The Pause... and Exciting News
New MOVE2023 Conference, A Very Special Project, and a Back to School Toolkit for Movement Teachers.
Dear Friends, I didn’t intend to pause Movement Academy newsletters, but I’m glad I did. Some unexpected travel, movement in my life and, yes, some new writing (more on that soon) kept me away from the keyboard other than for my Very Special Project and basic necessities. I’m very happy to be back, to look ahead, and to share more with you. - Valerie
Movement Conference in Sacramento!
A new annual movement conference is coming September 29- October 1, at Meristem on the former campus of Rudolf Steiner College near Sacramento. A great lineup of movement educators will gather with other educators, therapists, and parents on the beautiful campus that many know and love. I’ll present a few workshops for early childhood, with games and dances and movement adventure circles for home and preschool. Mark your calendars, and please share the news with your colleagues as you head back to classrooms, studios, and playgrounds. I’ll see you there!
The Very Special Project
Monday, August 7, 2023 is the 100th birthday of my father, Danish jazz drummer Uffe Baadh. For years I’ve felt that his colorful life and work was worthy of its own story. Long ago I even wrote a treatment for the screenplay of what I imagined could be an amazing movie. But the research and search for recordings languished for years until I realized, with his 100th birthday coming up, the time is now. So I’ve been writing and listening to a lot of jazz.
This is the first of six posts that include (this is the exciting part!) archival recordings of the best of his music. I hope some of you might be interested Please feel free to read the first post, and to opt-in to the 6 part series by subscribing. Thanks!
Listen to “Wham”, one of his early recordings, when he was 19, in Copenhagen, 1943.
Even now it gets my toe tapping!
Back To School
My warmest wishes and gratitude to all the teachers heading back to the classrooms and school yards and fields for the upcoming school year. May your days be full of movement!
Here’s my Back to School Toolkit post that can help support your work.