artistryMuse

The one who...

2012-01-28T23:30:00.001-08:00

Resolution: become what you might have been

2012-01-02T15:22:00.000-08:00

“It’s never too late to become what you might have been.”
- George Eliot

It's been more than twenty four hours since the clock struck 2012. What are your New Years resolutions? I've been asked a few times in the past week. Growing up, I remember resolutions were more like wishes- dreams without boundaries. As I got a little older, I learned that resolutions should be measurable, so we can evaluate, at the end of that year, whether we actually succeeded in achieving them. And I probably taught this same concept to my students when I became a teacher. Actually, I know I did. As an adult, my resolutions became more practical, making sure that they helped move me towards a 'successful' life.

But what does success really mean? And how did my resolutions become more closed in, stifling, as if backed up against a wall, rather than open to all the possibilities that exist out there? 'Success' means different things to different people. Yet, over the years, somehow, I got caught up in other people's idea of success- my family's, my peers', society's - which was leading me to lose that dreaminess I had as a child, the dreaminess that told me which resolutions were truly my own. And so, I'd start off with the best of intentions in the new year- to go to the gym four times a week, or experiment with a new recipe each month, or go on more dates with guys who were in the ‘right’ kind of careers. The enthusiasm would last for maybe a few months into the year. But slowly, my efforts would dwindle away until once again, that same resolution got added to the list for the following year, in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, that would be the year it would all become realized.

I'm sure I've gotten down on myself for not achieving these goals. It's hard not to feel like a failure when it seems like you're incapable of sticking to one thing, of making it come to fruition. But then I thought, well, I know I'm not lazy, and I'm trying, I really am. So.. why can't I get it? If I want these things that badly, why can't I figure out how to achieve them? And then another thought occurred to me- Do I really want them that badly? I mean, yes, I want to be able to cook better, and find a supportive significant other. But what was the real purpose behind the choices I was making for my resolutions? Why was my goal to go to the gym four times a week? To get in shape. But why did I think it had to happen at the gym?

I didn't end up making it to the gym even once a week over the past year, but instead, I took more seriously something that I was already doing, and really enjoyed- dancing. And through dancing, and wanting to improve my core and balance, I found something that probably got me into better shape than I’ve been in a long time- kickboxing. So I realized that maybe I needed to rethink what it is that I really wanted, or at least rethink how I wanted to get there.

Why did I want to experiment with new recipes? Because many of my friends are great cooks and I thought that I should be one? Because I'm female and Indian, and who ever heard of an Indian female who wasn’t great in the kitchen? And was going out on dates with guys who weren’t really my type making me happy? No, but pressure from family and society was telling me that it was 'wrong' for me to be a single girl in my 30's, and I needed to find a more ‘suitable’ match, .Suitable for who, though? When I really looked at my choices, and the things I thought I was failing to achieve, I came to realize that I wasn't really giving myself a fair chance, because I was choosing things that weren't truly at the top of my own list. I had just pulled them off of other people's lists, or an imaginary list which I thought I needed to get through.

And I came to see that when the resolutions are not truly our own, we have less of a drive to make them a reality, to make them last. And so, inevitably, we ‘fail’ at completing them.

So how do we find out what we really want, especially when the words of others, from society and friends and family have become so engrained in us that we can't clearly separate our own desires from those of others? My suggestion is to imagine you are given a second chance, to live your life exactly the way you want it. Forget about your age, or that your sister once told you that you couldn't sing, or that you don't have the money to travel across the world, or you don't have the time to take those painting classes while taking care of kids and a family. Think big, think without worrying about what you believe you can or can't do. Think about what you truly desire. What would you like your life to look like if nothing was holding you back?

"Hope is a dangerous thing," I recently heard in a movie. And yes, it can be scary to dream about what your life could look like, without any obstacles, because you fear that as soon as you wake up from the dream, reality will hit you and sadden you, reminding you that none of those dreams are a ‘possibility’. But would it be better to wake up towards the end of your life and regret all the things you wish you had at least tried?

There is a poem called If I Had My Life to Live Over by Nadine Stair that reminds me of this very idea.

If I Had My Life To Live Over- by Nadine Stair

If I had my life to live over
I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.
I'd relax, I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances.

I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would perhaps have more actual troubles,
but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who live
sensibly and sanely hour after hour,
day after day.

Oh, I've had my moments,
And if I had it to do over again,
I'd have more of them.
In fact, I'd try to have nothing else.
Just moments, one after another,
instead of living so many years ahead of each day.

I've been one of those people who never goes anywhere
without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat
and a parachute.
If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over,
I would start barefoot earlier in the spring
and stay that way later in the fall.
I would go to more dances.
I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I would pick more daisies.

Apparently, the author was eighty five years old when she wrote it. The poem is a reflection on what could have been- a tone of sadness and regret runs throughout it. It's a reminder of that dreaded what if? that can haunt us many years or even a lifetime after the event that first started it.

I decided I didn’t want to look back in my eighties or even now and suffer over regret. So, a few years ago, I took some time to write my own version of Stair’s poem- my own If I Had My Life to Live Over piece.

If I Had My Life To Live Over- by Tasleem

If I had my life to live over,
I would spend more time at coffee shops,
And less time worrying.
I would read more novels in bed,
And kiss deeper.
I would think less
and feel more.

I would prance around in my pyjamas in the morning
and lay under the stars at night.
I would look you straight in the eyes when we speak,
and I would shed more tears in front of friends.
I would touch more hearts,
give longer hugs,
and spend more time holding my mom’s hand.

If I had my life to live over,
I would get more massages,
give more passion,
and smile with an open heart.

I would take deeper breaths,
inhaling all the life and love around me.
I would play more with my niece,
twirl her around just to hear that laugh, so sweet.
I’d sit at the dinner table with family,
and share more secrets with my brother, just him and me.

If I had my life to live over,
I’d lean my head on my cousin’s shoulder,
play with her hair the way she used to do with mine,
and write about our adventures in Gastown and Kilimanjaro.

I would wake up to Corinne Bailey Rae
and sleep to Sade.
I’d spend the day feeling John Mayer’s
Heart of Life…” so good. I know it’s good”.

If I could live my life over,
I’d give India Arie the poem I wrote about her,
And confess to that guy how crazy I am about him.

I would contemplate Rumi each day,
and learn about the Sufi ways.

I would use this voice,
and not just in the shower.
Got to sing my own song,

Ain’t that right, Joss Stone?
I love that one where you bluntly admit
that you’re just so damn tired of his shit.
Your laugh and the line “that’s a keeper,… b*&#h!”
have to be the most liberating bits.

Go, Jossy!
If I had my life to live over,
Ya, I would be that bold and saucy.

And I would dance, dance, dance
-tango, salsa and blues…
I’d dance every dance.. maybe country too,
as the rhythm of life in me grew.

And once it reached me deep in my soul,
I would touch everyone I know.
I would become Miss Midas
-turning hatred into hearts of gold.

If I had my life to live over,
I’d let my body surrender
to the blowing of the wind.
-with the trees I’d sway.
I’d let oceans guide me,
Carefree
-a fluid spirit among the waves.
Tasleem ©

Without realizing it at the time, my version of the poem became my list of New Year and New Life Resolutions for that year and years to come. Now, looking back at it after a couple of years, I can genuinely smile at myself for I have made many of the parts of the poem a reality since then. For example, I make more of a conscious effort to look at people in the eyes – even if it’s the grocery guy at the check out at Save on Foods, or the teller at the bank- when I am speaking to them, just as I described in my poem. And two dreams I thought I would never have the guts to do or never get the opportunity to do came true in 2011: I gave India Arie the poem I wrote her, and I actually gave it to her personally, and I told, or at least showed, ‘that guy’ how crazy I am about him. Neither Arie’s nor the guy’s reactions were what I hoped for. But now, looking back, I am relieved I didn’t get stuck with that guy. And I realized that other people’s reactions was not what was important. After accomplishing two of the harder things on my list/poem, I felt like the rest was easier. And I gained the strength that made me feel like I could accomplish anything I wanted after that.

So now it’s your turn. Write your own If I Had My Life To Live Over piece starting with that line. And whenever you get stuck, rewrite the line again and it will jog your subconscious to remember what lays deep inside you. Choose to express it however you like: write a poem, rhyming or without rhymes, a list, bullet points, sketches, mind mapping, a letter to yourself, tell a friend, speak it in a recorder, paint it, or sing it!

For there is magic in seeing down on paper, or canvas or in a song, and showing you and the universe, what your real dreams are made of. Something shifts, something hears your wishes, and the world really does conspire to make dreams a reality when you let them. Even in just the process of getting your ideas down, you might just surprise yourself by what comes out of you, what gets put on your list. Sometimes, you don't even realize which dreams are hidden inside you until you make the time to allow them the freedom to emerge on that page or canvas or tune. You might learn something new about yourself you didn't know. And the most important part is that it’s all you. It’s your list, and no one else’s.

And when something on the list strikes the right chord in your heart, it is hard to break that beat. Something starts singing inside of you, keeps you moving towards the goal. And then a new kind of perseverance and drive emerges, one that can't be stopped or shoved aside any longer. You don't have to try to get this thing done, and force yourself to practise it each day, or force yourself to make time for it. It will be such a driving force in you that you will look for it everywhere- opportunities to make it happen. And it will also come to you and find you, when it knows you want it that badly. When you feel something so deeply, something that makes you so happy, something that fulfills you in this way, you won't allow it to dwindle away after a few months. This firing up of new or old dreams, that probably was and is always there for you to snatch up, is a great way to start up a new year, and quite possibly, a "new" life. I know it was just that for me.

And now, after being able to cross off much of the list on that old poem version of mine, I'm ready to create a new version of my If I Could Live My Life Over poem.

While you record yours, I’ll rewrite mine. And together, we will find what truly moves us as individuals so that we can start the new year with resolutions that will last.

Happy New Year to all of you!

This is your life! Do what you love...

2011-11-19T18:25:00.000-08:00

Let Go...

2011-11-16T14:39:00.000-08:00

"We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”

― Joseph Campbell

Leon Williams - Model and More...

2011-11-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

It was a pleasure meeting Leon just a couple of months ago, not only to find out more about him, but also to remind me that we really can't judge a book by its cover, or... its ...head shot?

Leon's modeling photos definitely grabbed my attention, but what struck me the most was learning how much more there was to this guy than just what is seen on camera. Leon proves to not only have a natural affinity for this new found interest, but he is also a compassionate individual who dedicates a lot of his time to others: he helps adults in need of special assistance and also has a background in childhood education.

His many interests and depth of personality provided more depth to the many 'faces' (and more!) we see in his photos. Most of all, it was great to see that Leon is a 'real' person, who fears and dreams just like anyone else, and is open to sharing his hardships and successes with others. He doesn't let the glamor and attention of being in front of the camera allow him to forget to be himself. Yet, he still allows himself to enjoy the fun and challenge of this new career path.

Tasleem: I think a lot of people would love to model, but they either don't have the look, or don't know who to go to or where to start. How did you get your first experience/job modeling? Were you looking for that kind of work, or did you just kind of fall into it?

Leon: My first experience/modeling job was with a free lance photographer. He helped create a start up portfolio for me which generated interest from other photographers who offered me more quality work. I fell into modeling by way of responding to ads and submitting photos I took myself, such as the always popular bathroom shoot! (laughs). I was actually studying to become an early education teacher and I loved teaching. But unfortunately, I went through some experiences during my teaching practice in which I was treated unfairly, and this made it difficult for me to feel enthusiastic about continuing with that path. So I was looking to do something new, fun, interesting, and exciting.

Because modeling has so much to do with outer appearance, you have to obviously keep fit. What do you do to make sure you're in shape for yourself but also for the camera? And have you had to do anything additional to your workout or health routine for modeling in particular?

I honestly don't do much; my family is Jamaican so I eat! (laughs). All I have to do is play basketball or run; I sweat off the pounds. When I'm able to get to a gym, I do the normal workouts, but I guess my secret is that when I find myself being idle, but I am on a surface that is not strenuous on the body, I do some reps. Even if I’m sitting at home or in front of a TV, I will do crunches or work on my arms and that kind of thing whenever I get a chance. I guess the credit also goes to being blessed and having good genes!

Besides having an attractive outer appearance, I think people who model, and are successful at it, need to feel comfortable in front of the camera. I mean, there’s a certain presence, connection and comfortableness with the camera that you need to have, I think. How do you feel around a camera? Did you have to get used to posing in front of one, or do you feel like it came naturally?

I have a love/hate relationship with the camera. Some of the pictures I’m in come out great, others just good or okay, while others are not so good. I dislike the camera because it catches everything; you see the flaws which remind you of what you need to work on. This could be insightful as well, though.

But I also love the camera because it allows me to be free. I don’t need to worry about anything else going on in my life when I’m doing a shoot. But you can also bring those emotions from your everyday activities and life into the shoot, to capture the essence of you! It really depends on the mood or vibe of the photo shoot. I feel it was somewhat natural for me to be in front of the camera because I just enjoy myself when I'm there. And after, when I view some of the pictures, I can look back and see what is working for me and what is not. Once you know the idea of what the photographer wants captured, you just try to portray the look. It's a fun challenge!

After I met you, and talked to you, I later saw your photos on facebook. And honestly, I almost thought they were two different people. I mean, there is a certain attitude or arrogance and ‘cockiness’ that comes across in the photos (an assumption on my part) that I don't feel at all with you in person. In person, you are so down to earth and polite and gentle in your nature. Even your regular job working with adults with special needs involves so much patience and caring and compassion. Do you feel different than your everyday self in front of the camera? When you look at your own photos, do you see YOU, or does it feel like you're looking at someone else?

I believe that the photos reveal parts of me that don't come out as freely, or parts that wouldn't be seen on a regular basis, due to my being a quiet individual. At photo shoots, you sometimes get direction so you try to display that emotion or expression that they want on cue. But you also can add your own flare or personality. I, myself, am even impressed sometimes at the final product, but I feel I can always do better. There's always room for improvement. I'm normally shy, but once the whole concept comes together, I just feel the vibe and want to capture something hot or memorable, depending on what is being asked, to show my kids one day. Truthfully I know it's me, but even I marvel at the outcome sometimes.

I laugh at the feedback I get from others who see my photos. “No need to make a fuss over me,” I tell them, “I'm just a regular guy!” And actually, I question when and how I got to looking like I do, especially because I used to be fat. My heading on twitter is ‘Who Knew?’ because even I didn't know that I could have sex appeal.

But yes, I'm just a regular guy working in the mental health field, helping adults with special needs, or adults who struggle with substance abuse, or mental illness, and who require services that I help provide. I also love kids and still hope to teach in an elementary school classroom one day, since I went to college and acquired a degree in that field, and really enjoy teaching. I also promote events at clubs around the Atlanta, Georgia area.

As far as the modeling goes, the sexy might be what brings people out or grabs their attention. But get to know me and I'll show you there's so much more to me than just a fit body and smile! I guess that's why people find me interesting, because I come off different than what they may first assume from viewing my pictures. But as you know, once you sit down and get to know me, it’s totally different.

It seems like you have fun playing around with a variety of looks when modeling and you pull them all off really well. Do you have a favorite look, or favorite photo of yours?

I really don't have a favorite look or photo, but I'm starting to lean towards pictures of me with more clothes on, simply because it wards off unwanted attention. Also, I try to avoid photographers who just want to capture my body on camera just for their own personal gain. I like all my pictures because just modeling itself is completely out of my comfort zone. And I still question the pictures I take, or that are taken of me, due to other people’s criticism of them, but I think, “Oh well, you only live once, so live your life for you.”

People have told me my eyes are the draw in the photos, and here I thought it was my naked body (laughs). Photographers always want to capture some shot with my shirt off and I have to admit that sometimes I do too, simply because I don't walk around like that on a regular basis. When people see my pictures, they actually believe I go walking around with my shirt off. And one of the funniest comments I heard was from a friend on facebook who said, "So you’ve been hiding all that under those clothes? I would have never known." Hilarious! I like the ab shots because people think they are ‘photo-shopped’ and question if I'm a real person. (laughs). Silly huh?

Paulo Coelho, in his book The Alchemist, emphasizes the idea that if you tell the universe exactly what it is you want, and you just believe it, without worrying about HOW it will happen, the universe will conspire to make it happen for you. With that being said, if you were to take this modeling thing to where you really want it to go, what would you want to see come out of it? Maybe this is your chance to put it out there- to tell the universe what you want from it.

I would love to be a part of the international runway shows as well as different commercials and movies! Hopefully, my time will come and someone will take interest in me to help me get there. Patience is a virtue, so I don't let the fact that people I know are getting shots and having their careers take off, while I haven’t gotten to where I want to yet with this. But I’m enjoying what I’m doing right now, and I'll remain positive and stay ready!

Is there something else, either connected to modeling or even separate from it, that you are hoping to achieve? I mean, I know that modeling wasn't the career that you first trained in or what you originally expected you'd be doing, so what are your other aspirations now?

I would love to explore acting as it coincides with modeling, but my main goal was to play basketball. I'm 6'3 and was referred to as ‘a basketball player in a football player’s body,’ but I'm too delicate for that right now. I have a cist in my leg which hinders me from playing sports other than for fun, so modeling fits with what I want and can do right now. I'm still in search of what makes me happy, so I'm just living life and enjoying my loved ones.

What advice would you give to someone else who is interested in modeling but doesn't know much about what it entails besides what they see in magazines and on TV? Are there any pros and cons that stand out to you?

Modeling has allowed me to visit places I didn't have the means to before. I've been invited to events that are considered those 'only for the elite or upscale’. Being able to attend these event, in turn, allowed me to network with all kinds of individuals I would never have met before. I've experienced and seen the good, bad, and ugly of the modeling world. Anyone who is interested in modeling should always do their research and protect themselves. I would say don’t be so trusting with people in the industry.

I'm just exploring a new found self and the hand that was dealt to me. There have been a lot of ups and downs throughout the journey, but even when I'm down, I will continue to get back up and strive for a better tomorrow.

Watch this video clip of Leon Williams
from James C. Lewis on Vimeo.

You can find Leon Williams on Twitter: @mystiquejudah

Photographs Courtesy of Noire3000 N3K Photo Studios

The Art of Love and Heavenly Magic

2011-10-19T19:52:00.000-07:00

Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-ye...ar-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:

Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away.
Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find. I am wherever there is love.
Love, God

Don't say you're too busy to forward this. Just go ahead and do it
By: Mark Castellano
By: Randy Cox

If You Can Speak, You Can Sing- by Spencer Welch

2011-09-22T19:08:00.000-07:00

If You Can Speak, You Can Sing

“If you can walk, you can dance. If you can speak, you sing.”- African proverb

I am often at parties or dinners where my profession comes up:

“And what do you do, Spencer?”

“I’m a vocal coach.”

(Well, let’s be truthful here...I’m not actually at a swanky party at all. I’m standing at US Customs and Immigration at Vancouver Airport begging them to let me into their country.)

Anyways, my response usually provokes a perplexed smile. “A vocal coach? Is that like teaching Scottish accents to actors? I saw this thing on Entertainment Tonight...”

“No, that’s a dialect coach. I teach people how to sing.”

This usually elicits a laugh from the border guard (not a good sign) at which point he dives into Story #1: he saw this guy on American Idol...and the guy thought he could sing...but he was terrible...and everybody laughed at him....and do people like that ever come in my studio and can I teach them to sing?

Or...Story #2: he sang in a choir when he was young...and someone said he was tone-deaf...and everyone moved to the other side of the room when he sang...and was he tone-deaf and could I teach him to sing? (Story #2, especially if accompanied by tears, is always a sign that things are looking up.)

My answer to both stories is always the same:
If you can speak, you can sing.

There is no one who is tone-deaf. (“Well, you haven’t heard my Aunt Clarice.”) Learning to sing is like learning to ride a bike...they are both learned coordinations. One just involves training smaller muscles.

