Mercedes' Swing on Things

Ballet in the Streets: In the News!

2012-01-27T15:51:00.000-05:00

Ballet in the Streets (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé

It's been an adventure and I have been so very fortunate so far. My show - Ballet in the Streets - has been up for a little more than two weeks with Avant-Garde Bar & Gallery and will come down on January 31st. The reception has been really positive and I'm happy that my images have been intriguing and pleasing many different people. I hope to continue producing great photographs and to continue to improve. In the mean time, it feels so good to get recognition for hard work and a good cause... passion for dance, and arts, here is Ottawa!

Here are a few of the great little features this show has received thus far. Thank you to all who've featured Ballet in the Streets. Thank you also to Ottawa Xpress for the calendar mention and blurb and thank you to Rogers Daytime for welcoming me on your January 12, 2012 show, to talk about the Opening and the Ballet in the Streets project.

Ruby, TFO
Ottawa Citizen, Social Section
Apt613
Ottawa Studio Works
2HPhotography

If you haven't seen the show up, I encourage you to do so and to stay tuned to its next venue... but you can start by viewing it online.

Gallery 1
Gallery 2
Gallery 3

Ballet in the Streets: Opening next week!

2012-01-05T17:34:00.000-05:00

Ballet in the Streets:
Dance photography as seen by a dancer

Ottawa-Gatineau, Jan 5, 2012 — In collaboration with Avant-Garde Bar & Gallery, new artist and trained dancer, Mercedes Déziel-Hupé presents her very first photographic exhibition. Ballet in the Streets is a collection of photographs shot in the national capital region to make a statement about art, and moreover, to highlight the importance of dance to our culture. The project was shot in the Fall of 2011 with the collaboration of professional and recreational ballerinas and contemporary dancers — the artist's principal dance disciplines.

"I have been dancing for 17 years and counting, I stopped only to focus on my university studies. Although classical dance is behind me and I've embraced swing dancing, these dances [ballet, jazz and tap] will remain special to me. They were my home; the disciplines through which I have grown both as a dancer and an individual" says Déziel-Hupé. "I absolutely love dance. I believe the reason I didn't become a professional dancer, was so that I could become (among other things) an advocate for the art. I hope that this will do justice to my passion and my respect for this art-form. Who knows, I may work on more dance-related photo projects in the very near future."

Avant Garde Bar & Gallery remodels its space to welcome the show

Avant-Garde Bar & Gallery is also opening its doors to artists' submissions and this is the very first experience for both parties; the venue and the artist.

“Avant-Garde Bar and Gallery decided to explore the visual form of art to the fullest by officially remodeling its space for frame-based displays of rotating artistic exhibits” explains Nina Iouguina, co-owner of the bar and gallery. Such bold move was inspired by recent collaboration between Nina Iouguina and Alex Yugin, owners of Avant-Garde Bar, and Mercedes Déziel-Hupé, communications manager at the Ottawa Art Gallery. “With Mercedes' extensive expertise in the world of art from business-minded and her creativity-driven perspective, we are genuinely looking forward to successful take-off of Ballet In The Streets.” She adds: “ the exhibit features an unusual mixture of classicism and urban modernism, and Ballet In The Streets is going to effortlessly flow along with the interior design of Avant-Garde Bar whose walls have been inspired by anything but ordinary works of Kandinsky, Malevich and Stenberg brothers."

WHO Mercedes Déziel-Hupé presents her collection of ballerina photos shot in Ottawa-Gatineau.

Classically trained dancer now turned communications specialist and photographer, Déziel-Hupé
shares her passion for dance with this first exhibition.

WHAT                     Ballet in the Streets: Exhibition of dance photographs.
WHEN                    Opening Jan. 12, 7-9 pm, on view until the end of January
WHERE                   Avant-Garde Bar & Gallery, 135 ½ Besserer, Ottawa, ON

Artist Statement

This collection of photographs is my tribute to my time as a dancer, from classical to contemporary. Through photography, I embrace a new side of this otherwise ephemeral art form. I have been inspired by great photographers such as Lois Greenfield, who's studio approach to dance photography is unmatched. I am also inspired by the "Ballerina Project" which is a New York based phenomenon that celebrates the Big Apple as a creative hub. Originally from the Capital region, I have experienced Arts as being overshadowed by politics. I photographed ballerinas and contemporary dancers in urban and industrial settings to emphasize how different they are from the environment in which we live. Despite the fact that they seem to stand out, the idea is the showcase the beauty and relevance of dance, especially in this fast-paced image-led world. The dancer is a complete artist; from daily regimen to rehearsal, to exercises and performance. A dancer embodies strength, yet the dancer is surrounded by precarious circumstances. Dance changes everyone, from the performer to the spectator, the hobbyist and the photographer. A dancer can be molded, but a dancer is usually born. It's in the urge to move, to feel beauty and life, through your body. I wanted to show how dance shows through very easily. And how it is part of a dancer's life, every day, everywhere. By presenting it outside of its normal frame of reference, whether that be the stage or the classroom, I state not only the existence, but the effervescence of dance in the capital region. I wish to render dance accessible and encourage reflection by bringing the dancer to the street.

