HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2012

there are no words to describe how thankful i am this year....dance, Joyce King and JKDC, living in NYC, my new roommates, my knee....i could go on and on....today i joined a special group of dancers to perform and serve food in the Bronx...what a wonderful sight it was - to see everyone come together...to share the stage with friends and new friends...some with handicaps who were so inspiring and

 such a joy to watch....and now i'm back "home" aka housesitting for a friend...sitting here reflecting on everything i have, the people in my life, and the wonderful memories of those no longer with us (and yes that includes OLTL and AMC)....there are many things i wish i had but they are just that - things. things don't matter. people do. and i am so blessed and thankful to have so many amazing people in my life. i may not be rich and famous, but i'm living a life beyond my wildest dreams and i have YOU to thank for that. thank you for being YOU, for being in my life and for always standing by me. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone! :) xoxo

One of the amazing dancers I got to share the stage with today: http://youtu.be/VWIuxLh5IR8

JKDC Newsletter!

check it out! JKDC Fall Newsletter - http://eepurl.com/mZSov

Inspirations....

A big thank you to Nicole De Weever for finding this and posting it. I am continuously inspired by you Nicole. Thank you for being you and for spreading the inspiration..... (taken from Nicole's FB status post)

Nicole De Weever

If there is one thing I have learned about death it is that it is a great revealer. When I woke up this morning I was heartbroken in realizing how much time I waste on NONSENSE. It dawned on me that all we leave behind are...memories. Every moment, every interaction, every word is a creation of a memory.

The memories I want to leave behind should be those that mirror the deepest expression of my soul but in order to do so we must be true. That is easier said then done. Ultimately...the memories we leave behind should reflect how hard we loved and how much we were loved in return. Those memories should mark all we were willing to die for and LIVE for. I pray to leave memories behind so strong, they are tangible enough that those I loved can hold them and be comforted and STRENGHTHEND by them.

Last night I lost my grandmother and that loss reminded me to be careful with the positions I take with people I say I love. It reminded me of the necessity to continue to explore and expand my concepts of love and live up to the standards I discover. It reminded me not to take myself, my loved ones or my situation for granted. Most importantly... it reminded me that no matter what we are going through...we are ALIVE! That means...blessings await :) Grab them...and let's spend more time working towards the miracles we are in this short amount of time we have been given. Love deeply today...
This was written by Jada Pinkett I saw it and I was so moved because I really relate to what is being said.

2 years ago...

LiL Knee - May-July 2010

2 years ago today, I woke up and walked into an operating room for a 2+ hr reconstructive knee surgery. Today I am thankful that I am back doing what I love most in this world - DANCE - and grateful for all the love and support everyone gave me  (and still gives me) during the 8 months I went through the injury/rehab. 

LiL Knee - July 21, 2012

While I never want to go through anything like that again, I will say I am grateful because it taught me a lot and made me see things in a different way. And because of it, I met some pretty amazing people, and found out some pretty amazing things about those surrounding me.

I'm so thankful for Bethany Hamilton, Shawn Johnson, Aliya Mustafina, Alicia Sacramone, Allison Case, Karen Olivo, Courtney Kupets and everyone else who ever had an injury, publicly worked through it, and gave me the strength and courage to keep fighting until I was back. And it's a constant struggle - learning how to get back and re-train with what feels like a totally different body, learning how to trust your body again, having faith that everything will be ok. 

Life is way too short to focus on the bad. This injury/surgery could've been the end for me - but instead, I chose to focus on the positive - to stay close to those who support and inspire, and to steer clear of the negative ones. To keep my eye on the goal - getting back into the studio so I could, once again, FLY....going back and reading through this blog has taught me a lot - about myself, about my body, about others.....and even though I've been officially healed since January 1, 2011, I still keep this blog going to remind myself where I've been, where I'm headed, and where I want to go. 

~Memories In Action~
JKing Dance Company - May 2012

Thank you to everyone who continues to support me and my passion. In the words of 7 year old Xiana, "I LOVE YOU MUCH MUCH!"

"Imagine the one thing you love to do the most. Now imagine, out of nowhere, something happens and you realize you may never be able to do it again. How do you feel? Sad? Angry? Shell-shocked? For me, the answer was all of the above."

-Bethany Hamilton-

Knee Heroes of mine...

JKDC Promo Video

JKing Dance Company PROMO Video

Update

Haven't updated in forever! Summer has started - SO grateful to be dancing and not preparing for surgery! Can you believe it's almost been 2 years since I went "under the knife"??? I'm so thankful to be able to wake up and dance. There are still challenges, but that's life and I'm grateful for them all! And there's so much good stuff going on! Doing lots of rehearsing for JKing Dance Company and I love it! So thankful to be dancing for this amazing company!