If you have trouble singing, you just are untrained...that’s it. Many of us have bought the myth that singers are born. You can either sing or you can't, and that's it! As though God hands out voices like celestial “Duck, duck, goose.” “Here you go Stevie.. a-a-and Luther...and skip Spencer. There you go, Luciano.”

Great singers are born with an extraordinary sounding instrument, but they still have to train it. Some are able to self-teach to a point, but did you check the “Endorsements” page? Celebrities need coaches too, just like the rest of us!

A world-class voice is a combination of a great-sounding instrument, natural facility, quality vocal training, and a lot of perspiration. These are rare combinations which is why we celebrate them when they come along. But even if you aren’t destined to be the next Mariah Carey or Steve Perry, you can still improve what you have. You will love singing a lot more when it isn’t so darn frustrating.

At this point, I usually hand the border guard my business card, collect my passport, and make a mad dash to my plane. The guard calls out after me, “Thanks for the tip, mate!” in the worst Scottish accent I’ve ever heard.

- Spencer Welch, May 2007
Spencer Welch Vocal Studios

YouTube Presents An Interview With Taylor Swift

2011-09-22T18:17:00.001-07:00

Thanks for sending this Renee!

Words of Wisdom by Rumi...

2011-09-20T15:19:00.001-07:00

Thanks for posting this Shenpenn!

Love, Art and the Divine...

2011-08-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

India Arie is always expressing her gratitude and love towards God and the universe through her music and lyrics. I love what she says in "GRAINS" in particular (the Intro, Interlude, and Outro of her Love and Politics album) Check this out:

"I'm grateful that you never cease to amaze me,

the way you love me.

From the flicker of an eyelash, to the furthest star,

From the pyramids, to the beat of my heart.

From a woman in Somalia, to a child in Harlem,

we're created from the same thing.

I'm grateful that

you created me from the same grains,

from the same thing.

I'm grateful that

you never cease to amaze me,

the way you love me.

I'm grateful that

now I can see
that I am a part of everything

and everything is a part of me.

You're amazing."

-India Arie

Dance in Your Blood

2011-08-10T21:28:00.000-07:00

"Dance, when you're broken open.

Dance, if you've torn the bandage off.

Dance in the middle of the fighting.

Dance in your blood.

Dance, when you're perfectly free."

- Jelaluddin Rumi

How Many Times Will I Stand In The Way Of Myself? - by Christina Perri

2011-08-08T10:47:00.000-07:00

How Many Times Will I Stand In The Way Of Myself?

Posted By Christina Perri On July 25, 2011 (1:28 am) In Uncategorized

My job is to perform, write music, sing songs, love you, share, express, create, connect + shine. It’s a pretty rad job if I think about it that way… but most days I don’t. Do you ever think about the amazing parts of your job first? Sometimes all I want to think about is the bad stuff: the pressure, my voice, my stamina, traveling, missing my family, not having days off, not talking before + after shows, living out of a suitcase, flying southwest, eating bad rest stop food, losing a chapstick everyday, getting nervous, messing up notes, disconnecting…etc… etc… The problem is, the longer I make the list and the more I affirm all these parts of my life, the more prominent they become… and the more I manifest them into happening, ruling, winning and ultimately hurting my spirit. I’m just a little human filled with spirit that wants to share with you what’s been so freely given to me… light. Light is free. My light comes in the form of melody + music, and at the end of the day… I get to do this.

Tonight I had my 4th show of my 1st headlining tour… and something shifted tonight. I did all the same rituals that I’ve done every day so far…. I wake up + pray + meditate + drink a green raw food smoothie + I steam my throat + I warm my vocals up for 1 hour + I do yoga + I stretch + I close my mouth and stay silent until 2 hours before the show where I warm up again + I drink a special Chinese syrup + steam my throat + I pray again alone + with my band + then I walk on stage. Tonight was no different… except one minuscule moment – one extra exhale – one more thought. Tonight I was walking from the dressing room to the stage + I said to myself: “you’re enough, Christina, just the way you are.” Something happened – in that blip of a second… I moved out of my way. I was so caught up in doing so much + preparing everything I could possibly prepare, that I didn’t even notice the past 3 shows I had still been standing direc tly in front of myself, my freedom + my spirit. I finally moved over + let the magic happen– I let the light shine through me to you + back to me again + back to you + back to me + back to you. It was unforgettable. It was my most favorite show so far.

Tonight I grew into who I want to be. 100% me. Not good, not bad, just me. I had perfect notes + some flat notes. I had perfect hair + I had a big pimple. See, I’m a tough Italian girl from Philadelphia + couldn’t be more hard-headed sometimes… you can smack me in the face + I still won’t get it until I get it. Tonight I got it. Tonight I finally saw the only thing hurting me is me. The only roadblock to the dreams I’m dreaming are created by me. The fear that keeps me from connecting to you is birthed in the little parts of my mind made all by myself. So, how many of us are missing out on the magic, by thinking too hard about making the magic? Or how many of us are giving up on the right path because we run out of gas and turn back around when it’s hard? What if “hard” is only imaginary? And what if you’re just standing right in front of smooth sailing?

I think I realized tonight that in order to enjoy the present moment, the life I’ve been given, the job I’ve been granted + the opportunity I’ve been awarded highly depends on the little act of moving… the f*ck… out of… my. own. way.

Won’t you, please, join me?

Love,
Christina
# # #

Christina Perri is an awesome singer/songwriter and TDL really loves her. Check out her website here.

Article taken from The Daily Love - http://thedailylove.com

URL to article: http://thedailylove.com/how-many-times-will-i-stand-in-the-way-of-myself/

Stevie Wonderful

2011-07-20T22:45:00.000-07:00

"Heartache is inevitable in relationships." That's what a friend of mine wrote to me a few days ago, after feeling broken hearted over a girl who did not return the same feelings of love he offered her.

I could empathize, I could understand, and I could definitely relate to my friend's sentiments, but I refused to agree. Yes, some of my past relationships involved some sort of heartache: either because of mistrust, of jealousy, of simply growing apart, or it was just plain bad timing in general. And quite simply, this.... well, HURT- ...either both, or one of us.

And when relationships pile up like this, it can be exhausting, and discouraging and difficult to see anything but a connection between love and hurt. It can be difficult to keep believing in the dream relationships we once did. But I think these painful relationships are lessons that need to be learned in order to appreciate the ones that are pleasurable and "painfree", so to speak, the relationships that are still to come. Past relationships help us to learn about people, to learn about ourselves, to gain experience and insight into the workings of relationships, and to figure out what we want for ourselves and with another person... to teach us how strong we can be. And also when to admit to our weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

But there is a reason they are in the past.

If those relationships hurt, but were in the past and did not last, instead of concluding that ALL relationships involve pain and heartache, I believe that the ones that are the RIGHT ones that we can look forward to in the future.... well, simply.... don't. I mean, they don't hurt. How did we get to the point where we think that pain and love go hand in hand?

Don't get me wrong, I do think that relationships require effort, and are not easy in the sense that everything doesn't just come out perfectly every day, throughout the partnership. But associating heartache with loving, meaningful, relationships, as if all are destined to end in tragedy, is to me completely forgetting what is so beautiful about relationships in the first place.

How many more positive relationships would exist if we changed our thinking and learned from, and then let go of, those relationships that involved pain and heartache, and instead, believed in and looked for the kind that help us grow and heal and make us feel good about ourselves and the world around us?
-----------------------

"Stevie beautiful, Stevie powerful, Stevie spiritual, Stevie Wonderful. Stevie Wonderful." -India Arie in Wonderful- her tribue to Stevie Wonder

In my last entry, I wrote about one of my favorite singer/songwriters India Arie. One of her heroes and good friends is the legendary Stevie Wonder. In one of her concerts, Arie let the audience in on some of Stevie's insights into love. One day, when India Arie must have been going through a rough time over a guy, she confided in Stevie Wonder. "Even though the man is blind," explained India, "Stevie has this way of looking you right in the eyes when he wants to say something to you and ensure you're listening." So on this day, Stevie Wonder squared himself right in front of India, leaned his head towards her face so that he was looking straight at her, put one hand on each of her shoulders and said, "India, remember one thing: LOVE SHOULD NOT HURT."

They were just four simple words, but there was a silence that fell in that room for a few seconds, as the words of Stevie Wonder, words that rung truth, were shared by Arie. I thought, why is this concept such a novelty? Somewhere along the line, maybe because of tragic love stories, or sad romantic movies, or negative relationship experiences, people have brought all of the stories together to come to the conclusion that love hurts. Yes, it does, if it's the wrong kind of love. But I believe the right kind, just clicks. It's "easy", or easier in the sense that people communicate in it, they understand each other, and even when they don't agree, they resolve to listen, to express what their feeling, and simply be honest.

This kind of love, no matter how it ends, can only be healing, supportive, and freeing, not hurtful.

Stevie Wonder's insights on this, his influence on India Arie's life, as well as Arie's deep faith in God's love, rolls over into much of her lyrics. She sums up this healthy type of love, the kind that builds and nurtures and protects, in two of her songs on her Love and Politics album: He Heals Me, and Therapy. The lyrics are a reminder for us to get back to the dream that love, real love, is enjoyable, fun, freeing and involves happiness, that we don't have to hide from love because of the pain it causes, but be open to it, for the therapy and growth it provides.

He Heals Me

Therapy

(There is one kind of "pain" that I might be okay in accepting in love these days. John Mayer says it perfectly when he sings, "You look so good it hurts sometimes" in Your Body Is a Wonderland. Yah, I could gladly let that kind slide or sneak in to love sometimes :p)

Back to India

2011-07-12T15:24:00.000-07:00

"How could I live one day without music, how could I live one day without you? How could I live one day without music? You're always in my head..." - India Arie's "You're Always in My Head."

Some days, this emptiness, or 'something-is-kind-of-missing' feeling overcomes me. It's like a 'constant craving' for something, a thirst that no matter where I go or what I do, I just don't know how to quench.

At these times, I feel helpless, restless and a little lost, because I don't even know what it is I'm looking for. And then, something happens, sometimes it's just the smallest thing, that brings me back to myself, makes me feel more grounded, more like I belong, at least for a little while, anyway. And lately, this saving grace has been MUSIC. Actually, music has probably always been there for me, but more recently, I feel it, and hear it MORE- deeper, stronger, louder- inside me.

Maybe I just need it more now. And somehow, it has shown up for me in a way I never knew it could. In the last few days, especially, I have surrounded myself all over again with an amazing singer-songwriter who had a huge effect on me a couple of years back. I used to listen to her words, her voice, her messages every day, many times in a day, and each song, each line, even her breaths between the words spoke to me, as if she understood exactly what I was feeling or thinking. And nothing has changed in that respect.

India Arie, since I first discovered her, has filled my mind with new ways of thinking, new ideas- "strength, courage, and wisdom", as is the title of one of her tracks. And each time I connect with her in this way, I feel a little more found again, even now.

Every single one of India Arie's songs individually, touches a different part of me, a different emotion, memory, or thought. But her albums and concerts are also a work of art as a whole, in totality, because they are designed to take us through a kind of journey within. Arie begins and ends each CD and each concert in what she calls a prayer. These prayers, discretely woven into the fabric of the music, are in the form of a beautiful song, sometimes about love (she used "Ready For Love", in one), other times about history, some about racism, forgiveness (her cover of Don Henley's "Heart of the Matter"), and hope, and some simply about God and divine guidance. It's as if Arie is always reminding us that prayer, and God, are everywhere, all around us, and that they reach us in all kinds of forms. We just need to be open to them, to allow them in, and to take the time to see them.

This must be why, no matter where I am, or how lost I might feel, Arie's music grabs a hold of me in a way that assures me that things will be okay. I can feel it in her voice as she sings "This too shall pass". She means it, and believes it, and she makes me believe it too. Even though I may not know exactly where I am headed, I can be rest assured that there is someone or something looking after me; that I am "headed in the right direction".

Blue Miller, India's guitarist and co-lyricist, had an Aunt Pearl who had a dream that Blue was going to write a hit song called "Headed in the Right Direction." And when he told India this, she sat and worked on a song with that title, and turned it into one of the tracks on her album Voyage to India. Arie cleverly references the aunt in the line, "Now I've found my Pearl of wisdom, there's no need for me to be afraid."

Arie's music is never just about herself. She sings about family, friends, all races, places, and humanity in general. One of her songs celebrates the musical greats of the past. "This is in remembrance of our ancestors- Sam Cook and Marvin Gay and Donny Hathaway, and all that came before, you've opened up a door, 'cos of you, change gone come." She has praised Stevie Wonder for his "honesty of artistry", for being her "hero", for "touching her soul", in "Wonderful," her tribute to him. And many of her songs praise God -"God is Real," and the magical forms of expression He has created, especially the power of MUSIC.

In fact, Arie has a song that is simply about her love of Music, how she could not imagine living without it. She describes it as her "cool breeze on a summer's day, her river running through a desert plain, her shelter from the pouring rain, her comfort even before the pain." In this song, "Always in My Head," Arie describes how music is not just in a concert or symphony or band, but everywhere- "a tin can rolls across the gravel like a tambourine" It's all around us and she acknowledges how grateful she is for having a part in it: "If you were a shoulder, you're where I would rest, but I am your vessel, so I hear you in my head."

I was always fascinated by India's music, but it wasn't until I saw her in concert live a few years back that I really got hooked. India is not just a performer, she is truly an artist, an artist that shares herself so fully with her fans and audience. My friend Michelle and I attended that concert at the Commodore together, and it was so incredible that we had to go back a second time a year later when she was playing at the Orpheum.

From Arie's first note, I felt overwhelmed with such a rush of emotions. I wasn't feeling great that night, but her energy just brought me back to a sense of pure gratitude for the moment. I just knew I was exactly where I was meant to be at that time.

Not only was India so real and so open with her audience, just as she was in the previous concert, but she also brought her mom out onto the stage, to finish off the last piece of the night. Both of their voices resonated throughout that theater well after they walked off stage. And maybe that was part of the reason Michelle and I decided not to leave. I just wanted to hold on to all of it, and not let it go.

When everyone else was heading out of the aisles, up the stairs and out the doors, Michelle and I stood staring at the stage and just walking towards it. The security guards and ushers were trying to get people to leave, but somehow, they didn't push too hard for us to go.

It just seemed as if we were meant to stick around. And within a few minutes, India Arie's mom came back out on stage to pick up some of the flowing scarves that Arie had used throughout the concert. Michelle and I reached out our hands to her thanking her for the inspiring night.

The woman was humble, and sweet, just like any other mom. And then she did something that, well,... my own mother would do: as she bent down to pick up the last of the scarves, she said, "Why don't you come back stage and meet India?"

Her hand gestured for us to follow her, as if she was just casually inviting us over for tea or something. Michelle and I looked at each other with a combination of excitement and disbelief.

Of course, we were ready to follow. But, the next moment we looked up, Arie's mom was gone. She had left the stage before we could find out how we could get behind it. The security guards said we had to have passes, and we watched as girls were trying to sweet talk the guards, flirt with them, do anything they could do to get past them. But each one was turned down.

Michelle and I knew that wasn't even our style, anyway. So we just waited, near the backstage door, not really knowing what we were going to do.

Within minutes, the side door opened and someone slipped out of it. My back was towards him, but when I turned around, I recognized him to be none other than the amazing guitarist- Blue Miller. He was right behind me.

Us with Blue Miller- mean guitarist
and amazing lyricist

He smiled and said hi, and I told him how much I admired his songwriting. I knew Blue was responsible for many of the very poetic and profound lyrics throughout Arie's songs. And I felt so honored when he took the time to share some writing tips and inspiring words with me. He also seemed genuinely interested in Michelle's piano background and encouraged her to pursue her dreams with her music. He then told us about his Aunt Pearl's dream, and how Arie was so willing to just go with the idea for the song. And we got so caught up in the conversation with Blue that we kind of forgot about wanting to get back stage. He was so fascinating to listen to, and so down to earth. And he even ended up giving Michelle and I one of his autographed guitar picks each, which I still have, and will treasure forever.

Blue neeeded to get back stage, so we said bye, but just before he disappeared through the doors, I mentioned how the reason we ended up sticking around for so long was because Arie's mom had invited us backstage to meet India. "Well, if India's mom said you could come back here, then you should listen to the woman. Come on in! You can be my guests," said Blue with a hardy grin. And just like that, he held the door open to us, and Michelle and I followed him backstage.

We talked with Blue a little more, and met some of the members of the opening artist's group- the Raphael Saadiq band. And then, I saw her. India Arie was within a few steps of us, and was heading our way.

I think Michelle was calm and smiling, and told her what a pleasure it was to meet her, whereas, I couldn't get a word out for the first few seconds. I didn't want to say something stupid. And then out came the words, "I play your music in my car, when I get up, throughout the day and I even sleep to it. You're amazing. Who needs self-help books when you've got India Arie."

India Arie, Mishee and I

Arie laughed and smiled, and said thank you. And let me tell you, she is just as beautiful and glowing and soothing in person as her words and voice are up on stage.

Michelle and I got a picture with her, and one with Blue. And after talking to some of Raphael Saadiq's crew, Michelle and I ended up going out to dancing with one of the musicians and his friend later that night.

The memories of that incredible experience have come flooding back to me in the last few days, because I decided to turn back to India and Blue's words for lessons, learning, inspiration and guidance once again. Listening to their music after so long, I appreciate it even more, the way it helps me grow and dream again.

And I have come to think that maybe the emptiness I thought I was feeling at times is more like a space...not a lack, but an opening, or room to grow. And this space means that I can always allow something new to come into it, just as Arie's music opens me up to new ways of feeling and seeing. After all, you have to make space if you are wanting something to come into your life. "I want to live with an open heart," sings Arie in one of her interludes.

And she does just that, with thousands of people around the world. She shares not only her joy and love, but also her pain and heartache.

And so, I've resolved to accept this feeling of being lost sometimes, not as a negative, but as a blessing... something mysterious, and unknown, but something necessary and beautiful at the same time. An opening of the heart.

Because, as India Arie sings, "...now that I've opened up my heart I know that anything I want can be. So let it be."

Just let it be.
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Some of my favorite India Arie tracks:
He Heals Me; Therapy; Wonderful- A tribute to Stevie Wonder; Always in My Head; Beautiful Surprise; The Truth (he is); Strength, Courage and Wisdom; Little Things (I love this video); Ready for Love (beautiful video); India's Song; I Am Not My Hair- feat. Akon; I Am Not My Hair- feat. Pink (just found this one!); Slow Down

Rain Dance!

2011-06-21T17:26:00.000-07:00

Saw this sign on a beautiful crafted plaque at a little stationery store today: "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain."

And I posted it to facebook, and then got a message back with this "Dancing in the Rain" video that just made my day. Thanks Graham!

Now that's the way to enjoy the rain, to enjoy the day, to enjoy life!

Two Realities

2011-04-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

"The realist sees reality as concrete.

The optimist sees reality as clay."
- Robert Brault

Manuel Dos Santos!

2011-04-10T04:07:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh.... so insane! I love it!

Imagination

2011-03-29T20:51:00.000-07:00

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”- Albert Einstein

Loving and Living Passionately

2011-03-29T19:57:00.000-07:00

"Those who live passionately teach us how to love.
Those who love passionately teach us how to live."
-Sarah Ban Breathnach

The Brain Bang

2011-03-06T15:01:00.000-08:00

Thanks for sending this, Jimmy!

Krumpin Kids- This is out of this world!

2011-02-20T00:23:00.000-08:00

Divine Inspiration

2011-02-06T22:22:00.000-08:00

"In your light I learn how to love.

In your beauty, how to make poems.

You dance inside my chest, where no one sees you,

but sometimes I do,

and that light becomes this art."

