Nabucco

Verdi; a master of gorgeous ceremonial chords, pushing religious and political boundaries––and like most artists who’ve endured generations––a visionary ahead of his time.
Plácido Domingo; a passionate performer, with rich texture and strong physical presence––not just a famous tenor, but a true actor.
LA Opera; a breath of fresh air, full of zest and willing to challenge audiences with programs that are both important and beautifully mounted.

God Bless America; and Lady Gaga

The Super Bowl is an American tradition;
Where a bunch of sweaty jocks fight for pigskin.
...and they call me gay.
Still, I gather around the screen––mainly because a bunch of sweaty jocks pile on top one another;
But also for the commercials.
And this year the star of the show was Lady Gaga,
Who managed to unite the country through a spectacular performance, subtly planting seeds of education, acceptance, and equality––without coming across like she had an agenda.
God Bless America, and Lady Gaga;
Inspiring through art instead of fear!

Goodbye 2016.

And so it is upon us––another year draws to an end; and what a year it’s been.
The blessings, growth, and adventures have been abundant.
I am overwhelmed with gratitude when I look back on the opportunities and evolution that I have experienced in the past 364 days.
My life is a constant work in progress––I’ve never been shy about admitting that––and still somehow I manage to flourish in the midst of finding myself.
What were once flashes of light in my otherwise dark outlook––have manifested into a literal moving frame of pictures from day to day.
More than ever before, I was able to stay present, accept each moment for what it brought, and breathe through even the most challenging setbacks.
As a writer, I finished my second manuscript.  I learned more about myself through the process of sharing stories from my past, with the awareness of my present.
As an actor, I worked on two television shows––and remembered how magnificent it is to perform; I’m nowhere near the end of this journey.
As a choreographer, I had the opportunity to set my first full-length concert dance piece; watching my story come to life through the dancers eyes was magical.
As a person, I re-discovered that a positive attitude and the fearless pursuit of my passion will always lead me to an opportunity.
I have no clue what’s next for me––but I know that wherever I am, I will do my very best to stay present, seek light, and savor the journey.

The Pulse

Twirling emotion,

Dancers feel everything;

Music guides our breath.

Fall

The crisp air delights;
Layered clothing and coffee.
Invigorated.

Write Through The Blocks

Finding the inspiration to be creative daily is often a challenge;
When I catch myself staring at a blank page on a glowing screen, I start to panic.
Self-inflicted fear and unfair demands only damage what little imagination I may have in those instances.
Rather than focusing on producing brilliant words that will live on forever––I just start typing (similar to what I’m doing here on this daily blog post) and wait for some magical piece of (I want to say cake because that’s all I can think about right now) the puzzle to redirect me into my process.
The path of an artist requires working through the toughest challenges, and hopefully the end of the path reveals a new direction.

Confidence

A confident person walks into a room with vibrance and an open mind;
A cocky person walks into a room and drains it of all its creative energy.

A Trip To The Huntington Library

Waves from the Zen rock garden carry tranquility,
Encouragement jumps from original manuscripts by Chaucer,
Passion smeared across canvas,
Beauty in every direction; history sounds me.
The water fountains provide a baptism for inspiration.

Art and the City

A trip around MacArthur Park revealed some beautiful colorful ball art.
#InspirationInLA

Dance United

Nine countries,
Three hundred dancers and choreographers,
Music, laughter, cross-cultural conversation, food, and wine;
A brilliant way to unite the world.

The RealiTV Is...

As an artist who sacrificed almost every waking hour from third grade through high school to train, study, and perform––so that I could spend my life as a performer, I’m embarrassed to admit:
I am addicted to Reality TV.
It’s mindless and outrageous content that makes me feel a little bit better about my life.
Jeff and I have spent the last five years mocking Reality TV with our digital short parodies, but since the launch of my book we’ve been too busy to produce more content, so I think I’m going through full withdrawal.
During the past six months on tour I’ve consumed more trashy, scandalous, Kardashianesque crap than ever before.
And the RealiTV is I’m just disgusted with myself.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to have a conversation with Bethenny.

The Creative Habit

Becoming a creative person is not something that just happens.
As far as I know, nobody came out of the womb with a paint brush, pointe shoe, musical instrument or reciting Shakespeare.
Creativity is a discipline. A process of learning how to take your passion and develop it into a craft that inspires emotion.
Creative people are focused, dedicated, hard working, overachievers who strive for new ideas and pushing boundaries.
The most effective way I’ve found to support my creative endeavors, is by staying focused on the habit of creating work.
It might not always be brilliant, but it will always lead to a more productive journey.

890 Broadway

Just over ten years have passed.

I walk into the studio, my friend and her company dancers are rehearsing an emotionally charged, athletic dance;

It's as if time stood still.

The only noticeable difference is the beautiful evolution of creativity and confidence.

I love my friend.

#LifeOfAnArtist

There's No Business...

Eating dark chocolate after an audition is like my own personal F_c# You! to the industry;
Going to yoga the next morning is like my apology for betraying my passion and profession.
#CycleOfAbuse

Forced Creativty

Not ideal.

Still, necessary in order to grow-

Continually practicing and evolving,

To rediscover your passion.

Note To Self:

Nothing exceptional ever comes from a rushed process-
But sometimes you just have to settle for "good."
Life is short; spend time on the things you are passionate about, and everything else, get it done and move on!

Fear

Fear is the enemy of creativity.
It slowly destroys the imagination-
Replacing peace of mind with confusion.

Creative Habit

It's not enough to "feel" creative-

You have to take that urge and use it everyday.

The artist in you grows with action!

A Valentine Haiku

If you remove fear
Fill up your heart with passion,
Love is all you need.

ART!

A trip to the Getty Villa-
Inspired by the gardens, sculptures and view.
Reminded that culture and history surrounds us, if we open our eyes and soak it up.
The only way to tell a new story, is to understand how people before us told theirs.