Amanda Monteith
Bio
I am a dancer, writer, filmmaker; anything you can think of, I've probably tried my hand at it. The constants in my life have been dance and writing, and so I'm here to talk about both, and maybe a few other things as well.
Stories (4/0)
Soup Dumplings and the Quiet Hours
I dream of the days when things go back to some semblance of normalcy; when friends can gather freely, show affection, even catch up over a drink and some heavy bar music; when old acquaintances can be in close quarters to hear about everything that’s been missed over the months. I can’t wait to embrace my friends, to drive around Houston with them blasting loud music and finding an abandoned parking garage with a view of the city we call home. Upon the gradual opening of establishments and the return to an adjusted form of normal, I have the perfect itinerary for my first day out.
By Amanda Monteith4 years ago in Humans
Writing is Therapy
I decided about a year ago that I wanted to write a book. This decision probably seems rash coming from a Dance major with a minor in nutrition, but hear me out. I used to write relentlessly, that was my passion aside from dance and so I would write ruthlessly, ending up with awards for my writing and having a published poem before I graduated high school. I often found that it was a source of catharsis, a way to cope with changing times and confusing situations. I generally feel extremely awkward when talking to someone face to face, having trouble making key points in a conversation through my constantly cracking voice. Thus, writing has always seemed to make more sense to me; I can reason my way through things when I write. It always seems to help me heal.
By Amanda Monteith4 years ago in Humans
The Open Field
Before quarantine, I lived in the northern part of Israel. I was dancing, eating, existing on a beautiful commune in a remote town not far from the Israel-Lebanon border; it was a dream. I would call my brother sometimes and he would joke about how I joined a cult because the days were filled with dancing in a grandiose studio with floor to ceiling windows that overlooked this big, open field. The field was lush with poppies and other wildflowers, the sun constantly kissing that field with its warmth. After dance, I would go to the cafe for an iced coffee before sprawling out in the field, bathing in the heat of the sun and almost suffocating in the plush barrage of flowers. Sometimes I would bring my notepad and write, sometimes I would draw, many times I would sit in the field with my fellow commune members and we would make flower crowns to be given to whomever had a birthday coming up. No matter the activity, I found joy and pure bliss in living in the commune. Sometimes I would walk over to the house of one of teachers and we would sit and talk on his porch, greeting passersby and picking through miscellaneous mysterious fruit-flavored candies until we had certifiably tried every flavor. Living in Israel allowed me to find true happiness, even amidst difficult times and exhaustion from dancing up to seven hours a day.
By Amanda Monteith4 years ago in Beat
I'm not a chef, but I make Michelin star meals
I definitely am not a chef. I've never gone to culinary school, I maybe have taken one cooking class in my life. I learned how to cook at home, but I constantly cook restaurant-quality meals and dishes, without recipes because of two things. I've learned about flavor pairings, and I learned about food science. Here's why you should too:
By Amanda Monteith4 years ago in Feast
