World Cancer Day - February 4, 2013

Today, February 4th, is World Cancer Day.

As a cancer "thriver" myself I've thought all day about my own cancer journey and how it affected and still affects who I am.

This led me down the road to wonder - as I approach 50 years old this year - who am I today?

I'm a writer now; I'm an activist for many causes including cancer survivors; and I am still - and always will be - a dancer. I'm currently choreographing a production of CHICAGO the Musical in San Diego.

I often forget how much I love dance. It is hard, it hurts the older I get; yet, it means even more to me "the older I get."  Somehow, I  knew dance would be related to my thoughts on World Cancer Day.

And lo and behold, I come across this beautiful project from Visible Ink featuring my uber-talented friend Kathryn Murphy dancing to a gorgeous essay by Jessica Moser.  Kathryn's dancing is an honest and beautiful embodiment of the early days of cancer diagnosis.  Really beautiful.

I see a lot of how I feel about World Cancer Day in this performance.  This day, for me, is about letting people know we are still here. And that those who love us are always near, both during and after the storm.

This World Cancer Day is about dispelling myths about cancer: that cancer is just a health issue; that it's a disease of the wealthy, elderly and under privileged countries; that cancer is a death sentence; and that cancer is "my fate."  Find out more about World Cancer Day here.

From the YouTube description: Visible Ink, a one-on-one writing program for patients at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, offers opportunities for self-expression, stress reduction, personal growth, and individual success at a time when many participants face the considerable challenge of a serious illness.

Jessica Moser's essay "Taking Back Cape May" was performed by Lucy Martin with Kathryn Mowat Murphy (dancing), Susan Spain, Catherine Augier, with singer Soara-Joye Ross, and musicians Karen E. Popkin and Taryn Thomas at Visible Ink's second annual reading on April 5, 2010.

Sweet Charity rehearsals - first day

First day of rehearsals for SWEET CHARITY in Oklahoma City for Lyric Theatre.

First number up for staging was "Something Better Than This" with Charity and her two sidekicks Nickie and Helene. This is my partner in crime Kathryn Murphy who is playing "Nickie" - we've worked together several times and she saves me in the rehearsal studio in many, many ways. She's my associate choreographer here and already helping in huge ways.

Staging "Something Better Than This" requires a very latin flair, which in turn HAS to have some "skirt-ography." So, of course, I requested a rehearsal skirt too. After a few minutes though the ladies couldn't see my foot work so off the skirt went.

Got the number done and the ladies look great already! Whoo-hoo!

Here's a clip from the movie starring Shirley Maclaine, Chita Rivera and Paula Kelly doing "Something Better Than This."