- Rumi

Dance for Hope... featuring Jimmy Sojan

2011-01-04T11:57:00.001-08:00

Little Things- by India Arie

2010-11-11T17:52:00.000-08:00

"...Been around the whole world, still ain't seen
Nothin' like my neighborhood
And of all the fancy satin and silk
My white cotton feels so good

Searched high and low for a place
Where I can lay my burdens down
Ain't nothin' in the whole wide world
Like the peace that I have found

(It's the little things) It's the little things
And the joy they bring
(The little things) It's the little things
And joy they bring

As simple as a phone call just to make it known
That you're gonna be a little late
Pure as a kiss on a cheek in a word
That everything will be okay

Call in the mornin' from my little sister
Singin' to me, "Happy Birthday"
In the quest for fortune and fame
Don't forget about the simple things

(It's the little things) It's the little things
And the joy they bring, yeah
(The little things) It's the little things
And joy

Give me some good food, give me cute shoes
Give me some piece of mind
Bring me some sunshine, bring me some blue sky

Runnin' 'round in circles, lost my focus
Lost sight of my goal
I do this for the love of music
Not for the glitter and gold

Got everything that I pray for
Even a little more
When I ask to learn humility
This is what I was told

(It's the little things) It's the little things
And the joy they bring, it's the little things
(The little things) It's the little things
Oh...hee...

Give me my guitar, give me a bright star
Give me some good news, give me some cute shoes
Give me Atlanta, give me Savannah
give me my peace of mind

Give me some Stevie, give me some Donny
Give me my daddy, give me my mommy
Pour me some sweet tea, spoonful of honey
I don't need no Hollywood..."

Pure Whizdumb.... That's All I Gots To Say!

2010-11-05T23:34:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhh! My friend Justin does it again! ....Gives me goooooooseebumps with his words... spitting truth, poetry, passion...
This one about HOME is one of my favorites of his. You gotta watch this and then you'll see why he's also referred to as WHIZDUMB. You're freakin awesome, Justin!

What is A Dreamer?

2010-11-04T21:42:00.000-07:00

My brother gave me a card with this poem on it a few years ago. I still love referring back to it to remind me of the artist within, of how important dreams are, and how much power they have to motivate and move us.

"What is a Dreamer?

A dreamer looks beyond the limits of today to the possibilities of tomorrow, and sees what can be instead of settling for what is.

A dreamer imagines the most wonderful new things,and then finds a way to make them real.

A dreamer knows that stars were made to wish upon and that wishes do come true."

Art Enhancing Life...

2010-09-27T21:45:00.000-07:00

"No matter how brilliant we are, a life in the performing arts is not always possible. But a life enhanced by the performing arts is. We don't have to join Actors' Equity to explore the world of theater, dance, or opera as a passionate, personal pursuit. Either side of the footlights can illuminate your path toward authenticity. As the English poet Francis Bacon reminds us, in life's theater only God and the angels are permitted to be onlookers."- Sarah Ban Breathnach- August 25th- Simple Abundance

Art as Divine

2010-09-27T21:18:00.000-07:00

"...don't dismiss the visual arts until you've explored the possibility of letting your eyes and hands collaborate with your heart...
The painter Gwendolen John confessed, 'My religion is my art; for me, it's everything in life.' The visual arts may not be your religion, but they can surely deepen your awareness of Divinity."- Sarah Ban Breathnach- Simple Abundance- August 24th entry.

The Courage to Create- by Sarah Ban Breathnach

2010-09-26T14:35:00.001-07:00

I really needed these words today, and thought I would share them with you, just in case you also find them useful. They are excerpts from one of Breathnach's entries in her book Simple Abundance.

"August 14

The Courage to Create

No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.
No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader.
-Robert Frost

Perhaps one of the reasons we fear excavating our authentic selves or encountering the inner artist is because creativity seems too risky. We hear the word 'artist' and we associate the calling with dramatic, self-inflicted doom...
Why should this be so? ...

'Write the truest sentence you know,' Ernest Hemingway encourages the writer in you. ...But in order to be true to a creative work, the artist must journey to the center of the self. Past the conscious sentries in the brain, beyond the barbed wire barricades of the heart, into the trenches of 'truth or dare.' You can't write a true sentence or live authentically if you don't trust yourself. You can't trust yourself without courage.
But how? ...

By showing up. Day in, day out. By not judging how it's going. If it's going at all, that's enough. You can't afford to think about how the work will be received when you're finished. That's not your job. Remember, we're learning to surrender the delivery details of our dreams. Our job, then, is just to do it. It can't be published, produced, performed, or purchased if it doesn't exist.

Today it's time for authentic 'truth or dare.' Dare yourself to believe in your creativity, wherever it may lead you. Trust that where it leads is exactly where you're supposed to be. The word courage comes from the French word for the heart, coeur. Your authentic self knows where you're headed. Don't wrestle with Spirit. Collaborate with it."

Daniel Dayz's Cover of a John Mayer Tune- You're gonna love this!

2010-09-21T18:18:00.000-07:00

My friend Daniel Dayz is a phenomenal musician, vocalist and songwriter. Just check out his cover of the John Mayer track Dreaming With a Broken Heart and see/listen for yourself.

Wish you could tap into your creativity? Help is all around you...You just have to listen...

2010-08-11T20:44:00.000-07:00

I have been reading a few days ahead through one of my bible books- Simple Abundance, by Sarah Breathnach. And I couldn't help but to share a portion of her August 13th entry:

"...Many of us have unconsciously erected seemingly insurmountable barriers to protect ourselves from failing or succeeding. We may think we're protecting ourselves by ignoring or denying our creative impulses, but really all we're doing is burying our authentic selves alive. As you slowly learn to remove the rubble of the opinions and judgments of others (including your own internal censor) and exchange a limiting, toxic interpretation of a miserly, mean-spirited God for what Julia (Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way) calls the 'good, orderly direction' of a loving and supportive Great Creator, not only will you encounter the inner artist, but you'll come to respect your art as a personal form of worship.

'Once you accept that it is natural to create, you can begin to accept a second idea- that the Creator will hand you whatever you need for the project,' Julia reassures us. 'The minute you are willing to accept the help of this collaborator, you will see useful bits of help everywhere in your life. Be alert: there is a higher harmonic, adding to the augmenting your inner creative voice.'

Spirit speaks to you constantly throughout the day. You may experience a hunch, perk up at the suggestion of a friend, or follow an urge to try something new on a whim. Train your heart to listen. Today, adjust your spiritual satellite. Tune in to the higher harmonic frequency for help as you continue your authentic, artistic pilgrimage to Wholeness."

The Art of Pauses

2010-08-04T23:48:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, the art lies not just in what you create, but how you breathe in between.

"The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes - ah, that is where the art resides!"

~Artur Schnabel

How to Be Alone...

2010-08-04T14:14:00.000-07:00

I think every artist needs some alone time, and since I think we are all artists in some way or another, I think we all need to be alone sometimes. There is something magical about being alone, even though some people are not so comfortable with it.

But I have met some of the most amazing people and had some of the greatest experiences because I was alone. It's too bad that being alone often carries a stigma to it. Because being alone can develop creativity, peace, and new perspectives and can actually help people become more self confident and thus, find it easier to engage in experiences with others.

This video sheds some light on this idea. Thanks Keita for sharing it! I love it.

2010-07-21T18:29:00.000-07:00

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost."

- Martha Graham (dancer)

2010-07-19T23:54:00.001-07:00

"Whatever stops you from dreaming, whatever tries to stop you from living.... FLIP IT."

- Alicia Keys

Journey of a Dream

2010-07-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

Journey of a Dream is a story of a Tibetan refugee- Shenpenn Khymsar, who I met a few months ago. He has made the documentary himself, and has been working on it for the past three years. The movie infuses a variety of subjects into one life - heavy metal music, exile, Buddhism, and Tibet- all of which are obviously very dear to Shenpenn. I am always in admiration of people like Shenpenn who share their thoughts and experiences in such creative and compassionate ways.

Check out the trailer.

For more information on this documentary, go to http://www.journeyofadreammovie.com/

It will be showing at the Vancouver Film Festival! I can't wait to see it.

Success...

2010-06-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

"The thing I remember best about successful people I've met all through the years is their obvious delight in what they're doing... and it seems to have very little to do with worldy success. They just love what they're doing, and they love it in front of others."

-Fred Rogers

Whoah, Jimmy! ...How do you DO that?

2010-06-15T23:22:00.000-07:00

I met Jimmy at a friend's wedding in Boston a few years ago. I was so impressed by his dancing, and also by the way he and his older brother Jerry seemed to be each other's biggest fans. Their support and encouragement of each other gave the dancing even that much more signifance.

And so I was thrilled to get the chance to feature at least one of them on my blog. Here's Jimmy sharing some inspiring thoughts about what dancing means to him.

How old are you?

Jimmy: 17

What kind of dancing do you do and where did you learn to dance?
J: I mainly do hip hop with some breakdancing here and there. Last summer I took breakdancing lessons. But for the rest of it, I watch videos of my favorite dancers and try to get ideas from them.

What advice would you give to other young people who want to learn
to dance or improve their dancing?
My advice to other people is to just have fun with it. Dancing is all about what comes from your heart. From watching a lot of videos, I realize that everyone has their own style. Everyone is different and they have different levels of creativity which they use to make up different moves. I say find out what your own style is and work at it.

Who or what inspires you to keep dancing?
The person that inspires me to dance would be my brother. He was the one that used to be dancing all the time. I started imitating him and eventually worked on getting better myself. He stopped dancing but I kept on going. But whenever I need someone's input, I go to him because I know he'll tell me straight up what's wrong with it. He is really picky and points out everything, but that's what makes me get better.

Who do you look at for new moves or tips?
I watch videos of people like Lando Wilkins, Mike Song, and Philip Chbeeb for inspiration and for ideas for new moves.

Why dancing? Why do you do it? How does it make you feel?
Dancing is something that slowly became a part of me, I guess. I started it when I was young because I wanted to be just like my brother. Now I just dance and work on getting better to be like people like Lando and Mike. They are amazing. And I just love it. The only thing I regret is that sometimes, I find myself forgetting about dancing because I get so busy with other things. But I still dance around the house and I just bust a move if I feel real inspired.

What are your favorite artists or songs to dance to?
I don't really have a favorite artist or a type of music I specifically listen to. I listen to music for its beats, so if a song has a good beat to it and I feel it, then I just bust out and have to dance to it.

Jimmy Sojan doin' his dancin' thang:

NOW OR NEVER CREW

2010-06-15T14:05:00.000-07:00

Check these BBOYS out! Insane, insane, insane!

2010-06-12T12:38:00.000-07:00

"Master your instrument,
master the music,
and then
forget all that crap
and just play."
- Charlie Parker

History Of Hip Hop Tour- NYC

2010-06-07T13:23:00.001-07:00

I've never been much into tour groups or site-seeing when I visit a new city. I usually prefer to hang out with local people at local places, to a get a sense of what the city is really like. But I had to make an exception the first time I went to New York. A heading in a NYC brochure caught my eye: "History of Hip Hop Tour".

I was a little skeptical at first. I mean, how could anyone convey the history of this music and its culture through a simple bus ride in just a matter of a few hours, right?

But it ended up being one of the best things I've ever done during my travels. This tour was not just a bus ride, pointing out various sites. In fact, it didn't just appeal to our sense of sight. It engaged all the senses. And most memorable was the way in which it stirred up many emotions in me- a feeling of connection- to something in the past, but something so deeply embedded in the heart and soul of the city, something that gave the city an energy and vibe that you could still feel in the air, and in the atmosphere to this day: the culture, music and stories of hip hop.

And being given the opportunity to soak this all in made me feel like I was somehow a part of it myself.

Not only did our tour guides take us to major landmarks in Harlem and the Bronx that were key to the growth of hip hop, but we were given lots of insights into the origins of hip hop- the individuals who helped it evolve and who were passionate about it, as well as those, like many record companies, who thought it was just a fad and so were not as willing at first to sign on hip hop artists to their labels.

Along the way, we listened to artists such as James Brown and Grandmaster Flash, and were given interesting details into how these artists became so popular.

We were also taken to a barbeque chicken place where we got a chance to eat some good old southern food while listening to some of my favorite old school tunes.

I liked the way the tour touched on how society around that time influenced the attitude, style, and lyrics of hip hop music and musicians. For example, the civil rights movement had just taken place only a few decades earlier. And so some of the monuments we stopped at weren't just connected to hip hop but also to changes in attitudes towards other cultures and races. I still remember imprinting an image of the Theresa Hotel in my mind, as the tour guides pointed out that it was the first hotel where African Americans were allowed to stay in the 1940's. I tried to imagine what a huge impact this kind of shift had on the lives of the people at that time.

Grandmaster Caz, aka Grandmaster Casanova Fly (of the Coldbrush Brothers), was one of our guides. He used the four elements of Hip Hop- Grafitti Art, Emceeing, DJing and Bboying- as a framework for the information he shared with us and for the sites he took us to.

Frank E. Campbell's Funeral Home (where the service of Notorious Big, Alia and Celia Cruz took place), as well as the

Harlem World Entertainment Complex (a center spot for rap battles such as the classic one between Busy Bee and Kool Moe D) were just two of the stops we made.

And of course, we spent some time around 125th Street, the Mecca of Harlem- and the home of the Apollo Theater.

But my favorite stop was at the Grafitti Hall of Fame. The wall is truly a work of art in its richness of colour, its wild, yet detailed images, and an energy- lively, flowing, but also raw and full of stories. I felt as if there was so much in each image, as if each line and shape told much more than just how talented these artists were.

One section of the wall, in particular, includes the faces of hip hop artists such as Two Pac and Biggy Small. In honoring such artists in this way, the wall serves as a reminder that hip hop was made up of more than just music. It was a culture, a family and even a lifestyle for many of those artists and their fans.

Halfway through the trip, we were told that we were going to have a surprise guest on the bus ride back with us. I couldn't believe it when Kurtis Blow ended up sitting right next to us. I had to include the picture of him and Caz and I here, not just to prove it to you, but also because sometimes, I still can't believe it myself.

But yes, Kurtis Blow joined us on the way back. He even gave me some advice on how I could support hip hop in my classroom without having to simultaneously deal with the stereotypical swearing and gangster persona that often comes with some of the newer hip hop music.

He gave me some suggestions of hip hop artists who would be good role models for youth, and it was great to hear some of his stories about the hip hop world, straight from someone who was really there to experience it.

Maybe I didn't come back from that first trip to New York telling friends what the Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty was like (Don't worry, I eventually went back and visited those sites). But I was so excited to share what I learned on this tour with my students.

And I will never forget being able to walk along the same pavement and being surrounded by some of the same monuments, streets and walls in which hip hop grew up.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some cool hip hop facts brought up on the tour:

DJ Kool Herc, from Jamaica, played the beat part of the song The Breaks.
Grandmaster Flash decided that the breaks in music were too short so he got two of the same records and cut the break going back and forth between the two records. That was how turn tabling got started.
DJ Theodore- got as good as Flash on the turntables and Theodore was the first to scratch records. He was only thirteen years old at the time. Supposedly, his mom came in ranting at him for being out and making so much noise, and he was holding the record down on the turntable to listen to her. He liked the sound that the "hold" made, and that's how scratching got started.
Enjoy Records- The record label that Flash got signed to.
1979- First rap record to make an impact- Sugar Hill Records- Rapper's Delight.
The first rap record ever to be made was Kim Tim the 3rd.
First hip hop artist that was signed to a major record label was Kurtis Blow. - Polygram Records.
The first rap record to go gold- The Breaks
First female rap group to make a record- The Sequence - on the Sugar Hill Label.
Funk You Up was the song (Angie Stone- member of The Sequence- used to be called Angie B).
Angie Stone was married to Lil Rodney C (Rodney Stone) of the Funky Four Plus One More.
The first female in a hip hop group- Sha Rock (Sharon Green) in the Funky Four Plus One More.
The first female emcee- solo emcee- Emcee Pebblee Poo- emceed for DJ Kool Herc.
Rucker Park- EBC-a basketball court in NYC, Harlem. It is sponsored by hip hop artists.
Ghostwriters exist in the rapping world as well as in the regular writing world. Ghostwriters are writers who write another rapper's lyrics without others knowing about it. Grandmaster Caz was Casinova Fly and was the ghostwriter for Big Bad Hank (of the Sugar Hill Gang).
Wild Style was the first hip hop movie filmed.
The Rocksteady Crew in Flashdance - the first time hip hop artists were featured in a movie bboying.
The blackout of 1977- lights went out all over the city. After the blackout, there were Djs all over the city because of looting- people had broken into electronics shops and stolen recrods. That "allowed" those who couldn't afford to be dj's before, to be dj's. Some say that the blackout was "God's gift to the poor people."
KRS1, Red Alert, and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were elected to the Bronx Walk of Fame.

*Note: I have not gotten a chance to look into all the details of these facts I've shared. So if any of them need correcting or if you have any comments, please feel free to let me know. I would love to get some feedback. You can even add some more to the list if you feel like it.

** Hip hop music had its roots way farther back than some of the dates recorded above. But most of the information above is related to the era of commercially released hip hop.

Authentic Art- The Truth- by India Arie

2010-06-02T13:14:00.001-07:00

I love art that comes from, and speaks of, authenticity. "You know what they say- What comes from the heart goes to the heart."- Eduardo Verestegui (actor).
Touching its audiences on a deeper level, art that comes from the heart can often have such long lasting effects on its audiences.

This is one of the main reasons I am a huge fan of India Arie and her music. She speaks her truth in her lyrics, and she recognizes universal truths in other people's songs as well. Even in her concerts, she tries to interact with her audiences, to remind us that we are all one, that we all go through the same real experiences in life, whether we are famous, or not. All her songs reflect her desire to keep things real.

Here's one of my favorite songs of hers about authenticity in relationships. It is simply called The Truth.

The Art of COMpassion.

2010-05-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I forget that poetry and art are not just found in written words, or iambic pentameters, or on canvasses or on stages in front of audiences. Sometimes, art can be seen in silences, in pauses, in kind gestures from one person to another, and simply in our daily lives... moments that surprise us but stay with us in our hearts, their memories keeping us smiling, for a long time. I forget that until something reminds me of it like the incident that took place on Monday evening.

I was heading out and was a little tired. And it took me a bit of time to get myself ready, and motivated to go out. I thought I finally had everything I needed. But as I was driving away from my place, I realized I had forgotten to get an address and directions. I didn't want to go back home. So instead, I stopped off at a nearby gas station.

I was going to ask the cashier for some help, and a guy next to me in line looked over at me and said "hello." I barely too notice of him except that his arm was in a sling and he was probably around my age or slightly older. But now, when I think back to that moment, I realize that he looked me in the eyes when he spoke, whereas I probably brushed him off with a quick "hi" as I noticed some map books at the back of the store.

As I flipped through the book to find a particular street, I hear the guy with the sling say in my direction, "You got yourself a $10 000 gold winner there!"

I had no idea what he was talking about, and thought that maybe he was drunk or... But as he opened the door to leave the store, he yelled out to the cashier, "Make sure you give it to her!"

I walked towards the cashier and he pointed to a lottery ticket on the counter and said, "This is yours."

I guess by the confused look on my face, he realized that I didn't know what had just happened so he asked, "Do you know him?" And I told him I didn't. I scratched the ticket, and it turned out to be a winner- a two dollar win. It may not have been ten thousand dollars, but I smiled as I played back what had just happened in my head. I couldn't believe that an absolute stranger left me with a possible big win, without wanting anything in return, and I think he sincerely wanted me to win, to just make me happy.

When I looked out the store windows, the guy who had bought me the ticket had just disappeared.

"You won two dollars," said the cashier. "Do you want the money or..." I guess he was asking if I wanted to play again with what I had won. But I decided to take the toonie. And I kept it with me that whole night, in my purse, separate from the other change I had. And I think I'll keep it with me for a long time, or at least until I find something worthy enough to use it on, someone to give it to.

