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
Guilty (but forgivable) Pleasures

Meet Celebrity Stylist and HAIR RULES Salon Owner- Anthony Dickey (Video)

1 Comment

Both women and men alike have an obsession with HAIR! It can make or break a look make you feel like a sex symbol or a hot mess! Hair has always been a woman’s (and sometimes a man’s) greatest accessory. From short and sassy to long a lush women have long used their locks (and some other people’s) to jush up their look, from the days of the French and the Italian courts of the Renaissance, to Beyonce’s front lace wind blown mane, Katy Perry newly pink do, or Gwen Stefani flawlessly platinum locks. Whether in the form of hair “support” (weaves), to full wigs women today enjoy such great diversity. But the question is are we hiding? Are we using our hair to accentuate what we have or are we trying to be something or someone else.

In the African American community hair (texture and length) as well as skin color (complexion) have long been the definers of beauty. Having “good” hair (soft, wavy to straight) is often preferred over kinky or nappy hair. As a community we can be very hard on those who are “too” dark or don’t have long hair. There are phrases like “Get the peas out of your kitchen” (peas are what we call the hair that coils up at the nape of the neck) or smooth your “Edges” (hairline). A young girl can me ridiculed harshly for her hair, or her color, this can inform her sense if self, and image for her whole life. There is a great deal of pain and shame that African American women experience in regards to their hair. I have long wanted to do a series that addressed the idea of beauty as it pertains to hair, racially, culturally, and texturally.

Personally I have had my own struggles with hair and my identity, from having relaxed hair through my teens and going “natural” in my mid-twenties, I now struggle with wanting to have the option of going straight, without having it chemically altered, and also feeling like myself with straight hair. There are times I want to “whip my hair back and forth” and have a swing that my Afro does not afford, but I also love the volume of my kinky halo. Recently I tried a texturizer in an effort to get closer to having the best of both worlds but it damaged it. What is a girl to do?

About a year ago I was introduced to the Hair Rules products as a possible answer to making my natural hair more manageable. When I went into the Salon in New York City I met business manager Jasmine Green, and after speaking with her and learning not only about the products but also about the philosophy behind them and the salon, I knew that this was something I wanted to bring to my readers. When I met the force behind the salon Anthony Dickey, his passion and dedication to not just giving people the hair they want and deserve, but his desire to have that confidence in their hair extend into way they feel about themselves over all.

I recently sat down with Dickey as he is affectionately known and talked about everything from, hair texture, products, the beauty industry, culture, race, wigs, weaves and how men REALLY see women!!

Dickey talks about his own self image, having a German mother, and African American father and being raised by his father’s side of the family. He shares how being light skinned with red hair in an African American family a looking NOTHING like anyone else helps him speak to the shame (of texture) that some women feel about themselves and their hair.

Learn More about Hair Rules Salon and products

Uncategorized

Putting Things in Perspective: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Giuliana Rancic Breast Cancer

This morning E! News host Giuliana Rancic announced that she has just learned that she has early stage breast cancer. The discovery was made while she was in the process of undergoing in vitro fertilization for a third time in the hopes of having a baby.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The Huffington Post reports:

the celebrity news show host previously suffered a miscarriage after eight weeks of pregnancy— Giuliana’s doctor suggested that she get a mammogram. While Giuliana initially rejected the idea, thinking, ‘I’m 36 years old, why do I need a mamogram?’ after her doctor’s insistence she went through with the screening — and that’s when her breast cancer was initially detected.

But Giuliana is staying positive, with the help of her husband Bill Rancic: “the best thing about Bill is he lets me cry when I want to cry,” she said. And although the diagnosis means that the couple will have to put their dreams of having a baby on hold, Giuliana isn’t giving up on adding a little one to her family, promising that the couple will try again once she overcomes her cancer.

“This baby will have saved my life,” she told Curry, speaking of her future child. Had Giuliana become pregnant before discovering her breast cancer, the baby coud have had a negative impact on the progression of the disease.

