ’nuff said!

pictured above the “doctor” Oneal Ron Morris

Hosted by Miami Herald.com

This was no ordinary flat repair.

Oneal Ron Morris took a look and went to work.

Not on a tire. But on the backside of a Miami Gardens woman who was seeking the derriere of her dreams.

Instead, she got a tush full of toxins.

Morris, a self-proclaimed doctor, injected a concoction of “fix-a-flat’’ — cement, mineral oil and Super Glue — into the woman’s buttocks, police said.

The materials eventually spread through her body and nearly killed her.

The woman, whose name is not being released because of medical privacy laws, went to three different hospitals before doctors finally figured out the cause of the mystery ailment that caused pneumonia-like symptoms and left large, infected welts on her backside.

On Friday, Miami Gardens police finally caught up with the elusive “doctor,’’ a transgender woman whose own butt is the size of a truck tire. Investigators suspect she is part of an underground network of scam artists who have been offering “pumping parties” and home buttocks augmentations across South Florida for years.

In some cases, the end result has been deadly.

Uncategorized

Christina Aguilera Loves her Curves

christina-aguilera-not-pregnant__oPt.jpgIt’s clear that Christina Aguilera has put on some weight, and the gossip bloggers and fashion critics have not given her any slack. But the according to her camp she is cool with the weight gain and is feeling fine in her body. I have to say she must be as she has been wearing an assortment of leggings and tights, and form fitting costumes that show of her curves (and at times just about everything else!) here’s what one of her friends had to say:

“She is 100% NOT pregnant! She wore a tight fitting dress and that’s all. Christina loves her curves. She’s a Latina woman with curves and since when is it not ok to have curves?

She feels like she is setting an example for women and young girls, especially Latinas. She’s very proud of her curves. Christina thinks she is a good role model – not everyone is super skinny and she wants girls to embrace their body type.”

Perhaps she just got tired of trying to be a size nothing, and is just honoring her body’s desire to be more curvy. There is nothing wrong with that. AND thick or thin Christina has an authentic voice and THAT is what should matter most, not the size of her hips!

I wonder if this is a new trend of female performers taking back their body images by not adhering to the status quo, both Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus have come out and told people to layoff of them and their bodies.  I certainly hope so. We as women have a right, a responsibility to honor ourselves and our bodies, and not be beholden to fitting into an almost impossible, sometimes unhealthy standard or size!!!

Uncategorized

Miley and Demi Lovato- “Don’t Call Us Fat”

Miley Cyrus Defends Demi Lovato

I find it very interesting that we as a nation have decided to take on the issue of bullying with great gusto, everyone from school officials, parents and a slew of celebrities have come out to stop the name calling and acts of violence that are plaguing children (and adults) sometimes bringing them to acts of desperation and self harm. Oddly it is still ok to say mean and hurtful thing about the way people look and dress as entertainment, I find it a bit hypocritical. Shows like E! Entertainment’s Fashion Police takes shots at not only what celebrities are wearing, but often their size and body shapes, sure we can say that it’s all in the name of good fun but when does it cross the line? Now let me be the first to say that I myself am not above a snarky comment or two, I mean humor is humor right? but when does it do too far and really hurt someone, or so them harm in a place where we can not see, nor account for?

This article makes me question how glibly we bandy about words, we flip off comments in passing without regard to what another person might be going through, feeling or struggling with. When Demi Lovato reentered the public arena at last year’s VMA’s after seeking treatment for her eating disorder, the first thing many commented on what how “fat” she had gotten. She fired back saying “This is what happens when you get our of treatment for and EATING DISORDER” ( the dumb asses was silent!) I was like “Good on ya girl” but it had to hurt. Not to mention that she is really for all intents and purposes still a child. That’s beyond rude, that is mean, and in my opinion a form of bullying. So I like the fact that these two young ladies are calling people, the industry, their peers, and anyone else out that takes issue with them looking like normal healthy young women. Neither are overweight, they are fuller figured by Hollywood standards, but that is a FAR cry from “FAT”  I hope that we can all learn a bit from this situation and take a moment to think if what we are doing or saying might just constitute “bullying” as it effects other people.

 

Hosted By Huffington Post

On Nov. 11, Miley used her celebrity status and hefty Twitter following, to speak out against the insane and dangerous expectations of beauty.

It isn’t clear exactly what prompted the rant, but the 18-year-old singer and actress first tweeted a photo of an emaciated woman:

“By calling girls like me fat this is what you’re doing to other people. i love MYSELF & if you could say the same.”

Miley followed up that tweet by posting a photo of Marilyn Monroe with the words, “PROOF that you can be adored by thousands of men, even when your thighs touch.”

