What Is Dance Warrior

YOUTUBE VIDEO INFORMATION

Channel(s) & Media Platforms:

Rubans Rouges Dance, DanceWarrior, FB: Dance Warrior, Rubans Rouges Dance, Noelle Rose & Kale Andressen Media Arts Enterprises

Uploaded time:

May 21, 2018 at 9:41 AM

Duration:

16:11

Raw file:

What is Dance Warrior.mov

Warning Dancer On Board!

Hi beautifuls and beloveds! How are you? My name is Noelle Rose Andressen and I am the Dance Warrior. I've been asked so many times especially lately, “Noelle what is Dance Warrior exactly?” Well let me tell you, Dance Warrior is essentially my nickname… and how did I get this nickname? Well for  many of you who don't know and a lot of you do already know, I have overcome so many things in life. Like all of us, we all have hurdles. Some of the things I've gone through: I survived breast cancer numerous times, I have also overcome the tragedy of having been abused as a child, sexual molestation, sexual abuse, I've had to endure hardships about a lot of common things that we have to go through as human beings in life.  

What I have done is I have taken my nickname, which people say that I've well… more than earned, I've taken my nickname Dance Warrior and I've turned it into many different  things. For one, I've turned them into books. I have a book series called Dance Warrior and as you can see I have two in the series right here. The first one is  “Dance Warrior: from Cancer to Dancer” and the second one right here is called “Dance Warrior: Red Ribbons Shattered Innocence”. And each of these books focuses on my true life stories and how I overcame various things.

The first one I think it speaks for itself. It tells you not necessarily, do I speak about my cancer treatment, I speak about how I put my body back together after cancer treatment. I went back to my beginning and I used dance and both of these books dance was the primary focus, I am a dancer and I "warred" and I championed over my hurdles: Dance Warrior. So these books depict my true life stories and how I overcame so many different things and I want you too to learn how to turn "tragedy into triumph" just like I did.

Another vessel that I have turned into a product that I can share with you, not only do I have my books, my dance pieces, which are in dance concerts that you can come see - see me as a Dance Warrior portraying different characters and overcoming true life things that I have gone through in my life and I show you how. I do it by living an example, by sharing my stories to encourage you. If you're going through a tough time you can get through it. I'm here. I'm living. I'm breathing and I am enjoying my life and I'm touching other people's hearts with my testimony. And I tell these stories not only via my books, I use dance.

I tell my stories in dance. Each one of these books before they were books they were  actual dance pieces. “Red Ribbons” - that was one of the first dances I created in my dance company. It's the heralding flagship of my dance company Rubans Rouges Dance . And then for the cancer book, I tell many different stories via dance dance drama is exactly what I do with my company. And in   my cancer pieces I show you how I went back to my beginning, how I took dance back into my life and I became a dancer again. I fought the odds - the odds are against me. When you have cancer, I don't want to say it's a death sentence, it doesn't necessarily have to be, I'm living proof. I have a grandmother and mother who unfortunately have passed on from the disease I know full well I know full well what's in my DNA but I overcame those odds that were stacked against me. I fought cancer and I won. Not only did I fight cancer and win but I also took back ground and I became a professional dancer all over again only this time I am a Dance Warrior and I'm sharing my message with you.

Our Dance Warrior performances are an amazing thing to see. If you read the book please come see the shows as well you will get so much more out of art and dance. By watching you can see the story that was told in words live. We combine all the arts; we combine music, dance, singing, we even combine artists as far as sculptors, people who do paintings, and we incorporate them into our set. We also bring you the audience into our performance sometimes we'll have you join us on stage; sometimes we will pose questions to you to think about and at  the end; we'll get feedback ; you have an opportunity to meet all the artists.