Before I reached my final destination, I noticed a woman on the sidewalk near where I was driving and I rolled down my window to ask her for directions. She assured me I was close, and pointed me to the right block. She then showed me some jewelry she was selling. She said she was trying to get money together to attend her brother's funeral. Even if it was just a story that was made up, or she was planning to use the money for something else, I decided to believe her, believe in her, and have a little compassion towards this stranger, just as the guy at the gas station had for me.

So... I gave her some change and told her to keep her jewelry. And she said, "God bless you sister." That's what I wish for the guy in the sling. "God bless you, Mr. Stranger."

I thought about giving her the toonie, and even looked at it before I gave her some other change, but I decided against it. For some reason, I think I am meant to hang on to it just a little longer.

Holy Passion- Passion leads to authenticity.

2010-05-25T15:26:00.000-07:00

"...What we don't realize is that passion is the muse of authenticity. It's the primordial, pulsating energy that infuses all of life, the numinous presence made known with every beat of our hearts. Passion does not reveal herself only in clandestine, romantic, bodice-ripping cliches. Passion's nature is also cloaked in the deep, subtle, quiet, and committed: nursing a baby, planting a rose garder, preparing a special meal, caring for a loved one who is ill, remembering a friend's birthday, persevering in a dream. Every day offers us another opportunity to live passionate lives rather than passive ones, if we will bear witness to passion's immutable presence in the prosaic. If we will stop denying ourselves pleasure. If, as James Joyce's heroine Molly Bloom whispered, we can only learn to say '... and yes I said yes I will Yes.'

Passion is holy- a profound Mystery that transcends and transforms through rapture. We need to accept that a sacred fire burns within, whether we're comfortable with this truth or not. Passion is part of Real Life's package because we were created by Love, for Love, to Love. If we do not give outward expression to our passions, we will experience self-immolation- the spontaneous combustion of our souls.

Did you know that both the Koran, the sacred book of Islam, and the Jewish Talmud teach that we will be called to account for every permissible pleasure life offered us but which we refused to enjoy while on earth? Dorothy L. Sayers, the deeply spiritual English writer, believed, 'The only sin passion can commit is to be joyless.'

Go now. Depart in peace and sin no more."

from Simple Abundance- by Sarah Ban Breathnach in her entry for May 25

Glitter in the Air by Pink

2010-05-17T23:30:00.001-07:00

When I saw this, I thought,"Wow! Now this is art in motion, in so many ways." Pink literally turns herself into the Glitter in the Air that she sings about. The music is so fluid, the lyrics are so poetic and MOVING, and the beautiful acrobatics-the lines, the grace, the choreography- all in sync with the song. Just watch this short clip all the way to the end yourself, because I'm already giving too much away. It's worth the watch!

(Of course, I loved that India Arie was part of the line up of audience celebrities who were zoomed in on during the standing ovation)

2010-05-11T22:22:00.000-07:00

"Imagination ... is but another name for absolute power, ... clearest insight, amplitude of mind, And Reason in her most exalted mood."

-William Wordsworth

Branch Out With Elizabeth Helene Roy- dancer, pilates instructor and creative thinker

2010-05-01T20:44:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth-Helene and I met a couple of years ago on the dance floor, literally. We were at a salsa club and she came up and asked me if I wanted to dance. I said yes, but was unsure what to expect. I quickly found out that not only could that girl move, but her skills as a lead on the dance floor were pretty impressive! Since then, I’ve gotten to know Elizabeth-Helene not only as a fellow dancer but as a good friend. She is a great source of inspiration and possesses a positive, insightful and soulful outlook on life. I couldn’t help but to smile when I realized recently that this interview began and ended, unplanned, with the image of a tree. The way the interview just organically came around to create a beautiful, fluid whole from beginning to end is just so fitting for Elizabeth-Helene in many ways. Her free spirit and courage to allow things to just happen as they should is admirable.

Tasleem: Many salsa dancers see each other regularly at various dance venues, and we may know a little about each other’s dance styles. But we don’t always get to know each other off of the dance floor. I have had the pleasure of finding out more about you over the past couple of years, and you are one of the most creative people I know. I hope that through this interview, I can share a little of you with others, because those who haven't gotten to know you don't know what they're missing!

Elizabeth-Helene: Thank you. That’s a beautiful comment.

Even just rereading your blog today gave me goose bumps. I love the title of it- Tap into the Sap. You’ve described it so mysteriously as “ nothing and everything.” And I’m so intrigued by the word “sap” because you’ve commented that “you have to know what the sap is in order to tap into it”. Can you give us at least a little hint of what that means?

So you want to know how to tap into it without even getting to know it? (laughs)

Yes. I know, I know (laughs). But after telling you what the word “sap” conjures up for me, I didn’t get a chance to ask you what it means to you, why you chose “sap” in particular.

I was looking for a word that would include the idea of energy, that would include Kundalini, as it’s called in yoga , or the power source. In Pilates, we refer to it as the core, or being centered. I wanted a word that would summarize the belief of connecting to your source- your source of power-physically, or source of energy-spiritually, or the spirit itself.

And I thought sap what would be a good word that would be so Canadian. (laughs).

(Laughs)- Oh, that’s brilliant.

Well, I’m not Indian, so I couldn’t go with Kundalini. And I wasn’t born with Sanskrit. And some of the other words come from other heritages as well. So I thought what is a word I really understand or fits my Canadian background? And I thought of the maple leaf on our flag and the maple tree. And the sap that flows through the maple tree.

So I went with that. And it worked because I could really see the body in this image- from our feet- the root, all the way to the top of the head, the crown- leaves. And then our torso, our spine, is like the trunk- it’s all connected with the sap going through IT. So it kind of brought the center spine image forth, which is important in Pilates. It brought the center liquid of energy, of the Kundalini, into the image.

So the Tap into the Sap class that I’m teaching is everything that I feel helped me and will hopefully help you (or the client), to connect to that. It involves a lot of spinal movement, a lot of fluid movement, a lot of centering movement in order to have a better flow of that energy. And only when you have done these movements and you KNOW what that sap really means will you be able to tap into it.

I later went online and saw the title used by an event at a Maple Syrup Shack. And I thought, “Oh, it’s taken. I like to be unique.” But it was used in a different context. So I went ahead and said, “That sounds good. That’s EXACTLY what I mean.”

So you mentioned movement and the spine. You were dancing and doing a lot of physical activity from a very young age. Was there some influence in your life that allowed you to feel the importance of that movement and have that passion for it?

I guess the passion for movement came very early because my dad loved to dance. And he was a good dancer. And the story goes that he was winning a lot of contests in cha cha dancing, and rock and roll, when he was about eighteen or twenty. It was in a small town, we’re not talking internationally. But I guess that’s where I got that interest. And my parents met dancing.

I didn’t know that.

Yes. I think that might have been their first date. And still to this day, they’ll go dancing. But even at a young age, I wanted to put dance together. I remember at eight years old, I had this little routine with umbrellas. It was put together with two other girls. And probably around a year later, we had a little gymnastics fitness dance routine. And I did gymnastics and I did dance classes in high school. And I guess I just loved to move. I couldn’t stand still. I needed to move. And I felt dancing was just the freest expression. And those were the days where there were no inhibitions too.

And how did Pilates help you with movement and dancing?

I was not aware of my body when I was younger. I was all over the place. I don’t like rules, so I’ve never been good at doing a type of dance like ballet or ballroom that is very strict. And I didn’t have body awareness. I just wanted to be free.

But the spine and body awareness came about when I started Pilates. I was in university studying dance, and in my second year, I had a body awareness, or anatomy class. It used Pilates to teach anatomy. And one of Joseph Pilates’ (the founder of Pilates) catch lines was “You are as old as your spine.”

I like that, very interesting.

His whole work is about flexibility of your spine through body awareness; moving it but also knowing HOW to move it. And so that was a key moment when I realized how to move my spine. It moved before, but I did not move it well. It’s easy to just dance limbs, not spine.

When Joseph Pilates opened his studio in New York, I think it was just above or below a dance studio. So every injured dancer would just go up to his studio because it was right there, so accessible. And Joseph Pilates knew about anatomy, so they felt safe with him. He knew body movement, how it works, and he knew how to modify his work to each student’s injuries. And dancers became not only more flexible because of his work, but also stronger. They were able to strengthen their cores through Pilates. And Pilates also had a lot of the eastern philosophy associated with it. And artists like that. They usually like to explore different ways to know their body, to know the world. So I think a dance connection was there right from the start. And a lot of dancers do Pilates now. It helps them to strengthen their bodies, but also to be safe, to move safely, and to prevent injuries.

Pilates helped me to be more grounded. It helped me to know my space, to know anatomy at a deeper level. And that was just the beginning of it for me. Because now, fifteen years later, it has led me to just be completely fascinated by the body itself, the mechanics of the body, and the importance of being aware of my body. It helps with the dancing, for sure.

That idea of being fascinated by the workings of the body reminds me of some of the quotes you have on your blog. In particular, the idea that your body has its own intuition and ability to heal is so interesting to me. The lines that stand out to me are the ones you quoted from the book The Pregnant Virgin: “Your body has a wisdom of its own,” and “dropping the mind into the body” is important. Can you explain this further?

I should mention that the book Angel Tech also talks about the wisdom of the body. It says that the body will literally just make itself heard, will bend over backwards, will scream loud to when it is in pain or discomfort. But if the mind is too busy, and just running around, and not sure what to do, so focused on worry and fear, it does not listen to the body.

But yes, as the quote you mentioned says, your body has wisdom, and usually, when we feel pain, it’s the body communicating something. This is our body, but it has its own identity, in a way. So if it’s just being dragged around like a pet, and never been heard, it’s going to start screaming. You have to listen to it. Pilates helped me gain knowledge of my body, the breath helped me calm down, and the DEEP breath, that I’m trying to share now with those interested, helped me get access to that sap, to be in touch with that body of wisdom and to learn how to listen to my body.

I remember the first time that I read your bio. And I was so inspired or maybe even envious that you did a BFA in dance. What were the classes like? Can you describe how the program was set up?

The program that was at Concordia in Montreal was to generate students that would become contemporary choreographers. Every morning, we’d have two- hour ballet and modern technique classes. That was for the three years. It was just like when a business student goes to an accounting class, or management class, except we went to technique class. And we did that for credits towards the diploma (laughs).

I would have loved that (laughs).

One class called Creative Process involved creative thinking, or creative choreographing. It taught us how to see movement, seeing different levels in dance- down low, or high. And it also taught us how to play with movement- being sure that a piece is balanced, making sure there’s speed and stillness in it. We learned how costumes and music affect dance pieces, and the different effects that using popular music versus jazz, versus sound effects would have.

And that was a gift to all the choreographies that I’ve done since then. Because then I wanted to be sure they all had all those components.

Another class was about the history of dance, and we also went to see shows and were expected to report back on them in class. That was to ensure we were getting creative ideas from other sources and exploring. Because when you’re able to critique another person’s dance, then you’re able to critique your OWN dance. If you’re able to see the aspects you like and don’t like then you can incorporate that in your own dances.

Another part of the program was theater management or dance management- how to own a dance company, as well as business management skills. Some of this was added with other arts, because it was a Fine Arts program, so we did some theater, we did some music, some drawing.

And I did a minor in Education.

How much did the minor in Education contribute to your skills as a teacher?

Well, it was only a minor so it didn’t have a practical part to it. But it did give me a better understanding of people and psychology. So that was helpful.

But I think teaching is almost a personality. You have to be able to observe. I have to be able to just look at the students, instead of focusing on me, me, me. And that’s the difference between performance – which is about me, and showing me to the world, compared to teaching. When you teach, it’s about them (the students), and the world coming to them. You find and learn ways to bring the art and skills to them.
And maybe I got some teaching skills from my mother. She was a teacher. And then when I started teaching Pilates, I had to go through a teacher training program- five hundred hours of just practical teaching. That helped a lot.

You’ve been teaching some breath work classes recently. Why is breathing and learning HOW to breath effectively so important?

Breath seems to be the keyword of 2010, or at least that’s my prediction.

It has been important to me, especially in the last year. When I was taught a certain breath technique, it helped me to really reach a level of calmness, of centering, of grounding, of being; being in myself. And that’s what I’m trying to reproduce with my classes.

The breath is important, and has been in so many cultures. And that curiosity to know about the breath opened me to a whole new world. And yes, there’s the everyday breath. If we don’t breath, we die. And that’s the common knowledge.

But if you start looking at it further, it’s really fascinating. You breathe in- oxygen O2, and you breathe out CO2, and the plant does the reverse. If you have that knowledge, and really think about it, you start realizing oh, okay, we have this sharing thing going on now (smiles). It’s kind of like teamwork.

Is that why all my plants were dying, because I wasn’t breathing properly? (laughs)

(laughs) You weren’t giving them any food? See! CO2.

But that’s kind of interesting knowledge. The breath that I teach is a very complete breath (She breathes in deeply), really stretching the rib cage. And it takes an awareness of your body, of your ribs. It takes a mixture of work to do that. You cannot think about the groceries you have to get, or the errands you have to run. You have to be (takes a very deep breath in through her nose) thinking about it- the breath only. You have to be in the now. You have to be calm, you have to be centered. You have to just be body aware. And that changes your brain waves from beta brain waves running around you - cell phones ringing, traffic, and demands of society- to alpha brain waves. And then you just breathe.

And it’s important to match this practice with knowledge of how breath doesn’t just help you, but it helps the workings of the entire world. Think about this- the universe is made up of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen. And that makes up pretty much everything in the whole universe. Everything is built from four ingredients. So when you breathe in oxygen from the air, that same ingredient- oxygen- is in the water- H2O. It’s in the crust of the earth, in CO2. So basically, in that little breath (She takes another deep breath in) you’re breathing in the four ingredients of life. And that on its own is energizing. And it connects you to your sap. So you can tap into it just by (takes in another deep breath) breathing in, taking in the whole universe with that breath. And just the thought of it, well, you have food right there (smiles). That’s why after doing a breath session, you feel clear, you feel calm, you feel (takes in another deep breath) satisfied. The body has been FED with purest, of purest energy.

You cannot get better than that.

That's a beautiful way of looking at it and it gives each breath much more significance and purpose to the world.

I enjoyed watching the videos you showed me of your past performances. And I'm sorry I missed the recent performance of your contemporary piece. It incorporated quite a few different skills- dancing, stage directing, costumes, choreography. How did you feel about getting into it again after so long?

It was a great opportunity. At first, I said I’ll do a little salsa or something. But then I thought, maybe I’ll do what I trained in- contemporary dance, or something within those lines. I like originality, and being informative through movement and performance. So I started to study dance again, to prepare for this piece. I read about George Gurdjieff, because his ideas were of particular interest to me. He worked on dance movement and described dance like books. He presented dance pieces and each movement as a page of a book (smiles). Each movement, each page, had meaning to it. It was a nice way to share information.

How do you create a dance piece from scratch? Do you start with one movement and add to it? Or are you picturing the actual space you’re using for it?

I guess every person that creates has their own setup. For me, I look at the big picture. And I think globally, what the idea is from beginning to end, what is going to happen. Then depending on the text for that piece, I have sections. Each section has a meaning. So that’s how I went about creating this last performance. I think about what that particular part is about. And then I decide what would reflect that section. So I try to find mudras, shapes of the body, ways of moving, and details to fit that part. Even the direction I face has a meaning. But I work on how it flows and the depth in it too. And at the same time, I’m still working with the levels, and working with the space, and working with speed, energy and all those aspects of choreography that I studied in university.

It was very well put together. Your lines and expression and the range of movements were really captivating.

Thank you

As I said before, you are such a creativite person and you and your ideas inspire me a lot. But I’m wondering who inspires you. If you could interview or talk to anyone in the world, who would you choose and why?

You mean besides Keanu Reeves? (laughs) Actually, I’m sure he knows a lot. I would probably talk Buddhism with spirituality and energy with him.

But I’d love to talk to the author Paulo Coelho for sure. He seems like a fascinating person. I’ve read so many of his books and he writes in a way that I can completely relate to what he’s saying. He has such a great understanding of people.

Actually, if you look at his soft cover books, there’s an image of tree that he includes on the back pages. On each branch, he shows how each one of his books has a central theme for him. One might be about passion, another about patience. But when you see all of these themes put together on the tree, all the branches coming out of the same trunk, the same root, you see he has a plan. All of his books come together to create one total piece, a complete work. It’s fascinating.

(An afterthought- Coelho, with his wisdom and tree image- must be tapped into that sap that Helene was talking about. Perhaps that's why we connect so well to his writing)

For more information about Elizabeth Helene's classes as well as her current travels, check out http://www.tapintothesap.blogspot.com/

The Art of the Interview

2010-03-28T01:39:00.000-07:00

You Are An Artist- by Sarah Ban Breathnach

2010-02-07T22:52:00.000-08:00

January 8

You Are An Artist

Inside you there's an artist you don't know about... Say yes quickly, if you know, if you've known it from before the beginning of the universe.- Jalai Ud-din Rumi

Most of us feel uncomfortable thinking of ourselves as artists, but we are. We think artists write novels, paint pictures, choreograph ballets, act on Broadway, throw pots, shoot feature films, dress in black, drink absinthe, and line their eyes with kohl.

But each of us is an artist. An artist is merely someone with good listening skills who accesses the creative energy of the Universe to bring forth something on the material plane that wasn't here before. It was a part of Spirit before we could see it as a book, a painting, a ballet, a film.

So it is with creating an authentic life. With every choice, every day, you are creating a unique work of art. Something that only you can do. Something beautiful and ephemeral. The reason you were born was to leave your own indelible mark on your personal world. This is your authenticity.

Today, accept that you are creating a work of art by making big and little choices between playing it safe and risking. Is there something you' d like to do that's new and different? Why not order an expresso at lunch, if you've never tried one? Visit the perfume counter and try on new scents? Stick a small bottle of balsamic vinegar in the shopping cart to drizzle over melon? Switch the dial on the radio station and listen to country and western instead of classical as you drive home?

Each time you experience the new, you become receptive to inspiration. Each time you try something different, you let the Universe know you are listening. Trust your insincts. Believe your yearnings are blessings. Respect your creative urges. If you are willing to step out in faith and take a leap in the dark, you will discover that your choices are as authentic as you are. What is more, you will discover that your life is all it was meant to be: a joyous sonnet of thanksgiving."
- by Sarah Ban Breathnach in her book Simple Abundance

ELIZABETH GILBERT ON CREATIVITY

2009-12-04T18:53:00.000-08:00

The genius IN you versus YOU as genius... This is so great.

Miss Gilbert is not only an inspiring writer, but an amazing speaker.
This is definitely something for all of you creative people to check out.
But it might make some of your who think you "lack creativity" to
rethink yourself.

I like the part about a poem chasing the writer Ruth Stone.
The image of this poem passing through her, or Stone trying to catch
it, was priceless.

And did the word "olay" really come from "the word Allah"?
Listen to this, and you'll see what I'm referring to.

iMaGINAtioN

2009-10-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

"Imagination is more important than knowledge.

For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand."

"Logic will take you from A to B.

Imagination will take you everywhere."

- Albert Einstein

Art That Gives Me Goooooosebumppppps....

2009-09-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

Jeanine and Jason Dancing- Video
So You Think You Can Dance America 2009

Choreographer- Travis Wall

Song- If It Kills Me- by Jason Mraz

This one speaks for itself...

2009-09-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

Music Krazy,

Lenny Kravitz Krazy.

One of my favourites...

2009-09-18T01:51:00.001-07:00

"El que canta y baila su mal espanta."

Translation: He who sings and dances wards off all misfortune.

2009-09-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

"...love of art- be it poetry, storytelling, painting, sculpture, or music- enables people to transcend any barrier man has yet devised."

- Mary Ann Shaffer

- author of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

Rockin the Foundation

2009-08-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

"Please don't remind me. I love that night." That was the text I received from a friend after I messaged him to tell him I was heading to Nyala Restaurant for a spoken-word open mic night. Unfortunately, my friend couldn't make it, but boy, was I grateful that he had told me about it.