In other news.....if you are a fan of gymnastics or want to be inspired, I have two books you have to read asap! The first one is WINNING BALANCE by Shawn Johnson and the second is OFF BALANCE by Dominique Moceanu. They are amazing!



‎"...Take my past and give me grace. Walk the path to which I face. Free my heart from this I feel. Lift me up and help me heal. Save me from what hurt my heart, beat me down, and made me part, made me fear and want to hide. Take away the pain inside...Keep me close to those that care, ones that love and want to share, ones that help when things go wrong, pick me up and make me strong. Let them know what I feel inside: burning flames that will not die...Let them know they changed my life, made me whole, and showed me the light: re-lit the flame that burnt in here, the passion and desire that made it clear, then taught me how to leap and fly...My heart's been turned inside out, but never once did I doubt what it was they gave to me: compassion, love, sincerity." -Shawn Johnson ♥

Don't take what you love for granted....

I know I know! It's been forever since I really updated this blog. SO much has been going on I don't know where to begin.....first of all JKing Dance Company's shows ~Memories in Action~ were amazing! I can't tell you how honored I was to be a part of that show! It was the greatest weekend of my life! I am still on a "high" from it. There is no greater feeling than to be on stage performing. I love it more than anything else! For more information about JKDC check out www.JoyceKingDance.com

Last Sunday I got some sad news. Elite gymnast, Shawn Johnson, has officially retired from gymnastics. Shawn had reconstructive knee surgery 6 months before I did. Prior to my injury I didn't even know she had injured her knee. She was a great comfort to me during my knee injury, surgery, and recovery, and her come back really inspired me to come back stronger than ever. She stated, 

“I still have the heart, drive, and desire to compete and help the USA at the London Olympics. Unfortunately, it has become obvious that my left knee is not able to sustain the demands of gymnastics any longer. All I can do now is gracefully retire and thank everyone who has believed in me and my journey."

I am thankful that I am healed and able to dance again. And I'm grateful that my tumbling skills are back. I will say that now that I'm healed, I never take any of that for granted anymore. I recently came across this quote from iSpeakGymnast, 

‎"Don't take the sport you play for granted. Every time you play, be thankful that you get to do something you love. Don't show up to practice complaining about not wanting to be there; you're there hopefully because you love it. Work hard every moment. Play every practice/game like it's your last because it very well could be. When you finally reach the day you can't play, and you can only watch, then you will know how much you love something that you once took for granted."

I'm still doing PT in my room at home daily. I still have pain because there is hardware in my knee. But every day I wake up and thank God for allowing me another day to get out of bed and do what I love most in this world, dancing for JKDC.

‎"Everything happens for a reason. Let that help you keep perspective in the hard times. Try to find the good in everything that happens-it's usually there somewhere." 

-Shawn Johnson

I DIE :)

2 weeks to go!

Just two weeks until JKing Dance Company presents

~Memories in Action~ 

a full evening of work! I am so honored to be a part of this amazing dance company and can't wait to be on stage! I love the work of artistic director, Joyce King! 

I am counting down the days and I hope you will be able to join us! 

May 11th ~ 8pm

May 12th ~ 3pm and 8pm

More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/382519915103984/

I am so thankful to be able to dance and do what I love. 

~ Memories in Action ~

You are officially invited to JKing Dance Company's full evening of work, ~ Memories in Action ~
I can't wait to be on stage doing what I LOVE most in this world, DANCE. Hope you can make it!
https://www.facebook.com/events/382519915103984/

Memories in Action

I am honored to be in this amazing company and to have this awesome opportunity. If you are in NYC, I hope you will be able to come. The choreography is amazing! I am SO grateful!

xo Danelle xo

MEMORIES IN ACTION

I am so proud and honored to be a part of this amazing show! I am grateful to be a dancer in NYC and dancing for JKing Dance Company! If you are in NYC, buy a ticket! May 11 at 8pm and May 12th at 8pm (May 12 at 3pm is geared toward children) As always, for more information, go to www.JoyceKingDance.com

xoDanelle

Alicia Keys sings Send Me An Angel at Whitney Houston's Funeral

Beautiful tribute to Whitney Houston xoxo

Whitney Houston I Didn't Know My Own Strength Live AMA 2009 HD

In Loving Memory of the amazing, Whitney Houston. Thank you for sharing your talents with us. You are loved and will be missed and will NEVER be forgotten. xoxo

Friday, February 10, 2012

I will never forget Friday, February 10, 2012. Just like any other day, I got up and went to rehearsal for JKDC. When we got to a specific piece, I went to do it, and I was so "in the moment" that I tumbled!!! For the first time since Saturday, May 22, 2010 - the day I tumbled and later heard that tear - I tumbled. I didn't realize how afraid I was to start flipping again. I knew all along that I still could, but kept putting it off because I was afraid. But for some reason, in that moment, without even thinking about it....I tumbled. It was the greatest feeling ever to be hurling myself backwards in the air again. I had been planning on going to the gymnastics center here in NYC and having someone spot me on the sprung floor but for some reason, something in me just went for it. I'm so thankful for that piece and for the opportunity to fly again.