Dance Warrior is also a live journal that I do as a video broadcast and you can learn, and learn about yourself, and learn about dance, and I share with you my journey what I go through day in and day out. Being a dancer is tough work being a Dance Warrior is even tougher but I show you how you can be encouraged by my life story and I show you live while it's happening. And I let you know what I'm thinking, I let you know what I've gone through, if I'm going to a dance class sometimes I'll take you with me, and sometimes I just let you know of all the different things that I come against.  I also show you how I triumph over those many little tragedies.

When you have cancer, your body changes, even after having a child your body changes. This will help others who have had cancer - help rehabilitate themselves just on empowerment alone but I also give you dance tips too, stretching, different things like that. But my dance journal contains all of these different things and I've been doing this live feed for I want to say about three - four years now and so many people get so many benefits out of it. On top of all these different things I have done a community outreach called Dance Warrior (a.k.a. Choose DANCE trademark of RRD) it's a curriculum that I made/it is a Dance Warrior curriculum. So what we do is we go to different schools, museums, we go to different parks, different places where we take our program Dance Warrior and we spend an afternoon with the kids and we show them just how important they are . These kids they're amazing but sometimes they just need a little nudge to let them know how amazing they are. And when we go into these classroom environments or any other environment that invites us in we do the Dance Warrior curriculum and we show these young adults or young at-risk youth how to Choose Dance and so they too make the choice of being a Dance Warrior.

Now the Dance Warrior curriculum is very in-depth for example what we do is we get t-shirts and we have these wonderful kids - they write their names on the t-shirt and they write all these adjectives. They write the ones that are not so complimentary that they think about themselves on the back of their t-shirt  and on the front they write all these wonderful positive stuff because that's really who they are--they're all the positive things and what's written on their back those are just things they may have to work a little at overcoming and that is what the Dance Warrior program does for them.

So we took this to San Pedro City Ballet not too long ago this spring and we were so delighted. We had such a wonderful time bringing this program to them. All of them had such deep work to do within their hearts and they shared how they felt and then they took those words that they wrote upon their hearts essentially, even though it was a t-shirt, and they turned those words into dance. It's all their choreography. All I did was create the curriculum and the framework in which for them to work from. These wonderful beautiful budding artists shared their heart through movement very much like I do when I am the Dance Warrior and I share my heart via dance, my messages via my books as well.  

Dance Warrior the Studio. We also have a Dance Warrior Studio for the at-risk youth. We also have it for the adults as well. Dance Warrior is an amazing hands-on dance curriculum taught in the school like setting and environment in a studio. We have so much fun. Not only do we bring a verbal curriculum and book work so they can journal, but we also bring to them how to improve their dance through this curriculum.

Through this inner heart work we want to create very responsible adults. Yes they are still children but we are not raising children we were raising young wonderful human beings to be adults someday. And we want to bring this to more schools and we want to bring this to more youth because they are hurting and I believe that I have a part of the answer anyway and I want to do my part to help build the community.

The Dance Warrior Studio Curriculum for adults, that too is wonderful curriculum in dance. It goes back to the foundational work of tap, jazz, ballet, and modern. We focus on inner expression and we take it outwards. We use companion books as well to help journaling. This is an amazing program many adults get so much value out of this because not only do you learn how to improve your dance technique but you also take it in-wards. You take it in words so you can develop your skills at handling life and it teaches people how to handle stress. So we want to teach adults and children to Choose Dance - choose healthier things than alcohol and drugs or any other addictions. We want them to Choose Dance and choose wisely. Under the Dance Warrior curriculum we teach people how to be a Dance Warrior any age.

Dance Warrior Spirit. Now we have a wonderful line of beautiful and fun t-shirts that we have created it's called the Dance Warrior t-shirt line. This is a great opportunity for you to show and share your Dance Warrior spirit to show how you use dance to take tragedy and turn it into triumph.

One of the highest requested items was a calendar under the Dance Warrior brand and we were so happy to bring that to you. So many of you followers asked us: “Do you have a Dance Warrior calendar that can be inspirational something that I can look at every day?” Well yes we do have that and we were so glad to work with so many wonderful and beautiful photographers.

