New year New you

So i had some new head shots take of myself to use for my website, my children's book, and auditions, ect. Here's a few what do you think?

Random Thoughts

Random thought... will I ever get to the place that I wanna be? I'm sitting here overwhelmed with all the projects that I've placed upon myself and I'm excited that they're coming to life. But at the same time they're a lot of work. I created a children's book titled Lucky's Tap dancing feet and its coming along very well. Illustrations are almost finished. But once they're done what's next? So i'm working on the next steps.
-how to get it printed
-how much to charge
-where to market it
-how to get the word out
-gotta create a website for it
-how can I cut out the middle man
-need a copy of the book in spanish

All these thoughts are going thru my head and I wanna scream. I want someone to just tell me what to do. what's the best route? how can I bring this dream to life, not spend so much money, educate kids on tap, and make a profit. Turn the passion into profit is what its all about. I'm starting to think there's no full proof way to bringing your dreams to life and no one can tell you what to do with your dream or your passion because its your's ) pep talk for myself. I have tons of dreams and I am excited for all of them to manifest, but understanding it takes time is another issue. I'm of the now generation and I want my dream now! event though I know it won't happen right now it won't stop me form pushing. No matter what this dream will become a reality.

Enjoy this picture of the character for my children's book.

International Festival de Cajon in Lima, Peru

I started editing some footage from my tour of peru in 2009. i now have a great computer where I can edit footage and clips and such. I traveled to Peru for the International Festival de Cajon in Lima, Peru. The festival was created by Senor Rafael Santa Cruiz. He's awesome. I think of him as my Tio Rafael sometimes. While there I collaborated on a show with Colectivo Palenke great group of young musicians and dancers who are keeping the traditions of the Afro-Peruvian community alive. The people in Peru were wonderful. Very welcoming and helpful. The food was amazing. I've never tasted such fresh food. I mean strawberry juice that tastes like real strawberries.

The artist for the festival were all maestros or masters of their art form. Check out the clip of me performing with Colectivo Palenke on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc-7paiEpjM

This was my first time touring a country as a professional performing artist. It was amazing. The culture, the food, the music, I fell in love with Peru. Check out some of my pics

Tapology 2010

I was excited to be invited as a guest performing artist at the Tapology Festival for youth. Mostly because its in my hometown of Flint, MI and a chance for me to go back home and share what I've learned. My time at the festival was awesome. I taught several West African dance classes and had a chance to reconnect with my favorite family/ tap dancers Ali and Frances Bradley. On faculty there was Dianne Walker, Mabel Lee, Ryan Johnson, Jason Samuels Smith, Laurie Johnson, Derrick Grant, and Natasha Graham. This year we honored Tina Pratt for her legacy as an artist. She's an elder and moving well. I mean really well. Check out the youtube footage.

Ok back to the festival. We had school shows, lecture demonstrations, tap, flamenco, West African, and stepping classes. The artist reception and luncheon was on point and I even found time to make it to my favorite spots, YaYa's, Big John's, and La Familia (oh yeah can't forget the Vernors).

This was the first time I was on the opposite side of the festival. Being able to see it from an artist perspective. Normally I have a chance to take classes, but not so much this time. I did have the opportunity to get some knowledge about tap and ask myself where do I want to take my artistry. Tap has so much history and there are so many amazing artist how or where do I fit?

Just reflecting on Tapology Festival now, I'm glad I had to chill and talk with the other faculty as regular people. Lots of laughs that I can't even write about. Hide ya Kids, Hide ya Wife lol. enjoy the photos.

Buenaventura, Colombia

The trip to Buenaventura, Colombia was great. Performed with Nsaa Dance Ensemble in 3 shows in 3 days in the Folklorical Festival del Pacifico. The crowd was HUGE! people young, old, and older inside the tent ready to party with us on the stage. Tons of people were even standing outside the tent in the rain. Best thing about the trip was performing. Being able to showcase West African dance for the Afro-Colombian Community was great. The dances and rhythms of the Afro-Colombian culture are so similar. Each show was FIYAH!