Lovato who has gained some weight in recent months, following treatment for an eating disorder, re-tweeted the photo and replied to Miley, writing: “AMEN!”

read the rest

Uncategorized

V. Secret’s Adriana Lima Backtracks on Water Diet…wants to be a good Role Model

Well, you could have seen this coming from a mile away. Now Victoria Secret Model Adriana Lima who reportedly goes to extreme measures to get that wing worthy figure by basically drinking water and powdered eggs for days is now saying “THAT’S JUST CRAZY!” yeah we thought so too… When things are in black and white and get an extreme reaction it often times makes you take a step back and think. I don’t know if what was reported was accurate or not, but I do know that press like that is not helpful to the brand, so it is of no surprise that she would address it publicly to try to set it right.

Hosted by Huffington Post

Adriana Lima wasn’t too pleased to hear that reports of the extreme diet Victoria’s Secret Angels must adopt in order to prep for the annual fashion show were swirling around the media.

The Telegraph wrote in an article that Lima testified to being on a pre-show nine-day liquid diet consisting of protein shakes and egg powder, after which she was banned from drinking water for 12 hours leading up to the show. They also reported that Lima worked out twice a day for the three weeks before.

However, Adriana is insisting that the details of the “crazy diet” are just a “misunderstanding.” She spoke with E! Canada to set the record straight. She even showed E! Canada her piece of coffee cake prior to the show, saying, “I have my Starbucks coffee right there… it was a misunderstanding.”

Like anyone whose body is her source of income — or who poses in her skivvies for all to see — the model says she’s conscious of her figure. She admits, “You can’t eat everything, of course… I eat healthy and work out a lot.”

 

continue

I love how she dispels the rumor by pointing out that she is drinking coffee, (a liquid) now if she had a platter of food beside her and a fork in her mouth it might have been a bit more convincing no? ok she did have a piece of coffee cake too…

What do you think, a misunderstanding or the true gone wrong?

Uncategorized

Ashley Madison plus size model speaks out about how her image was (mis)used

Well if having a site that promotes adultery wasn’t bad enough, The Ashley Madison website’s last ad featured a full figured woman seductively posed and asking “Did your wife scare you last night?”  The implication is disrespectful, and just plain appalling. Now imagine if you were the plus sized woman in the picture.
Well her name is Jacqueline and she has spoken out! It is important that we hear what she has to say, and how she feels because too often we look at advertisements that depicts images that create contrast, using the juxtaposition of “good” against “bad”  “cool against “geeky” and “beauty” against “ugly” as a means of defining what we as a society should consider to be unattractive, or undesirable. you might say “lighten up they are only advertisements” but in truth it is harmful. They use real people to project that idea and those images, and we (the consumers) look at them and think “Thank god I don’t look like that” or laugh, or create some sort of opinion, not about that person in particular, but about what they represent. The thing is, they (the people in the ads, commercials, tv shows or movies) are real people-in real life –and are representing real types of people. They are in reality flesh and blood, so the way in which we are encouraged to regard them (as less than), the way we are lead to feel about them(they are not worthy), or way they should be treated, (or mistreated, ignored, called names, bullied, teased etc.) matters because we bring that behavior into real life when we interact with such people. This woman Jacqueline is real, not just a print ad. That is why I love this letter because it humanizes her- she is no longer be just an image that represents something that is unlovable, or undesirable. She is a human being, deserving of respect and love just like any other (smaller sized) person and using her image or images like this to debase people, or a group of people is unacceptable. But could we expect anything better from a site that promotes and encourages infidelity?
Here is what she wrote to Jezebel.com:

I’m The ‘Scary’ Model In That Awful Ashley Madison Ad

My name is Jacqueline and I am the model seen on the Ashley Madison ad that was recently published in the New York Metro newspaper.

I am the owner and model of the BBW website www.juicyjackie.com. It is tailored to the tastes of those that love big women, their curves, rolls and all the plush softness that comes with being fat.

Years ago, before my modeling career began in earnest, a photographer friend of mine arranged an informal photo session. I was under the impression at the time that people purchasing these photos from the photographer would be doing so for their own personal use. I had no idea that the photographer would endeavor to sell the photos to corporations and/or stock photo companies, who would then go on, repeatedly, to use them in rude and mocking ways.

I am mortified that my image and likeness would be used as advertisement for two things I am so vehemently against: namely cheating and, to an even greater extent, body shaming.

I find the very idea that there exists a business based solely around the facilitation of infidelity appalling. The fact that they are now suggesting that a person’s partner not fitting their ideal body size/shape, entitles that person to ‘shop around’ is disgusting.