Before I even stepped into the restaurant, I was uhhh... escorted into the event... ? Actually, having parked on the opposite side of the street, I was too chicken to cross at night in the middle of Main Street. Luckily, someone else happened to be crossing at the same point too, so I joined him and he got me safely across. He introduced himself -Greg- when he realized we were heading for the same place. Greg is a member of the Foundation Radio family, the organization that runs the the open mic nights. "You're early," he said, "but relax and enjoy yourself." How could I not stay after such a warm welcome? So I took a seat at one of the tables and soaked up the surroundings.

African drums hung on one side of the restaurant, while two giraffe statues adorned the front stage. Rich, wine coloured walls and dark furniture added to the warmth of the atmosphere. I felt so at home in this place I had never been to. Though I had already eaten, I couldn't resist the appetizing menu. I savoured my lentil salad and pakoras (the mango chutney on the side was delicious!) while enjoying the beat of African rhythms in the background.

Assefa, the owner, came over to greet me and see how I was doing. Within minutes, we realized that we had a connection- my uncle Amyn who owned another African Restaurant, The Kilimanjaro, a few years back. It turns out that Assefa knew my uncle and aunt well. We both smiled. I wondered if he was marveling at how small the world is, just as I was.

As the tables were being rearranged, to set up for the performances, I decided to move closer to the front of the restaurant. I wanted to be sure I got a good view. And soon, more of the Foundation Radio crew came in. I met Rags, the creative director. He did some great DJing at the start of the night and MC'd for the rest. And then Justin, a.k.a. Whizdom (another member of Foundation Radio's family) showed up. I was impressed that he recognized me from a past poetry event we met briefly at months before.

I also couldn't help but to approach one of the DJ's that night, because let me tell you, those DJ's (DJ Hayze and DJ Direction, and Rags) rockkkkk! I was seriously having trouble staying still in my seat. Actually, I don't think I stopped bobbing my head or swaying my hips, especially when a whole slew of some of my favourite old-school RnB tunes were mixed, one into another: voices of artists like India Arie, Lucy Pearl and Lauryn Hill got the room thumping. And I think I even heard a little bit of Grandmaster Flash in there somewhere. But the ultimate was hearing Groove Theory's Tell Me. Wow! I haven't heard that song in ages. So many great tracks, so many great memories.

But I wasn't the only one feeling it. There were definitely many people grooving to the music in and out of their seats- mouthing the lyrics, shoulders rolling, feet tapping.

And the place filled up with people of all different cultures. The vibe was happening- so positive, creative, so open and inspiring. Outside, the streets were quiet and still. But inside the restaurant, we were surrounded by an inspiring buzz of energy as artists shared their words, their ideas, their thoughts and talents.

The night was called "Ladies' Night" because it was mostly female artists who went up on stage to express themselves in their chosen artform: music, poetry, spoken word, vocals. There was even a young woman playing classical piano close to the start of the night, as well as some artists improvising and jamming with people they had never played with before.

The richness of talent, of scope, of individuals spilling their hearts and minds out to the audience, gave me goosebumps. The voices, the clever juxtaposition of words, the pauses, the breaths and and even the silences all contributed to the night. And the audience was so supportive, so encouraging and so appreciative of the courage, charisma and creativity demonstrated by each performer.

There was even a guy right next to me, sketching the performers in front of him in his notebook, one artform simultaneously spurring on another.

"You could be anywhere tonight, but you chose here," Rags reminded us, at one point in the night. And when Risa, one of the vocalists added, "'There's a reason you're here," all I could think of in response was "Yes!"

Because that is exactly how I felt. I knew that I was where I was meant to be that night, surrounded by so much music and art and imagination. It was what I needed, and I didn't even know it until I was there. Each time I thought I would get up and leave, someone else said something that made me want to stay longer:

"I carry a piece of inner peace"- Risa (vocalist)
"Smile at a stranger on the street, Never know who I might meet."- Jessi Nicholson (vocalist)
"I want to be your everything without you compromising anything."- Whizdumb (poet)
"Get comfortable with being uncomfortable."- Randy of Quest Poetics (musician, artist, songwriter)

Those were just a few of the lines and lyrics that really spoke to me, messages from strangers who seemed to know me somehow, or at least seem to know what I needed to hear.

And when Jessi Nichol son's smooth, yet powerful voice rang throughout the room as she sang the words I Want My Freedom, I felt a sense of strength and liberty forming within myself.

But the performance that took me by surprise was of little Tomoko (a.k.a T-moke) and her couple of band members (Chapa is the name of one of them). This young woman appeared so soft and shy when she introduced her songs to the audience. But when she grabbed that mic, digging her heels into the floor, and putting what looked like her body and soul into Alicia's Key's If I Ain't Got You,...wow! I was taken aback by how passionate her voice became, how deeply she felt the song, and how she made us feel it along with her. It was truly amazing to see the transformation.

At the end of the night, the owner of the restaurant looked at me with a smile and said, "You're still here?" I was one of the first to arrive and one of the last to leave, and all I could say is, "When is the next one?"

Foundation Radio
- An evening of Rhythm, Poetry and Rhyme-

Every other Tuesday at Nyala African Cuisine
9pm-1am

4148 Main Street, Vancouver
http://www.foundationradio.ca/

"If You Wanna Be Startin Somethin, You Got to be Startin Somethin..." Thanks for starting something amazing, Michael!

2009-07-07T11:39:00.000-07:00

"I am a part of everything, and everything is a part of me. You're amazing."

- India Arie

June 25th, 2009. I will forever remember that date and the moment when I received a text from a friend telling me that Michael Jackson was presumed dead. I couldn't believe it. "But Michael Jackson isn't supposed to die," I found myself saying over and over again in my mind.

I kept a lot of what I was thinking to myself, because I was confused and embarrassed by how a person I wasn't even "close to" could have such an impact on me. I have never thought of myself as someone who is easily star struck, and I obviously didn't know the King of Pop personally. Besides attending his concert at Wembley Stadium many years ago with thousands of others, I have never been in his presence. But there was something so PRESENT about him, while he was alive. I could feel it, and so, at the news of his death, I also felt a great absence, a great loss. But I didn't know how to share it with anyone. Isn't it a little crazy to feel that way about a "stranger"?

At the same time, I couldn't believe he was really gone. I just thought MJ was invincible.
I mean, this is the same guy who blew people away as a young kid, from the outset of his career- "That little guy in the front is amazing!" said a commentator at one of the Jackson 5's first performances. And though Tito, Randy and the others were talented members of the group, we all know to which Jackson brother he was referring.

And as he grew both in age and popularity-the red leather jacket, the white socks in shiny black shoes, smooth sliding, fast moving feet, and that sparkly silver glove- were like magic. Everything about Michael and his movements were magical. I recently watched footage of the first time Michael did the moonwalk on stage in his outstanding Motown performance of Billy Jean. Even to this day, seeing that energy and power to command such awe from the audience still gives me goosebumps. Look at those feet go!:

Michael Jackson was a symbol of so much that is important to me- childhood, individuality, innovation, courage, charisma, ART at its best, old friendships, and a figure who had the power to cross all cultural boundaries. Even my mom, who only ever watches Hindi and Bollywood music videos, made an exception when Michael Jackson was on the screen. Videos like Thriller and Beat It seemed to have the power to make anyone stop and become totally captivated. The key ingredient?- Michael, of course.

No matter what age, race, religion or sexual orientation,... people all over the globe were amazed by Jackson and the new calibre of entertainment he brought not just to music but to the world of art in general. And every time it seemed impossible that he would be able to come up with something better, he would surprise us with an even more phenomenal move or song or video. "Michael Jackson was constantly driven to top himself," said Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, at Michael's memorial service.

Even the Mambo King- Mr. Eddie Torres- holds Michael Jackson up high, as an ultimate vision for dancers of all kinds, salsa or otherwise, to strive for: "He's no Michael Jackson, of course," he has said a few times of a great dancer, "but he's pretty good."

Michael Jackson was "Bad"(pun intended! lol!) in Beat It and Thriller, but also sweet and childlike in his love of Peter Pan, his excitement over the world of Disney, and his adoration of animals. His voice rang strong and loud on radios all around the world. But I believe his shy, gentle speaking voice was an intimation of his innocence, his desire to get back to his real self, away from the millions of fans and cameras; his desire to get back the childhood he missed out on.

"I never had a real childhood," admitted Michael on several occasions. What saddened me so much is that while it seemed Michael Jackson was so desperately trying to claim that childhood back, and struggled with it because of lost time and the way media distorted his behaviour, he was such a HUGE part of my upbringing, of my childhood.

I have great memories of dancing around in my livingroom to his music, being so excited to buy his next album, filling my walls with posters of him, and recording all his amazing videos. I think that I met many of my oldest friends because of him- we all shared a love of MJ. And anyone who was a fan of Michael Jackson's was all right by me. Their appreciation of him and his music connected me to people I don't think I would have otherwise connected to so easily.

You loosened me up, MJ. I think you were one of the first artists who spoke with a shy, soft voice, but was bold in his performance and creativity. It made me believe that I could overcome my shyness, that it wasn't a hindrance to my coming alive in front of an audience too. You taught me that we don't have to be loud and obnoxious to be a star or to be talented. You just have to be yourself. You gave new meaning to the word talent and inspiration to me. You opened up my mind to bigger and better dreams than I ever had before. And even if I was too shy to dance before... how ccould anyone NOT get up and dance when they heard your hits? You got hips moving, and booties shaking and bodies waving even when they didn't know they could!

Michael was often criticised for his plastic surgeries, questioned about his sexuality, and portrayed as a weirdo or a freak. But I believe that the media has a way of distorting reality in favour of drama for the public. And I think Michael's uniqueness and individuality made for an easy target, easy to exploit. There was just no one else out there like him. And I would have to have seen it or heard it from Michael himself to believe some of the accusations that were thrown at him.

A couple of my friends and I stumbled into Bar None the other night, unplanned after catching up at dinner in Yaletown. As soon as we walked in, I felt like time had rewound to our university days when all three of us would go clubbing, listening to those great RnB and Hip Hop tunes of the 80's and 90's. "I would be in tears if they played Michael Jackson right now," I said out loud. And what do you know?- Just minutes after we got on the dance floor, a couple of my all time favourite MJ hits- Rock With You, and Blame It On the Boogy -came on. Though I didn't cry, I think all three of us girls were feeling a little emotional- missing Michael, smiling at the great memories he brought us, and finally dancing our hearts out in celebration of our night out- made perfect by a few great MJ beats.

You will never be forgotten, Michael. I now realize that it doesn't matter whether I knew you personally. Some people were put on this earth to touch us even if from afar. It doesn't make you any less a part of me.

It was a privilege to be living during the time of such a legend. You will live on in my memory forever. I will keep pulling out those great Michael Jackson hits. May you rest in peace and be surrounded by the love and appreciation that you deserve.

"I'm grateful that now I can see, That I am a part of everything,

and everything is a part of me, You've amazed me."

- India Arie

Thunderous Applause for Thundering Word

2009-04-27T23:36:00.001-07:00

I still remember the first time I met Bill McNamara. His voice- so strong and jubilant- made me think, "This guy should be on radio, or an emcee or an actor or something." Well, it turns out I wasn't too far off. Bill is the host of Thundering Word, Vancouver's popular Sunday open mic nights, held at Cafe Montmartre. He also is an artist, a writer, and an actor.

It was through Bill that I got introduced to Wanda Nowicki, the co-host of Thundering Word. It was her voice that first captured my attention as well- smooth, jazzy vocals so soothing and mesmerizing. Like Bill, Wanda is a multi-talented artist. She is a singer and performer, and has worked in theater and modeling for a number of years.

What has impressed me the most however, is not just the voices behind these two individuals, but the words and thoughts they impart with those voices. Through their time and efforts at Thundering Word, Bill and Wanda have shown tremendous support for the arts and artists around them. They provide artists with a place to practise, develop, and share their art with a larger community. And I can say from personal experience that Thundering Word serves as a huge inspiration for artists of all kinds. It reminds us of the importance of art in shaping our lives, and gives value to all our voices.

How did Thundering Word get started and could you say a little bit about T-Paul, the founder of it?

Bill- T-Paul Ste. Marie was a poet, an actor, a writer, and artist- just a jack of all trades in the whole entertainment scene. He saw a need for an open mic that would be open to everybody, rather than so many open mics that are SPECIFIC to one type of art. Some open mics might be for blues music, or for comedy. But if you show up at a comedy open mic with a guitar, and tell them you want to sing a folk song, they’ll tell you to get out. T-Paul thought he would go the whole variety show route. He started it up and it took off right away. Plus, he was a very dynamic host. He was a guy with a BIG personality. And there are all kinds of T-Paul legendary stories around.

How long did he run Thundering Word?

Bill- He kept it going for six years. And then one night, my wife Diana and I were at the Cafe. And he was complaining of a headache all weekend. And then halfway through the show he said, “Bill, you gotta drive me home. I gotta lie down.”

We called an ambulance, got him into the hospital, and it turned out he had a brain aneurism. He had an operation and he was out of the hospital about three weeks later.

He started up Thundering Word again. And then it was exactly one year and one day later that he had another aneurism. It killed him in his home. He was forty one years old. It was a big loss to the community. It was also the best wake I have ever been to, anywhere, anytime. It was held in this beautiful loft. And there were people from every walk of life there – there were film directors, there were writers, there were actors, there were performers, singers, band members, all kinds. Everybody was there- poets and spoken word artists. It was just the most exhilarating wake. It spoke well to T-Paul. So Thundering Word sat dormant for a few months. People were constantly saying how much they missed it. But nobody was stepping forward to take up the reigns.

How did you and Wanda end up taking over?

At first, it didn’t seem like such a big deal to me. I thought, “This can’t be very hard.” And I’m not a real music expert, but Wanda is. So I talked to Wanda and said, “We should do this.” And I asked around the community and everybody said, “Yeah yeah. You SHOULD do this. YOU should do this… yeah.” And I found out later that I SHOULD do it because it’s a lot of work! (laughs)

Wanda- (laughs)

Bill- it was WAY more work than I anticipated.

But Wanda and I have been carrying it on pretty well for the last two years. So that’s eight years that Thundering Word has been going now- six under T-Paul, two under us. And it seems to get better all the time. I keep thinking that maybe I’m too close to judge that. But then people outside of it have come to us many times and said that it’s actually getting better and better every time. And they really like our audience. They really like our venue and the ambiance that’s created there. It’s a very welcoming atmosphere because we ARE open to everybody.

Did you both start out as audience members first, or did you know T-Paul personally before you found out about Thundering Word?

Wanda- I had only been there once, as an audience member, because Bill and Diana had brought me. When T-Paul was still alive, I only saw ONE Thundering Word show.

Bill- I had gone there quite a bit.

Wanda- You would perform, right (to Bill)? You used to be one of the “open-mic-ers”.

Bill- I was doing spoken word and poetry. And both of those things took place on nights OTHER than T-Paul’s Sundays. And so it was really great, especially with the poetry. I could go to Thundering Word on a Sunday night, practise a new poem, and get up and see if it worked. I could see what kind of reaction I would get from the audience. It also helps you in identifying weak areas. It’s a good place to tune up any of your new material, or if you wanted to revisit something you hadn’t done for a long time. For musicians it’s the same. Musicians like to come there and revisit some of their early work, their older songs. And they also like to try out new stuff there. It’s the perfect venue for that.

You have had some great features at Thundering Word, since I’ve been going there. Artists like Jack McCarthy and Barbara Adler. How do you go about finding the features? Do they approach you, or do you go and seek out particular artists?

Bill- We have pursued a few. But actually, about seventy percent come to us. For example, before Christmas, we wanted to sign up a couple of acts for 2009. We thought, it’s going to be our new year. We can figure out our spring lineup later. But right now, we should just get some people for late January, maybe February.

And we signed up Dave Paterson for the first week of January. And it worked out, and the next thing we know, we were booked until May 31st! We didn’t even ANNOUNCE that we were signing people up. But people WANT to come to Thundering Word. They want to be featured there. And we’ve had people from England, from all over the US and different parts of Canada.

Wanda- Lots of artists will be coming through Vancouver on a tour anyways. So our city will host them somewhere, and they will contact Bill and let them know that this particular performer is coming to town. They will ask, “Can you also accommodate him at Thundering Word?” So that’s how we get a certain percentage of our acts. I don’t know the exact number- twenty percent, maybe?

But then some of our music acts we get from just being out. Bill and Diana will just be out somewhere or I’ll be out somewhere, and sometimes we’re out TOGETHER. And we’ll see somebody, an act we like. I went to the Cottage Bistro for a birthday party for the owner. And there was a musician there- he played the guitar and was quite the entertainer. And I booked him! So sometimes, it’ll be random. But then, the biggest compliment is when people find us. For example, these two kids .. (laughs) –“Kids”- I call them kids, but they’re in their twenties…

Tasleem- (laughs)

Wanda- But they got up to do their ten minutes and they said that they had heard about us in San Francisco. And they had gone to the website and so when they came into Vancouver, to hang out, they specifically planned to make it out to Thundering Word.

So they showed up and they did a great job. And they wrote Bill and said “We’d like to feature.” They asked, and they were good, so I said to Bill, “Yeah, let’s do it!”

We want to get more people from out of town anyway. PLUS, most people who do feature will say “yes” again. Whether they come to us, or whether Bill and I say, “You know, so and so was great, so let’s have him back,” they usually say yes right away, which is very flattering (smiles). It is VERY flattering.

And it’s really nice to have the opportunity to be able to ask someone to perform. Normally, you go out, and you see someone, and you think, “Man, that person’s good.” You go to many of their shows and you’ve made some friends. But we are in the position to be able to go up and say, “You know what? I HAVE a show. Would you like to perform there?” It’s great, you know.

And a lot of musicians make fifty dollars at other places and usually have to play three sets. So fifty dollars for playing at Thundering Word for a half an hour with a built in audience… that’s a good deal. And Bill does AMAZING work with posters. I just wanted to say that (to Bill), because you have put a lot of effort into promoting the shows. You did posters for every feature, and you’ve kept the website up to date. And I think that has helped a lot.

Bill- Well, it’s not just me. I think you’re (to Wanda) sixty percent of why people come there. And the Montmartre holds between 65 and 70 people. And quite often, we pack it. We’ve actually had nights where we’ve turned people away because of fire regulations.

Wanda- but Bill advertises a lot.

Bill – Every now and again we’ll go out and give out fliers. Actually, we got a crowd in from Chilliwack last time because of it (laughs).

Wanda- Yeah (laughs).

Bill- I was out at Chilliwack the other night, and I handed out a bunch of fliers. Then I followed that by going to a party out in Fort Langley and handed out a bunch of fliers there. And I kept thinking, “Well, this just let’s these people know what we’re doing. I DOUBT they’re going to show up.” But they ALL showed up!

Tasleem- (laughs)

Bill (laughs)- Our audience is pretty unpredictable.

Wanda- Yeah, and it’s wonderful when new people come in because it keeps it interesting. It’s a change from the regulars for both the audience members and performers. It keeps it diverse and that’s kind of nice.

Ali, from the Café, has asked us to do the open mic EVERY Sunday. But we’d rather have a really GREAT night every other week, than a half audience every week.

Going back to what you were saying about Bill doing posters, I know that both of you have your own artistic talents, besides running and hosting Thundering Word. Bill, I know you have a background in animation, and you write, and do some acting. And Wanda, I know you sing. I’m sorry I missed your show the other night, but I checked out your website and your voice is amazing.

Bill- Isn’t it?

Yes, she’s great. And that song “I Live Alone, But I Like It”. Wow! I really like that one.