-30-

Be excited about learning; don't be weighed down by performance

2011-12-09T12:53:00.000-05:00

"You will have to sign up for a university class" is what the bank's financial adviser told me when I'd asked to reactivate my student line of credit a few months back. I found that pursuing courses with a private school, however helpful or interesting, did not constitute "education" for the great bureaucracy...

Naturally, this left me feeling disappointed in our government's educational system rules and regulations. Who decided that photography or sound engineering weren't valid fields of study? A friend of mine was refused a loan for choosing Canada's number one sound engineering class. But I digress. I also felt like I'd lost a battle. Here I was, after having graduated from university, landed a job (well, quite a few in 5 years), returning to school to widen my scope and perfect my abilities and I'm told it's "not recognized". How invalidating. Why not encourage a young professional trying to stay relevant, trying to get an edge.

My new tool. Toy?

A few months went by and my reason for requesting this at the bank did not change. My job however, has changed in the last year. I am now in a management position with only minimal experience and absolutely no theoretical background on administration and management. I am competent but struggle a little more than I would with the proper basic knowledge. I thought: "Why not take an introduction class to administration?" But, did I really want to sit in with a bunch of kids straight out of highschool and have to work on team projects? I did not have the time, nor the patience as I'd been there before and remembered how my focus was very different... Get the grade, get the scholarship, get the portfolio... Take, take, take, perform, perform, perform, expect, expect, expect. Oh, and have fun. But school and fun were exclusive.

I've "paid" my share and followed the rules; I went through the system once. Now, it's time to look at it differently.

Taking a class as an auditor has most of the benefits of taking a class - at least the most important one, which is learning, and none of the unpleasant ones - remember assignments? So here I go, back to university for a class. Learning - or at least the prospect of it - feels so thrilling when it's not weighed down by expectations and performance.

While I'm at it, I might even take an interest class, just for the pleasure of it! And with my new ipad, this second round in class might be more fun! Speaking of which, I just about loooove that new gadget. How handy is it to have a multitude of books (my primary reason for this tablet), management/lifestyle aps (allrecipes.ca anyone?), entertainment aps (Itunes, CTV, CBC) and games (Sudoku queen in the making) all in one nifty tool? That's not just luxurious, it's genius! Really, it's both eco-friendly (I will finally use/buy less paper!) and finally allows my long awaited de-cluttering.

Aaaaah.

Exhibit & Holiday Spirit

2011-11-22T16:29:00.001-05:00

Mostly because I've had a break through.

Amelia (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé, 2011

This coming week-end, I need to edit my hundreds of photos down to my favourite 15 or 20 (but I'll aim for 15). I finally have a venue and an approximate date for my first exhibit: the Avant-Garde Bar & Gallery will welcome my Ballet in the Streets/Ballet en marge project in January 2012.

It's crunch time now to select my favourites and polish them up, nice and pretty to be printed and framed.

Part of me is terribly nervous, but I'm also very much excited about potential developments regarding this project. So I will be diligent in adequately preparing this first exhibit.

***

I will however save time to savour the festive feeling in the air. I can't help but be swayed by the sparkles, reds, golds, lights and bells I see in store windows, the Christmas music I hear in the mall (or to be more exact, on my internet radio) and the sweet and spicy smells that fill the air around coffee shops...

I can feel the inner child beaming...

I embrace the holidays, and Christmas in particular. Not because of the presents, and certainly not for the insane amounts of dollars people spend on a few days a year... No, I love the holidays because to me, it's a celebration of life and I realize how many wonderful things sew my life into this beautiful quilt of memories, experiences and people. With each Christmas, and each year, a few more squares are added to this masterpiece that I can cherish.

Ballet in the Streets/Ballet en marge

2011-11-14T14:23:00.000-05:00

Amelia. (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé, 2011

I have been buried in work, both at the Ottawa Art Gallery, as well as at home. I'm one of those people who just isn't feeling at ease if I don't have at least two ongoing projects outside of a day job. I mentioned a few posts ago, that I was working on my first photography exhibit. Naturally, this is a lengthy process...

I can say that I've been enjoying every minute of the shooting phase; I have worked with fellow dancers and friends and met some new and interesting people along the way. I've found and created beautiful images and built up my confidence. I feel physically tired, but much in the same way you would after a day of enjoyment, whether it be on a trip, during market day or a pleasant evening with friends. This project is a combination of two of my passions: dance and photography.

Tea time. (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé, 2011

I am now entering the editing phase, which promises to be the longest, most detail-oriented and possibly frustrating part of this project. Skimming through hundreds of shots, discriminating, sometimes coolly disregarding the hours of work that went into a series of images, tweaking what I thought was nearly perfect. It seems never ending. But this is part of the craft.

