Introduction to a Writer in Tights
Hello and welcome to my blog! My name is Joni and I am from Rockville, Maryland. I originally came to the University of Oklahoma for the ballet program, pursuing a degree in Ballet Performance. My journey began as a six year-old armed with a lot of energy and small pair of pink ballet slippers. I quickly fell in love with the language of the body and have explored a wide range of styles and movement techniques over the years, including ballet, contemporary, modern, flamenco, and tap. I believe that dancers are the visual storytellers of the world and that there is incredible power in speaking through the body. One of the best parts about being involved in the fine arts department at OU is getting to perform; if you've never ventured to the theatre on the North Oval, I highly recommend seeing a show there!
During my sophomore year I decided to tackle a second major in International Studies, concentrating on the Middle East. I have taken an array of interesting courses focusing on various aspects of the social, economic, and political dimensions of the region. I particularly enjoyed a course I took last semester entitled "Sexuality and Identity in the Middle East," which was a fascinating exploration of how our understanding of platonic and sexual relationships shapes cultural interactions.
I am very grateful to be able to pursue both of my majors! I love the balance between the physical work I do in the dance studios and the more rigorous academic work of the classroom.
Words hold a special place in my heart. Reading and writing have always been favorite hobbies of mine, and I can spend hours poring over stories or creating them myself. One of my favorite books growing up was The Secret Garden; I love classics and fantasy. Yoga is another one of my favorite pastimes. It provides a great balance between the exploration of physicality and spirituality, helping to build both internal and external strength.
I also really enjoy spending time outdoors exploring the natural world. I believe engaging with the earth is one of the best ways of getting in touch with our roots and understanding the beauty that surrounds us. There is a certain magic about hiking through the woods, swimming in ocean waters, gazing at the horizon, and walking under the stars. I love to travel and explore new places, and I have been fortunate enough to spend time in Israel, Greece, Spain, Scotland, England, and France. I spent this past summer dancing at a program with the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company in Israel. It was the kind of experience that makes you question everything you think you know about yourself, your craft, and your ability to reach beyond the limits of the imagination. I had the opportunity to explore whole new dimensions of myself and grow as both a human and an artist.
During my sophomore year I decided to tackle a second major in International Studies, concentrating on the Middle East. I have taken an array of interesting courses focusing on various aspects of the social, economic, and political dimensions of the region. I particularly enjoyed a course I took last semester entitled "Sexuality and Identity in the Middle East," which was a fascinating exploration of how our understanding of platonic and sexual relationships shapes cultural interactions.
I am very grateful to be able to pursue both of my majors! I love the balance between the physical work I do in the dance studios and the more rigorous academic work of the classroom.
Words hold a special place in my heart. Reading and writing have always been favorite hobbies of mine, and I can spend hours poring over stories or creating them myself. One of my favorite books growing up was The Secret Garden; I love classics and fantasy. Yoga is another one of my favorite pastimes. It provides a great balance between the exploration of physicality and spirituality, helping to build both internal and external strength.
I also really enjoy spending time outdoors exploring the natural world. I believe engaging with the earth is one of the best ways of getting in touch with our roots and understanding the beauty that surrounds us. There is a certain magic about hiking through the woods, swimming in ocean waters, gazing at the horizon, and walking under the stars. I love to travel and explore new places, and I have been fortunate enough to spend time in Israel, Greece, Spain, Scotland, England, and France. I spent this past summer dancing at a program with the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company in Israel. It was the kind of experience that makes you question everything you think you know about yourself, your craft, and your ability to reach beyond the limits of the imagination. I had the opportunity to explore whole new dimensions of myself and grow as both a human and an artist.
Taking flight. Personal photo.