This photo right here, the 2018 calendar, was photographed by Miss Lois Greenfield. She is an amazing photographer dance photographer specifically. And every year we work with various different photographers to bring you not only beautiful dance photography and artistry but at the bottom of each page we have included a quote from one of my books. The theme this year was “Red Ribbons” so this year when we did “Red Ribbons” we included quotes from the book as well.  Lois gave us such a beautiful quote, “Dance Warrior her story is truly inspirational to anyone Noelle is a true Dance Warrior.”

Thank You Lois we love you too.

Dance Warrior Fundraising Teams. We don't only just help the youth and the elderly and I don't just dance and write books but my dance company, dancers, and staff, and board members, we also help other nonprofits raise funds for: cancer research for helping the abused, homeless, so many different functions and things.

I also speak publicly not only under Noelle Rose Andressen my name but I also speak publicly under Dance Warrior. I love helping people I love reaching out to them and I really want to do more in this world to help shape it for a positive thing. There are so many issues in our world and I really believe that the Dance Warrior brings people together and find commonality. I want people to celebrate. I don't want them to be separated over their ideas and ideals. I want to show people how they can be champions: Dance Warriors you too can be a Dance Warrior and I'm going to show you how you can “turn any tragedy into a triumph”.

Under the Dance Warrior brand we will continue to bring you my live journals and will also go retro and show older videos that you guys just really, really love. The most popular ones, we will bring back in a flashback series so you can enjoy them again. You can also join us on our Dance Warrior Channel, it is on YouTube just type in Dance Warrior (add Noelle Rose to the search). You can also join us on our Facebook page called dance warrior as well you can find more information online at dance - warrior dot-com. You can also join us on my blog and respond to any of my journal entries that I share with you in the form of writing and you can continue to contact us, find and follow up, you can find out all these wonderful performances, and our schedule, and our touring.

Thank you so much “I so dearly want to help you to find that inner Dance Warrior so you too can turn tragedy into triumph.”

Liberal Arts Matter

Liberal Arts Matter

Edited by G. Blythe | Getting degrees in Liberal Arts & Fine Arts has benefits.

Hello readers, I'm joining Ms. Andressen & Mr. Kale today and inquiring about their path to successful careers with their art degrees. Many times I've heard people going back to school after they've achieved the BFA or even their MFA due to no employment or no opportunities. 

This dynamic duo, Noelle and Kristopher, are as passionate in their careers as they are in their private lives. I'm always impressed by their ability to make others welcomed and yet they have strong morals and don't let anyone get away with anything; they believe it short changes the person from being their best selves. They're the first to profess making many mistakes but one they didn't make a mistake in is their choice of path in the college system.

What are your degrees and where did you attain them?

Ms. Noelle Rose Andressen graduated from Moorpark College with an AA in dance (Liberal Arts) and BFA from UNLV. Mr Kristopher Kale BFA UNLV film. Director and production emphasis with music.

How has your BFA benefited your current job position?

Greatly and in several ways, both of us used our education to create our first film project out of school which garnered us both five Emmy nominations. Ms Andressen received 3 for: writing, producing and music arrangement. Mr Kale received 2: production and music score. For this project we won an EMA Media Award for Women in Film. This is Vegas's most coveted film/media award. This allowed us to do more projects including indie film: PROFILE, many other Public Service Announcements that aired on TV. We also used our education to form a multi media dance company: Rubans Rouges Dance that fuses all their talents: film, dance, writing, production. "He writes the music she dances to." We present award winning productions nationally and tour with our company internationally.

Did you receive negative criticism for your choice in career/degree paths?

Often we were told it was a waste if time and that the odds of being able to use our "art" degrees to earn a living was rare let alone trying to get your foot in the door for the art and entertainment world. We were told we need to get our heads out of the clouds and think rationally. We were encouraged to become and study in fields that made money: doctors, attorneys, secretary or something more tangible and attainable. NOTE: Kristopher is a paralegal studying for the bar to become an attorney.

