My Top SEVEN 2010 Experiences.

1.My First Fringe Show

Rapture! 

2. Cowboy Poetry:The Springboard New Play Festival
My first out of school theatre experience! I really enjoyed working with Ken Brown once again and I was so lucky to be acting along side such accomplished men.

3. Happily Ever After/ BC Trip

Again, again!

4. Graduating From University With Distinction

Go Theatre Arts!

5. New Friends

6. Contemporary Dance Co-op

7. New Apartment With R

I make hats.

Ever since I was on the road with the ladies from Happily Ever After? I have really been into making toques!

M was so kinda in teaching me the art of toque making. It started off slow, with just me watching and struggling hard, but then we finally got a chance to sit down and for her to teach me. Since then, I have made 23 hats (and have sold 4!)

Today I sat down and taught my little sister. She picked it up so quickly, I was very proud. Then my Oma (Grandma) tells us that it is in our blood. Our great Oma crocheted/ knitted for a living! Then our Mum pulled out all of the old scarves and gloves that our Oma made for her! 

Such a great first night back home!  

All I want for Christmas is...

       Well- to be brief- new tap shoes. Preferable gold high heel tap shoes, but some classic black and whites would also be amazing!

Oh and to be a professional performer... that is all.

This just made my day. 

HOT YOGA: Don't be racist!

Hot yoga, my newest love.

Yoga and dance go together very well, so I have been trying studios all over the city, with just the West Moksha Yoga Edmonton to go!

I have discovered through talking to people (both theatre and normal people),  that there is some racism between Moksha and Bikram yogis. I get it- people have favourites and some just can't handle 90 minutes of hotness. But let us not be haters, if you are a strictly Bikram yoga goer, why not try Moksha and switch it up a bit!

I look at it this way. 

         -If you feel like knowing what you're getting yourself into, so you can focus on technique and what not - Bikram is your man!
         -If you feel like a challenge, enjoy surprises, and possibly want a shorter class - Go Moksha.

Don't be afraid to change it up!!!

Studios 
        #1: Bikram Yoga West Edmonton  Even though it isn't the closest to me, it is my #1 choice of hot yoga studios in Edmonton.
- The best smelling Bikram studio in the city!
- An amazingly friendly and supportive staff.
- Great smooth and solid floor.
- Fans
- A lovely frosted window.
- Only $20 for first timers-  8 days unlimited!

Fun Fact: This is where I took my first hot yoga class ever!

www.bikramyogawestedmonton.ca

       #2 Moksha Yoga Edmonton (South and West) I wish you were closer Moksha!!! Unfortunately it takes me an hour busing 1 way to get to either of these studios.

        South
- The most beautiful and spacious yoga studio I have ever been in.
- Amazing change rooms and showers
- Free natural mat disinfectant!
- Cork flooring
- Beautiful frosted windows
- Only $20 for first timers-  7 days unlimited!

Fun Fact: This is my best friend B's favourite studio!
www.mokshayogaedmonton.com

          #3: Birkam Yoga Edmonton - 124th Street  The down town hot yoga place.

- Great location

www.bikramyogaedmonton.com

        #4: Bikram Yoga Edmonton - Strathcona The Whyte Ave hot yoga place.

- Great location

Fun Fact: They used to have carpeted floors... figure that one out!

www.bikramyogaedmonton.com

Yoga!

Sushi and Shakespeare.

I am turning into a late night gal. As in I can't sleep.

After a very fun, and relaxing day - full of conversation, sushi and Shakespeare - I had the idea to turn the Shakespeare monologue that I am working into a short film.

I started by making a quick storyboard, then I attempted a rough draft using my laptop. It's very poor quality (doesn't help that it's almost 2am, so I was trying to be as quiet as possible, and that I am in my pj's with no make up on), but I managed to captured my idea.

It's time to ask the big guns for help... Mr. B, you up to it?

First Proposal.

Don't worry, no one is getting married.

I am working on my first proposal for Nextfest and it is proving to be very interesting. It's funny, I feel as though it should be a lot harder than it is (because you have to make your piece of art look good on paper), but I am just kinda going with it. It also really helps to have such great support coming from my friends/mentors!! Thanks you R and L!

Back to work.

Just waiting...and waiting... and waiting?

       Waiting to hear back from an audition is hard, but is waiting to hear if you even get the chance to audition worse? Let me know your thoughts!

