Meet the Family: Sydnie Mosley

She's So New York continues to introduce to you all the SSNY family: Cutting edge, insightful, and are here to share with you their passions. Meet Dancer, Choreographer, and teacher, Sydnie Mosley.

My Top 7 Dance Shows of the Summer (because I couldn't name just 5)

Part of the joy of living in New York City as a dance artist is that there is a plethora of others creating and presenting dance too. For me seeing dance is an opportunity to see what my peers are working on, indulge in what I aspire to, and most of all, incite inspiration for my own work. Luckily, New York City summers lend themselves to lots of free outdoor concerts, not to mention the draw of sitting in cool air-conditioned theaters. To be quite honest, there is more dance happening around the city than I could possibly know about or see. So below I have assembled my top seven must-see dance picks of the summer. I hope you get to check them out and see what New York City has to offer by way of dance!

PilobolusJoyce Theater - Jul 12-Aug 7

Physical, acrobatic and virtuous are three words I would use to describe Pilobolus (seen right). They are known for their works of incredible partnering and weight sharing. I haven't seen them in concert since the American Dance Festival 10 years ago, but this program no doubt will showcase their physical strength and skill interacting with one another.

Under ExposedDixon Place - Wed, Jul 21 7:30 pm

Because I am an emerging artist, I feel some obligation to support other emerging and developing artists. This particular series provides a space for such artists to show work in development. This program curated by Jack Ferver features the work Benn Rasmussen, Ryan Manchester, Max Steele, Darrin Wright and Tyler Ashley James.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at SummerStage (Central Park, Main Stage)
Fri, July 23 and Sat, Jul 24, 8 pm

If you've never had an opportunity to see the virtuosity of the Ailey company, here's your opportunity to see them for FREE! For two nights the company will perform a well-mixed program: Blues Suite choreographed by Ailey himself; Ronald K. Brown's Dancing Spirit, a contemporary work created in honor of soon-to-step down Artistic Director Judith Jamison; and of course, Revelations, the company's signature work.

We Give Ourselves Away at EVERY Moment an EVENT for Merce - River to River Festival
Esplanade Plaza - Mon, Jul 26, 6 pm

In honor of the one year anniversary of Merce Cunningham's passing, this performance showcases work inspired by his pioneering choreographic methods. Choreographers include Lucinda Childs, Bill T. Jones, Susan Marshall, Jon Kinzell and Faye Driscoll.

Creative Outlet Dance Theater and Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion at SummerStage
Jackie Robinson Park - Fri, Jul 30, 7 pm

SummerStage presents more FREE dance uptown with two companies directed by black male choreographers. I look forward to seeing the depth and range of what some call "black dance," by juxtaposing up and coming choreographers, Jamel Gaines of Creative Outlet and Kyle Abraham (seen left) of Abraham.In.Motion.

Camille A. Brown and Andrea MillerJoyce Theater -
Aug 9, 11, 13, 14

In the past few years, each of these choreographers has made a name for herself and I am excited that they are sharing a bill at the Joyce to showcase their individual choreographic voices.

Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Wideman/Davis Dance at SummerStage
East River Park - Sat, Aug 14, 7 pm

This FREE program of contemporary ballet features the innovative choreography of Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson. They will be premiering a new commission by City Parks Foundation. I'm excited to see that they are sharing a bill with Wideman/Davis Dance. The husband and wife team Thaddeus Davis and Tanya Wideman, guest taught at the University of Iowa while I was there, and I am excited to see what new work they have created with their company.Please click the links provided for more information on each of these performance including ticket prices, location, choreographer and program info.

Sydnie Mosley is a New York City-based dancer, choreographer and blogger. Her personal blog, Love Stutter, assembles her perspective on life as an emerging artist in NYC as she experiences it. Currently, Sydnie is forming her contemporary dance company which has performed most recently at The Chen Dance Center, the FIGMENT Festival on Governor's Island, and the Bushwick rooftop ChoreOBJECTography series. She is a performing apprentice with INSPIRIT, a dance company; and is dance faculty for Brooklyn Ballet and the YMCA.She earned her MFA in Dance with an emphasis on Choreography from the University of Iowa and is also an alumna of Barnard College at Columbia University, where she earned her BA in Dance and Africana Studies. Sydnie was recently featured on TheRoot.com as an Up and Coming: Young Minority Artist and Entrepreneur. Keep up with her on a daily basis by following @sydmosley and stay up to date with her dance happenings on Facebook.

Will you be joining Sydnie at these fantabulous summer ready shows? Be sure to follow Sydnie on twitter as well as on her blog "Love Stutter," !

Meet the Family: Flossie Alexander

All this week, She's So New York will be introducing to you all the SSNY family: Cutting edge, insightful, and are here to share with you their passions. Meet our new Fitness and Nutrition Expert, Flossie Alexander!

