I am a mom, a dancer, amatuer photographer and an author in the works –>I have boxes – and I mean BOXES – of material that I have started, brainstormed about, and some of it I even completed. My main goal right now is to reign in a direction, pick a focus in order to achieve publication…otherwise, I am interested in multiple genres. I write poetry (spanish and english), essays, short stories and even children’s material. I was 19 or so when I first considered writing for a living. Many of life’s distractions have kept me from making good on that desire, so now I am trying to change things. Someday I’ll write the story of my life.I can also see myself crafting for a living. It’s a good thing I don’t have spending money at this time – a long term maternity leave does that to you. I went to a Michael’s Craft Store for the first time in awhile and was depressed realizing that even if I could afford it, I can’t try it all. From my late teens to my mid-20’s I spent much of my extra dough in that place, so yeah, I’ve got boxes of craft supplies as well. For a time I did special occasions, decorations, favors, cake-tops and the like for showers, weddings and Quinces. I still consider going into business someday.
Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned photography yet. This has been an addiction I have batteled with the last 20 years. I had tamed the demon temporarily. From fall of 2004, I’d only taken 872 photos through Christmas 2005. But then my daughter was born! Since August 2007, I’ve mananged to collect another 1200 shots, ay, ay, ay!!!
But most people know me for my dancing. I’ve been a Mexican Folk Dancer for more than 20 years. I always laugh when people seem so surprised that this is an activity that I am still involved with, “Amber, when’s your next recital?” – as if we were a bunch of five-year-olds romping around in hand-made costumes and not professionals dedicated to an art form that is a couple of hundred years old. Many don’t understand that it is “more than just dancing”. The Aztlan Academy is my second family.
These days I serve as Dance Captain which means I am responsible for much of the group’s training, but it also makes me a mentor to youngsters who might otherwise get involved in not so healthy activities if we didn’t exist. I actually recall the moment I chose between going to dance class or ditching and hanging with my friends in order to experiment with boys and alcohol; I was 14 years old. I chose to dance. In the Academy, we preach cultural unity and pride, cross-cultural interaction, and most importantly respect and responsibility to one’s self, family and community.