 

Where this is sad news it does put things in perspective. On a daily basis we judge our bodies, we get angry and frustrated with them for not being what we want them to be, either they are too much, or  not enough, we want more of this and less of that, curlier hair, straight hair more hair (and less hair in some places). We diet, over eat, squeeze them into clothes and sizes that don’t feel good, we demand so much and in a way our bodies ask so little. On a base level when we are in fair health most of our bodies do their jobs, we breathe, eat, digest, eliminate, we move through or lives, getting from one place to the next almost with out thought (sometimes in shoes that don’t make it easy or comfortable) some of manage to take a yoga or Zumba class or go to the gym. We may bitch and complain that it is hard, and doesn’t seem to even work, but our hearts and lungs keep up with us none the less. When you think about how hard we are on ourselves being our bodies really is a thankless job, it works a hard as it can and yet nothing it seems to so is good enough. If our bodies were our partners, it would probably break up with us! And yet day after day it hangs in and does the best that it can even when we are not helping it by eating well, sleeping enough and giving it the mental support that it needs and deserves. It is not until something goes wrong that we realize that our bodies, in what ever form they take on, are indeed there for us.

Then there comes a time when we are desirous of something from our bodies, and for what ever reason it us unable to comply, whether losing or gaining weight, or having a baby. Suddenly we become acutely aware of the state of our bodies, we are thrust into a higher level of awareness, we watch what we are eating, make a concerted effort to exercise, or sleep, we seek support in various ways to get what we want (a doctor, trainer, therapist). Suddenly we are in an active dialogue with our bodies- we are in conversation, we are active listeners to what they are saying and trying to tell us. We start asking it what it needs, and working with it instead of cursing, blaming or berating it. Illness has the same effect, it makes us acutely aware of what we have not been doing or need to do in order to be restored. Illness also has the ability to create compassion, and appreciation and respect for all that bodies do for us on a daily basis. Suddenly we see that we are indeed blessed to have whatever we have regardless of whether or not we see it as perfect or what we want. By the way there is no perfect– not physically, however there is the feeling of being perfect, or being enough, whole, and complete.

I would like for all of us to take a moment to put things in perspective, we can start during this period of Breast Cancer Awareness month to appreciate our bodies, for all the work and support they offer us. Hopefully the month of awareness can be extended into a daily, constant state of being. When you have your health the rest is mud!!!

In this moment as our thoughts and support goes out to Ms. Rancic  and all the other Women, people who are facing a health crisis take a moment to count our blessings and extend ourselves a bit of compassion….

 

Uncategorized

Teens Getting Plastic Surgery to Avoid Bullying?

Nicolette

 

When I was in middle school at Baldwin Academy for Girls the orthodontist, Hebrew School and Dance Lessons were the most common after school appointments that most of my friends took part in, (and if there was a four it would have been a music class of sorts). One of the other things that were popular were 3 procedures that most of the girls had one or all of: braces, having their ears pinned back, and nose jobs. I distinctly remember a number of the girls in my school coming back from Christmas break looking…well ever so slightly different an the nasal area. It was quite common, and almost never judged. So Why does this story make me feel a bit strange?

I think it has something to do with the reasons why this little girl has decided to “fix” her nose. She wants to get her nose fixed because she is being bullied. Now we all know that bullying has gotten an upgrade with the advancements in technology. Now the bullies’ words, and taunts travel far beyond the cafeteria, school bathroom or playground. They snake through the internet and are disseminated via text messages and have a momentum that once started is almost impossible to halt. Today being bullied is no doubt more embarrassing and painful as it is farther reaching. But it that a reason to augment one’s self? Or to allow your child to do so?

