Hello beautiful,

It was very special for us to be able to celebrate Cologne CSD/Pride last weekend, and I'm so glad to hear that this huge multi-day demonstration went off without major incident thank you to organizers, participants, and police. Ela and I made it out for at least a little bit each day, saw many friends and important messages, with my personal highlight of the gorgeous diversity and acceptance of Dyke March on Saturday. I really struggled to get out on Sunday in the rain for the big parade, but as Ela put it: "Fascism is on the rise, we gotta show up!"

Had a wonderful time in the studio and met some new students this week, and also found out that I will have the exciting opportunity to teach daily ballet classes for the Advanced Dance Program from Studio 29 Berlin here in Cologne this October-December. It's an intensive program and I'm excited to see how much the dancers will grow in that time.

Due to taking on 3 ballet classes on Tuesdays throughout August, I'll need to move online Yummy Gentle Yoga either for the month or semi-permanently (we adjust based on my and students' schedules), so I am asking current and potential students what works best: Wednesdays at 7pm/19:00 CEST, Mondays or Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays, or some other time/day? In the future, I'd like to offer more sessions each week as classes grow. Thanks as always for your feedback!

My other creations, recommendations, and questions for you are:

Listening:

• A musical highlight from Cologne Pride was stumbling into a band called The Titty Twisters playing at the Street Festival, with some very decent covers including Chappell Roan, who despite global fame has still gone somehow unnoticed by some friends who were bemused when we started dancing our faces off to "Pink Pony Club"
• Speaking of "Dancing in the Street," Martha Reeves & The Vandellas created the classic

Viewing:

• Softened after-PRIDE withdrawals by binging the 2nd season of "The Ultimatum: Queer Love," the kind of irresistible trash reality TV where someone always says: "I think maybe this was a mistake..." and it most certainly is!
• Continued season 3 of "White Lotus," can feel the comedy-drama deliciously escalate

Reading:

• Finished The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics: A Regency Historical Romance Novel of Love, Astronomy, and Forbidden Desires by Olivia Waite, should have probably started with that one but fine to read out of order as well based on when they became available as eBooks through my library. Really enjoyed the characters, story, scientific and artistic themes, and writing, but could have done without the spicy scenes.

Practicing:

• My new Quick Kitchen Kitri - ballet variation rough draft - no instruction small space for student use Video on YouTube: Let's grab a fan and feel the heat of the Spanish summer in this 1.5 minute ballet variation, adapted for online intermediate ballet learners dancing in small spaces at home, demonstrated from the back for practice purposes. The extract is from Act III variation of the ballet "Don Quixote" and is full of imperfections, but I hope my students have fun reviewing the material, and others get a sense of how we dance together in the online setting.
• ​Buck Full Moon Yoga - twisty flow from RebEarth is a 25 minute practice attuned to the cycle of the moon
• Playing with my new bent-nib fountain pen, like these 3 Fude Pens and Techniques from Marc Kompaneyets, in my notebooks
• If you're looking for the right such tool, the Beginners Guide to Buying a Notebook from Rachelle in Theory has practical advice for would-be journalers & notetakers
• ​Every Self-Learner Should Keep a Compendium Notebook from Parknotes goes into what you might productively do with your notebook of choice

Practicing Together LIVE / Adult Movement Classes this week:

• In-Studio Adult Beginner Ballet, 6-7:00pm CET Mondays, Tanzschule Tanzraum Nippes, Cologne, Germany creates a strong, body-friendly, and graceful foundation for dance with drop-ins and Eversports access available (German)
• Online Yogalicious Gentle Yoga. 7-8:00pm CET Tuesdays (7-8:00am HI) provides a delicious mindful movement feast which balances strength, balance and coordination for mind, body, and spirit adaptable to all levels and conditions (English & free trial available, just reply to this email!)
• Online Balletlicious Gentle Adaptive Ballet Barre+, 7:30-8:30am CET Fridays (Thursday p.m. HI) consists of mostly barre with a little dancey centre work, building a strong, body-friendly, and graceful foundation for dance at home or anywhere in the world (English & free trial available, just reply to this email!)

Inquiring:

• What is your favorite ballet or dance work?
• How do you demonstrate your pride, your values & principles?
• Where will you dance this week?
• When is the best time for you to join online yoga in August?
• What's your current summer jam?

Gladly share your response to the questions above or provide other updates by replying to this email or on social media if you are active there.

Thank you for reading, for being, and for dancing with me, in spirit or in fact. Take care of yourself and keep moving mindfully!

Love, Blythe

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst
they/them or she/her
Creator of A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties
and take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life

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