Hey there Joni! It is really great to see someone who is so diverse in majors, like myself. I am a pre-med student but my major is religious studies. I completely understand what it is like to have your mind stimulated in more ways than one in college. I think it is really important to broaden our horizons. Israel is a place that I would love to visit (for religious studies reasons) and I think it is amazing that you were able to experience such a life-changing journey overseas. Best of luck this semester!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, Joni, I got so caught up in your Storybook from last semester that I basically started thinking of you as Eve in that cosmic Garden of Eden... while completely forgetting about your dancing identity. And dancing in Israel for the summer: wow! Since you are taking Middle Eastern Studies courses, have you had any courses with Joshua Landis? He is an old friend of mine (we came to OU at the same time way back in 1999); it was thanks to Joshua and his wife Manar that I got to enjoy an amazing trip all over Syria back in 2005, before the terrible war began. Anyway, if you see him, tell him hi from me! And please alert me to any dance performances that I can include in the class announcements; I wish I were living in Norman so that I could get a chance to see you perform. That image you share is beautiful and inspiring! :-)
ReplyDeleteHey Joni! I loved your intro post, I find it so interesting that you came here for Ballet Performance and now you are double majoring in something that is completely different. I can see how double majoring in general can be so difficult but with your two very diverse majors I bet it is more challenging than most. I think that it says a lot about you as a person as you are pushing yourself to do these majors and continue to dance. My best-friend danced in college and I know how much time it took up so I cannot imagine how you balance your schedule but it is incredible and will definitely be worth it. I also find it inspiring that you went over to Israel this summer for the dance program over there. I am sure you have so many awesome stories from all your adventures and cannot wait to hear more!
ReplyDeleteHello Joni! You seem to be a very interesting person to be majoring in two diverse fields of study! I have seen a few ballets myself and think that it takes real dedication to get on stage and perform for others. I also hear that it takes a lot of exercise and strength! I think that you also majoring in International Studies with a concentration on the Middle East to be fascinating. What about the middle east grabbed your attention?
ReplyDeleteHi Joni! It's great to see your love for dance shine through in your intro post. I also grew up dancing and miss it so much. I think that dance communicates things that simple words cannot and I think it's so admirable that you are pursuing a degree in Ballet Performance! I also think it's awesome that you've gotten to travel so much and dance at a program in Israel. I'm sure not many people get to experience something so unique and grow so much from it like you did. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi Joni! Your journey is awesome! Just to get into the OU School of Dance is impressive, much less everything else you have done. I started dancing when I was 13 years old and I could not stop. With that said, I could never enjoy ballet as much as jazz and contemporary. I love watching ballets, just not my passion. Pursuing both degrees is admirable and I wish you the best!
ReplyDeleteHi Joni! I love your introduction! I think it's so cool that you came to OU for the ballet program but also found an interest in International Studies as well. That's on two different sides of the spectrum and it that shows how passionate you are about balancing both areas of study. Also, I think it's amazing that you were able to go dance in Israel this summer. I hope your passion for dance takes you to many more awesome places!
ReplyDeleteJoni, really great introduction to yourself!! It is so cool that you can manage the work you do for dancing and the work you do for school. I know being busy is gruesome sometimes!! I am a cheerleader and in sixth grade, I signed up for ballet to help me with my flexibility thinking the dancing thing was not that hard.... I was not prepared for how hard ballet actually is haha! I am so glad that you have stuck with it for this long!
ReplyDeleteHi Joni! This is a great intro. It was really neat to hear about your long-lasting passion for ballet. That International Studies course you took sounds fascinating, it's awesome that IAS has become one of your majors and a main academic interest for you! I also love reading and writing. The list of countries you've visted is amazing, I'm hoping to study abroad in this summer and am considering Scotland.
ReplyDeleteHey there!
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous of all your travel experience; I have a love for travel, but a fear of airplanes, which is a huge struggle when it comes to going cross country. What is the most beautiful place you have ever been or the furthest place you have ever traveled? Mine would have to be Dubai, and I highly recommend that one, it was breathtaking!
Hi Joni!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a cool intro! You clearly have so much passion for what you do. It's so cool that you were able to combine your love of different cultures and dance through the summer program in Israel! I was an International Studies major for a while so I'm incredibly jealous that you had that opportunity. I go to dance performances all the time, so if I haven't yet seen your perform, perhaps I will soon!
Hi Joni,
ReplyDeleteThat's cool that you were a ballet major. I like how you describe dancing as the language of the body. I've never thought of it that way. But then again my dancing skills aren't the best. I find International Studies on Middle East interesting as well. They have such a different culture than ours. Anyway, good luck this semester!
Hi Joni, it's nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteMaryland to Oklahoma is a big transition! Actually, my husband and I were living in Glen Burnie this summer for an internship he had. It was the first time I'd ever been anywhere near that far east (I'm from Iowa), and it's so beautiful out there!
I admire your dedication to dancing; I think ballet is such a beautiful dance form, and I have often wished I had taken lessons as a child. Best of luck with your double majors!
Hi Joni!
