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National Dance Institute's Dream Project

Today I attended a performance of National Dance Institute's Dream Project, an inclusive dance program within NDI that provides children with disabilities the opportunity to perform.

In this unique program, children with disabilities and a group of age-matched, neuro-typical peers dance in partnership, with the goals of maximizing participation and challenging every dancer to achieve their best through teamwork, creativity, empathy, and discovery.

DREAM stands for Dancers Realize Excellence Through Arts and Movement and this is the 10th year of its existence. NDI believes that dancing enriches the soul and brings joy and expression into every person's life…and that every single child in a room has different levels of ability that should be recognized and celebrated. The Dream Project is living proof of that. To say it has made a tremendous difference in the lives of so many children and their families is an understatement. One has only to look at the faces of the participants to see the joy it brings to them, their families and to any audience who sees them.

Poem by Aurora Levins Morales

Aurora Levins Morales is a Puerto Rican writer and poet. She takes part in many social justice movements with an emphasis on Latina and Third World feminism.

Summons
by Aurora Levins Morales

Last night I dreamed
ten thousand grandmothers
from the 12 hundred corners of the earth
walked out into the gap
one breath deep
between the bullet and the flesh
between the bomb and the family.
They told me we cannot wait for
governments.
There are no peacekeepers boarding planes.
There are no leaders who dare to say
every life is precious, so it will have to be us.
They said we will cup our hands around each
heart.
We will sing the earth's song, the song of
water,
a song so beautiful that vengeance will turn
to weeping.
The mourners will embrace, and grief replace
every impulse toward harm.
Ten thousand is not enough, they said,
so, we have sent this dream, like a flock of
doves
into the sleep of the world. Wake up. Put on
your shoes.
You who are reading this, I am bringing
bandages
and a bag of scented guavas from my trees. I
think
I remember the tune. Meet me at the corner.
Let's go.

Teriyaki Chicken Cups

TERIYAKI CHICKEN CUPS
Courtesy of kalejunkie on TikTok
Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups cooked rice
3 sheets nori cut into 12 inch squares
1 lb. chicken without skin cut into small pieces
You can substitue with salmon or shrimp
1 tbsp. olive/avocado/or sesame oil
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
3 tbsp. mayo

SAUCE
2 tbsp. mayo
1-2 tsp. sriracha
think with water if needed

Garnish with scallions and toasted sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Cook rice and set aside (could be sushi rice or any rice will do).
Cut chicken into small pieces and toss with oil, mayo and teriyaki sauce and set aside.
Cut nori in 12 inch squares and in a muffin tin, place nori and press down 1-2 tbsp. rice into it.
Add 2 tbsp. chicken mixture.
Bake for 15-16 minutes, then broil for 2 minutes to get top a little browned.
Make spicy sauce and spoon a little onto each
Top with green onion and sesame seeds.
Best to eat immediately after cooking…

Quote of the Week

Painting of the Week

Private Collecition, New York, NY, Purple Tulip, mixed media linocut

Charity of the Week:

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.