News from Ripley Grier Studios

Ripley Grier Studios Newsletter

February 2014

Let's get all "social"

Employee of The Season?

The time has come for a new RG Employee of the Season! Who's your favorite customer service star? Email nominations to john@ripleygrier.com

Join us in Celebrating Black History Month

King. Parks. Washington. Ellington. X. Douglas. Tubman. Hughes. Jackson. Baldwin. We could go on all day. Forged in the fires of injustice, tempered by the accomplishments of these and other great leaders, the tremendous contribution of the African American community to the fabric of this country cannot be overstated. Happy Black History Month, to all Americans.

Jeannie's Spot

I watched the Grammys on Sunday night. How cool was Beyonce and Jay Z in the opening number? I really loved the performances by Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar, Pink and Nate Ruess, Robin Thicke and Chicago, and especially Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Imagine Dragons has been one of my favorite bands for a long time. My favorite parts of their performance were their percussion and their guest, Kendrick Lamar. Pink did a great job with the aerobatics, that is the 2nd time she has done that at the Grammys . I really like the song she performed with Nate Ruess of the band Fun. I'm glad Miley Cyrus didn't show up when Robin Thicke performed "Blurred Lines". That would've been a disaster (although I do like her song "Wrecking Ball") It was so cool to see Paul and Ringo perform together. I've been a fan of The Beatles for a long time and it was exciting to see two of them perform fifty years later. It was a shame that John and George weren't there to join them And what can I say about Justin Timberlake... *wink wink* It was the best Grammy's ever!!

Jean-Michelle Ripley-Grier is the daughter of RG founders Butch Grier and patricia Ripley. Look for her social and cultural commentary in this space next month!

Greetings!

There are some consolations in February. It's short. It's Black History Month. Halfway through the month, there's a great excuse to eat chocolate for dinner. And every four years, we get to dream with the world's Olympians! Apart from a few odd restroom configurations, things in Sochi seem to be going wonderfully.

We'll leave it at that.
Hope everyone had a swell Valentine's Day. Don't forget to stop at our 520 8th ave location and write a "love note" on one of our wall hearts!

LOVE!
John Norman
Director of Operations
Ripley-Grier Studios

Lois Silk - "Silkstretch"

Lois Silk has been working as a ballet teacher and performer since the age of 16, and was one of the first clients at the 72nd street studio when it opened as our first location back in 1987. She has performed in works by such luminaries as George Balanchine and Alvin Ailey, and has brought the freedom of movement and body awareness of the balletic arts to her own system of physical work which she calls "Silk Stretch", "the evolvement of personal awareness to free the body from anatomical limitations and involuntary tensions which hinder the full development of one's potential."

Lois describes her "coming out" as a performer at age 8 by relating a story of a third grade teacher who encouraged the children in her class to write stories to keep themselves busy.

"our teacher was writing up reports and we all grew restless - teacher suggested that anyone who wished to write a story could go to the closet and get some paper - one child got up and went to the closet and started to write - when she finally looked up the teacher asked, "Lois, would you like to read what you have written" and Lois said "YES!"

Lois has this to say about our illustrious founders, whom she has known for nearly three decades now: "The future should include a documentary on the lives of Patricia and Butch who created beautiful space for all that came to develop and hone their craft. For those of us who came and continue to come we experience their love and caring."

Patricia Ripley Feng Shui

Happy Chinese New Year! 2014 is the year of the Wood Horse

In Chinese astrology there are 12 Zodiac animals, the the feng shui color chart Snake, the Horse, the Ram, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog, the Pig, the Rat, the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit and the Dragon. Every 12 years each one comes around again. So 2014 is the year of the Horse; 12 years from now will be the Horse year again.

Each sign has certain attributes and characteristics.

People born in the year of the Horse were born in 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, and now 2014.

According to the Classic Chinese almanac by Dr. Edgar Sung: Horses are non-conformists, good talkers, listen to others, love social contact, They are, cheerful, popular, quick-witted, and have a changeable nature. They need to be constantly stimulated. They fall in and out of love easily, They have keen minds and intuitive abilities. They may suffer from insomnia as they find it difficult to unwind.

Horses will accumulate wealth but not security. Careers involving close contact with people and lots of variety are best. Tigers, Dogs, and Rams are their best associates.

Forecast:

The Horse will have lots of money and promotions this year, but it is a rocky road for the Horse. Watch your budget and if in business watch your inventory. The Horse should try to be a nice person it will go a long way to help resolve problems. This is a good time for the Horse to expand spiritual practice. To improve luck the Horse should do many good deeds.

Check our next issue for more info about the Wood Horse.

Advice for all: "Do a good deed every day"

Patricia