"If you believe you can get through an injury and fight back, and you really love gymnastics enough, you can get through it."

-Courtney Kupets

Q&A with the Cast of One Life to Live | The Paley Center for Media

This was really helpful for me to see, not only as a huge fan of OLTL, but also from a performer aspect.

Q&A with the Cast of One Life to Live | The Paley Center for Media

JKDC

Performed with JKing Dance Company tonight! It was SO much fun! I love JKDC and I love love love the work that our artistic director, Joyce King, does. If you're in NYC, come see us this May! May 11th at 8pm and May 12th at 3pm and again at 8pm at the Alvin Ailey theater.
I feel like the luckiest person alive! I get to do what I love for a living and I get to do it with the GREATEST dance company in the entire world!
For more info about JKDC, visit: www.JoyceKingDance.com

DETERMINATION

Now this is what I call DETERMINATION!

Josh Hill is back on a motorcycle.

Hill, the Dodge Motorsports/Hart and Huntington rider who suffered a shattered right femur, broken right pelvis, shattered right humerus and compartment syndrome in his left leg in a crash while preparing for the Speed & Style event at X Games in July of 2010, is hopeful of returning to racing January 7 at the season-opening Anaheim Supercross.

"It has been a long road back to riding well on the track," Hill, who has had at least 10 surgeries since the crash, said in a team release. "I had a few setbacks with pressure sores and with my ankle that forced me to get my Achilles and other tendons clipped and straightened out. That was 10 weeks ago. Mobility is a bit of an issue right now, but overall I feel great with my progress with just a few days of riding under my belt.

"My goal is to be ready to rock at Anaheim 1. I have put blood, sweat, and tears into my recovery and I will not settle for anything less than greatness on the track. I am incredibly excited for the 2012 season to start." 

ONE LIFE TO LIVE January2012

One Life to Live will air it's last episode on Friday, January 13, 2012. Check out their last promo followed by a montage of characters of the past 43 years. We only have 9 episodes to go (but after today we only have 8). I know everyone who is a fan is completely devastated, but keep your chin held high - if we continue to stand together, anything is possible. It's 2012 - The year of the SOAP OPERA.

What if it's possible.....that we SAVE our SOAPS!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

January 1, 2012 - Happy New Year!

2011 started off as a great year for me! Recovering from reconstructive knee surgery in 2010 and being able to start dancing again in January 2011 - going to Japan for 2 weeks for dance in February - my first performance back in March! But then April came and with it the cancelations of ONE LIFE TO LIVE and ALL MY CHILDREN  - in May I got to perform on the same day and in the same location where I ruptured my ACL the year before and even though it was scary, I did it! The summer brought lots of protests to save my soaps and I met so many wonderful new people all over the USA! I got to help JK teach dance in New Jersey and Philly and I got to help JK at the Joffrey Ballet! This fall I helped JKDC's first online auction where we raised almost $6,000 for the company! 

The year also brought a lot of dance, a lot of rehearsals, a lot of fun and the ending of ALL MY CHILDREN :*(. I laughed A LOT, I cried A LOT. I've had a lot of good and a lot of not so good. I've been up and down and all around! But I'm excited to close the door on the 2011 chapter and open it up to 2012! 2012 is going to start off hard...ONE LIFE TO LIVE goes off the air on Friday January 13th. But I have hope that 2012 will bring lots of good things.

May 2012 bring much happiness and love and life to all of us and may 2012 bring us some challenges as well - because without those challenges how would we ever learn more and grow more? I pray that 2012 brings me on another roller coaster ride - preferably one that allows me to continue to do what I love and to keep dancing through it all. And I pray the same for all of you. 

Thank you for being in my life - for listening to me whine and complain and be grateful and miserable. Thanks for letting me laugh and cry and just be ME. I love you all to the moon and back and more. Happy 2012!

"I know our hearts are heavy with the ending of OLTL on the 13th of January but 2012 will be a year of new beginnings!!!! Keep your chin up and hold your head high... Good things are around the corner." 

-Kassie DePaiva