A Message of Resolve From Founder & Executive Director, Ann Law

After months and months of dedicated work at Barking Legs as executive director and teaching artist with Full Circle TAP and ArtXChange, I booked a flight March 1st to go “home”, a place that pulls on my heart strings. I was ready to shift my attention to my physical needs of swimming, climbing, and dancing so as to unbridle my somatic state, be creative in different ways, and continue writing a book about how a daily movement practice can affect your creativity and your life.The minute I left, life, as we once knew it, would never be the same. The unknown factors affirmed every day kept erasing the framework we once had in place. Face to face with so many unpredictable moments that are now turning into days, weeks, and possibly months, we have begun to realize that we have no borders, no countries, no states...we have neighbors. The conversations we are having in our kitchens, with our friends, with neighbors, are the conversations everyone is having all over this planet. Global awareness is enhancing new ways of being balanced.It's in this time that I find myself gravitating towards a spiritual state, feeling like I just finished a month long meditation retreat, and questioning the who, what, why of my life. Just for the record, I have never taken a meditation class but I do find this time, if I listen deeply, liberating my inspirations. And that is what Barking Legs has provided so many of us with, throughout its 26 years of presenting vibrational-changing art that helps to liberate our senses and provide a fertile ground for all things imaginable.As our magical place, located at 1307 Dodds, refrains from keeping the doors open and we no longer hear the inspirational musical, theatrical, dancing sounds of so many heartbeats, I have asked the Barking Legs staff to turn inward and use this time to strengthen our infrastructure.I wanted to share this with you so that you would know that when the doors open, we will be stronger than ever and ready to bring the arts back into your life. Sometimes it's the simple, boring, necessary things that need tending to during a time like this. We keep pushing elements of our infrastructure towards the back burner when those legs are barking but it is those things that will insure our continuation. Yes, Barking Legs keeps us constantly in motion so we are ready to focus internally.Many artists are sharing how important this time is to reflect upon their creative processes and once Barking Legs opens its doors, exciting times will be happening again. And so we turn to you, looking forward to hearing from you and having you share with us, your creative makings. What books are you reading, music you are listening to, what inspirations you have found, memories of Barking Legs you would like to share. We have this wonderful newsletter and we would love to share your thoughts and writings with our members and how you are creating during these times. Stay safe and know that we are here, just in a different kind of way!Truly yours,Ann Law