Week Nine

Wow, week nine...really? Why does it never cease to amaze us how time flies, sky rockets, jolts by when we are focused, happy? Crazy.

So, coming back from Vancouver was kind of a strange transition. I guess my body needed some rest! I couldn't just jump back into everything, at first I felt it was weird and then took a moment to realize everything that I have been doing for two months straight. I just needed a small fraction of down time! It didn't last long, but my body demanded a break!

In mentioning Vancouver, right off the top I should let you know that I have been offered a position to dance in the 2010 Olympic opening ceremonies. I'm pretty excited about it! Mostly because I get to reconnect with the tap fam from Van and move forward working together as a kickass Canadian unit! Well... and everything else that goes with dancing at a massive global event! Much looking forward to that experience!

My week started with taking Lynn Schwab's class. She dances with Max and Barbara's companies, and I have known about her for a while, but have never checked out her class. I am so glad I did. She's a great teacher. Really takes the time to suss out detail, and pay attention to specifics individually. I didn't take too much class last week because I was extremely focused on practicing for my upcoming two days with Max. So, this is the best...I practice to a pretty solid point that I feel I really have the material from the last sessions, and when I show him the success in what I've been working on, immediately he throws in yet another counter point. Really?? Yep, you think you have begun to master something that once seemed impossible, then it instantly goes right back down to impossible! No worries, no defeat, just more challenge! LOVE IT. To give you an idea of what I was dealing with: we're in 6/8, my feet are holding down 1 and 5, my right hand is holding down 3 and 6 on my leg, and my left hand is holding down a clave (2 bars = 1 3 5/2 4) on my chest....and when I got that, he throws in singing triplets accenting the ones over top. After a little bit of time practicing on my own, I have it now. =) Its incredible how much you can build on an idea when you find the complexities within a phrase. My mind is being stretched!!! I just can't tell you enough how incredible Max is! Such a wonderful teacher and brilliant artist. I really truly cherish my time with him. I get another round of two days this week, but before Max again I see Heather for two days. I also hope to book a drum and vocal lesson this week. Cramming it all in before I go!

On Thursday night I got the privilege to go see my treasured friend, teacher, and student Dave Clark play at the Miller Theatre with The Happiness Project. I saw this band at their label's party at NxNE (north by north east) music festival in Toronto, but was so happy to see it again and in New York! This band is one of Charles Spearin's side projects, he plays in Broken Social Scene. So for this project, Charles interviewed his neighbours, his daughter, his friends, all asking what happiness means to them. He then composed music inspired by the musical quality of their vocal patterns, and weaved in and out of the compositions looping the spoken track within the live music. Such a cool concept, AMAZING music, and really wicked musicians. It was great to see Dave and another friend Karen Ing play with them! I also ran into Myk Freedman who played guitar in my last show and hooked me up with my roommate in New York. It was a nice little reunion of sorts! So awesome to catch up with Dave. He is such a great inspiration and huge support to me. How great to meet up with him in the middle of this experience!

After the show, my friend Jen and I went to meet up with my friend Mike League at 55 Bar to see Tim Lefebvre play. Mike and Tim have both played at The Rex, Mike with Snarky Puppy, Tim with Rudder. I wrote about seeing Rudder a few weeks ago here in New York. All these musicians I get to hang with here just cuz I made friends at work in Toronto. Awesome!

The next night, Jen asked me to come out to a jam in Jersey. Jen is my friend who's into capoeira, and at the centre where she practices there was a little event! Every three or four months there is an arts event in Jersey City called JC Nights, and all of the local bars, art galleries, event spaces, and community centres throw special events as a celebration of arts in the community. So, at the centre there were salsa dancers, musicians, capoeira, break dancers, modern dancers, a belly dancer, and us tapping. It was a totally fun time and really great group of people. Everyone was so into each other's scene! So much support in the room of a group of strangers. Really glad I got the chance to dance and hang with these people.

On Saturday I had quite the treat! My friend Sheena was here! She is currently singing on a cruise ship and it ports out of New York for the next month and a half. So with the exception of last Saturday, every Sunday between the hours of 8am and 3pm I get to hang out with my girl! We'll go for breakfast, I'll go to a class, then we'll hang some more! How wonderful! Too bad that she won't be able to see any shows in that time frame, but we did go see Hair on Saturday. Y'know, I didn't love it. I was really looking forward to seeing it, but I don't know, it just didn't rise to the same level as The Toxic Avenger and Next to Normal. The music was incredible, the voices were stunning, the set was cool, the whole energy of it all was amazing, but it just didn't blow me away. Maybe if I would have seen it before the other two shows that did, it may have been a different story. Who knows? Also, there was an understudy for Will Swenson who plays Berger. Sometimes understudies are brilliant, they're on Broadway for a reason, but Berger has a really specific charisma that I don't think was met. I just didn't believe him. I'd like to try winning lottery tickets for it. That way it would only cost $25, and I could experience the whole show again. Sheena and I meant to try the lottery, but we were late! They were already calling names when we got to the theatre. Too bad, cuz I have excellent luck with Broadway lotteries!

After the show Sheena wanted to check out a cabaret bar, so I took her to Don't Tell Mama's on west 46th street. I have been there a few times, its a fun little place. There is a pianist for the night, people get up and sing tunes, and the bartenders have mic stands on the bar so they can sing backups. Sheena was going to get up, but she bailed. Probably because we got a little bit drunk. Only 2 martinis each, but when you have taken a hiatus from the booze, the liquor hits quicker, by far! On the way to the subway we had a little jump shot photo shoot in front of times square. This gaggle of teenage boys wanted in and tried to help us take it, but the results were not excellent. They were taken on Sheena's camera, so I will post them when she sends them to me. When we headed home, had found ourselves in a dance session on the subway platform! We were serenaded by a new friend playing a keyboard and singing Stevie Wonder tunes, and totally in dance party mode with the other listeners whilst waiting for the subway. Spontaneous excellence, really. The ride home was also interesting. We made more friends at 2am. Do we ever stop making new friends?? I might have a problem in the amount of joy talking to strangers brings me. I hope it doesn't get me in trouble one day. I had such a great time with Sheena, and am so happy I get it all again on Sunday! A magnificent bonus!

On Sunday I went exploring in Brooklyn. I know my way around Manhattan pretty well for the most part. Its where I spend most of my time and the only part of New York I have visited in the past. I hadn't yet taken the time to really explore further than the local spots in my area. So, I took the afternoon and discovered Brooklyn, some of it anyway! I love figuring out where I am and how to get around without asking anyone. It was a totally fun three hour walking excursion. I ended up at kinkos, printed some pictures, documents, and got my contract faxed in. Then went and bought some groceries, made my way home and had a super chill night. Just what I needed! I got chatting with my new friend, an actual new friend, Dean Ozen who I met in Vancouver. He's been really active in keeping the momentum of the conference running. He created a facebook group called The Tap Dancers Network of Canada. If you are a tap dancer or tap dance lover who would like to be involved, look it up and ask to be added. Its a closed group so I cannot just invited people to it, but its very well worth joining to be a part of the initiative amongst the national community! Dean has put forth a lot of effort, and is a very driven performer himself. We have very inspiring chats, and he blogs every day! He wrote a blog entry with a focus on me this week, which was so kind! Such a great human, so glad we met! Check out his blog: www.jazzyhoofer.wordpress.com Yaaaaa tap blogs!

So, that was my week. Sorry I am a little late writing again! I started on writing on Monday, but needed to head to bed to wake up for my day with Heather. So, next week I will fill you in on the last two days and the rest of the week. Till then....

at xo