My name is Dao. Hi ^_^ I play at the intersection of acro, dance, and personal development. Like many stories, it starts with a girl. Seriously?
I returned to Austin for romantic love and now I'm editing that story, making something out of a molehill as they say. I first moved here for college in 98 (you know you’re getting older when younger people try to reassure you that you’re not that old) and after vagabonding through the United States, I found myself living in Portland, Oregon at the time and as much as I enjoyed the amazingly temp
erate summers, I felt lost and alone at times. I didn't really have anyone outside of the traveling friends that I had made. My darling baby sister called and said her room was vacant in Houston and she wanted me to move in with her and my passionate older brother, both artists. Being back in the company of family was a real healing experience. My brother and I ran a bunch of miles together along Westheimer a busy road like Lamar is here, helping push each other. I was a pretty good runner before acro. Then one day, my sister excitedly shares, “Hey! I'm moving to New York next month!” Uh? You just met him a month ago (her crush at the time). That left my brother and I to find someone to lease her room to. I was communicating with a lover in Austin myself and my brother was in love relationship that was unrequited in my opinion (I know. I am from a family of passionate people). When the lease was about to be up , my brother decided to move back to Dallas. I had a decision to make. Go back to Dallas with him or to give Austin another try and see about the girl. It ended in heartbreak as many love stories go and I found myself lonely in a town that I still really connected to so I decided to stay make the most of it. I played a lot of pickup games of basketball at the parks nearby my place. Books and basketball were always two things that I could depend on. Nothing like driving a ball down the middle knowing a bunch of guys would be swarming in to give you a good body check. It was also nice to be on the receiving end of a great pass or making one. I think I learned about teamwork and toughness on the concrete courts. It was nice to see familiar faces but after four years of hoops, I suddenly realized that if I kept this up, I would be killer on the courts but likely still sweaty and single on a Friday evenings like a bunch of the guys I played with. I'm a little less sweaty now, and slightly less single. I mean, U don't have a girlfriend but i definitely feel less lonely. I stumbled upon acro at it's infancy. 8-10 people on most Fridays sometimes there were just 5-6. My first flying, I was put in floating pashi to back-fly (youtu.be/JLqP7KFObCc) and at that precise moment I felt suspended, uplifted, free, connected to my body and connected to another person. My needs were met in so many tangible ways. The need for play, variety, connection, and soon, I would find, growth and contribution. I didn't know then that my life would never be the same but I remember telling myself, "we might be onto something here", or, at the very least, I knew that I couldn't wait to come back the following week.
01/31/2024
So, here's the scoop: I've reconnected with my old pal, Randi Southard. She's the Fred Astaire to my Ginger Rogers, the yin to my dance yang. We're cooking up a dance routine!
We've got this swanky warehouse turned dance studio, complete with mats.
Show? Just for kicks? Who knows! The journey is the destination, my friend. Dancing with Randi is like having front row seats to an awesome concert.
We're both cruising towards 44, but hey, age is just a number when you've got the spirit of a disco ball. Grateful doesn't even begin to cover it. We're each healthy and want to play while we can. Bring on the boogie!
09/14/2023
Mixing art with acro.
Molly McCallum and Rawan AlAsad
07/07/2021
This is choreography to one of my favorite songs, “rise” by
I met this gentleman at a nonprofit fundraiser. I was busy shooting photos and when he introduced himself I initially thought, “Oh, another musician trying to hustle.” I didn’t know him so my guard was up. I left before I got a chance to see him play. About a week later, I remembered the interaction I had with him and how he seemed genuinely interested in what I was doing so I was curious about his music. He’d given me a business card and when I checked out his stuff, I was blown away. His songs were were not only fresh and upbeat, they were also deeply meaningful to me. It's music with a purpose, a ‘musician with a message’ he calls himself. If you like this snippet, check out his unique Ted Talk or SaulPaul.com
11/03/2020
10/20/2020
10/16/2020
09/29/2020
09/26/2020
this flow cycle starts with a little dance into bird, side star, whale, camel, into a front dive.
Let me know if there's anything here you'd like to try. Happy to break it down and offer some tips. Hope you enjoy :)
