Welcome {Dd} Contributor Morgan Beckwith

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Morgan Beckwith

Dd contributor Morgan Beckwith

Please give a warm welcome to the newest member of the Dd team, Morgan Beckwith. She will be contributing engaging content about the dance scene in Dallas County and sharing interesting insight into the Southern Methodist University dance program — the university has taken amazing initiative to foster innovation in the arts. She graduates in December, after which she heads off to work for NBC in the winter Olympics in Sochi — she will share these experiences with Dd as well.

As per Dd tradition, we asked Morgan to tell us a bit more about herself and her artistic pursuits.

1.  ART:  Performance or visual?  What place does art have in your life?

MB: For me a truly noteworthy performance, whether it is dance, music, or theatre, transcends any sort of instantaneous visual image or set of images that I encounter. I consider the human element to be instrumental to my personal reception and sensory experience. However, when I find a work of visual art intriguing and invest in discovering the process of its inception, pondering as to why I was drawn to it in the first place, I will usually find myself in an artistically fulfilled state.

I have dedicated my life to passing between the forms of dance and visual arts. The personal expression and discipline that dance affords my life is right on par with the intellectual satisfaction I gain attending lectures and visiting museums in order to align the extraordinary feats of visual art with the happenings in our human history.  I like to consider my life and art fairly synonymous, and I relish in the fact that I can play both the observer and the creator.

2.  CRAFT:  Knit or Crochet or Other?  What is your craftiest project to date?

MB: Other than the occasional DIY project, I am lacking in the crafting department. I have ambitions to be more craft-driven, but unfortunately, I have so many crafty friends around me that my attempts usually flop in comparison. However, I do like to make collages from mementos of travels to frame or pair with post cards that serve as good keepsakes.

3.  DESIGN:  Classical or modern?  What designer or architect inspires you the most?

MB: I am a strong believer in the clutter-free, refined, yet-practical nature of modern designers like Philippe Starck, along with the more cheap and cheerful innovators at IKEA. However, I am partial to a democratic mixing of the hard modern lines with a sampling of classical fluidity and approachability. Unfortunately, I find myself liking a little bit of everything, so I usually am partial to any design that begins with a formal clean foundation and incorporates selective conversational pieces that form some sort of discourse.

4.  FOOD:  Salty or sweet?

MB: Definitely salty with a touch of sweet. Indian food from Coromandel, this little spot in Southport, Connecticut, is probably my favorite restaurant on this planet. They know how to create the perfect balance between salt and sweet in their meals.

5.  THOUGHT:  Fiction or Nonfiction?  What form does the bulk of your own reading and/or writing take?

MB: I am a true sucker for a good historical fiction novel. If an author pairs an intriguing plot within a faraway historical timeframe I will usually find myself avoiding social reality in order to devote my time to my fictional escapade. However, a friend recently gave me the non-fiction work Lean In by COO of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg. I would strongly recommend this thought provoking read to anyone!

6.  FUN:  Where in the world do you want to go or be stranded?  What five things would be in your bag?

MB: If I were to be stranded I would want to be in the residential district of Amsterdam. When I visited this handsome area in 2012, I fell in love with the relaxed atmosphere, the visual culture, and the beautiful people. In my bag I would have my journal (yes I still write in a journal), my yoga mat, a good book, a Rick Steve’s guide to Amsterdam, business cards (to keep in touch with the people I meet), and my best friend Mackenzie. We have plans to travel to Northern Europe this spring and I know that it any stranded situation I would need no one other than her to have a wonderful time.

Here’s to movin’ and shakin’!

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  • stephanie

    Welcome to the Dd family. I also read Lean In recently, as did Candice. It was an inspiring book. We should all engage in a critical conversation about it. I have a lot to say in regards to its content and author.

    • Morgan Beckwith

      Didn’t see this comment until now! I would love to get into a more of an in-depth conversation about Lean In, just let me know!

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