Tell us about your path. 

It was challenging. We had to make a business plan and stick to it. Immediately after graduation we decided to go for it and took out a loan for our first project. We knew it was risky but we also knew we had to make our own way. From there we found several stations that wanted to air our project and it received Emmy nominations and won the EMA Media Award. 

Not too long after Noelle was diagnosed with breast cancer and since we weren't on a project we had no insurance. We sold our home to pay for treatment and she survived and thrived. However from there we had to start all over again and that's when we decided to create Rubans Rouges Dance. This manifestation took all of our skills, talents, and education and made an incredible and successful performing arts company.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

Find your own path to success. No one can perfectly or precisely copy another's success but you can. We strongly suggest: Making a business plan with 1 year, 5 year and ten year goals. Stick to your plan. Calculate the risks and be willing to accept a less than desirable outcome. Don't accept defeat. When the cancer intruded in our lives we got back up and created a more in depth expression of ourselves. Never give up. Defeat comes when you accept it and let it win. Be an integral person. Simply put: Don't screw anyone over to reach your goals and dreams. We got to where we wanted with integrity, no game playing. We treated people well and proceeded with our morals intact. It may have taken longer this way but we believe that how you treat people along your way matters. 

And never ever give up!


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In The Beginning...

In The Beginning...
A tale about the challenges starting a company. Dreamers & Movers & Shakers, This one's for you!
A re-telling by Noelle Andressen | Edited & Reported
by G. Blythe Copyright February 23, 2017

Small business owners, you've been there, staring at a shop store front or gazing on line at someone else's business and successful empire. You have it in you to go the distance but sometimes taking the first steps can be daunting and down right scary on its own, no one needs negativity on top of it. For all you starter - uppers and freelancers that didn't have support from your friends and family in the beginning, here's some encouragement to help gird you up along your way. 

"Not all my friends and family were supportive at first with any of the businesses I've had. I had to convince them that I could be successful. Getting their help at times was either non-existent or lackadaisical. To go it alone can be a very lonely road but once they came around they did help in the following ways:

Let's just talk about: Rubans Rouges Dance since it's one of my more recent business ventures. This company is my business and my child in a sense. I feed it, I nurture it, I help it grow. It was always and will always be hard work. Once my family believed in me and they saw that I didn't give up, they would buy tickets to our shows, share our events on facebook. They took pride in what I was doing.

Financially, we did a lot of crowd funding like: Indie Gogo and Kickstarter fundraisers: My two brothers donated to help me raise funds to produce our first major dance festival and dance concert in Los Angeles. While this doesn't work for everyone, it did at first for us. Be forewarned though, it's usually a one-off. You must look elsewhere for support.

There were times though that: Familiarity bred contempt. It  seemed to be the theme in the beginning trying to gain support and clients from friends and family. However, it made me more successful having to "go it alone" for the most part. My friends and family became more supportive after my success grew. While it was heartbreaking to not get the initial support, I understand looking back that I had to make them believers in my quest; and I did. Once I believed in me they believed in me.

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Sleeping With a Dancer

"Sleeping With A Dancer"
A fun re-telling of our Artistic Director & Executive Managing Director's
Fun Loving Moments They First Slept Together
As told by Kristopher Copyright 2017

"We were both so very excited about our first night together as a married couple. We were very nervous and couldn't relax. We both bring our favorite things with us wherever we go (I bring my mini Taylor guitar, Noelle brings her pointe shoes) and our honeymoon was no different. With guitar and pointe shoes packed in our luggage in a luxury suite at the Mirage Hotel, we had a beautiful night. To relax we played music and danced and the love making ensued and continued into our marriage. We now have a wonderful series of traditions that we uphold throughout our married life."

"The first night we slept together was at Noelle's aunt's condo. At the time we were visiting for the Thanksgiving Holiday and didn't want to drive back to Los Angeles after all the tryptophan. Noelle's aunt put us up in her guest bedroom; we were presented with a queen sized bed under a window. 