Before

“I have battled weight issues all my life until I finally said “enough” and educated myself and overcame the constant ups and downs you get with yo-yo dieting. During my heaviest weight, I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and was on the cusp of having full-blown diabetes mellitus. I struggled to walk more than 10 feet and was looking at knee replacement surgery by the age of 40 if I chose to continue to follow the path of obesity. Weight loss became a priority. I needed to lose weight now!

After

I tried all the weight loss diets many people do to lose weight, feel better and find a new passion, but they never helped me and I always found myself worse off than when I started. I needed to find a weight loss solution fast. In November 2006, I began to find the answers for myself and discovered a process for creating a healthier lifestyle that changed my mind, my body and my life. I have taken what I learned and gained the expertise to successfully share it with thousands of others.

Lifestyle coaching when applied to fitness, eating, self care and dream fulfillment leads to a transforming experience that changes perspectives and attitudes. You discover a new way of looking at being active, eating well, taking care of yourself and listening to your heart. With step by step Nutrition And Fitness Coaching, you get new tools, techniques and strategies to make changes and make them stick just like me! With the help of an experienced guide, the process leads to greater well-being. It is an enjoyable way to get healthy, fit and fulfilled. It empowers you to trust yourself and offers you the joy of movement, the pleasure of eating, and the wonderful feeling of reaching your personal best.

 Ms. Alexander is the Owner/Founder You Can Now! Coaching Nutrition And Fitness, L.L.C. and will be helping the SSNY woman reshape her life through the inside out! Have any fitness or nutrition questions? Send them to besonewyork@gmail.com!

Meet the Family: JillzWorth

All this week, She's So New York will be introducing to you all the SSNY family: Cutting edge, insightful, and are here to share with you their passions. Meet JillzWorth!

JillzWorth was born and raised in Orlando, FL and now resides in Brooklyn, NY. Known for her acidic, witty tongue and offbeat sense of humor, JillzWorth is well respected and loved for her full-hearted passion for Hip Hop and eclectic ear for music. From college to internet radio, JillzWorth currently has a show on 'Krupt Mob Radio' home of Bumpy Knuckles (aka. Freddie Foxxx) and is also a part of his marketing and promotion department, in charge of online marketing and PR. JillzWorth is also a contributor and music reviewer for S.O.U.L Magazine, and has a blog dedicated to her love of music and random randomness- 'Them Fighting Words."

Follow this hilarious wordsmith on twitter as well as on her blog "Them Fighting Words"!

Meet the Family: ND McCray

All this week, She's So New York will be introducing to you all the SSNY family: Cutting edge, insightful, and are here to share with you their passions. Meet ND McCray:

ND McCray is a music writer and blogger living in the borough of Brooklyn. She frequently contributes album reviews, live show reviews and artist interviews to shortandsweetNYC.com, QuietColor.com, Nu-Soul Magazine and most recently, UrbanBridgez.com. When she's not busy reporting, she's completing coursework for her BS in Communication with University of Phoenix Online, as well as maintaining Unclouded By Ambition a mostly music-oriented blog that focuses on soul, funk, R&B, hip hop, pop, indie rock, dubstep, house and anything in between.

So that you may get better acquainted, here's ND's Rotation List:

ND’s Top 5 Albums in Heavy Rotation:

1. Janelle Monae, The ArchAndroid (Wondaland Arts Society/Bad Boy/Atlantic) – a sweet mix of afro-punk, funk and everything in between.

2. The Clonious, Between The Dots (Ubiquity) – jazz/electro/hip hop instrumentals from a 23-yr old Austrian kid (born Paul Movahedi). So nice and smooth.

3. Miguel Migs, Colorful You (Om) – One of his earlier recordings (2002): sweet, sensual soulful house. Perfect for a lazy Sunday playlist, but I play it everyday on the train.

4. Erykah Badu, New Amerykah Part Two – Like she says: It’s the return to Baduizm. Neo soul at its finest.

5. Wayne Brady, A Long Time Coming – Many people slept on this album when it dropped in 2008, but Wayne --for the most part, is straight-up R&B.

Top 5 Songs in Heavier Rotation:

1. “Closer” - Corrine Bailey Rae (The Sea)

2. “Love Like This” - Donell Jones (forthcoming album)

3. “Gone Baby, Don’t Be Long” - Erykah Badu (New Amerykah Part Two)

4. “Lost Where I Belong [Flying Lotus Remix] - Andreya Triana (Lost Where I Belong, in stores 7/9) (seen right)

5. “The Keeper” - Bonobo feat. Andreya Triana (Black Sands)

Be sure to follow her on twitter and on her blog Unclouded By Ambition!!