There is an enormous problem in this world in regards to female body shaming, and not solely in regard to fat women, but all women. A size 2 woman who sees this ad sees the message: “If I don’t stay small, he will cheat”. A size 12 woman might see this ad and think “if I don’t lose 30lbs, he will cheat”. A size 32 woman could see this ad, and feel “I will never find love”. It’s horrific. Not all women are necessarily insecure, but it’s no secret that body insecurity is endemic, regardless of size. This kind of message is extremely damaging to self worth. Eating disorders may have lost their place in the media spotlight, but continue to effect people of all ages, especially teens. This sort of behavior can easily be triggered from the careless cruelty of advertisements like the one in question.

As has been widely reported, teens are committing suicide in shocking numbers all over the world as direct result of this sort of shaming ridicule. Be it directed at race, size, sexual orientation or anything, bullying is a vicious force in this world. Contributing to this widespread and creeping depression by suggesting, blatantly and without pretense, that fat people are patently undeserving of love and loyalty is repulsive. It is incumbent upon advertisers, and society at large, to act responsibly before foisting something like this onto the world.

It’s bad enough that a business exists that encourages and profits from cheaters, but, worse still, that they have the gall to blame a woman’s body on the act, rather than the man who is incapable of commitment and loyalty. It exists in the same school of thought in which a rapist blames a woman’s outfit for his crime.I am a size 32. I am beautiful. I think women of all sizes are beautiful. Beauty is not and has never been one-size-fits-all. I do not appreciate my image being used, without notice or permission, to tell women I have never met otherwise.

Uncategorized

Hairy Madonna: Always A Rebel- Even in High School

There are many things that can be said about Madonna, but being a follower is not one of them. Recently the music and fashion icon, and budding director shared some interesting things about her grooming habits (or lack there of) high school years in an interview with Harpers Baazar:

“The boys in my school would make fun of me. They called her “‘hairy monster.’ You know, things like that,” she recalls. “And then, going to high school, I saw how popular girls had to behave to get the boys. I knew I couldn’t fit into that. So I decided to do the opposite. I refused to wear makeup, to have a hairstyle. I refused to shave. I had hairy armpits.”

I love it! clearly she has always authentically pushed buttons and boundaries in the concept of beauty, the body, sexuality and what is it to be a powerful woman. Whether you agree with all of her choices or not, or whether you think she is a positive role model in any or all areas of you have to admit that she has always represented the empowered woman, a woman who says, and does exactly what she wants and cares little what others thinks about it. That is a My Body My Image type of Lady!

She also spoke about her age, and how the referencing of it connotes that what she has to offer has an expiration date of sorts:

 “I find whenever someone writes anything about me, my age is right after my name,” she muses. “It’s almost like they’re saying, ‘Here she is, but remember she’s this age, so she’s not that relevant anymore.’ When you put someone’s age down, you’re limiting them.”

I have never thought of it that way but she has a point, stating someone’s age as a qualifier whether to highlight someone youth (which could imply- don’t take them too seriously) or their maturity (which as she states, might make what one has to share a moot, outdated point) it is in a way limiting. It’s like saying that someone looks good for their age…what does that mean? What exactly does any age look like anyway!

Two great concepts to think about and possible use to shift our concepts of our bodies our images, and ourselves. Thanks M.

 

 

Uncategorized

Carey Mulligan On ‘Shame,’ her Full Frontal Nude Scenes and Body Image

Carey Mulligan is a one of the film industries most powerful young actresses, earning a Oscar nomination for her role in 2010 for her role in An Education. Her latest project Shame is raw and gritty earning it a NC-17 rating for the sexual content and nudity. The actress  recently spoke out on the rating, which could hurt the success of the film at the box office, and speaks about how the nudity required in the film effected her and her body image…

Hosted By Huffington Post

In fact, beyond the fact that Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan-starrer about sex addiction and personal demons isn’t getting its artistic due, very few people will even get to see the film. That’s thanks to the MPAA’s decision to give it an NC-17 rating. There’s too much sex shown for it to be seen by mainstream audiences, the powers-that-be say. Mulligan, on the other hand, thinks that’s hypocritical.

“You know, so many of the teen movies will have so much sex and so many people walking around in bikinis and bare-breasted and that all seems to be okay,” she tells HitFix.com in a new interview. “And then the minute you show it and its not funny, and it’s not sexy, and it’s actually unattractive, then it becomes a problem, which seems so odd.”

Mulligan, for her part, saw the film as a game changer in another way; her preparation, especially physically. Though she has a full frontal nude scene within the first twenty minutes of the film, she says she didn’t have to worry about looking “perfect” for the camera.

“I didn’t have to worry about what I ate, or how much I drank, and I didn’t have to work out,” she explains. “She was an alcoholic mess. She didn’t have any money to dye her hair. I mean I didn’t become an alcoholic, but I didn’t have to watch myself. It was so much more exciting to play that character that didn’t worry about her appearance in any way. I knew that when I stood up in that bath naked it wasn’t about whether I looked good naked or not. It was about who she was.”

Read full article here