At bed time, we laid down next to each other and snuggled very close because it was lower than average weather for that time of year and the westwardly facing window had a draft. 

Upon slipping under the covers, Noelle's feet were cold so she wrapped them around my feet to keep warm. Being our first time in bed together, it was awkward and not something I expected from a dancer.

Somehow in the midst of our slumber, her feet became disconnected and her body shifted due north. But when her ice cube like toes found mine again it jolted me awake and I was squished down into the side of the bed and her head was pointing north. We had traveled.

I picked her up and repositioned both of us. This happened throughout the night--cold feet and like a compass we wound up pointing north. Eventually, I just put my socks on her feet to keep us both warm and shifted the bed a quarter turn so it faced north. 

Throughout the years, we've learned to face our bed's headboard north and for the winter holiday I buy her a pair of cute socks especially for bed."

"He writes the music she dances to on film and the stage. They currently reside on both coasts creating dance productions with his original music score and her original dancing and choreography." 

They have celebrated an enduring marriage of over 28 years that has included the various arts as their children. They are parents to many children, some angel babies, some their own and others they love and support through their teaching and financial support. 

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6 Ways to Un-Block "Brain Block" - for all you artists out there struggling

6 Ways to Un-Block "Brain Block"

For all you artists out there struggling

An essay of inspiration

by Noelle Rose Andressen (c) 2017

My name is Noelle Rose Andressen, a professional dancer-choreographer. Getting "brain-block" can be so frustrating especially when you have a deadline. Unfortunately, it happens upon occasion and usually when it's most inconvenient.

Here are some of the creative ways I've overcome this:

1. Parks - Since my job is movement based, I go to where I can see other people moving like a park and watch kids playing, people walking, animals scurrying, and sometimes climbing a tree and feeling the wind blow and move through the leaves. Other people's movements inspire me.

2. Viewing - Watching videos on YouTube is an a amazing source of inspiration for the arts. Never copy anyone, but you can certainly gain encouragement from other artist's work.

3. Museums - Museums are such a fantastic way to take your mind off your blockage and carry you into another artist's world. When I walk around, I particularly like to look for interactive objects that can be touched. The textures inspire different reactions and movement than what I would come up with in a studio in front of a mirror.

4. Headlines - When I get stuck not knowing what subject to base my dance on, I read the headlines in the news or biographical stories. Each one of us has a story to tell and we can gain such insight into other perspectives. These stories often lead to a subject matter in which to craft a dance piece.

5. Environment - Being in nature. For me the living earth is most inspirational and provides such creativity. I love to eat healthy so strolling through a grove is a wonderful way to satiate and help myself in more ways than one.

6. Hubby - There have been times when I just can't find the right moves to start a dance. Nothing I try seems right and I find myself pacing across the floor with no inspiration. The last thing I do when all else fails, I ask my husband (who isn't a dancer), to come up with the first dance phrase. He actually did this for my dance: Red Ribbons which gained critical acclaim and is an audience favorite. Who knew?

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Strike A Pose

Strike A Pose
COVET Fashion & Terani Couture
by Noelle Rose Andressen (c) August 4, 2016

Tom-Boy Glamour Queen
The lights, the camera, the runway, the clothes...what gal doesn't dream of being surrounded by all that glamour? Thanks to the Golden Age of Hollywood, we all probably dreamed of this at some point. I did, however...

I had three brothers, loved sports, climbed trees, adored martial arts, and was a dare-devil. I truly was a tom-boy, I just did everything in a dress, hair fixed, nails manicured--exquisiteness. I was "dressed to the nines" at the age of ten ;)  I often was caught and scolded by my mom for having cut up my sheets to make elaborate dresses and wild designs, however, I came by it honestly since my mom taught me to sew and craft patterns at a very young age. I just LOVED fashion! 

It didn't start out that way. At first I didn't want to be fussed over or with, but my Grandmother changed that a bit with forcing me to watch the old Hollywood Glamour movies and then that was it.