Pepsi Ball:$1 ... Healthier feet: Priceless

I have always been a big fan of foot massages. All you need for this little self massage is a pepsi ball or a pinky ball. A pepsi pall is about the same size as a tennis ball, except they are made out of a soft, solid rubber, (To buy a pepsi ball, just visit the nearest Walmart. They are located in the sports section). The pepsi ball was even approved by my Active Release Therapist, Dr. Dustie Steeves.

 How do you do this, you might ask. Place or step onto the ball, starting at the heel (Putting most of, or as much of your body weight as you can handle, onto the ball).

 Slowly, work your way (side to side) down the foot, massaging out all of your knots.

Once you get past your metatarsals, your foot stands flat on the ground, while your toes get a nice stretch up on the ball. At last, when you have finished your entire foot,  roll off the way you came on.

Make sure to move slowly and never do anything that causes a bad pain sensation. A pepsi ball is a great thing to keep in your dance bag! I even take it into ballet classes with me, it's such a life saver!

Happy massaging! 

Glacier and Ash

Over the summer I started working on a short film project called Glacier and Ash. Due to weather conditions it has to be put on hold. (Other than the ideas brewing in my wee noggin and I am sure Mr.Bs as well.)

Here is a teaser, for now: 

Boom!

This evening, after a long day of shopping with M, I was debating whether or not to go to Boom: A Mile Zero Dance Salon, and I am SO glad I went.

I didn't really know what to expect and I liked that. I ended up knowing many people, both watching and performing in the show (always a nice feeling). I had many a fun conversation, watched/was involved in some interesting performances and learnt about taking care of our environment at the same time.

Overall, it was very entertaining and educational evening!

December Shows

All of the shows I have seen in December, thus far:

       Beckett's Shorts- Surreal SoReal Theatre 

 MMT(Clowning, acting, movement) - Dec. 1st & Dec. 11th

 More Info

        1st Year Shakespeare Monologues - Grant MacEwan University- Shakespeare - Dec. 10th

November Shows

All of the shows that I watched in November:

         Equus - U of A ( D: Leigh Rivenbark) - Play/MMT- Nov. 28th 

         Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - Movie

          The Social Network- Movie

         The Mating Season - Grant MacEwan University - Straight Play

         Women Who Steal - Shadow Theatre- Straight Play

        The 4th Grader's Present an Unnamed Love-Suicide - Northern Lights Theatre- Play/MMT

           Love and Human Remains - U of A- Play

         High Society - Grant MacEwan University - Musical/MMT

*MMT- Mixed Medium Theatre

Converstations.

"Artists don't make art, they make conversations. They make things happen.
They change the world. "

-William Pope.L

the friendliest African American artist in America

Video Auditions for the Stage.

Video auditions are a tricky thing.

You need to show your stage presence, theatre skills and charming personalty, but through the MEDIUM of film. It's an important/interesting part of auditioning, but how affective can a video audition really be?

I guess, like any audition, it is depends on who's directing/casting the show. If they see something special in you, then hey, maybe you will get that call back...

Another Day of Choreo.

I really need to be jumping into the shower right now, eating and then leave to go dance in a show, but I had to write a little something something about my day.

I was in a studio from 1 till about 4:15 helping my friend C with some choreography. The musical is a fun, but slightly tough one and with 19 high school kids... well you get the picture. We spent most of our time working on the "show stopper" - a fun gospel piece. Guess what? BAM. 3 hours later, we had a fun, but simple number. Those are the best.

We also worked on a tap number that I love, but had almost completely forgotten until C gave me a jump start on the old noggin.

I love days spent dancing and talking with a good friend.

Tappa Tappa.

So I love tap.

That is one thing you will quickly learn about me, I am a huge fan. I have been tapping since the age of 6. Recently, I was asked to choreograph a holiday tap dance for a fundraiser. Though I love tapping with all my heart, choreography, not my strong suit. So I asked my friend, J, to join me and help me out with the fun little number. I was like "All I got is this song (which I quickly used my new found editing skills and made it tapable!) scarves and boxes. LETS GO."

Three rehearsals or hours later we have a great little holiday tap number. BAM.

I get nervous every time I have to choreograph something, but if I just commit, or even just give up and just do it, it always works out. I think thats a rule about choreo. JUST DO IT. It's good for your heart.

Art, Oranges and Snowmen.

This is my latest visual arts project. The mini orange snowman. 

Clearly, just for fun- but nonetheless art. Edible art. 

Oh Hello.

So I am not even going to pretend that I know what I am doing here.  The only thing I do know, is that I want to talk. Normally when artists want to talk - they create.

This blog is going to be me trying to figure out myself as an artist, showing you, or at least telling you about my creations. 

This is my journey through mixed mediums.