Wanda- Yeah. I sing and I have a jazz group. And I’ve been with them for about four or five years, ever since I got back to Vancouver. I lived in Los Angeles for a few years. But then I came back to Vancouver and worked with these two guys as a trio.

Do you have regular shows?

Right now, we play about once a month. I play at the Heritage Grill in New Westminster. And then usually I’ll do an event or party. We’ll play at that. And then there’s the jazz festival. This will be our fourth year playing at the festival. Our date is June 30th. And the festival runs from about the last week of June until about Canada Day.

And you both do some acting as well?

Bill- Just little parts. But yeah, as I’ve gotten older, now that my hair is grey and I have my white beard, I have a tendency to get asked to do some small roles.

I think it’s your voice too. You have such a distinct voice.

Wanda- Yeah, a distinct voice and he does a good double take (laughs)

Bill- (laughs)

In the two years that you’ve been running Thundering Word, is there a particular act or performance that stood out to you for whatever reason?

Wanda- There are so many. I would hate to miss any.

Bill –Well, there was this one girl, Hannah Georgas. One of our artist friends Chelsea brought her. She seemed kind of shy, but a very striking kind of girl. And she had a beautiful voice. She sang this song and every second word started with F. And it’s the last thing you’d expect out of her. She just had the audience in stitches (laughs). And I thought, “This girl’s going to go somewhere!” Well, she just finished playing Juno Fest. She’s been at the Railway Club as a feature many times. She’s got a couple of CD’s out. And she’s been on CBC…

Wanda- We had never seen her before. And she started singing, and maybe halfway through the second song, Bill’s says, “She is pretty good, isn’t she?” Then I said, “Yeah, we could feature her.”

What about young artists? I was impressed to see a couple of really young poets and musicians on your stage.

Wanda- Yes. Well, there is Eric, who is one of our youngest.

Bill- Yeah, he’s this little kid, fourteen years old. Eric Cambell. He was at the Cottage. And he just stepped in with a Blues band up there. The audience thought, "Holy Cow!" See, when Eric was fourteen, he looked like he was twelve, or maybe ten. He’s got this real baby face, big dimples, you know?

And so I gave him my card. He came out to Thundering Word on our opening night. And he got a monstrous standing ovation. So a couple of month’s later, we featured him. And he got ANOTHER standing O. I guess he’s sixteen now.

And there was a very talented poet- a young girl who I heard not too long ago.

Bill- That's Paige Wilson. She’s absolutely fearless. Smart as a whip too. And she was eleven when she first went up. She’s twelve now.

Do you have any advice for someone who has never gone up at the Café but would like to? I’m sure it can be intimidating, especially the first time.

Wanda- The advice that I would give is just go up there and try to relax, and have fun. We are really with you. You can hit a honking flat note, you could read a mediocre poem, you could bump your teeth or head on the mic out of nervousness…Nobody cares.

We WANT you to be good. THEY want you to be good. And it’s okay if you make a mistake because poets have forgotten words before, singers have gotten halfway through the song and gone, “Whoah, uhhh..I can’t remember the verse.” So just as much as possible, don’t care. The audience will love it. I still get nervous, especially now that I’m a host. I have to take a few breaths at first.

Bill- Also, because of the shape of Montmartre, the audience is sort of the wider part of the stage. And it isn’t very wide. There might be sixty people there. But when you’re on stage, you see about ten of them because of the shape and the lights. And I just imagine that the back, because it's so dark and far, looks like a bunch of chairs stacked on top of one another. So then it's as if you're only talking to a small group of people, rather than a big audience.

Also, what Wanda said is VERY true. Our audience is different. If we go out and check out other open mics, on other nights, like a Friday, for example, that audience is full of people who worked all week. They want to get drunk. They want to talk while the act is going on. They want to meet women, and the women want to meet men.

But our audience is there on a Sunday night. They know they’re going to have to go to work or school the next day. They’re not there to get drunk. They’re not there to meet other people. They just want some entertainment. They listen. So they’re quiet and respectful. And again, no matter what you do, you always get a round of applause.

What does Art mean to you? What is your motivation for putting so much time and energy into promoting the arts and all these artists at the Café?

Wanda- I know that I’ve done a lot of work in the arts. I’ve done theater and I’ve done singing. I’ve done voiceover work. But I had never been a host, ever. So Bill presented that opportunity to me. So it can be a challenge sometimes. It can be tricky. But I like that.

And I myself had to do a bunch of open mics. I sang. So it’s nice for me NOW to be in a position where I am able to help keep an open mic going and give other people an opportunity. I think that’s important. They have to have somewhere to go. And then they’ll get better and better and better. And so it was nice to be a part of something like this. I had gotten lots of help from people at their open mics for many years. And now I can be on the other side, GIVING help. And it’s especially great that we have the opportunity to book features.

And how about you Bill?

Bill- Art is something that creates a pressure inside of the people it inhabits. I speak from personal experience. For example, as a kid I always had the urge to draw. I had no idea what I was doing, but I never stopped.

Also, with acting, one night an old biker friend and I were talking about movies and we decided that being in a movie was like being immortal. The old actors, like Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, Lana turner, Jane Russel and James Cagney may be dead, but they are still on film and people remember them....

I kept that in my mind for a long time. Then, years later, the lovely Wanda talked me into going to Story Slam and that was that. I went there and I won this thing. And then I won the next one, and the next one. And then I became the Vancouver Story Slam Champ in 2005. I can honestly say that Wanda gave me a whole new life. And so much has happened since then.

So, "Art"... It's a thing that eats at you, boils inside you, is raging to be released and so frustrating when it isn't. Some people don't have that. There are times when I envy those people. But when the rare occasion happens when it does get released and it works well, you know it's all been worth it. Wanda gave me the opportunity to try a new way of drawing... with words! She encouraged me to try poetry and other things too.

Then two small acting jobs came my way and now there’s Thundering Word. It's like a great chance to give back and make it easier for other artists of every stripe to release that pressure out of their systems on stage. It lets people have a voice and a place to use it. We are both very happy to be able to provide that. It seems like the right thing to do and is extremely satisfying.

To find out more about Thundering Word, or hear some of Wanda's tracks, go to http://www.myspace.com/thunderingword

Miss India- A Beautiful Soulbird

2009-04-06T13:58:00.000-07:00

My original intention for this blog was to feature people who I knew personally, artist friends whose creativity inspires me. I wanted to share with my readers, as well as with anyone who taps into this blog, the great people who surround me. But today I can't help but to write about someone whom I have never met, but who I feel like I got to 'know' in such depths in one night- Miss India Arie. This brilliant singer, songwriter, musician and icon allowed us into her life, her person and her heart in a way that was so refreshing and inspiring through her concert at the Commodore last night. My friend Michelle and I attended, but I don't think either of us knew what we were really in for. Though I was already a fan of Arie's music, the concert led me to admire Arie as an individual. And the impact of it...well, I can't seem to get it off my mind, or should I say my heart?

That's what Arie is about- her heart and soul, and the heart and soul of others. Fittingly, her concert tour was named Soulbird. Images of beautiful butterflies ran throughout her songs, wardrobe and even on the t-shirts that were being sold at the concert. Arie began and ended the night with a prayer, and oh, what beautiful prayers they were. I loved that they were in the form of a song, reminding us that communication with a divine power can be made in many ways, and that we are all spiritual beings, no matter what colour, race or religion. In her first prayer, she acknowledged the soulful artists who came before her, who inspired her- "Sam Cook and Marvin Gay, and Donny Hathaway, and all that came before. You opened up a door. 'Cos of you, change gonna come." And the prayer that ended the evening took the form of her smooth hit "Brown Skin". Both songs are off of her first album- Acoustic Soul. For as many times as I've heard them, nothing could compare to having them sung live by the artist herself, right in front of me.

Brown Skin:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7upx9_india-arie-brown-skin_music

In her sparkling, tangerine coloured top, with wide, flowing sleeves, along with her shimmering lipstick and golden glowing skin, Arie truly resembled a butterfly- with all its beauty and magic. And her energy filled every corner of the room. Every layer of clothing she revealed under the next was long, flowing, rich in colour- yellows, reds and turqoise. At one point, beautiful orange and black butterfly wings even adorned Arie's back. The way she fluttered them behind her whenever the word flight or fly came around simply added to her charisma and authenticity. Authentic- that's what Arie was throughout her concert. She stripped herself of her own superficial layers, until we could see the core of what she was all about.

India Arie touched the audience with her honest words, and giving spirit. But she also touched the audience, literally. There were moments where she would be on stage, and then disappear out of sight to change outfits, grab another instrument, or get a drink of water or tea to soothe her sore throat. So no one seemed bothered when we couldn't see her for a few seconds on stage. But all of a sudden, at one point in the evening, we realized she wasn't actually anywhere near the stage. Because there, among us, on the floor of the Commodore, calmly weaving in and out of the audience, was India Arie herself, singing to her fans as she stood right next to them. Her body guard followed her throughout and lifted her back onto the stage, but I don't think she needed much protection. She seemed to have her own spiritual peace and shield emanating from her. And everyone in that audience was wowed by her presence, and so much respect was given out to her. "We love you, India!" and "You're amazing!" were just some of the shout outs heard throughout the night.

"It gets kind of lonely up here," explained India, when she got back up on stage. "I don't want to give a show, I want to just share my truth," she added, with a smile. "There shouldn't be this separation between me and you." And she definitely made us a part of her. Her eyes met ours as she sang, and she acknowledged particular people in the audience who were obviously moved by her or reaching out to her. "I feel like she's singing to me, with all of her songs," said Michelle. I knew exactly what she meant. Her lyrics are so unique and captivating, yet they are so universal in their truths that I think the whole audience could relate to them on some level. The song The Truth was one I hadn't heard before. But it spoke to me and I was amazed at how it, along with Arie's other songs, could provide longlasting messages and lessons with such few words.

Some of my favourite lines:

"'Cause he is the truth
Said he is so real
And I love the way that he makes me feel
And if I am a reflection of him then I must be fly because
His light it shines so bright I wouldn't lie ..

If he ever left me I wouldn't even be sad no,
'Cause there's a blessin' in every lesson,
And I'm glad that I knew him at all..."

The Truth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzMrcHYziI4

And who is the amazing talent behind these and many other lyrics? His name is Blue Miller. He is the man who has either written or cowritten Arie's songs, and boy, does the man play a mean guitar!
(Check out his website: http://www.bluemiller.com/)

Arie did some cuts off other people's albums as well. Her Sade song was mesmorizing. And what a beautiful rendition of Don Henley's The Heart of the Matter she sang. Though I like Henley's original, Arie gave it a touch of soul. And somehow it compelled me to really listen to the lyrics more than I had before.

"The more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I knew,
I'm learning again
I've been tryin to get down
To the heart of the matter
But my will gets weak
And my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think its about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you dont love me anymore"
- from the Heart of the Matter- Don Henley

The Heart of the Matter:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x33uy5_indiaarie-the-heart-of-the-matterum_music

The anecdotes that Arie shared with us were incredibly memorable and telling of her character and people she admires. It seems that Stevie Wonder has a huge influence on her life. She told us how he always gives her good advice about relationships. "Even though the man is blind," she said, "he has this way of getting so close to you that he is right in front of you, right in front of your face, almost touching your nose." She explained how one day, he held her shoulders, and stood right in front of her like that and said, "LOVE SHOULD NOT HURT."

Arie spoke the world of Mr. Wonder.

And the story she told at the end of the night, about the woman at the dessert place- Heaven On Earth- was priceless, a true testament to Arie's appreciation of a higher power. Arie took the time and effort to go into the shop and find out why this woman was giving away so many sweets and food to customers for free. "She said it was prayer hour and God had told her that she must give people whatever they wanted," explained Arie. It seems Arie herself knows how to listen to her higher spirit and she wanted to share what she learned with us.

What I got from this concert was unexpected. Yet, I hope it stays with me forever. I know she is often described as a soul queen for her singing, but India Arie also, without a doubt, has a beautiful soul. Instead of simply giving us a rehearsed performance while she was on stage, it felt like she gave us her heart, or at least allowed us into a part of it. And there was laughter, smiles and tears from her and from us as a result of it.

A friend of mine told me that I looked especially happy and relaxed today. I could convince myself that it was the sunshine and a good night's rest. But I honestly believe that it was Miss Arie's magic last night - her inspiring spirit and all that she shared with us, as well as the spark of dreams she instilled in me- that allowed me to have such a beautiful day. And maybe people could see the bits of light and peace she passed on to all of us, shining from within me. I am certain I could feel it.

"I see God in you", India Arie, I really do.

"I wonder, I wonder if you really knew,

that I see God in you

And I wonder if you can see,

how much you mean to me

I know you cannot read my mind,

but I hope you feel my vibe

I think it's time I let you know

that, I see the God in you."

-from I See God in You by India Arie

My Juno Fix!

2009-03-29T22:56:00.000-07:00

I just spent a day with my fair share of the Juno craze.

First, I attended the Songwriters Circle at the Center in Vancouver for Performing Arts. It included a medley of various Juno nominees playing their songs and sharing anecdotes about where the lyrics or ideas originated. Thanks Amyn Uncle for letting me know about this.

I am now a fan of Hedley, among a few other singers I either didn't pay enough attention to or just didn't know about. Jacob Hoggard, the lead singer of Hedley, was at the circle. He sang two Hedley hits- Gunnin and Never Too Late. And his voice hypnotized me. I would have closed my eyes, and just enjoyed feeling the music, but Jacob is pretty cute. Who knew? So, I watched, wide eyed, enjoying both the artist and his music. And it was great to recognize him later at the Junos. He was all dressed up in a suit and went up on stage with the rest of the band to present one of the awards.

Thank you Amanda for letting me be your date at the Junos. I would not have even thought about going if it wasn't for you.

Our seats were so close to all the action that we could actually see each of the speakers and musicians before and after they got on and off the stage. We were one of the first to see Russell Peters and his Indian dance entourage as they began the night with a high energy bangra dance.

"Punjabawakis," Peters called them! Hilarious, that guy is. But I have to admit that I thought that Michael Buble outdid Peters there for a bit, in their little off stage skit. I didn't know that Buble was so funny. And though he didn't get a chance to perform at the awards, he definitely got the spotlight outside, after the ceremonies. There were tonnes of people circled around him, trying to get his autograph.

I couldn't see anything over the tops of people's heads at first, but then Amanda said, "That's Buble. I can recognize that profile anywhere." I laughed, but she was right.

I think some of the most memorable voices from the Juno night were of Crystal Shawanda and of course Sarah Maclaughlin. Her voice was spellbinding as it rang throughout GM Place.

And the most excited award recipient had to have been the young and charismatic Lights. What a cool name! She won for new artist of the year. And I have a new admiration for her because of the genuine and energetic way she accepted the award.

And how great it was to see Bryan Adams on stage after all these years. The man seems to have hardly aged. Yay for Summer of '69!

Also, the audience was taken back to the eighties when Loverboy got on stage to receive an award. That was a much needed blast from the past- Turn Me Loose, Lovin Every Minute of It, and Heaven in Your Eyes are some of my favourite of their hits. That portion of the Junos brought back great memories.

The event definitely inspired me to have an even stronger appreciation of music making- the ideas, the lyrics, the writing process, the collaboration, the instruments and their players, and the history behind the beautiful voices. There really is power in music. I think it was Hawksley Workman, at the Songwriter's Circle, who said, "Songs (music) are the key to communities. They bring communities together." The turnout at GM Place for the Junos, the variety of ages and ethnicities, and the support and energy that emanated from the audience and musicians themselves, is proof of the truth behind Workman's statement.

2009-03-18T01:10:00.000-07:00

"El que canta y baila su mal espanta"

- unknown

(Translation- He who sings and dances scares off all misfortune)

Hema

2009-03-17T23:40:00.000-07:00

Hema is a singer and dancer, who I met through Stella Lillig (see next posting). With all of us meeting, I have to say that coffee shops really do bring like-minded people together! Hema has a unique story behind her performing life, as she had studied medicine and had actually became a doctor before going into dancing and singing as a career. Despite the years she put into the medical field, she chose to move to New York and pursue her real passions.

"You continue to inspire me from a distance," she wrote to me not too long ago. But it is in fact Hema who inspires me as she continues to fight for her dreams, admit her fears and doubts, but still find the courage to persevere and listen to what really moves her in her life. Her example reminds me to do the same. Not only is she a young and talented performing artist whom I admire, but I am proud to call Hema a friend.

I haven’t had the pleasure of hearing you sing or dance
yet. But I heard someone describing your voice as a young Madonna. Is Madonna someone you looked up to as you were growing up, or was that comparison just a coincidence? Who were your mentors?

(laughs) I think the person I have loved since I was tiny, and who I still love to this day, is Kylie Minogue. Definitely. She’s my favourite (smiles). Her posters were all over my walls when I was younger. And I just saw her for the first time this summer. She’s just a MASSIVE inspiration. I think she’s amazing. And that’s more who I aspire to be.

But yes, I loved Kylie and Madonna and Janet Jackson, as I was growing up.

I’m definitely more on the performer end. The real performers are who inspire me.

And did you say that you didn’t actually take formal singing lessons?

No, I didn’t. I attended some classes here (New York), more group classes, but I think more than anything technical, they helped with confidence. For example, my coach told me that, “It’s almost like you’re scared of your own voice.” (laughs) Because, it’s true, I spoke so softly and so quietly. But yeah, I think the classes gave me confidence. And I just started with a new woman called Janele. She’s worked with people like Aretha Franklin and Ashanti.

Oh wow!

Yeah, she’s really good. She’s getting me to work with my diaphragm more, which I hadn’t been doing so much. I haven’t been singing as well as I could have been, I guess. But it definitely helps. And now I’m getting geared up to do performances. So that’s something I’m going to need, is that formal, vocal training.

So before this recent training, were you singing at home?

Yeah, I was always singing along with songs. And then at school, in college, we’d do shows all the time. So I’d be singing other people’s songs. And me and my best friend used to sing together. We’d always be singing Destiny’s Child (smiles), pushing ourselves always. But we would do a harder and harder song each time. We would just sing along with other people, working together at harmonies. And we started to record. And that was a different experience as well- being in a studio, starting to learn that side of things. But it was all about getting better and better, and always pushing yourself.

And you have many years of dancing in your background, right?

Yes, I was a dancer first. I’ve been dancing since I was about three. Ballet and things like that. And as I got older, I used to teach myself, off of Janet Jackson videos and that kind of thing. So by the time I was able to attend street dancing classes, I could pick up the moves really fast.

But when you’re learning off the TV, everything is the other way around, because you're seeing the mirror image (laughs).

Right. I never really thought about that. (laughs)

And so I was dancing, and joined agencies.

And what made you take the singing more seriously?

I always wanted to sing. And it just started becoming a bigger part of my life. And opportunities would just pop up. You’ll mention that you sing, and then you’ll meet a producer, or something would happen. And I guess the big move was coming to America, to New York, to test the waters.

Within a week of being here, I ended up in Wyclef Jean’s studio (smiles). So I thought, okay (laughs), I HAVE to do this.

Wow! That must be a sign. (smiles)That’s great!

Yeah. And I was always putting on pop concerts with my friends. I always liked it. So I guess I started out more dance based, but then I started singing. And like I said, we started out in school, and just kept up with it.

So when you were taking dance classes for all those years, were you doing performances a lot?

YEAH. I guess when I was doing things like ballet, or I also did Lindy Hop, and different types of jazz dancing, I would do shows as part of the training.

And then, when it became more about street dancing, you’d be behind an artist, or you’d do certain events. For example, we would do basketball tournaments and things like that. So there’d always be something going on. So you were on a stage, and getting used to that.

Did you always feel comfortable performing?

Yeah! (smiles) It’s weird, having these two sides. I mean, I know even on Beyonce’s new album, she’s doing her ‘old Beyonce’ but then also including her alter ego Sasha. And it’s weird, it’s like I know so many people must be like this. I’m pretty quiet. I’m quite shy. I always have been. But when I hit the stage, it’s like something else DOES take over. I’m in a little bubble and I’ll be so nervous before. And I feel like I’m going to be sick, and I think, “Why do I do this?” But as soon as I’m up there, and I get through the first note, or move or whatever, it’s like a second home.