I have nothing against plastic surgery I truly don’t I do have some thoughts about the reasons why people opt for certain procedures. I know that changing your outsides will not change your insides, if you feel less than before you get you breasts done, that feeling will probably persist after the anesthesia and the newness of your implants wears off. I know that if you don’t come to some sort of acceptance of yourself one surgery will never be enough, you will always find something else that can be just a bit better. I know that happiness and comfort with one’s self cannot be bought. That having been stated I do believe that there are somethings that nag you, and distract you, and if you can just get rid of them or repair, it would be a non issue. That Pooch on the belly that won’t go away even though you have dieted and worked out like a demon, maybe your body would be more balanced with a bit more on top, or that bump on your nose is just irritating, maybe you feel much younger than you look and erasing crow’s feet would help your insides match your outsides. I get it. I say go for it. But when you are doing it to please someone else, or in the hopes of some reaction outside of yourself you might be setting yourself up for more disappointment.

This young girl, is fixing her nose so that she won’t be teased about it any more. Ok, well what if they decide to pick on her lips, her weight, (she is very thin) or the color of her eyes what then? Surgery in this case isn’t the answer to the problem. I completely understand her parents not wanting her to suffer, but giving people – mean people the power to make you change yourself to be left alone isn’t empowering and might be sending this young lady the wrong message. What happens when a boyfriend thinks she breast aren’t large enough? or her behind is too flat? Does it say if people don’t like you, change? If people talk about you, conform. When and how does this young lady learn to stand in her Self? When does she learn that she is enough, not broken, possibly flawed but perfect even still? How will she gain the power and strength to tell someone “If you don’t like the way I look don’t look at me!”

Growing up is messy and painful, hell being an adult is messy and painful and ultimately we are a product of what we survive. It is not easy but it is a truth that “What doesn’t kill you strengthens you” and that all the horrors of your childhood do build character in so far as it informs your choices, the way you react and respond to like situations when you are an adult.

This young lady has a lot of lessons still ahead of her and I have no doubt that the choice to have the surgery will have just as poignant a message as if she had not had it, but I can’t help feeling like on some level those bullies won this battle…

What do you think?

Hosted by Huffington Post
Earlier this year, ABC news reported that plastic surgery to avoid being bullied was on the rise, and that in 2007 alone, around 90,000 teens went under the knife.

After enduring online harassment and name-calling multiple times a week because of the shape of her nose, Nicolette Taylor, a 13 year-old from Long Island decided to take drastic action: plastic surgery, Nightline reported.

Although Taylor accepted teasing as a normal and unavoidable part of growing up, to her, social networking sites like Facebook made it 10 times worse.

Read full article here
video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

Uncategorized

Beautiful Imperfections:Katie Halchishick Depicts Barbie Vs. Reality In O Magazine

 

The November issue of O (Oprah Magazine) has just been released.  And our own Katie Halchishick – co-founder of Healthy is the New Skinny and the Perfectly Unperfected Project – anchors an 8-page section on beauty and body image with a photo destined to be an iconic image.  Shot by famed photographer Matthew Rolston, Katie stands naked (the first nude in O history), holding an equally bare Barbie doll.   Dotted lines, of the sort that might be made by a cosmetic surgeon (or a photo editor preparing a retouch), cover Katie, indicating what would have to be cut away in order for her to have Barbie’s body.

 

It’s a striking photo.  There’s something revolutionary about a naked plus-size model.   Think how often this image from French Elle of Tara Lynn has been reblogged – and remember the reaction to this famous Lizzie Miller photo in Glamour?  What sets the O photo apart is the powerful reminder of how far even such a gorgeous model as Katie falls short of an unattainable ideal.

The article that follows the image includes the fascinating results of a survey of O magazine readers in their teens – and in their 60s.   There’s some encouraging news: older women report having better body image, though not by as great a margin as some might expect.   But when asked for one adjective that described how they felt about how they looked, “grateful” was the most popular choice for women over 60.  “Self-conscious” was the clear winner for the teen girls.  And we’re troubled – though not surprised – that while older women listed “staying healthy” as their number one reason to exercise, “losing weight” was the top choice for their younger counterparts.

