Hello beautiful,

I'll keep it short and sweet in this, my last email newsletter of the year.

So grateful you are here, in connection online, through digital media and in real life, in class and in conversation this year, lending your presence to my life and the world.

Have been celebrating my partner's birthday, the end of the semester and Advanced Dance Program, the holidays with a visit from my cousin and his family, the traditional meals with Ela's family coming next. Feeling very fortunate to mark the season with such lavish feasting and treats. It hasn't been an easy year for many, but we've made the most of it.

The work of reflection is part of what this time of year is about for me, yes going out and being present and celebrating as well, but also then going inward, looking back and forward. To that end, I am planning to take the time between Christmas Eve--today!--and the 5th of January when in-studio classes return, pretty much entirely "off" from work, posting, and engagement. Rest, recovery, reveling in quiet and dark, reflecting, dreaming, scheming and planning are on my non-agenda.

An exception are my online classes which will feature special year's transition classes for both Yummy Gentle Yoga and Balletlicious Adaptive Ballet next week.

Wishing you a sweet Solstice, merry Christmas, happy Hannukah, cool Kwanzaa and whatever festivals of light you may participate in, a brilliant New Year, lovely vacation if you get some, and a wonderful time regardless of how you personally spend this time.

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

Listening:

• ​Silver Bells Winter Warmers is my playlist of musical holiday treats
• The Nutcracker Ballet Class album from Trisha Wolf is a great one for seasonal dancing

Reading:

• ​October Oohs & Aahs – 2025 Month 10 Reflection: The month of October was action-packed & suspenseful, spooky & cozy, autumnal & full of dancing & prolific creativity! October is LGBTQ+ History Month and many creatives I know celebrate "Art-tober" or Inktober or such challenges to spark their art, along with seeing the Hunter Moon, World Mental Health Day, National Coming Out Day, Pronouns Day, and Halloween.
• ​Over a Decade of Dance Notebooks – A Teaching Artist’s Journals of Class, Rehearsal, Performance: Often espousing the benefits of handwritten note-taking, in this article and video I flip through over ten years of my own such Dance Notebooks for the curious to peek inside and for me to glean themes, learning, and growth through reflection over time.
• ​Winter Wonders & Warmers: a Bucket List for Dark but Festive Times / Solstice – Return of the Light is a collection I published last year at this time and a handy reference for traditions I like to return to, since I find the stark, bleak, dreary days call for strings of lights, candles, treats, and traditions help to warm the cold of winter.
• ​The Gifts of Winter – Holiday Viewing, Listening, & Treats article from 2020 focuses on media and themes that speak to the season for me
• Working on the novel Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan and its been a busy, slow-reading time of year but I'm finding it compelling so far

Viewing:

• Been adding bite-sized videos to my Tasty Technique Tips playlist on YouTube
• Back to the "H​acks" Comedy-Drama series
• Will choose a holiday flick or two for the downtime in the coming days...

Practicing:

• Getting my groove on with my own Dance Daily December Movement Advent Calendar challenge with daily improvised video clips on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to spread the infections joy and benefits of a dancey lifestyle
• Different versions of the Sugarplum Fairy variation from "The Nutcracker" ballet, but who is she?
• Working hard, then taking time off
• Rest & Recovery
• Journaling & Reflection

Practicing Together LIVE / Adult Movement Classes:

• Online Yogalicious Gentle Yoga. 7-8:00pm CEST Tuesdays (8-9:00am HI) provides a delicious mindful movement feast which balances strength, balance and coordination for mind, body, and spirit and is adaptable to all levels and conditions (English)
• Online Balletlicious Adaptive Ballet Barre+, 7:30-8:30am CEST Fridays (Thursday p.m. HI) consists of mostly supported barre exercises with a little dancey centre work, building a strong, body-friendly, and graceful foundation for dance at home or anywhere in the world (English)

Inquiring:

• What are you celebrating this season?
• Which books are on your TBR?
• Films, foods, tunes that take you there?
• What are your dreams for 2026?

Gladly share your response to the questions above or provide other updates by replying to this email.

Peace on the Earth and goodwill to all in 2026!

Thank you for reading, for being, and for dancing with me, in spirit or in fact. Take care of yourself, pay attention, 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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