In Ballet, the term développé means to "unfold," or open outwards in a “developing movement.” In this episode of the Finding Harmony Podcast, we sit down with Shelley Washington, where she gracefully unfolds different aspects of her journey.

For us, speaking to Shelley is the deepest kind of Starstruck. In any room, Shelley is THE Star in that room. Her light and joy are are palpable. Even in this picture you see her to the right, all the way in the back, but it is Shelley who stands out and catches your eye!

When you are in Shelley’s presence you feel you are sitting with a star. Someone who is deeply reflective and her essence shines through in every way. We were also love crushed by her in Mysore, India, even more so, because of her enormous heart and generosity towards us.

In this episode, we spoke about what it means to be a star and how her remarkable career unfolded quite organically. Shelley touches upon how her parents and grandparents made conscious personal sacrifices to create opportunities for their children, knowing that growing up in America would mean being marginalized as an African Americans. She shares with us some of her experiences growing up in a military family in American during the 1950’s and 60’s and the incredible grit she cultivated, which sent her soaring onward to receive some of the highest accolades one can attain within the world of dance. She also shares with us how the practice of Ashtanga yoga shifted the way she now teaches choreography to other dancers.

At the age of 45, after a stunning career as a world class modern dancer, where she would train for 8-10 hours a day, Shelley accidentally ends up in a yoga class, and has to find an entirely new way to relate to her body and approach this new physical discipline. How her practice has evolved over the past 20 years will surprise you!

Shelley Washington studied at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and went on to graduate from Julliard School. She danced as a member of the Martha Graham Dance Company, before joining Twyla Tharp's Dance Company in 1975. She traveled and performed all over the world. In 1977, she performed in the film “Hair” and in 1985 in “singing in the Rain” on Broadway, and also served as Dance Captain for that Production. In 1987 she was honoured with a Bessie Award for Outstanding Performance.

From 1988 to 1992, Shelley joined the American Ballet Theatre, where she became the Rehearsal Director, and was invited by Mikahil Baryshnikov, who was the Artistic Director at that time, to dance as a Soloist with the company. Shelly Washington continues to work with Ms. Twyla Tharp as a Repetiteur, Setting, Staging and Directing Ballets for various companies all over the world.

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The Finding Harmony Podcast is hosted, edited and produced by Harmony Slater and co-hosted by Russell Case.

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Opening and closing music compliments of my dear friend teaching Ashtanga yoga in Eindhoven, Nick Evans, with his band “dawnSong” from the album “for Morgan.” Listen to the entire album on Spotify - Simply Click Here.
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