#lay im

People can see by my name that my favorite (or bias as you call it) KPop performer is Zhang Yixing/Lay of EXO. Music has played a significant role in my life. When I was six years old I saw the movie West Side Story. The movie is where my love of dance started. 

I find myself associating specific music with people. I’ve been thinking about the music that describes my feelings for Yixing -- tender feelings. The melody is from the film The Horse Whisperer and is incorporated into more than one part of the soundtrack.* It is first called Creek House and this is where I begin. Creek House is a very short but beautiful melody and here it is played on the guitar. For me it signifies the tender feelings I have for Yixing -- but I can also imagine him composing something like this while strumming a guitar. Another cover of this piece is done with piano, and I think this would be the next logical place Yixing would explore a melody he is working on. 

Lastly, the melody moves to a song called The Vast Continent. Remember, I am just learning about Yixing. When I went back to the beginning of EXO he was a boy. Now, he is a man and blossoming before my eyes. The Vast Continent is the melody coming to fruition -- and the last notes leave us looking to the future. It all started with a simple melody ... 

What music best represents your sentiments for your bias?

The composer is Thomas Newman, who has written some of the most beautiful music you never knew you heard before -- Finding Nemo, The Shawshank Redemption, and American Beauty (just to name a few). 

I was a dance major in college. I married, had a son, and never got to finish that adventure. Unfortunately, I made a poor marriage decision. Fortunately, I discovered it early and got out. My situation in life had undergone a huge change. I was now a single mother raising a three year old son, and dancing had no practical application that would support us. Over the years I developed computer skills -- so much so that people who have known me in my adult life never guessed I was a dancer. I’m a computer geek (database theory). 

I have a brother 17 years younger than I, and he introduced me to MMO gaming. After 20 years of being divorced I met my husband (of 10 years) while playing a video game. Hey --  how many can say they met their husband in a cantina on Naboo? I made a great leap of faith, and moved halfway across the United States to get married. I didn’t work, so in my spare time I learned how to create machinima, occasion videos for family and friends, as well as toying with computer generated art.

Last year one niece left on an adventure of her own. She is teaching English in Korea. She began sharing KPOP videos on Facebook. One of the first videos she shared was “Call Me Baby” (Korean version). I fell in love with the choreography immediately. I started watching it over and over again on my computer. I decided I wanted to watch it “bigger” so I began watching it on my television. I haven’t danced in ... uh ... many, many years. In watching, I picked out Yixing as a dancer whose technique was so precise that I could break down the steps. Of course, the routine is too difficult to start out with, and I also have a bit of arthritis.

My niece loves Shinee. As I began watching many KPOP videos (Lucifer to start with) I loved the fact that most of the groups post videos of their dance practice. I also realized that many of the routines are low impact, can be done in a small space, and are great exercise. I know it seems ridiculous but I dance KPOP routines in my living room. My doctor doesn’t think it is ridiculous. He loves the idea. My husband is also supportive. Right now I’m dancing to  GD X TAEYANG’s single 'GOOD BOY'. Do I do it well? Of course not! But I can not do it well all day long and it’s still great exercise. More importantly, I’m having a great time rediscovering the things I enjoyed when I was young.