As I said, High End Fashion has always been a love of mine that I grew into. When I was in my mid-teens I had my own fashion design line and label. I sold my designs at boutiques in Palm Springs and my friends were my models. My frame was very petite and during those days most models for the runway were very tall, I was not, not even in heels. While I did do petite modeling for lingerie, dance and ice skating attire, I longed to be able to wear those gorgeous, draping gowns and walk the runway. At that time, there was no hope for me, I was a tiny thing, slender, physically fit, but short.



COVET Fashion vs. Video Games
My other obsession was video games. Seriously, having a Nintendo console was the thing then for my generation, especially for my brothers. I loved playing all the quest and fighting games, but I wished there was something more for girls. Years later, an awesome iPhone app: COVET Fashion came along and I loved it! It combined video games, paper dolls, fashion, and design all in one. What made me fall in love with it was that it used real fashion designs from real designers. This meant I could play the game, dress up my digital "doll", then go out and get the designs for myself. You can even make the digital model look like you and try on dozens of designer couture before you go out and purchase it. It does help to get an idea of what you may look like in any given design before you invest financially in it.

What's shown left is a screen shot from COVET Fashion. It's the Terani Couture gown that I ended up wearing at my event. This two piece design was perfect for me being a dancer: it was creative, elegant, and showed off the body especially the abs. I wanted 6-pack for this event. I had to settle for a two-pack this past January, but the goal is still there to achieve. I also, love Stephanie Kantis jewelry designs, Kotur, Rebecca Minkoff shoes--extremely comfortable and divine.

Rubans Rouges Dance & Terani Couture
Let's back up a bit and take a look at how I worked with all these amazing elements.

Here's where my dance company comes into play and many more things. My company often has VIP Events to attend, or we produce many high profile dance concerts, art films through my film production company, and I pen many editorials and books. This past January, I was totally blessed and graced with this gorgeous gown by Terani Couture. (Please see my other blog entry that shows the full length gown.) The ultimate gown that I loved, I wore for our VIP Red Carpet Reception. It was amazing, glamourous, and such a thrill. Terani Couture featured me on all their social media and my dancers and I had a ton of fun on the red carpet before we danced. What I adore about Terani Couture is that they keep all women's body types in mind. They have petite sizes and full figured sizes. Everybody's body can look great in these fashion designs.

Pretty awesome sauce! Go get this app and start dreaming.

If you love to play COVET Fashion like we do, JOIN our fashion house: "Glamorinas" and have some fun with us. It's a brand new group. Feel free to connect with us, borrow from our closets (mine's over $1,000,000.00 - tons of gorgeous designs to borrow), give fashion feedback, like each other's designs, and have tons of fun. We only require that you play frequently and enjoy sharing and posting your designs with the group. Submit your request to the group and we'll approve you.

One of my favorite type of challenges are the dance themed ones. It's probably obvious why that is.

I'll be updating this fashion section of my company's blog often. I share new fashion looks from the COVET Fashion game app to real life events. Wear-It, LOVE-It, Live-It! XXOXX Noelle-Rose

Special thanks to Blair Hamilton and Bonnie Burton, Helen and Terani Couture. We love you ladies!!


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Noelle Andressen is an Emmy nominated writer, producer and music arranger. She has authored the 5 book series: "Dance Warrior" Book Series. The first book is set to be released very soon. She is also a dancer-choreographer that has had the privilege of being photographed by legendary dance photographer Lois Greenfield (photo release 2016). She's known for her many works on camera as an actress and behind the lens as a story-teller with her screenplays. She took this skill and applied it to her dance company: Rubans Rouges Dance and creates thought provoking "Dance Drama" that beckons you to "Feel the Experience" (TM/slogan mark).