But next to Katie’s picture, the highlight of the issue is a “Dear Every Woman” letter from novelist Amy Bloom.  Here are a couple of excerpts we loved:

You cannot be a healthy person, let alone hope for healthy children, if you sigh and moan every time you encounter your own image, eat a cookie, or see an airbrushed model on a billboard.  Even if it amounts to wholesale pretending, go pretend.  Walk around pretending to be a woman who likes her body… Because every step toward self-love you take, and every inch of confidence you give someone’s daughter, makes the world a better place….

 

You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed.  And you are beautiful.

Read more after the Jump

Uncategorized

The Women of ESPN’s Body Issue

Hosted By International Business Times
By Julia Greenberg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler

 

ESPN is previewing photos, videos, and interviews from the magazine’s third annual “The Body Issue,” which arrives on newsstands Friday, October 7. Over 20 athletes will appear naked, with their private parts strategically covered, as part of the issue titled “Bodies we Want.”

“This is an issue in the short time we’ve been doing it that’s become pretty anticipated,” ESPN The Magazine editor-in-chief Chad Millman told TV Guide. “In terms of the athletes we’ve attracted, we feel like the group is really strong.”

Athletes posing in the nude for the “Bodies we Want 2011” photo gallery include: U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo, Chicago Sky Center Sylvia Fowles, Olympic gymnast Alicia Sacramone, Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers, Steve Jackson of the St. Louis Rams, and track and field star Natasha Hastings, among others.
What do the athletes have to say about their bodies and their decisions to pose in the nude for ESPN The Magazine “The Body Issue?” We take you inside for a preview of ESPN The Magazine “The Body Issue” where the athletes talk about posing for “Bodies We Want 2011,” their insecurities, and feeling self-conscious.

Sylvia Fowles, Chicago Sky Center, WNBA: “My legs have gotten bigger. You’ll think I’m cocky, but I’m totally infatuated with my legs now. They are just big, healthy and toned.”

Stephanie Gilmore, Four-Time World Surfing Champ: “When I was growing a lot (I’m 5-foot-10), I was worried I’d be too tall to surf. I thought it would be a disadvantage. But I’ve really embraced it and realized that my height is actually a benefit. I probably get more strength in my paddling and pushing up through my maneuvers. It’s an advantage to be tall, athletic and powerful.”

Suzy Hotrod, Co-Captain of Team USA Roller Derby: “I like that I have a strong rear end — you can hit people with it, play defense with it, and you don’t hurt your tailbone when you fall. It’s really an ‘ass-et’ in Roller Derby.”


Alicia Sacramone, Gymnast, Team USA: I’m really not that flexible. When I do my jumps for gymnastics, I only get into those positions because I’m relatively strong. It has nothing to do with flexibility. I can do splits and touch my toes, but for a gymnast, I can barely move. It’s always been a struggle… I watch little girls with envy doing this and think, “God, I wish I could do that.”

 

 

 

Hope Solo, Goalkeeper, U.S. National Team and WPS magicJack: “Growing up, I felt insecure about my build. I didn’t feel very feminine. But as time went on, I learned to completely embrace my body. It’s helped me attain all my dreams and goals. I didn’t have an issue posing nude, because now I see my body as empowering.”

 

 

 

 

 

Vera Zvonareva, Ranked No. 3 on the Women’s Tennis Tour: “Everyone has to overcome something. You won’t find any professional athlete who doesn’t feel pain somewhere. It’s part of our job, part of our lives. You just accept it.”

 

I totally love what each woman had to say about how she felt about her body. There is an irony in the issue being called “the bodies we want” and the fact that the women reveal their personal insecurities, as well as how they have come to levels of acceptance and appreciation not only for the way their bodies look, but how they function is moving. It goes to show that regardless of whether or not you have  a body that “Everyone wants” or not you still have your personal issues living in you skin. These women are beautiful, powerful,  sexy and inspiring. Not only are their bodies works of art, but they are so highly performing which rocks!

In Your Words

“This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?”

