Ciao, I'm Anna Harsh and I am a dancer, writer and a creative soul. I grew up in West Virginia but now live in Pennsylvania. Over the last few years I have been thinking about how I wanted to preserve my legacy, my Italian heritage and the vast knowledge and experiences I have gained thus far in my life. So one of the ways was to write my two memoirs, La Danza, Conflict, Passion, and Healing and The Italian Dance Quest.
Going through the process of writing my memoir gave me a chance to share how my dance company got started and grew into a touring company for the last 30 years. The process was interesting and filled with numerous emotions. Writing was a way to reflect on where I was in my life today, but also gave me clarity to see how I got to this point.
Dance has always been my vehicle of travel in life. It has taught me so many life lessons from how to be a detailed person to how to see the space that others take up. I love to travel and meet new people and hear their stories. Writing my memoirs was a cathartic experience that allowed me to unpack the complications of my journey and share it with others. It was a beautiful way for me to honor my heritage, celebrate my achievements, and inspire others to pursue their own passions and dreams.
I find joy in expressing myself through words and exploring new ideas and perspectives. Writing has been a way for me to process my thoughts and emotions, and to connect with others in a different way than dance. Expressing my thoughts through words are also found in my podcast called The Dance Floor Podcast. I enjoy interviewing artists from all over the world to learn about their life lessons they have gained through their creativity.
As I continue to explore my creative pursuits and share my stories with the world, I am constantly inspired by the people I meet, the places I visit, and the experiences I have. I believe that life is a journey of self-discovery and growth, and I am grateful for the opportunities that dance, writing, and creativity have provided me along the way.
Through many years of dance training, I found another connection in practicing yoga and Pilates, and these forms of practice make my body feel put together. The feeling of flowing through yoga poses and strengthening my core in Pilates brings me peace and balance in my life. Each practice challenges me mentally and physically, but also leaves me with a feeling of rejuvenation. It’s how I find strength to continue and calm in the stress of daily life.
My intense training in both yoga and Pilates led me to become certified in both disciplines. I wanted to deepen my knowledge and share my love for these practices with others. My certification not only allows me to teach classes, but also gives me the opportunity to inspire and encourage others on their fitness journey.
When I am teaching a class, my passion and excitement shine through. I enjoy creating a welcoming and supportive environment that makes everyone feel comfortable and motivated. My hope is that this sense of community and creativity is contagious for everyone to enjoy.
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Title La Danza, Conflict, Passion, and Healing.
Author Anna Harsh
Genre Memoir
Publisher Tambourine Chronicles
Book Blurb
La Danza – Conflict, Passion, and Healing is a travel memoir of an
adventure that has forever changed the life of this Italian-American dancer. Through
experiences and humor, Anna invites you along her dancing journey, exploring villages
steeped in tradition and local culture. Take a contemporary look of Italy through the
eyes of a dancer and experience first hand the Italian gusto, traditions, history, culture, and family legacy in this exciting read.
Excerpt
The word “tarantella” awakens images of a frenzied spinning dance
traditionally performed at Italian weddings. In southern Italy, this well-
known dance has history and myth spanning thousands of years. The
Tarantella has several variations, depending on the region. A few versions
begin by forming a circle, holding hands, and then breaking off into
couples.
Originally viewed as an Italian traditional dance of the lower classes, it has
been mythologized as a dance to cure sickness and then later as a
courtship dance. In the courtship version of the dance, the woman uses
rapid spins and smooth footwork to capture the affection of her partner. In
return, the man tries to charm her with his agility by showing off his high
kicking and elegance with smooth turns that demonstrate tenderness with
the positions of his outstretched arms. The dance is one of unity and
separation, which sees dancers flying into each other’s arms with a do-si-
do move, interlocking elbows while twirling around, releasing, and then
separating again.
Facing each other, the couple hops from one foot to the other with arms up
in the air. This interaction of the dance demonstrates the flirty and amorous
connection. It is considered unlucky to dance the Tarantella alone, so it is
often performed by couples or by two women.
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Author Biography
Anna Harsh is an Italian-American born in West Virginia and now living in Pennsylvania with her husband Greg. Her grandparents immigrated from Italy in the early 1920’s. Anna honors her Italian heritage through dance and other cultural traditions. With over three decades of research and teaching experience, Anna offers a unique and refreshing voice in the Italian-American community on how to preserve Italian traditional dances for the next generation. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Communication from West Virginia University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Slippery Rock University, an E-RYT200 in yoga, and is also a certified Pilates Instructor. She has traveled extensively throughout Italy to research and study dances from various regions. Her adventurous personality and passion for her Italian heritage has taught her unique life lessons.
Social Media Links
Website: www.AnnaHarsh.com
Title The Italian Dance Quest
Author Anna Harsh
Genre Memoir
Publisher Tambourine Chronicles
Book Blurb
Anna Harsh, dancer and Italian American, takes a trip to Italy with her mother and brother as a child that sets her on a path which changes her life forever.
The Italian Dance Quest is a travel memoir of an adventure that has made a lasting impact on the life of this Italian-American dancer. Be immersed into five different regions through dances that reflect the people, food and history. Anna offers various ways to preserve and enjoy physical history so that the next generation can enjoy them in the future.
Excerpt
La Furlana is an elegant, waltz inspired dance with a 3/4 tempo where the dance begins with the man on one side and the women on the opposite side facing each other with a bit of space between them. They travel towards each other using waltz movements of down, up, up by bending the knee with the first foot flat on the floor and then taking two steps on the ball of the foot completing the waltz timing. The couple arrives face to face after a few waltz steps.
At that moment, the woman, who has a scarf attached to her skirt by softly tucking it into the top of her waist, hands her partner the other end of the scarf for him to hold. I believe this is the most romantic part of the dance. The moment they meet, she softly hands him this scarf which connects the two of them together. It might make a perfect proposal dance. Picturing this moment where he pops the question to his partner. The scarf represents their communication line from her heart to his.
What are their hearts saying to each other? They maintain eye contact throughout the entire dance as they never face away from each other unless they are turning. Continuous contact visually is rare these days with technology. It’s so refreshing to perform this dance for this exact reason.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)
Amazon: https://a.co/d/aBSv8E0