ReplyDeleteI'm also a dancer! I grew up doing mostly competition dance and now I'm on OU Pom, but I always wish I had taken more ballet. My favorite styles are contemporary, jazz, and hip hop. That's so cool seeing how many different places you've been to and how adventurous you are. I also loved reading about your experience with the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company. I miss doing contemporary so much and would love to dance at a dance company like that!
Hello, Joni! I love that you’re passionate about dancing! Although I’m not a dancer myself, I’m friends with many dancers having been involved in the arts for a long time, and I know that they work long and hard to perfect their craft. I’m sure you do the same, so kudos to you! I’m glad to hear that you enjoy international studies and reading as well! This class is perfect for reading new stories from different cultures, which seems relevant to your interests. Anyhow, I can’t wait to read your future blog posts and see how this class inspires you!
ReplyDeleteHi Joni!
ReplyDeleteI think it's so cool that you love to dance! My older sister did ballet for 13 years, and I was actually in a production of The Nutcracker twice as a party boy! I appreciate going to ballets to this day, even though I'm not much of a dancer myself. I look forward to reading your stories throughout the semester, as I'm sure you are full of creativity!
Hi Joni! One of your favorite books was A Secret Garden? If it's the one by Frances Hodgson Burnett, I also loved that book growing up!
ReplyDeleteIt's cool that you're a dancer. Music and dance is a huge part of culture and a great way of learning about other cultures, as I've seen in my Native American Music. Your two majors work so well together in that!
PS: Is that you or one of your friends in that image. Whoever it is, she looks so amazing and graceful!
Hi (again)! It's cool that you're a ballet major — do you know Hannah, Lacey, Gabbi, and Micah? I know Hannah through Sophie, and I used to go to church with the others (although Gabbi doesn't go here anymore). Also, super dope that you've traveled so much. I love traveling, too! Out of all the places you've mentioned, I've only been to England though (and Greece, of course). And I love nature too :) I'm glad you're in this class!
ReplyDeleteHey Joni,
ReplyDeleteThat is really cool that you are double majoring. I. think it is made even more fascinating by the fact that you are doing ballet here! I bet that is a hard job, but I have faith you are going to pull them off with ease. I have actually read The Secret Garden, and I really enjoyed it. Just like you I really enjoy reading as a past time. I used to read anything I could get my hands on but now all I really read is science fiction to horror. Your second major sounds super interesting and it sounds like something that has a broad scope. Hope you have a great semester!
Hi Joni,
ReplyDeleteI really love how passionate you are about dance and international studies particularly the Middle Eastern. I agree that dance is an amazing story telling technique with the human body. I love to read as well when i have the time too! My favorite are also fantasy books! I also love to travel and am so jealous you got to travel to so many beautiful countries. My sister has been to several countries you have been to and spoke highly of it. I hope you had a great time in this class.
Hi Joni!
ReplyDeleteI think it is amazing that you double majoring in Ballet Performance and International Studies! I feel like that is honestly the perfect combination of studies, as they each balance each other out because they are so different from one another. I am so jealous that you have been to Scotland. It is on my bucket list to go there because I love their culture and I think the country itself is stunning! I hope that you have a great semester!
Hey Joni,
ReplyDeleteMy sister is also a dancer, so I definitely respect the grind that y’all have to put in in order to be at such a high level! You’ve definitely traveled a ton more than me – I’ve never even been outside of the U.S.! I’m really looking forward to see more of what you write and getting to know you!
Nice to meet you, Joni! That is so wonderful that you have found your passions and get to study them through both of your majors. I agree whole-heartedly with the last paragraph of your post about connecting with nature and finding yourself in exploring the world. I hope to travel and explore foreign countries as well someday soon so that I can learn and have a deeper understanding of the world around me! Good luck with the rest of the semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Joni! I wish I had gotten into dance when I was younger! I love to dance but I don't have any technical skill. I think it is wonderful that you enjoy dance and had the desire to pursue it in university. Your experience in Israel sounds enlightening and wonderful. I went to Mexico this summer for study abroad, and I feel the same way about my experience. Traveling is a fun way to get to know yourself more and grow. I can't wait to read your stories and see how or if you incorporate your studies or experiences into them!
ReplyDeleteHi Joni!
