National Dance Week 2008 Kick-off in Santa Cruz, Thursday, May 1

Tru School Hip Hop, above, and Raizes do Brazil demonstrate capoeira. 

National Dance Week Santa Cruz -

was off to a brilliant start on Thursday, May 1, with free performances at three outdoor locations on Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz. I attended four solid hours of shows (5 p.m.-9 p.m.) and was amazed by the caliber of dancing and captivated by the topnotch choreography. SLIDESHOW! I saw a sampling of dance from:

• Gravity Girls
• Marsea Marquis and Tropicalismo
• Contact Improvisation
• John and Nancy Lingemann
• Tru School Hip Hop
• Mir & A Company

Here are free dances classes May 1-8!

The events are sponsored by the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz.

Nocturnal Sunshine Fire Performance Troupe, above, and Te Hau Nui Dance.

Visit my PHOTO GALLERY for more dance photos from this event.

Women's Yoga Retreat at Mount Madonna, Watsonville, CA - April 25-27

I arrived Friday afternoon at Mount Madonna Center, apprehensive about camping - even in the glorious redwoods - because I was so fatigued. But two nights and six yoga classes later, I returned to Santa Cruz refreshed and relaxed on Sunday afternoon. The powerful combination of yoga asanas, a glorious sunny hilltop setting, and wonderful Santa Cruz-based teachers, Laurie Broderick Burr and Kelly Blaser was just the rejuvenation I needed. I shared some very special times with many of the 25 other women on the retreat. Namaste!

Thank you, Kelly Blaser, for the photo above.