And do people who know you to be that shy person come out to see you dance?

They do, yeah! (smiles) But I guess, to my close friends, I don’t seem like a REALLY shy person because they’re always around me. So they’re not AS shocked. And it’s just something they relate with me- they know, “Okay Hema dances.” Those people have always known.

And do your family come out to watch you?

Yeah, they do. They always come out to see my shows and stuff. They do, which is nice. It IS nice.

We’ve been talking a lot about family. Did you find that your family was supportive about your singing and dancing?

I think everything was REALLY encouraged for me… BUT as a hobby. It could have been anything- singing or dancing or even if I wanted to try an instrument or anything. That was good. But when I started to do it MORE (smiles),.. yeah, then it became a problem.
Doing it along the side of medical school- like if I was off doing a dance show- it never really phased them. But that was as long as I stayed on top of the other things I was doing, like my studies and work. But when I made the actual switch, out of that career, that’s when… yeah…

And you’re Hindu and Indian, right?

Yes, I’m Hindu and Malayalam, from Kerala, India.

Well, sometimes, when people find out that I salsa dance, but know that I’m Indian, they’ll ask me why I don’t do Barat Natyam or Bollywood dancing. (laughs)

Hema- (laughs).

So I’m curious to find out if you’ve gotten comments like that, or if you’ve ever tried Indian dancing?

I have done some Indian dance. I studied Barat Natyam a little bit. And about a year and a half ago, I was with this Bellydance Bollywood group. It felt a bit alien to me, the movements. But the girl that was teaching me said that she could at least see that I was getting the hands, you know, the hand gestures were there (laughs).

But I think with music, the comments about being Indian have come up. I think it’s ridiculous. I’m Indian, and I’m proud of that, but I’m also South Indian, so Bollywood and stuff like that is NOT a part of my life at all, I mean, I didn’t grow up with it.

That’s more alien to me than hip hop or R&B or pop music is, and I think it’s silly anyway, you know. It’s weird that the fact that I’m Indian somehow means that... well, it’s assumed that I HAVE to Indian dance. It’s insulting, really.

But at the same time, don't get me wrong, I am proud of it- being Indian. But I grew up with more of the classical sound- instrumental music and singing. If they were appropriate for a song, or something I was working on, then, yes, I would put them into my work. For example, I had a girl actually sing in Malayalam on one of my tracks. It’s definitely stuff I’m interested in but it was never around me, really, more than that. I know some people can be very, very rude about it. At the end of it, I’m just being me, and if I tried to do that stuff, for other people, I think it would come across a little fake.

With all the changes that you’ve gone through, with making some big decisions in your life, especially recently, do you find that some of your lyrics have a theme to them, that match what is going on in your life at the time?

They’re about different themes. I think I always used to write poetry and lyrics from the heart, about things that I have gone through. And, as it progresses, I think it could be about anything- something that I’ve seen, something that a friend is going through, or even a piece of artwork. Anything that just clicked for me.

The last song I put out is called Guilty Pleasure. That song is about what we just talked about- being Indian, having certain responsibilities, things that I’m ‘supposed’ to do, and yet, having these things that I WANT to do, like music and dance. They are these arts and passions that I love so purely but the love of it ...it’s completely tinged, because it has that element of “should I be doing this?”

That’s why it’s my “guilty pleasure”.

It depends though. Sometimes, I’ll hear music, and it will just conjure up images in my head, and I just start writing.

Do you play any instruments?

I studied the piano. classical training. I haven’t picked it up in a little while. But I would like to because it would really help me right now. And that’s my goal, is to get back into it.

Did the song writing come to you naturally? Were you taking a writing class for that? How did you begin that?

I’ve been doing it since I was eight.

Oh wow!

Yeah, I wrote my first song when I was eight. It’s funny, now that you mention it. I still have it (smiles). Yeah, I was always writing poetry.

And then they would turn into songs. I never had music with it.

Now it’s the opposite. I almost always write to music first and then the lyrics.

Some things are learned, but it comes very naturally to me. I think at the moment, it’s what I love the most about what I do- that, and performing.

Just the fact that you start with nothing. And then by the end of the day, or a few days later, you have a complete song. And I love messing around with melodies.

How do you decide if a song is complete?

Well, I start off with a basic framework. I just start with melodies, usually with the music. And then, I have my basic verse and chorus. There might be a bridge, as well. And usually, even before I finish the format of the whole thing, I start to record it. And then, with the producer that I work with, I play around with harmonies.

The guy I work with right now- he’s great at rearranging and helping me with little things I need to do. We work it out together. And then I’ll take it, and sit with it awhile, like with any writing, and then go back to it. And after going back to working at it again, then, we kind of decide. Sometimes, I think, “It’s not done. We need more, we need more!” (laughs)

Do you actually write out the score of the music, or are you singing along when working out the melody?

Sometimes, I write the melody first, and I’ll literally be humming. And sometimes when singing, certain words come out. But a lot of the time, yeah, the melody comes first or lyrics.

As far as I know, there are not a lot of Indian role models in the singing pop world. With you doing this, do you have a goal, as far as what you’d like to represent to other Indians?

DEFINITELY. Definitely.

I wouldn’t want the WHOLE of my life to be seen as a role model, that’s a lot of pressure (laughs).

I feel like when you’re growing up, you kind of like what IS LIKE you, or what you can relate to. And yeah, there wasn’t anyone. And I know that all Indians, all across the globe, they’d see Indians on TV and they’d be like oooh, (laughs) because they weren’t really part of the main stream entertainment.

But now it’s great, because they’re seen more in entertainment. But they’re still not the stand out main stream stars at all. It’s all very much within the scene, the Indian scene. I think that's really important to notice.

Even on the small scale of what I’ve been doing, I’ve had girls write to me on MySpace and that, and say, “It’s amazing to see someone who has kept the education there, but is doing what they want to do.”

That’s great.

Yeah, well it gives THEM drive. And that’s amazing for me. I think that’s one of the main things that I love about it. Definitely.

Well, through my writing, I have felt so lucky to do interviews with people who I never even thought I’d be in the same room with, let alone be able ask them questions I’ve been dying to know for so long.

So I’m just wondering, if the tables were turned, and you were the interviewer (smiles), is there someone, whether living or not living, someone you’ve met, or have yet to meet, who you would choose to interview?

Wow! (laughs) That’s a good question.

I know there’s someone whose PRESENCE I’d like to be in. I think I’d like to hear HIM talk, rather than me asking any questions. And that would be Gandhi.

Really?

Yes, DEFINITELY

That’s really interesting. I keep learning something new about you each time we talk. (smiles)

For example, the other day you had mentioned that you are writing a book, or you wanted to write a book?

Yeah (smiles), I am.

Can I ask what it’s about?

It’s actually about my time at medical school, and as a doctor. I guess it’s something I run from, or it’s a hard time, it was very painful.

You meet so many people that are interested in that, especially BECAUSE of what I do now. They think it’s amazing that A- I did it, and B- that I just walked away from it. So I ended up telling certain stories. And there are just so many funny ones, or so many HEARTBREAKING ones. And I thought, “This needs to be kept, if not for anyone else then for me.”

I’ve started to write it. I don’t know where it will go or what will happen with it. But I’m enjoying the process.

And is it written as a memoir or is it a continuous story, fictionalized?

No, I’ve got bits and pieces here there and everywhere. Some of them are awful, and some of them I’m feeling are really right. But I think it’s important to just write, and then go back and clean it up later.

But it’s all very obviously from your point of view? Or is it a character that’s going through the experiences?

It's from my point of view. I’ll definitely call it a memoir, but I’ll be changing it here and there as I go (laughs).

We’ve talked about how it’s tough pursuing something in the arts, and finding the drive and motivation to keep going. Are there people out there that inspire you?

I think anyone that’s going for any kind of dream, or chasing their goals, or even living their life on the edge - whatever it is for that person- just pushing their own boundaries- that’s very inspirational to me. Because doing these sorts of things, there are a lot of slow times, there are a lot of hard times and self doubt, especially with different voices in your head telling you shouldn’t be doing it.

And I think New York is an amazing place for that, because everywhere, you just meet creative people and there’s that buzz and there’s that energy here. And it just feels right. EVERY DAY, literally, you could potentially meet someone chasing their dreams (laughs), and I think you can pick each other up. It’s just like you’re constantly putting that good energy out and bringing it towards you. And I think it’s SO important to keep the faith.

And that’s how I met you, so… (smiles).

And I am so grateful for that. You have inspired me so much already. (smiles) Thank you.

To find out more about Hema and her music,

check out her myspace page:

www.myspace.com/hemarni

Stella Lillig

2009-03-17T22:58:00.000-07:00

While in Manhattan in New York, I was looking for a comfortable place to have a warm cup of tea. I don’t think it was any accident that I stepped into the Cosi Coffee Shop on W. 23rd Street, because that’s where I met Stella Lillig.

Stella is an abstract painter, who is originally from Columbia. Her paintings adorn three Cosi Coffee Shops in Manhattan. I was excited to see Stella work on her paintings right inside the Cosi on 23rd Street. Easel set up at the front of the shop, brushes in hand, and paint ready to go, Stella can be found there almost daily, working on a canvas, surprising customers and the Cosi shop employees with a new artistic creation.

I think it really was the vibrancy of her paintings, as well as Stella’s own energy, that attracted me to the shop, or at least had me returning. When Stella had her gallery show, her artwork had to be temporarily taken down from the walls at Cosi. The place looked rather empty and it really felt as if something was missing.

Besides painting, on her breaks, Stella can be found socializing and laughing with the Cosi staff and customers. “She is just so ADORABLE,” said one of the employees at the shop. I couldn’t have said it better myself.

The first time I actually saw you, at Cosi there was a blank canvas in front of you. You hadn’t painted anything on it yet, but you were sitting in front of it, looking at it. It seemed like there was a lot going on in your head. Could you tell us what you’re thinking when you’re looking at a blank canvas like that? Are you looking for inspiration? Is a picture forming in your mind?

I know (laughs). I sit for hours just looking at the blank canvas. But I already have many sketches for that particular painting, you know? And I know the size of the canvas. So I have that and the sketches in my little book. I’ll show you. (opens up her sketchbook to show pencil sketches over a page or two). I have to SEE, to FEEL, to get this energy. And then I know exactly what colour I’m going to start with. Sometimes, I’ll think, “Okay, I’ll go with blue.” But because of something going on in my life, instead of blue, I start with the orange. I also have to imagine whether the colours will match. But it depends. I have to see it for awhile. It’s a sort of meditation, I think. There’s this blank canvas in front of me, but then I’m seeing further into it, how it’s going to look. But yeah, I already have some sketches and a plan before I start.

We’ve talked a little bit about how writing and art have a lot of similarities as far as the process behind them. Most of the time, I have a plan with my writing, but if it develops into something else, I go with that, I try to run with it. But there are often times where I like to just free flow in my writing, like stream of consciousness writing, and I like to just see what emerges from it. Do you ever do that with you art, actually on the canvas?

Yeah, I have. Some of my paintings have been created like that. I just start with a big layer of texture. And I just get this nonstop energy that just keeps going, and I keep going with it, until I’m done. And it could be two hours non stop, where I’m not even eating in between. Yeah. I do create in that way sometimes too. I do.

And I have dreams. You know, I dream. Sometimes, I think I’m from another planet (laughs).

I remember you saying that the other day. And the funny thing is that I think I understand. So don’t worry. Maybe it’s an artist thing. (laughs) I think dreams can be important to artists.

(Laughs) Thank you. But sometimes I feel like I have to…, I mean, there are all these paintings, and many of them are just squares, right, with a lot of textures and colours?

And I think, what is this, really? I guess they are my emotions. But why do I feel that I have to show everybody all this, and why in this way? Shouldn’t I keep it all personal, and keep all those paintings in the closet? But I don’t. It’s like I get this energy from the cosmos, and then I have it in my head, and then it goes into my hands, and then I start painting. That’s why I feel like I’m from another planet (laughs).

It happens even when I listen to music. It’s like I can travel far from this world. It’s strange, but it’s a nice feeling. It’s like some sort of mission, maybe. ©

Yeah, I think it’s wonderful (smiles). It just makes it seem more like it really is something you are meant to do, you know? Spoken like a true artist (smiles).

You mentioned the squares. There are many square shapes in your paintings. Does the square represent something in particular? Is it a symbol for something?

Yeah. They are all like this (opens her sketchbook to show overlapping squares drawn in pencil). These are my ideas. The squares actually represent a tunnel. But sometimes, I don’t paint out the whole tunnel. It’s just like a symbol- two or three squares. Some of them are darker, to create depth, like a tunnel.

It’s interesting that with all the squares and lines, and the geometric shapes, you’d think that the paintings would look quite static. But instead, all of your paintings have this feeling of movement in them. There is this motion throughout them. Are you very aware of what you’re doing to create that?

The movement sometimes comes from the repetition of shapes and where I place them. This creates movement, from one place to another. And I also work with the paint textures and colours to create the movement.

And I see the number 78 in your paintings a lot. Is that of some real significance to you?

Yeah. It’s when I started painting (smiles).

Really? (smiles)

Yeah, twenty years ago-1978. It was when I started to realize that painting was something special. We used to pa8nt when we were kids and I enjoyed it. But then it became more to me. So I do use that number as a tribute to that, and to express that. And numbers are significant because also, I like math. And so all of that is put together into one piece when I use 78 in my work. ©

There are some pieces of your work that I was really intrigued by. And they had titles like Beauty, or Transition to India, or Journey- they were very short titles. And the title for it all of a sudden changed my perception of the painting. It changed the painting for me. It was very interesting. It made me look at it differently.

I’m wondering whether you often start with the title or the subject, and then create the painting, or does the piece allow you to decide on what the title is?

Well, for example, Journey, that was the end. I mean, the title came about when I finished the painting, because I realized that was my journey there in the painting- from beginning to end. Transition to India- that came about because I have this friend of mine, and she wanted to go to India all her life. That was her dream, and she passed that to me. And so I started with that idea and title first, before starting the painting.

But then I have a painting called The Doors Are Open. It didn’t have a name when I started. But then with Beauty, I started with the title. With some of them, I come up with the title in between, while I’m painting it.
©

Do you find that your family background and culture really encouraged you to be an artist?

Some parts of my family did. Because my father was the one who really encouraged us. Some others in the family thought it was just a game for kids. So they thought we would grow up and decide to do something ‘more serious’, like everybody else. But we didn’t. Well, especially ME, I didn’t. So my mom wasn’t so happy (laughs). But I think she knows and understands now. But I wasn’t really encouraged. It’s not really the style for Columbians, to be artists. It’s very tough. Unless you were well known, and you went and traveled to Europe, and came back and established your name. Then people would take you a little more seriously. But other than that, no.

It sounds like you have traveled to a lot of places, from what I read in your biography. Is there any place that really stood out to you? Any place that had a great center for art, or a place that really inspired you?

Yeah, I was very curious when I was a kid. So I always liked going out. And I started traveling when I was very young. So I started going to London. That’s my first place. I went to London. The very first place I thought of going before the states. After that, I worked in the states most of the time, and then went back home. I traveled to London again, just to see my friends there, to visit. And then I went to Italy -Rome and Florence. I just like meeting people (smiles). I’m very friendly you know?

And I get a glass of wine, and start talking and it’s nice. It’s very relaxed. I meet a lot of people. I don’t find it very difficult. That’s why I’m still thinking of traveling soon, sometime very soon.

Are there any places that you’ve either never been to, or have been to before, and are dying to go back to?

Yeah, I want to go back to London and see these friends of mine. And I would like to just have a chance to go to India. Also, I want to see Spain- Barcelona, in particular. And I’ve wanted to go to Europe and take a little tour.

And what is it about New York that keeps you here, as far as your artwork especially?

Oh, I love New York (smiles). New York is the best place (bigger smile). I went back to different places. But then kept thinking about the big city. And I thought, “Yeah, I have to go back to the rush.” Because it’s a rush in so many ways. And it’s something that you need, especially as an artist. It keeps you stronger. There’s a lot of competition and there are so many great artists, and you have to keep going. If you start looking at everybody, or comparing yourself to others, you just stop. So you have to keep doing your stuff and getting better, and meeting people. And just have fun with it.

The paintings that are up at Cosi, although they are high up on the wall, there’s something about each one of them that invites the viewer into the painting. Are you purposely trying to create that? Or are you just working, and that illusion just happens to come out like that?

It comes out. It’s from the passion. Passion comes out. And I don’t mean it to happen. I don’t mean to do it. I just work and work and work, and then the piece just comes alive. It’s so cool. It’s such a great feeling (smiles).

And how did your paintings end up at Cosi?

Actually, I started at Cosi a year ago. But before that, it was two months or three months of waiting. Because I saw this space without any painting, and then I asked someone at Cosi, I said, “I would like to show my work here. How can I do that?” So then they had to do all these corporate checks. I gave them little images of my work. And then they sent that out to Chicago where they decided if they wanted my work or not. And they actually fell in love with the work (smiles).

And one of these guys in Cosi had the idea of having a painter, painting live, in that restaurant. And then I volunteered. And THAT’S how I started it. I don’t know. I would never have thought of painting in Cosi or outside of the streets, but it’s a good place because I moved here a few years ago. And I kind of knew most of the people in the area. So it was good because it was a familiar place for me.

And then, the first day I was painting, I questioned myself. I thought, “Oh no, what am I doing? I don’t think I want to be painting in front of everybody.” (laughs)

T- (laughs)

"Oops!" (laughs), I thought.

But when I started doing it, I totally forgot about the people watching. I would just listen to music. And then I got such great feedback. People were really enjoying the work and everything. So that was a good way to keep me there.

So it doesn’t distract you to have people there, knowing that they are watching you? Do you just block it out?

If I have my headphones, yes, I block it out. I’m really in my own space, listening to the music and creating. If I don’t, I’m ready to talk to someone if they want to talk. But I just focus on what I’m doing.

How do you feel about other people critiquing your work? When others try to interpret what the work is about, or give opinions about it, how does that make you feel?

I don’t have any problem with it, because you know, you don’t have to like the work. I mean, if you like it, that’s great. But if you don’t like it, I understand. It’s abstract, so some people don’t like that kind of art. And sometimes, I really learn from the rough critics. It makes me think, you know? But it doesn’t really make my work sad, or lessen what I am trying to do. It doesn’t really touch the idea of my wanting to keep creating. So I like all feedback. And some people, they just don’t understand.

Even some of my fellow artists, they really don’t understand what I show and why I paint at the restaurant. But I like being in touch with, or close to, the community, kind of like those artists from the past. They used to go to places, and socialize with people. I’m one of those (smiles). But I also like my solitude and I enjoy my quietness. But I’m very into people (smiles)- kids and everyone. They come, and they see me when I’m working in the restaurant. If I was working in my own studio, nobody would ever see me. I would be by myself with my piece, which is fun. It’s good. But this is more challenging. And I think it goes well for me.

We have these discussions often, my friends and I, about whether or not certain arts can actually be learned or whether it’s something that you either have, or you don’t. You either have the talent or you don’t. So do you think visual art can be learned?

It depends, because some people, they are really talented. And they just need to learn a little bit of the theory and the knowledge. Some other people, they really try hard, but aren’t doing as well. Art is about expression, and maybe these people have to express themselves in different ways. Maybe they’ve chosen the wrong way to express themselves. So then they are not very successful.

How has art enriched your life?

Everyday, I feel like I’m rejuvenated, especially when I paint. It feels like I’m recharged. It relieves me from the stress, from my day. And the painting brings everything out sometimes, so it really makes me feel good, every single time I can paint. And everyday that it helps me, hopefully, I bring that energy, my energy, out to other people. I want them feel good, while they’re eating at the coffee shop. Maybe they’re even looking at one piece and meditating on it. It's such a great feeling to know that I can bring them something, some feeling, through my paintings.