The Lens of Lois Greenfield

The Lens of Lois Greenfield
An essay of gratitude
by Noelle Rose Andressen (c) 2016

The Dream
Every dancer has a dream or a goal unique to hers or his journey. It may be to: portray particular roles; to dance on various stages or in grand venues; partner with a specific dancer; work under a creative choreographer; or attain another mark of achievement with a special value that only he or she can truly understand. My personal dream was to work with world legendary dance photographer: Lois Greenfield. 

A little note: In January, 2006 I had just rid my body of cancer round one. We had sold our home to pay for my treatment. No insurance. We didn't have a home, we had very little in the bank, only a hope that things could get better. Keep this in mind as we progress forward with my tale because within 10 years, I went from cancer to dancer and in front of Lois Greenfield's Lens. 

The Seed Planted
Going back a few years, my modern dance instructor first introduced me to Lois's photographic art-work. She had one of Lois's photos in the transparent cover of her notebook. I was immediately enthralled and fell in love with the way the dancer's body was captured on film in a still moment. This instructor had, I believe, one of Lois's calendars too. The images were beautiful and mind-boggling. How was this style photography achieved? I had of course seen Lois's trademark photography before early in my training days around the early 1990's, how could one not notice them. I just didn't know who the photographer was and too "into" my young adult self to research. As a mature adult however, I did the research and fell more in love with this amazing artist and greatly wanted to work with her. At that time I had to settle for gazing at my instructor's photos and calendars and dream.

Nurtured Soil
During the years, I would recall my desire and yet knew how far away it was. The cancer had wrecked my body, heart, mind and spirit. Cancer has a way of stripping one raw to the bone. I had a long way to go to get my dancer's body back. I worked hard. I went back to school, got another degree, and most importantly rehabilitated my broken body. My skills, maturity, and life experiences changed me and grew me. I was creating a persona for myself as a professional dancer and learning how to express myself deeper. My notoriety rose and things were going well for myself and my company and then finally I had my opportunity to work with Lois. 

Love from the Sun
First meeting her face to face was a surreal joy. A very warm and embracing woman with a spunky heart and brilliant smile. She was hospitable to me and my assistant and had all those goodies dancers love so they can warm up properly. I entered her creative lair, I was so elated. I was also overwhelmed. In a few moments I was finally going to be in front of Lois's lens permanently recorded in her work. I felt so inadequate. She told me to breathe. That word again "Breathe" had taken on new significance and new meaning for me over my lifetime. It would recreate itself to mold into the hurting nook in my heart and offer a salve of healing for that moment. 

I may constantly be telling others how beautiful they are and can see their inner sparkle, but never quite seeing mine. Lois helped me to see my beauty that day we shot. Every time she had me look in the monitor at her handiwork, I was thinking "Is that really me?" It was. My dream was now a reality. Later that night, I snuggled in bed and giggled to myself, "I just had a photo shoot with Lois Greenfield!" Sleep came upon me quick and hard. It was such a joyous day.

The Harvest
I've worked with fabulous photographers, all of whom I adored. They each have their particular strengths and I love the collaborative process. Most of the time we had produced incredible results that are or were beyond my initial concepts and when that occurs, it's like magic and a hugely successful marketing plan ensues. Learning the skill and art of collaboration through my professional dance career has been exciting and paved the way for more to come. My experience with Lois was a breathless venture that gave me such insight into this talented woman, her work, and myself. Perhaps I should rephrase it to say:

I became a living part of this woman's art. 

I am still in awe that this manifested for me. Looking back, I cannot put my finger on "it" how "it" all happened except to say that there are things greater than us at work sometimes and we just have to accept the gifts as they come. I am forever grateful for this woman who captured a beauty within me that I never knew existed. 

Thank You Lois! XOXO


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Noelle Andressen is an Emmy nominated writer, producer and music arranger. She has authored the 5 book series: "Dance Warrior" Book Series. The first book is set to be released very soon. She is also a dancer-choreographer that has had the privilege of being photographed by legendary dance photographer Lois Greenfield (photo release 2016). She's known for her many works on camera as an actress and behind the lens as a story-teller with her screenplays. She took this skill and applied it to her dance company: Rubans Rouges Dance and creates thought provoking "Dance Drama" that beckons you to "Feel the Experience" (TM/slogan mark).

