Week Seven & Eight

Week seven was pretty focused on preparing for the audition in Vancouver. I was told choreography would be given to me in the audition, but still to had a solo prepared just in case they wanted to see more, being that I was from out of town. So, of course, for some sick reason, I can't ever use something that I already have, I need to create something new! It was awesome, brought me a little bit of stress, but it was really fun to break away a little bit from what I've been working on, and create something new with some music I absolutely love! I used this piece called "The World Is Getting Smaller" by a band from Texas called Snarky Puppy who have played shows at The Rex. I am in love with my new piece! It was a drag that I didn't get to perform it for my audition, but hey, nothing is lost, I have invested in myself and have the beginnings of a new solo!
Also that week I had my first vocal lesson in three years. I had some heavy surgery in 2006. I got my tonsils and adenoids removed, a septoplasty and a turbinate reduction. That was 4 invasive procedures in my face and throat. I didn't look differently after, but it was a painful recovery! Just after the surgery I was studying voice again, but when I left Toronto for Edmonton to do a show in the Fringe that year, I unintentionally left it alone, and haven't really explored my voice since. In the meantime, I have grown quite sensitive about my voice, only because I haven't been exercising it and it still remains something that I really love. It can get frustrating reaching for something that used to naturally be a part of your everyday practice, but since, I can't expect for it to be in shape when I haven't been practicing regularly. So, now I've jumped back in, and it feels great. I had a lesson with Brenda's friend Jay Clayton who I mentioned in my last entry. She comes from the jazz land, not music theatre land, but all in all, the same kind of technical stuff was covered, just from a very different perspective. I liked it! I am really glad to put myself back in practice and am looking forward to studying further with Jay while I'm here. It can only serve my dancing, and also bring back some confidence in another tool that I have neglected.
Best part of the week...ROB'S VISIT! He arrived in the morning on Friday, I practiced for a few hours, and then we took on the town! First we went to go see Final Destination 4 in 3D. That was crazy, and fun! Then we went to see The Toxic Avenger. AMAZING SHOW! We were reeling from the talent of the cast for the rest of the night. There will be a Toronto production of the show coming soon which is exciting, but the quality of the show will completely rely on casting. It can be and will hopefully be amazing, but it also has the potential to be really bad. So, we'll see. Its a perfect show for Toronto audiences. I'm looking forward to see what happens! Following the show we tried to say hi to Nick Cordero, who played Melvin/the Toxic Avenger. Rob and Nick did Theatre Aquarius together in Hamilton! Rob let him know we were coming, so we had plans to say hello, but our timing must have been off, so we missed him. Next we headed to a Mexican restaurant for huge margaritas, and then onward to Fatcat, the jazz bar I mentioned a few weeks back with ping pong, pool, etc. We had an awesome time! We ran into Dean Armstrong, who's ping pong game we crashed, and then hung out with him and his friend for a long while! Then, I ran into Brandi Disterheft, I mentioned her a while back too, great bass player who I know from Toronto. So we just had a blast! We partied!!!!! It felt so great to party with one of my best friends! I felt like I could actually let my guard down, and party like I know I can. hahaha. Its true though, there's nothing like celebrating with the ones you love the most. So, that was quite the birthday!!! The next day we went to see Next to Normal. Now that was a change of pace! Incredible show. We were walking around New York emotionally drained and speechless all afternoon. Shortly after we both had to part, Rob heading back on the bus to Toronto, and I had to head out to JFK to fly to Vancouver. What an incredible birthday gift. we just had the best time, and it really reminded me...as if I need it...but really reminded me how lucky I am to have such wonderful friends. Rob definitely plays for keeps, and who at this point, I really couldn't do without.