To view more of Stella's work, check out her website: www.stellalillig.com

Daniel Dayz

2009-03-08T12:50:00.000-07:00

I remember sitting near the window of a local coffee shop, researching information about different musicians. While I was viewing various internet sites, an acquaintance, who saw what I was doing, asked, “Do you want to see a really great Latin musician?”

“Sure!” I replied. The next thing I knew, I was watching videos of this young Latin rock singer who was taking the stage at a lively American venue. “He’s good,” I said. “His name is Daniel Diaz,” said the man next to me, “and he’s my son,” he added with a proud smile.

It turned out that Daniel was coming to Vancouver only a couple of weeks later, to visit his father and friends. And, with the help of his father, I was lucky enough to get a chat with the talented singer and songwriter. We met up at the same coffee shop where I was first introduced to his music.

Daniel Dayz, as he is called in the music world, is originally from Mexico. He has been promoting Latin music in the U.S. for a few years now and studied at the renowned Berklee College of Music. Daniel has performed at venues such as the Hard Rock Café in Miami. He was the winner of the 2007 BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) awards and played on the first live TV show broadcasted directly from Berklee College – Berklee Latin Icon. His album is called Aunque Falte el Aire (Even if the Air is Missing).

Tasleem-How would you classify your style of music?

Daniel- I would call it pop –rock. Ever since I was very young, I listened to a lot of English speaking American music, and I try to bring it to Mexico- blues melodies and rock melodies, but in Spanish.

But you sing in English as well as Spanish?

Yes, I sing in English all the time. My songs are written in Spanish though. But I love English music.

What do you listen to?

I love a lot of Rock and Blues. And I love Alicia Keyes, Pink, Sting, and I listen to a lot of soul… Elton John, Stevie Wonder… all the great ones. I enjoy listening to all kinds of music, especially being in Berklee. I even like the new guy from American Idol. He’s a great singer.

And do you ever listen to your own music?

Yes, all the time, but it’s hard to listen to it as a ‘normal’ listener. You start picking out what’s wrong and get very critical about it. You have to let it rest for a little while, so you can go back and listen to it objectively. I do it all the time, but you always start to think about what you could have done better. There’s always something you want to change.

Have you always played the same style of music?

Well, when I was very young, when I was a kid in Mexico, we were all influenced by this great singer-a pop ballad singer, a bolero singer- Luis Miguel. Do you know him?

Oh yes!- (laughs).

We all wanted to be Luis Miguel. Actually, I have friends who still want to be Luis Miguel (laughs). I love his music and the way he sings. And when I started to play piano, I asked my mom to buy me a piano because I wanted to play Luis Miguel songs on the piano (laughs). I used to sing a lot of his songs and a lot of Alexandro Sanz- pop kind of stuff- in Spanish. I wanted to sing songs of all the big artists.

So it wasn’t your parents who pushed you into playing an instrument? It was always your choice?

Nobody in my house played an instrument. It was strange. But I went to my uncle’s house, and they had a piano there. And one of my oldest cousins was playing piano on Christmas Eve. And I just wanted to play it. It was just kind of an urge. And I guess I fell in love with the piano. So my mom, when I was eight, got me a piano as a birthday gift. She hesitated at first. She was probably thinking, “Are you really going to play it?”

T- (laughs)

But I loved it and I was very lucky to have a young teacher. He understood what I was looking for. I didn’t start playing classical. I started playing the pop music I wanted to play. And I think that’s what motivated me. I was playing what I wanted to play.

When you were playing the piano as a kid, did you ever imagine or have the idea in your mind that music would turn out to be your career?

No, no. I just did it for fun. I just loved it. I didn’t think too much about it. I remember when I was 12 years old, I played the piano for my elementary school graduation. And it was normal to me. I didn’t see it as a career back then. But it was more in high school that I started to realize it was what I wanted to do for a living.

Did you find that people were encouraging you to pursue it further?

The thing is that so many people want to be artists, especially in Mexico City. I guess at the beginning, it’s hard for people to realize that you are being serious, because maybe you’re fourteen or fifteen, and people think it’s just a hobby that you’ll grow out of. So my family was not unsupportive, but I don’t think they realized that I was taking it as seriously as I was. But my parents and friends started to understand just how important it was for me when I went to Berklee.

Was Berklee always a goal for you?

When I was fourteen, I got the chance to meet this guy from Berklee. And he told me about all the classes and programs, and I just fell in love with it. I decided at fourteen that I was going to Berklee. I didn’t know how, I didn’t know when, but yes, it was my goal. I ONLY applied to Berklee.

Really?

Yeah.

It must have been a difficult process to be admitted to the program.

Yeah, because there are so many talented musicians there, and you kind of question yourself a little bit. You go there, and there are so many people with the same exact dream that you have, and they are so talented, and maybe they have been playing for more years than you. But it’s impressive. It’s really impressive to get there. And you start seeing what you have, your own talents, and they encourage you there.

On the one hand, it must be encouraging and inspiring to see all these people with the same interest and goal. But on the other hand, it must be intimidating.

It is. It is.

What allowed you to get past that?

I tried to be really honest with myself. And I tried to put things into context of what I was talented in, but also what I was not as talented in (laughs). I knew I worked hard to get to the level that I was at, so I tried to find something I had that made me different. And in this case, I found that my being Latin American brought something different to the table.

And how did Berklee help?

Berklee supported me a lot, so I started doing a lot of things to promote Latin music- contemporary Latin music in particular. Before I went to Berklee, I didn’t quite understand what I was doing. Things came naturally, but I didn’t know why. But when I went to Berklee, I spent more time learning consciously. It gives you more options, more possibilities to express. And this teaches you to express more easily what you want to express whenever you want to.

Are there any songs that stand out to you that are especially significant to you?

Yes, definitely. Some people get too technical. And then there are some songs that have this magical or special feeling to them. The hard part is trying to connect the two- the technical part and the feeling part. I wrote a song for a girl. I really liked her. I had liked her since I was twelve years old, but I never told her. But I was going away to Boston and she was upset, so I closed the restaurant for her with this song. That song – Todo Lo Que Necessito- earned me the BMI award. It was named the best Latin song of the colleges and universities in the U.S. It wasn’t meant to be perfect, but I really felt that song. And because of the feeling in it, it had this magic.

Do you remember the first time you were on stage? How did you feel?

Yeah, in high school, I got to play an Elton John song with the piano. It was so great.
You put in all this hard work. And then when you’re up there, you can just let go, and be whoever you want to be.

Do you still get that feeling- the excitement or nervousness?

Every time you get up, the feeling gets bigger and bigger because you start thinking less about it, being more confident and comfortable. You connect more with the public. It takes time to relax, and be yourself. But then you start feeling more like yourself. And that feeling is addictive. It gets bigger each time. You always have the nervousness. But it’s good. You don’t want to lose that. Because when you have that, it means you are feeling something. You’re excited.

Some friends and I were having a debate about whether various forms of art can really be learned, or if you have to just have a particular talent for them in order to be successful at them. Some people feel that there are those who are just not made to be artist- whether it’s singing or dancing or whatever else. Others believe that it’s more a matter of a person’s environment- what they grew up with, how they were raised. And that it may take longer, but those people that didn’t grow up with music and dancing can still learn to be musical or to dance just as well. Do you think that it’s just not for some people?

No. No. I think certain people convince themselves that they can’t do it. Maybe they can’t achieve what they want on their first try, but they just need to work at it. I am sure that everyone can develop themselves to a particular level, but it takes time. And some of us are lucky enough to have an environment where we are surrounded by, or encouraged to do, the arts, while others may not have grown up with it. But I do believe we all have it in us.

But maybe it depends on how much you really want it.

Cesar Coelho

2009-02-10T16:53:00.000-08:00

It was a pleasure to be able to sit down and talk to Cesar Coehlo after his tango workshops in Manhattan. Despite having given an intense set of classes during the day, and needing to rest for a photo shoot early the next morning, Cesar gave up his time to walk over to a coffee shop nearby and share his insights and thoughts. The passion and openness with which he spoke was much appreciated. Cesar has an extensive background in tango, ballet and jazz. He is well known for his precision and energy on stage particularly as the lead in the Broadway show “Forever Tango”. Cesar proves to be a talented dance teacher at such a young age, driving his students to understand more than just the steps to the dance. “He is amazing,” commented one of his students, “I take his classes every time he is in town, and each time I work with him, my dancing progresses so much further.”

Tasleem- I find it very effective the way you focus so much on the fundamentals in your workshops, rather than overloading students with a bunch of fancy steps. It made me want to learn more. Can you explain your reasoning behind this?

Cesar- Well, tango is more than a dance. It’s a culture. We use the dance as an excuse to express what we are bringing and taking from our country, from our experiences. That’s why I really pay attention to the fundamentals.
In the very beginning, tango started as an excuse to be related with a woman- as a meeting, not as a dance. The dance came after. That’s why I’m always pushing the fundamentals onto the students.

I understand you come from a family of dancers. Considering this, along with your view of tango as more than just steps, do you think it’s possible for someone who doesn’t have that background to learn it, to REALLY learn tango?

First, you need to understand why you are dancing. That’s why I talk a lot in the class, because people come to the class as an excuse to have fun. They don’t really know what they are doing, or what tango really is. That’s what I am always trying to explain to the students. It’s really a serious dance. It IS serious. It’s not about having fun. But once you understand the dance, you can get pleasure from it, not fun, but pleasure. It’s not about the movement. It’s more than the movement. The movement comes, and is born, from the essence. And the essence is a way of life, I mean, the way that Argentine people live. That’s why the lyrics are the way they are. That’s why the music is the way it is. You have to understand that before you can really learn tango.

You use a lot of analogies or visualizations to help explain the feeling behind the dance, especially the connections between the dancers and the music. You’ve said things like, “You have to breathe as one,” or “the couple is like the bandoneon” (the instrument often used in tango music). Could you talk a little about this?

Yes, well, we have a pattern- the music. And we are two people dancing. But you have a pyramid with the music. First we need to synchronize the level of energy that we have as a couple. If one person has more energy than the other person, the meeting is going to be impossible. So that’s why I say, “Breathe. Find yourself. Meet the energies. Equalize the energy.” And then we are going to be able to share it. Once we start to share and we equalize the energy, the music will own us. We really need to relax. Then the music will take control of us as a couple. It’s very hard to achieve that.

Coming from a family of dancers, was it already an expectation that you would become a dancer? Or was it something that you chose in the beginning?

Good question (smiles). No, I didn’t choose this in the beginning. No, no, especially not tango. My father introduced me to tango. I was very young. That’s why I didn’t choose tango then. I used to play basketball. I used to play sports. That’s what I related to. Tango was too serious for me at that age. I was fifteen years old. It was too serious and I didn’t understand how to relate with a woman, or how to even relate with a person. But once I started to understand how to relate, how to socialize, with different people, I started to understand tango. That’s the way I really got deeper into tango and I started to like it, to pay attention to it. But no, it wasn’t my choice.

But it’s true that it’s like a drug. Once you understand it, you will never leave it. You will never quit. You will take some distance. Sometimes you will get tired, you will get fed up, but then it’s going to be there. And tango will wait for you, because tango is expression. It’s going to be there, always. Even if you go away, it will be waiting.

Is it difficult to teach this dance, especially if what you are trying to teach is more than just the dance steps?

Tango as a dance is about body language. It’s very interesting to feel the energies of different people. But sometimes, because of that, you get tired, like I was tonight. I wasn’t strong enough to support all the energy that people required around me. It can be tiring if you are giving your energy, but you are not receiving enough back. Maybe you noticed that (smiles).

Yes, you said something about that to the class, briefly. And I heard you say more about it later on.

Yes. It’s really hard to teach. It requires a LOT of energy. And it depends on how you WANT to teach. Like I said to the class, I could have taught them many fancy steps- ganchos and turns and all that. It would actually be easier for me. But I want them to learn what is really important about tango, what tango is really about. But if they don’t give me the same energy, then it’s tiring. I like teaching but it is hard. If people are really listening, then it is easier.

I was telling a friend of mine about tango. He loves dancing. He does a lot of salsa dancing. I know he would really enjoy tango, but he’s turned off of it because he feels like the age group for tango is a lot older. You are very young, but it seems like tango is more geared towards an older crowd, or attracts an older crowd, especially in North America. Do you agree?

Yes, but it’s changing. It IS changing.

You think so?

Yes. It’s changing a lot. And you have to remember that tango is a cultural thing. You need certain experiences to understand tango, and some of that comes with age. You cannot understand sadness if you’ve never been sad before. If you’re a child and you’ve never been sad inside, it’s hard to understand. That’s an example. It’s the same thing with happiness, with hope, with love, with winning and losing. And tango is about expressing yourself, your experience. It’s about that. It’s the directions that you take in life. But if you are too young to have those experiences, then it’s hard to express in the dance.

Nowadays, a lot of young people get into tango. But in the beginning, maybe you are attracted by the embrace. You don’t realize what the embrace means. But you start to learn that it’s more than just touching or an embrace. As you grow, you learn. It’s the same thing as when your taste changes. In the beginning, you might eat something simple like hot dogs. And when you get older, you might not eat hot dogs anymore. Now you like a good plate of some other kind of food.

In the same way, you can be attracted by the dance first. But then you start to understand what tango really is, and after some time, something deeper will attract you.

It’s interesting for me to look at the history of tango compared to what you are teaching about it now. Tango was associated with brothels and was seen as a very seductive dance. But when YOU’RE teaching, you talk so much about respecting your partner, and finding yourself, centering yourself, gaining confidence. Can you explain this difference between the past and present of tango?

It’s the human race. It breaks up, or breaks apart. The dance too-the tango, the music, everything- it breaks apart, or some of it does. We take the elements, we polish them, and we improve our language. Tango is a language, and it has changed in some ways over time. We are not used to talking the same way we used to talk. It’s the same thing with the dance. But the PASSION is still there. The PURPOSE is still there. The ROOT is still there. The essence, the ESSENCE- that’s what is important. We don’t lose that. We can’t. And then we learn to take it further.

But society changes. And tango changes with the society. Sometimes it changes for the good. Sometimes it changes in a bad way. That’s why I’m attached to the root. I’m attached to the root because I don’t like the way that society runs, just runs with things. I don’t want that for tango. Everybody is crazy running. No, no. We want tango to help us find ourselves again.

I never got a chance to see the show Forever Tango. But I did see Volver al Sur, which you performed in recently. I just thought it was amazing. And I read some of the articles that were written about it and your other performances. One writer in particular commented on how the common saying “It takes two to tango,” doesn’t seem to apply to you. He said that when you perform, it’s like you are dancing not just with your partner, it’s like you’re dancing with the whole audience as well. I could feel that when I was watching you on stage. You make the audience feel what you are feeling. Are you attempting to do that when you are on stage? Are you aware of the energy of the audience when you are performing or are you completely in your own world?

Good. Another good question. It’s very difficult for a professional dancer to really be inside- inside of the couple, inside of yourself- when you have thousands of people looking at you. That’s when I say that tango belongs to three. Why? Well because the leader is always in the future. He’s thinking one millisecond in the future about what he’s going to lead, and thinking about the steps he’s going to take, and how he’s going to lead his partner. The follower is in the present, because she follows, feels and she steps in the present. And the third person- the one watching or the audience- is in the past. The audience watches all that has gone on. They are not invited. They spy on the couple. They ARE spying on the couple. But you have to wake their interest TO spy. If you don’t wake their interest, they are not going to want to spy. So they are not going to watch the movement. But they really want to get IN to the couple. But they are not invited.

Is there something you do differently on stage to obtain that or to create that?

It’s really hard to achieve that point. It’s really hard to achieve it. It’s a level of energy and feeling in the soul, and it’s really hard. You won’t always achieve it. It all depends on your partner- how you match energies with her. If you match, and the music matches, the atmosphere matches, then that interest, the audience’s interest, will be born. They will want to spy. They want to get into it, but they are not invited because it’s OUR world. But we have to create that interest.

What do you do to keep developing your skills?

Tango is born in the soul. But we are using the tool that is the body. And we need to improve that tool to let the soul express. If our soul is free, but our tool is rough, it doesn’t match. So I have to take my tool- my body- further, to let my soul go further. But it’s not that I release all that, and do it by myself or keep it for myself. All that I have, I also give to my partner. All that I achieve, all that I have, I give to my partner. We need that in order to dance tango together. That’s what I push forward in my students, to really take the steps further. Then you will be able to cut them, or to make the space smaller. To make it more intimate. But you need to sharpen the tool.

Do you have a certain number of hours or time that you set aside to develop that?

I do at least one class a day, any kind of technique- ballet, jazz, anything. I need to discover, and I need to fill up my soul with different energies and to exercise my muscles.

You were saying that you were going back to Argentina after this?
And then you’re going to Paris? How do you feel about all the traveling you do?

I’m traveling all the time. This is my job and I need to do it. If you gave me the choice, I would stay in my country. I would come here just to visit. And I would teach, when I feel like teaching. What happens when you spend a lot of time in the same city? You start to know the bad things about that city. And you start to become PART of the city. If you become part of the city, in certain ways, it’s good. But as an artist, it’s bad, because you’re not going to be original anymore. That’s why you have to come back to the root, the essence of the tango. If I stay here, I will become like “them”. And it’s not helpful for them if I become like them. I have to bring something new to my students, to the people, every time I come back here. I do love the city, but I need to refresh myself all the time.

Is Argentina always going to be home to you?

YES….Uh, no. Uhm, I’m not sure. I’m not sure.

But I am sure that tango is with me. I learn from it. And I know that tango is going to be waiting there. It’s not going to leave me. Me neither- I mean, I’m not going to leave it either. I don’t know. For the moment I am,…how do you say it? When you travel around all the time? Gypsy?

Oh yes! A gypsy! (laughs).

Yes, a gypsy. I’m traveling around all the time, and learning so much about different cultures. And it’s very interesting. In certain ways, this is very related to tango. The experiences, what I am experiencing, are the link to tango. Everyone lives this, everyone lives before the tango dance. Like the people spying into the tango. Even the music you prefer- it all depends on the colour of your soul. What you lived in your life before- your interpretation of the music will depend on this, you will match it to your experiences in life. Maybe I love Piazolla, maybe you don’t. It all depends on you. What you did before in your life.

Whether you are teaching or performing tango, what do you hope to leave your students or audience with? What’s the main message you’d like to leave them with?

As I said before, tango is much more than a dance. We are taking the steps as an excuse to express our feelings, TO CHAT. The steps are just simple words. And we use the words to express ourselves, to build sentences. They are words. And depending on how we use the words we are going to express ourselves in different ways.
But, this is without talking. It’s a language without talking. That’s always what I’m trying to say. And every time we have an encounter we can use the language to just have fun and talk about whatever, or we can go deeper. With tango, it is deeper. It is a language that is deeper.

I hope you understand. It’s very difficult for me to explain in English.

Actually, I was about to say that I can’t believe that even in your workshop you were apologizing for your English. You express yourself very poetically. It’s very hard to do that in a second language, but you express yourself well. I understand what you’re saying because of your words, but more than that, it’s because of the FEELING behind your words. There’s an energy that you project, even without speaking.

That is tango (smiles). That’s why I said in class that tango is not steps. It’s ONE step that never ends. Once you start, it NEVER ends. You never quit your energy. It’s there. It’s alive. Even if you are quiet, it’s there. It’s an ongoing energy between us. Sometimes we can be looking at each other, and we don’t even say a word. But a look says much more than a hundred words. In tango, a pause means much more than a hundred steps. You have tango instructors, tango dancers and tango artists. How they dance and teach depends on what they are pushing forward. I want people to understand what tango really means. It is so much more than what people think.