Our exchange with the people there was great. We visited the University and performed for the faculty and learned about the history of the festival. Mama Inez has been adopted by the group. She taught folklorical songs in spanish. (Sidenote) It was interesting how some people would admire the shirt you were wearing and ask you for the shirt off your back. One woman asked me for mine...umm no i don't do that sorry, you might wanna ask someone else. Sorry!

Once in Cali we visited the home of Senora Juana's home and had one of the best evenings I've ever had. We danced, drummed, and exchanged West African culture and rhythms with Afro Colombian rhythms and dance. It was amazing. I never felt so free. To move uninhibited felt great. who cares who's looking.

The food was good. I ate so much chicken I'm suprised i don't look like one. We ate at the same place everyday (can't mess with a good thing). Grilled chicken, potatoes, and salsa verde was banging. Soup is served with every meal and make sure you ask for a gasiosa con gas.

Walking around the city I definitely felt like an outsider. Not because my skin looked different, not at all. Most of the people looked like me, but there were a few difference. Number 1 the breast. It seems like when you cross into Buenaventura you must get a breast job. The women's breast were HUGE and they had Butt implants too. Woah. In addition, i didn't see anyone with natural hair either. I guess its a question of what's in the media that makes the people want to identify with those types of things. Beauty is definitely on the inside.

Enjoy the pics.

Inspired

Today I had a great opportunity to take  Hip Hop class from THE Luam. It was awesome. I'm so inspired. Even though Hip Hop isn't a dance style that I study most often, the movement is infectious. The way that one movement of your body can hit with different levels of intensity. Tricky, fun, and electrifying.

Before the class I was thinking umm I'm a tap dancer... am I going to be funky enough. I haven't really danced Hip Hop in a while and I'm not ready to embarrass myself at all. First step was I had to get my look right. Fitted top, baggy bottoms, high top nikes ok good to go. Walked into the studio and excited and nervous. Why? because everyone there has been studying the dance and I'm a little out of the loop.

Class begins with a warm up lead by Aysha Upchurch (beast dancer). Luam enters the room and everyone is excited. Choreo starts and i'm good up until you ask me to stutter a movement. wait ok I know what this is, my body is saying, but have to remember where to clinch the muscles to make it look right. Ok got that part. next couple of quick hit moves I'm thinking woah girl move to the back, but no, leaders lead form the front.

Umm I wasn't in the front, more like 3rd row middle, but keep your eye on the goal. After doing it several times, I finally feel comfortable with the choreo.

What you wanna go in groups. umm ok. I felt nervous. Not because i didn't know the dance, but because I was going to be dancing it in front of a room full of Hip Hop dancers who have been studying and grinding for this art and I don't wanna look stupid. So what do I do. ummm stand in the back.

I know booo not a good look, no way to be seen, no way to stand out and show that just because I'm known as a tap dancers I'm a versatile performer. But you know what... its kool. I know who I am, no need to prove a thing. So i stayed in the back every time my group was called and it was just fine.

I can't wait to fuse the energy with Tap. once I get it... it's on

Curbside Cook-Off

Today I performed with at the Curbside Cook-off with Melissa Frakman. The vibe was awesome. So picture this. Outdoor festival with nothing but food vendors. Throughout the crowd you see Tap dancers performing, on the other side you see the Beat ya Feet Kings rocking the floor,on the stage there's a DJ and graffiti artist, in the center you have Christylez Bacon killing it , and in the back Markus Young rocking with 2 female Hand Dancers. AMAZING!

The vibe was hot. We traded with all the artists and expanded what we can do visually as well. I'm still hype right now. Having a chance to vibe, network, and perform was great. The event was sponsored by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, glad to have that hook up.

After the event I felt like we need to create some type of place where multiple art forms can come together and just vibe and create. So I'll be adding that to my projects list. This list is getting long. Looking forward to the creative energy that will flow.