I have always admired the work of composer Stephen Schwartz. His music is poetry to my ears. When my husband and I married, we wanted our first dance to be "With You," from the musical "Pippin." There is a particularly exquisite lyric in it, that says as follows"

 

"My nights are warmer than firecoals,

incense and stars and smoke bamboo.

But nights were warm beyond compare

if I could share

my nights with you."

 

For whatever reason, we were unable to acquire the music for our reception, but my love for the piece remains.

 

In 2005, I was fortunate to travel to Australia to study Indigenous World Theatre. I was deeply affected by the stories and artwork of the Aboriginal singers, dancers, actors, and visual artists with whom we came into contact. I felt their influence and impact upon me would, at some point, come to fruition in my own creative work.

 

By summer 2007, I had completed my 200-hour teacher training and had become a registered yoga teacher. One afternoon, while taking a ride and listening to the "Pippin" cast album, I felt something come in to focus for me and began to write. The idea was to create a space for dance and the healing arts, with mindful movement  being the impetus for well-being. My proposed name: "Incense and stars and smoke bamboo."

 

I am not always audacious but, in a moment of boldness, I wrote a letter to Stephen Schwartz and asked if I could use the lyric as the name for my business. Within a week, I received a response from his assistant ststing that, although he felt it was a rather long name, I was welcomed to use it. Not long after, I received a letter from his music publisher telling me the company did not want Mr. Schwartz's music affiliated with a business. I was disappointed but took a "such is life" attitude.

 

Later that year, I had the good fortune to meet Mr. Schwartz following a gala event honoring him and his work. We spoke of my request and the publisher's response and he told me to use the lyric anyway. Suffice to say I was thrilled. However, I was reminded of his comment that it was quite a long name. I shortened the name to "Incense and Stars..." with the notion of creating a non-profit down the road which would be called "The Smoke Bamboo Foundation."

 

That is how INCENSE AND STARS... came to be.