Happy Pride beautiful ones!

In these past few weeks, we have sadly continued to see more incidents of racism, misogyny and bigotry but we have also witnessed many people waking up to the struggle, as well as some taking a firm stand. The UK hip hop dance scene is not free from these discriminatory behaviours, and accusations of sexual abuse have also been revealed this week.

It can be a traumatic time for those speaking out so if you need a safe space you can contact groomedinrecovery@gmail.com. You can also support dancers in recovery here. It is always frightening and draining to face the past, speak up and call out. I take courage form James Baldwin’s powerful words:

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced”.

In times like these, we can be affected in many ways and on many levels. Our vibration is shaped by our experiences. Last week, (thanks to the suggestion of Kenrick from Boy Blue), I offered a healing womb meditation online. Watch the meditation here for some refreshing and realigning of your core energy (I am in the process of re-recording this in a beautiful collaboration which we hope to share soon). You may prefer this Kundalini class to act not react. We are currently in ‘Pluto transformation’ where our deepest repressed and unvoiced fears may surface. This is also a time when karmic repayments are spread to those spreading good energies. Conversely it is at this time that our words may be misjudged or misunderstood, and we become distracted by reacting rather than taking positive action that creates long term change. (So I hope you find this Kundalini kriya of benefit!)

I will forever be moved by these powerful words by James Baldwin (Watch the rest here)

“It seems to me, that the, artist’s struggle for his integrity is a kind of metaphor, and must be considered as a metaphor for the struggle, which is universal and daily for all human beings, on the face of this terrifying globe. To get to become human beings…”

James Baldwin goes on to talk about “the poets – by which I mean all artists –Are finally the only people who know the truth about us. Soldiers don’t. Statesmen don’t. Priests don’t. Union leaders don’t. Only the poets…”

Powerful words, and big responsibilities for all artists.! His words have made me reflect too on the extent to which we are all toxic. How can we use our life journey to become better human beings? it is important to recognise the power of creativity to heal. I have been painting this week because I find it helps me return to stillness. It was also through painting that I originally realised I wanted to dance. Painting has helped me reflect on my busy pre-Covid lifestyle. Although it was rewarding, allowing me to connect, to create tribes and families all over the world, it was also a way to avoid, in the words of Ekhart Tolle, ‘‘living with myself’ or finding stillness.

Home, or isness, or bliss, or innocence (as taught in my coaching programme) is an energetic space within our body, and I hope that in between your surviving, your teaching, your working, your creating, your activism, your protesting, your speaking up, your caring for others, your listening to others, your donating large sums of money, your earning large sums of money and generally making ripples in this world, you are also giving time to yourself to rest, to recuperate, to come home, to breathe, to laugh, to sigh, to cry, and most of all, to be still!

Sending all my love in these different times: You are super(s)heros!

Ella xxx

Dear beautiful humans,

If you are recovering from ill health or the trauma of the racism and bigotry witnessed this week, we send you love and a warm embrace. How tragic, difficult, hateful and yet hopeful these past two weeks have been.

I felt proud of Bristol this week. In October 2018 I posted a piece of street art on my insta by an anonymous artist. It was a protest revealing the truth about Edward Colston.

Colston (though I imagine you already know this!) was a slave owner who was responsible for the death of thousands of human beings, yet he was celebrated as a hero.

I went to school in Bristol and can remember numerous calls to take his statue down. On Sunday, the public made it a reality! Marvin Rees, the Mayor, called it ‘poetry’ in motion. Colston who had Africans thrown overboard as commodities, now lies at the bottom of the harbour.

I read an interesting article (What ended the Slave Trade – The Teacherist) this week, which presents a convincing argument about why these statues should be removed. To those who say this is an attack on British history. This is history!*

This beautiful poem by my hero Maya Angelou also re-touched my heart this week, and feels very relevant in every way to the themes emerging over the past weeks: https://youtu.be/UT9y9HFHpU0

I am amazed to realise that one year ago, we were making a dance piece whose title would work so very well today. ‘The Masks We Wear’, was co-created with five wonderful young women in Leeds. (Watch their final performance here). Perhaps it is time to bring it back!

The piece explored personal reflections on identity, and the inescapable pressure of being female in the digital age. I worked in collaboration with Vamos Festival and Costuminati, funded by Leeds Inspired. We explored public and private self with five talented young women through masked dance.

As a person of mixed heritage, particularly one with very light skin, I have been drawing on the multiple layers of my own identity to hold the pain of loved ones, to pass on important information to those that might benefit, and to feel my own anger whilst acknowledging my own privilege. I have found this time triggering, healing, inspiring, but tiring.

As a result, the Getting Better Box has evolved further and is now full of anti racism recommendations. I invite you to have a look, and if you feel inspired to send in your ideas to add to the collection. (And of course continue to send your poems, your well-being and dance classes and anything else that you would like to share on the platform).

I have been thinking a lot about polarities and masks not just this week but over these lockdown months. I have been thinking about how much in our pre-covid world we boxed, divided and labeled: Good, bad, right, wrong, masculine, feminine, black, white.

Perhaps in a post covid world we might try to occupy the spaces in between? Can we, rather than label experiences as positive and negative be more balanced? More accepting? More open-minded?

I would like to finish with a passage by Kaya Mindlin, sent to me this week (read the full post here)

“This battle has been in progress for a long time, and a huge layer is being hauled right now. It takes great effort. It will take everyone’s participation – but participation will look different for different people.

How you contribute to this movement depends on your karma, skill, resources and capacity. Be you an orator, a maker, an artist, a writer, a protester, a healer, a religious leader, a politician, an activist, a parent, a therapist, a promoter, a networker, a teacher, an example, a friend… you are needed.

Your role may be visible to many, or to few, or it may be invisible. Maybe you are shouting from the rooftops, donating large sums of money, publishing books, leading workshops, starting protests.

Maybe you are counseling others, maybe you are praying, maybe you are tending to someone who needs care, maybe you are making someone laugh, maybe you are breastfeeding a future contributor. Do YOUR duty and it will have a ripple effect that contributes to the whole. Take in rest, take in nourishment, take in love, take in the divine. Then get to the work that YOU are meant to do”

Sending all my love in these different times: you are super(s)heros!

I love you,

Ella xxx