Week eight...off to Vancouver!!!
So, firstly, the flight was awesome. Cathay Pacific Airways was a dream! Cheap, comfy, awesome. I kind of dreaded a huge and long flight, but I must say, it was pretty awesome as far as flights go! I arrived, and who welcomed me other than my treasured friend Anna, who I haven't seen in 2 years, wearing her T-shirt that Sandra and I had made for her birthday. Back in March, Sandra and I took a trip to the Walmart portrait studio, dressed up full out in 80's get up, to get our photos taken in an authentic nostalgic fashion for our girl Anna's birthday gift. That was probably one of the funnest experiences I have ever had. It was a total trip to see her wearing it! I wish Sandra could have been there for that moment! Following our long excited greeting, we traveled home, of course accompanied by a to-go container of gin and juice. Its just how we roll. hehehe. We stayed up drinking and chatting till about 4 am, (7am new york time) and Anna had to work at 8am. It didn't go smoothly. I woke up and booked some practice space while she was at work, and in the evening, we took on Vancouver. Now, when any combination of Anna, Sandra and I get together, its going to be loud, and potentially abnoxious. The citizens of Vancouver were half and half on our side. We made some awesome friends, and I may have loudly expressed my distaste in those who didn't appreciate our zest. Regardless of whose feelings were temporarily trampled, be it ours or theirs, we had an excellent time, tearing it up, as per guaranteed. I miss Anna so much. Again, reminder of the awesomeness that is my friends!
Anna left for a climbing trip in California on Tuesday, which was the day of my audition as well as the first day of the Rising Tide: Canadians in Tap conference. I missed her for the rest of my trip, but I was completely fulfilled with what I experienced!
Okay, so firstly, the audition went well. It was awesome to dance in the same room with the people who I had conversed with all day, and friends who I haven't seen in a while! We all had a lot of fun in the audition. Right now, there is some controversy amongst the tap community regarding Vanoc hiring an Australian production company vs a Canadian production company, but I don't really want to get into it in my blog. I may speak about it as it develops in a future entry, but for the purposes of this being the internet and that everything I write is publicly accessible, I don't want to tarnish an opportunity that I would be so grateful to be potentially presented with. Myself, as well as the Canadian tap community, have an extremely positive outlook on the whole situation, as well as lot of respect for those who may present us with the opportunity to dance on the world stage. If anything, to land this job would be amazing if just to be in touch and work with my peers who I met at this conference and move forward with what we are determined to do as professional tap dancers in Canada!
The conference was awesome. It was a pretty incredible experience to be in a room with about 40 other people who shared the same passion and love for an art form which so often gets ignored. In speaking about some issues, I actually surprised myself in that I didn't think I would get so passionate to a point of shaking when I was just involved in discussion. I bring that to my work, but didn't think that would pour out of me at discussion level. This passion we have, its a peculiar and powerful thing. I feel pretty lucky that its rooted so strongly within me. Now to get further on connecting all of that through the emotional level of my dancing...
Anyways, I had debated the choice of taking the trek to Vancouver in the middle of my time in New York...am I ever glad I went. It was the best and smartest thing I could have done for myself. I got completely connected with the people that are also determined to make things happen in Canada. I have never felt such a strong sense of community. I can't imagine not being a part of that. The people I met, who I have been deeply inspired by, will change my life.
I got to connect with my friend Dayna Szyndrowski who was in the fringe show with me in Edmonton 2006. When we did the show, we definitely connected, but since working together we have become very close. Long distance we have maintained a pretty awesome friendship and support for each other over the past three years. This girl is sooooo talented. I have the utmost respect for her, and wish we could be in the same city to actually build on the ideas we share. I truly cherish our hangs! Fingers crossed for the olympics gig....
I also got to reconnect with one my treasured teachers from Edmonton and her daughter who I used to dance with, Gail Ledger and Kelly Cameron. Kelly's married now...feels weird to call her by her new name! Dayna also danced with Gail, but we never really knew each other as kids. Funny how life goes. haa. It was awesome to see them and catch up. We all went for dinner the night I flew back to New York. It was just a really great experience to be able to sit with 3 people who I have had such rich experiences with and look forward to whats next for all of us! Awesome.
Another highlight was meeting Tasha Lawson. This woman moved me to the verge of tears. We got along right off the bat within the conference, but I saw her perform and it changed me. She is currently working on her own vocabulary of body percussion. Surprise surprise, I was inspired. She has created an entire tap vocabulary where she places the sounds on her body instead of using her feet for manipulations. Its kind of weird to describe, and completely different than Max's work, but just like how I feel about Max, everyone needs to see this!!!! She recreated in her new language the famous Atkins/Coles soft shoe "Taking a Chance on Love." It blew my mind!!! To even grasp the capacity of creativity required to execute this completely blew my mind. I'm so glad we're friends now. =)
It was also really wonderful to hang with EVERY CANADIAN that attended Heather's intensive. Amanda Buckingham is an excellent dancer from Vancouver who worked non stop all week! She drove everyone around, danced all day, and pretty much worked till she dropped, all the while carrying herself with grace and an incredible air of positivity. What a great soul. We have become really close in the short time we've known each other and I am looking forward to where that will carry us in the future. She is attending the Music Theatre program at Capilano University right now. I'm about 5 years ahead of her, and man we have some serious parallels. Again, I feel pretty lucky to have come across such excellent people.
It was also pretty special for me to hang with my good friend Travis Knights in Vancouver, amongst these quality people. Every time we hang, or dance, or I see him dance, I am so filled with happiness and inspiration. Truly. He has just got something so special about him, and its really infectious. I can't wait to get back home and dance with him. We have got a lot of work to do!! =)
All in all, the people that I met, the people I reconnected with, have all contributed to the strength and determination I have for making what we do actually happen, successfully in Canada. What a positive, incredible, inspiring experience.
At the end of all of it, I got to have a short visit with my excellent friend Kendyl! We used to work together at Volo in Toronto. She now lives in Montreal going to Concordia University, but is from Van and happened to be there for a few weeks in perfect time to see me! Excellent little finale to my trip! Any time spent with her is a dream.

So, now, back in New York for my final month, slowly polishing off the cheesecake my roommate Jessica so generously gave me for my birthday! The approach...stop eating cheesecake, and take full advantage to everything I can that is uniquely accessible in New York. I need to schedule my time, and budget wisely!!! I'll keep you posted on how that all works out...

till next week....

at xo