ReplyDeleteDancing in Israel sounds amazing, I used to dance competitively until my freshman year in high school but am still surrounded by it because my sister still does - she's currently a freshman dancing at Kaufman at the University of Southern California and she loves it! For my advertising capstone project we're actually doing a strategic communication plan for the OU School of Dance's Five Moons Dance Festival next spring so I've gotten to know the school of dance more than I ever thought I would and it's making me miss it! Good luck with all your endeavors, and I'm looking forward to reading your stories this semester!
Hi Joni!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your introduction because you have such a cool life! The fact that you came to OU for dance inspires me, because I am also a dancer. I wish that I had joined a dance team here or become a dance major, so that fact that you continued your dancing career is awesome! I am also envious of all of your traveling! Traveling is something that I enjoy, but haven't had the opportunity to do very often, how cool for you! It was so nice to meet you!
Joni,
ReplyDeleteI think it is incredible you came to OU for dance. I love to dance as well, and have danced before in both Holmberg Hall and Brackett Theatre. Dance is such a special way to have a connection to music and life. That photo of you is stunning! I also love your time traveling. I have had the opportunity to travel a lot and it truly is one of the best things a person can do! This introduction was engaging and fun, thanks for sharing!
Hi Joni,
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to meet you! That's amazing that you're one of the students in the dance program here! I've heard that the classes are normally pretty late for that major from another dance major. I love that you're doing a Ballet Performance and International Studies. Like you said, it's a good mix of the different areas and it's awesome you're getting to explore both topics! I also think it's awesome you have been abroad to so many different places. This is coming from someone who's never been outside the country, but I just got my passport this summer and I'm hoping to change that soon! Good luck this semester!
Joni,
ReplyDeleteI've never met a dancer before! Is that you in the photo? Completely stunning. Was OU's dance program the only factor in deciding to leave Maryland? I've always wanted to visit Maryland because it appears to be a very beautiful place.
I would love to be able to see any type of performance at our theatre, but I never know when anything is happening there! Maybe I should read my email more often lol.
Reading your introduction makes me believe that you are feeling very fulfilled, and it makes me happy. Finding your passion and being able to follow through with it is such a beautiful thing.
It was nice to meet you!
Joni,
ReplyDeleteI've never met a dancer before! Is that you in the photo? Completely stunning. Was OU's dance program the only factor in deciding to leave Maryland? I've always wanted to visit Maryland because it appears to be a very beautiful place.
I would love to be able to see any type of performance at our theatre, but I never know when anything is happening there! Maybe I should read my email more often lol.
Reading your introduction makes me believe that you are feeling very fulfilled, and it makes me happy. Finding your passion and being able to follow through with it is such a beautiful thing.
It was nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteHi Joni! That is so cool that you have been able to study both of your passions here at OU. I am minoring in International Studies, and have really enjoyed all of the courses for that program. The Secret Garden was also one of my favorites growing up. I hope you have had some time to read and write for fun during this semester. Good luck with the rest of the school year!
Howdy Joni,
ReplyDeletewow, it sounds like you have had quite the adventures during your life thus far. You have been able to travel to so many places and that is truly spectacular. Were all of those to do with dancing? I bet coming down to OU was an adventure in its own right. I imagine that it is completely different from Maryland and took some getting used to.
Hey Joni!
ReplyDeleteThis was so cool to get to learn about you through reading your introduction! Your time as a ballet dancer is incredible. I am especially jealous of your time dancing in Israel. Israel is very close to the top of my bucket list when it comes to traveling. What was the best part? I am excited to read your blog this semester!
Hi Joni!
ReplyDeleteWow your life is way more interesting then mine. I wish I could do as much as you. I like the state your from, I think its very nice there! I also like how you dance, I think its a very hard task to be good at considering a lot of people arent great dancers. I also like how you discribed dancer as if they are visual artist, i think thats awesome.
Joni,
ReplyDeleteI love the way you look at life. It reminds me of my own outlook. I am not a professional dancer like you but I do love to dance. It makes me feel so good every time I do. I also love being surrounded my nature. I have a deep passion for the environment and I think it is very important for people to spend more time outside than being caught indoors. Traveling is such a beautiful experience. I have been to a few places outside of the country. I just love experiences the different cultures. I hope you continue to see the world as you do now. It is beautiful. Happy adventures!
Hello Joni,
ReplyDeleteI love being outdoors as well. I used to go camping as often as I was able too. Now coming to college and being involved in a few different things I rarely ever find the time to go camping. It does seem like you have had many more different varying opportunities than me, very interesting stuff!