Dancers Fighting Cancer - How To Do What Moves You

Dancers Fighting Cancer
How To Do What Moves You
An essay written by Noelle Andressen
copyright 2016

Volunteerism is a wonderful way to support your community and feel good about helping others. For the past seven years, I've been involved with The American Cancer Society promoting wellness, raising funds, helping others through the disease and participating in Relay For Life. I've been involved with this community fundraising event for 6 years.

My first experience was being on a relay team in Simi Valley. For those who are unfamiliar with Relay for Life, it is a 24-hour event that takes place often times on a track or field. The object: to have at least one person from your team constantly walking around the track. This is symbolic for how cancer doesn't sleep. It pursues its host 24-hour/7 relentlessly. The sun never goes down for the cancer patient, they're always experiencing the disease until it is eradicated from their body. It is difficult, it will test you past your abilities, and take you to places in your heart you never dreamed were reachable.

Subsequent years I was a Team Captain and had my own team: Dancers Fighting Cancer. Our team is usually comprised of dancers or lovers of dance. We have a lot of fun and enjoy decorating our table. We did an average job raising funds in the early years and some years we didn't do as well. Mostly, my fault  because I would get so focused on the next step in my volunteerism: Chair Person for the Luminaria Ceremony.

At the relay there are sub events within happening during the course of the 24 hours. One of those events is the Luminaria Ceremony. During this ceremony, my team that's supported by my dance company: Rubans Rouges Dance, produces an hour long program (some years it has been shorter to suit the needs of the relay) to honor the memory of those who lost their lives and to celebrate the lives of those who survived their battle. This is where I really know how to shine and do my best with the gifts given to me.

My team and I, utilize the arts that we all have (every year it's different) and present a heart touching presentation. This year I read from my cancer clinic journal for the second time. It was not as heart-wrenching as the first time, but not by much. The first time I did it was a completely different experience. To prepare I had skimmed through my journal vaguely remembering where certain highlights were and briefly reading it. I didn't want my reading from it to be stale for the actual presentation. I used sticky notes to flag parts that I knew were important to share. This was an extremely challenging thing for me to do.

Often I get asked how do I do what you do? I always say, "Don't do another version of me, be you." Then I give them some tips of how to go about finding their place in the world. 

3 Things To Get Moving
Remember: I.R.I.

1.     Interests - What are some things you like to do? Make a list of these things and put them in numerical order of importance or those of greater appeal to you.

2.     Research - Take a look at your list. Choose the top three. Find out more about that subject matter. For me it was cancer. I found that there were oodles of fundraising events, clinics, hospitals, etc. that welcomed and needed volunteers.

3. Involvement - After the research is done, carefully decide what will work with your schedule, personality, and commitment capability. Never over extend yourself or let anything interfere with your family time, significant other, or other important prior goals. Some people have more time than others, some are retired and volunteerism is their new “job”. This is great and works for them, make sure you consider and do the same.

I shared all of this to show you that it is important to do what moves you. It needs to be something that you feel strongly about. Being a cancer survivor, I knew I was called to do something to encourage others. Now go do what moves you.

For more articles, essays and editorials that concern the arts and the business world, please do consider signing up for our emails HERE

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Noelle Andressen is an Emmy nominated writer, producer and music arranger. She has authored the 5 book series: "Dance Warrior" Book Series. The first book is set to be released very soon. She is also a dancer-choreographer that has had the privilege of being photographed by legendary dance photographer Lois Greenfield (photo release 2016). She's known for her many works on camera as an actress and behind the lens as a story-teller with her screenplays. She took this skill and applied it to her dance company: Rubans Rouges Dance and creates thought provoking "Dance Drama" that beckons you to "Feel the Experience" (TM/slogan mark).