Shunryu Suzuki (often called Suzuki Roshi) was a Soto Zen monk and teacher who helped popularize Zen Buddhism in the United States.

He came to San Francisco in 1959 at the age of fifty-five and founded San Francisco Zen Center, which, along with its affiliate temples, comprises one of the most influential Zen organizations in the United States. Suzuki is renowned for founding the first Zen Buddhist monastery outside Asia (Tassajara Zen Mountain Center.)

A book of his teachings, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, is one of the most popular books on Zen and Buddhism in the West. Published in 1970, the book is not academic, but contains frank and direct transcriptions of Suzuki's talks recorded by his student Marian Derby. Trudy Dixon and Richard Baker (Baker was Suzuki's successor) edited the talks by choosing those most relevant, arranging them into chapters. According to some, it has become a spiritual classic.

One of his students, Lewis Richmond, said: “His life straddled the ancient and modern worlds. Born in Japan in 1904, the son of a Zen priest, he was trained by the best teachers of his generation. He felt to us like an ancient being from another time and place. And yet he was of the modern world too. He had a wife and family; he had lived through World War II as a temple priest in Japan. It is said that in Japan he was strict and short of temper. Yet to us he was generous, lighthearted and patient.”

A biography of Suzuki, titled Crooked Cucumber, was written by David Chadwick in 1999.

There are many, many educational and inspiring quotes by Shunryu Suzuki. We will include a few in our Facebook postings this month that are especially relevant to both Dancers and Dance Teachers.

December 2020
Sweetheart Photo Of The Month

Keri Russell

Keri Russell was selected as an I LOVE DANCE Sweetheart in Denver, Colorado, at the age of 15, in 1991. She represented Starstruck Academy of Dance, directed by Lisa Holtz. She made her television debut that same year, when she joined Disney Channel’s “All-New Mickey Mouse Club” as a cast member.

In 1992, she appeared in the comedy science fiction flick “Honey, I Blew Up the Kid”. The following year, she got featured in the sitcom “Boy Meets World”. Soon after this, she appeared in an episode of “Married… with Children”. Russell subsequently had roles in various TV programs and movies including the soap opera series “Malibu Shores”.

In 1994, she starred alongside Jack Noseworthy, Jason Wiles and Carla Gugino in Bon Jovi's music video for “Always”. She next made an appearance in two episodes of “Roar”. From 1998 to 2002, the actress played the title character on the series “Felicity.” This role gained her much prominence as a TV actress. During this time, she also did several films, including “Eight Days a Week”, “Mad About Mambo”, “The Curve” and “We Were Soldiers”.

Following the conclusion of the show “Felicity”, Russell went on to make her off-Broadway debut by appearing in Neil LaBute's “Fat Pig” in 2004. Then in 2005, she acted in the TV film “The Magic of Ordinary Days”, the TV miniseries “Into the West” and the theatrical “The Upside of Anger”. The following year, she was chosen to represent CoverGirl Cosmetics. She also appeared in the NBC show “Scrubs” and in the films “Waitress”, “Grimm Love” and “August Rush” during that period.

Russell appeared in the comedy flick “Bedtime Stories” in 2008. After this, she got the opportunity to perform in CBS Films’ ”Extraordinary Measures”. From 2010 to 2011, she appeared in the series “Running Wilde”. In 2013, the actress began playing a deep-undercover KGB spy in the FX series “The Americans”.

In 2014, she starred in the movie ”Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” alongside actors Gary Oldman and Andy Serkis. In 2016, she starred with Matthew McConaughey in “Free State of Jones” and in 2019, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”. She also performed in the Broadway revival of Lanford Wilson’s play “Burn This” at the Hudson Theatre from April through July of 2019. She has also starred in a film “Antlers” scheduled for release February 19, 2021.

She married Shane Deary, a carpenter, on February 14, 2007. The couple had two kids, son River and daughter Willa, before separating in 2013. Russell has been in a relationship with actor Matthew Rhys, since 2014 and they have a son named Sam.

Her filmography of motion pictures lists 22 and her television credits include 21 movies and series. She is a Golden Globe award winner and Television Critics Association Award. This photo was taken in 2017 when she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Besides being a big celebrity, Russell is known for her down-to-earth nature. Currently, she resides in Los Angeles, California and remains highly passionate about dancing. She’s a real Sweetheart who has had an amazing career to date. We continue to be so very proud of her and wish her continued career success and personal happiness.

December 2020
Celebrity Photo Of The Month

Kim McKimmie with Dr. Fred Alan Wolf

Miss Kim was fortunate to attend a full weekend of lectures at Sydney University given by Dr. Wolf back in November, 2005 - in Sydney Australia.

Fred Alan Wolf is a physicist, writer, and lecturer who earned his Ph.D. in theoretical physics at UCLA in 1963. His research began in the field of high atmospheric particle behavior following a nuclear explosion.

He has lectured throughout the world, and conducts research on the relationship of quantum physics to consciousness. He is the National Book Award Winning author of Taking the Quantum Leap. He is a member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Collegium of Scholars.

Dr. Wolf has taught at the University of London, the University of Paris, the Hahn-Meitner Institute for Nuclear Physics in Berlin, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and San Diego State University in the United States. He was a professor of physics at San Diego State University for twelve years. His work in quantum physics and consciousness is well known through his popular and scientific writing. He is the author of eleven books including; Taking the Quantum Leap, Parallel Universes, The Dreaming Universe, The Eagle's Quest, The Spiritual Universe, Mind into Matter, Matter into Feeling ,The Yoga of Time Travel: How the Mind Can Defeat Time, and Dr. Quantum Presents, A Little Book of Big Ideas.

In his featured appearance in the movie, What the Bleep Do We Know?, he brought cutting edge quantum theory down to earth, and stirred a cult following by heralding proof of ancient spiritual principles for a mainstream audience. "Mind is not limited or contained within the boundaries of the material world," says Dr. Wolf. He also appeared in the sequel film, What the Bleep: Down The Rabbit Hole and the documentary, The Secret. He was featured in the documentary about the Dalai Lama, titled Dalai LamaRenaissance. His television appearances has helped to popularize science on the Discovery Channel and PBS series Closer To The Truth.

Miss Kim notes: “My meeting Dr. Fred Alan Wolf (and attending his lectures) was such a delightful and mind-expanding journey. His biographical information shows that he was born 86 years ago on December 3, 1934. Although I understand that ‘time is an illusion’, I believe time has treated him kindly over the years. I was so very fortunate to take his workshops 15 years ago - which seems like yesterday!”

Happy, Happy Birthday Dr. Quantum!