 

By: Delphine Fieberg

A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and beautiful woman. The caption was “This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?”

The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way:

“Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness.
They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia.
They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on cds. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.

Mermaids do not exist.

But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish?
They would have no sex life and could not bear children.
Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad.
And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side?

Without a doubt, I’d rather be a whale.

At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.

We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn’t enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.
We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.
Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: “How amazing am I ?! ”

(The girl on the picture is French model Tara Lynn) Feel free to tag yourselves 🙂
Last comment: I’m not putting down thin people, being a thin woman myself (BMI of 22 maybe?) just saying that being large doesn’t equate to being unattractive.
By: Delphine Fieberg

Dance Studio

Dancers, Learn How to Correct Hyperextended Legs! – VIDEO

2 Comments


For a while now I have been getting questions about how to correct hyper-extended legs. There is a lot of confusion around the subject and misinformation. Finally I found the perfect model to illustrate the exercises that will help build the right muscles to support the knee and correct the leg. Erika Hand is the lovely leg model in the video. Hear her talk about her personal experience with what she has been told about her legs and how to correct them. It might sound familiar…

Here are some simple concepts that will help you change the way you “think” about “how” you straighten the leg, and some exercises to help you first find the proper muscles to lift the knee cap up- (not back) and then strengthen the muscles above the knee then so that the leg with be strong and secure. I find that it’s best to try to find and connect with these new muscles outside of class where you can really focus solely on isolating the area. In class there is too much to worry about (the combination, the counts, the arms, moving across the floor, trying to turn and jump). These are simple exercises that can be done on the bus stop, while waiting for the train, (and you won’t look crazy!) or when you are just standing around. This way you can put the muscular information into your body when you can concentrate and feel what you are doing. The body will remember and when you do get into class you fill find that the muscles will start to fire almost without thought. It’s also a good idea to add these exercised to your warm up so that you can set up your legs before class to set. Don’t get discouraged, it’s new and seems daunting but the body learns and responds quickly. Stick with it

Hear Erika explain what she felt when she employed the concepts we talked about…

Uncategorized

Jenny Hudson is Opening a Jenny Craig!

 

This is highly inspirational. Singer Actress and Jenny Craig spokesperson Jennifer Hudson has announced plans to open her own Jenny Craig Center in her hometown of Chicago. Not only has the program transformed the performer, her success has inspired her family members to get in on the act, they have their own Jenny Craig commercial running where they talk about how Hudson’s weight loss inspired them to get on the plan.

Now t’ruth be told, I am sure that there is a great deal of money to be made from having a celebrity driven Jenny Craig Center but I also think that Jennifer Hudson authentically had a life altering experience and wants to share that information with people. I think it’s great. Hudson had mentioned that before becoming famous she had never thought of herself as overweight because all of the women in her family looked like her. She was fine with her size, and her body because it was her norm. It wasn’t until she was placed in the spotlight and being photographed, having fittings and working with stylists that she began to understanding the importance and benefits of being a “sample size” in the entertainment industry. She was a perfect fit for  the weight loss brand, which led to the endorsement, and introduction to not only a healthier, well portioned diet, but an exercise regimen that brought her to a healthier lifestyle and as a by-product a smaller dress size. If she can bring this possibility to the women of Chicago more power to her!!!

 

Guilty (but forgivable) Pleasures, Uncategorized

Nicole Richie got her “girls” Rehauled!!!

Apparently Nicole Richie got her breasts done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rumor had it that she had always wanted a lift and she wanted to improve her bustline for hubby Joel Madden, 32. “The pregnancies took a toll. She said breast-feeding killed what boobs she did have!” –Us Magazine

I have to say that they look great. I have had friends who have breastfeed and some of them their breasts are unscathed while others are left deflated (all for a great cause but still) so I get it, I always said that if I had a child and breastfeed and my girls were left looking a bit weepy, then I would totally be in line for a breast job. I think that what she got was tasteful and realistic, they look like her own just fluffier!