I have not found a home for this exhibit yet, nor do I have dates, but I have decided to be kind to myself and to truly respect this project, by focusing on every step, as I take them.

The Camera Doesn't Make the Photographer

2011-10-25T12:44:00.000-04:00

Amelia. (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé, 2011

When I first started shooting, I was very intimidated by photographers with fancy gear. I remember Angelina McCormick telling me that she constantly reminded her students: "The Camera doesn't make the photographer". I remembered thinking, sure, but, the camera must play a role in the quality of a photo, right? Well, that's only partly true.

You see, the camera is a tool and sure, with good tools come great possibilities, but photography is a science as much as an art, and it requires knowledge of the tool (however fancy or expensive) to properly use it and produce great pictures. Sometimes, removing the technical aspect allows the photographer to focus on what's on the other side of the camera: the subject at hand.

I recently started photographing with my camera phone (and toy cameras as well, like the Mini Diana), just to put this theory to the test. Could I in fact produce interesting, technically good and even breathtaking photos with a low quality camera? You can judge for yourself, this portrait was taken on my cell at the end of a photoshoot - just for fun - and the results were exciting.

Try it for yourself: take a point and shoot (or if you're feeling bold, take a camera phone) and concentrate on your subject, the background, the colours, instead of the camera and you'll get wonderful and surprising results.

Swing Explosion's 2011 Jitterbug Contest

2011-10-20T14:03:00.000-04:00

Scott & I dancing lindy hop together. Photo by Kristina Jensen

I probably should have blogged about this contest I entered with my buddy Alec back in September. Life got a little crazy, but my dance school wrote about it and posted a nifty video. For those of you who suspect I may be all talk, you can actually see me dancing in this one. The contest showcases a few all skates, but also a slow competition and a fast lindy competition. This video is the finals of the fast lindy segment. Watch the Swing Explosion Jitterbug finals 2011. There are also more videos of that competition on Youtube.

Photography: Planning My First Exhibition

2011-10-20T13:34:00.001-04:00

Amelia. (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé, 2011

After a year of studying and practice in photography, I decided to undertake my first long-term project, with the goal of turning it into an exhibition. Of small scale, yes, but a show nonetheless. Currently, I'm working on a dance photography project I called "Ballet in the Streets". This seed of an idea took shape all because I believe dance is a wonderful and under-appreciated art form. I believe it should be made more accessible. The issue in Ottawa is not that dance isn't happening, it's that it's often overshadowed by other events, activities and this city's otherwise political nature. This project is a tribute to the dancer's cause and I'm in full shooting mode, as I'm racing time before seasons change.

I'm facing a multitude of challenges, yet I'm loving every minute of this project. I'm exploring the city, I'm using a new lens (Sigma 24-70 f2.8) and working with a variety of dancer models with whom I connect over this shared passion: dance. It's also a tremendous editing exercise to choose only your most compelling photographs and how does one judge their own photos? The ratio of shots versus exhibition-worthy photographs is very underwhelming. Finally, there is the logistics behind it: the printing, the framing, the install, the venue(s)... Despite these hiccups, the project is moving along.

I'm in discussions with Avant-Garde Bar in Ottawa and a few other locations, as I'm looking to allow the show to travel a bit, spread the love. Meanwhile, I've created a facebook page for the project, look it up and follow the updates there!

The Gospel According to Coco Chanel

2011-09-26T10:39:00.001-04:00

Coco Chanel

Recently, I read a very interesting commented biography on Gabrielle Coco Chanel, authored by Karen Karbo. I love to learn about historical figures, however I rarely read biographies. Now, this is a bit of an exception. Firstly, Coco Chanel was a fascinating woman, by many standards, including the one that states my personal interest in fashion. Secondly, Karen Karbo has an incredible story telling ability. You see, this wasn't a chronological biography, but a thematic one...

Every chapter in the book is about a theme or an aspect of life. There are chapters on Style, Elegance, Femininity, Money, Work, Passion, Rivals, etc. Karbo approaches each theme by explaining Chanel's personal take or philosophy on the matter.
The result is an impressive collection of jewels of wisdom (and proscriptions) from a celebrated designer, a social visionary and a remarkable woman. I find that I have learned more about Coco, than I would have by reading her life story as a linear tale. Her opinions and motos (oh! her famous motos...) were emphasized and it all felt very accessible.

The verve, the humour, the lessons. It felt like I was chatting about this incredible individual with an old friend, over coffee. I carried the book everywhere and felt terribly sad to finish the last page. William Feather's quote remains true: "Finishing a good book is like leaving a good friend."

I highly recommend the book to anyone curious about fashion and about feminism. Coco Chanel was feminine yet assertive, she was elegant, yet practical; she redefined style and ultimately, beauty. She thought a woman should always wear a scent and pearls. Personally, I've learned a few valuable lessons about underpacking...

The Gospel According to Coco Chanel
by Karen Karbo

Featured on Ottawa Photog's Blog

2011-09-21T12:09:00.000-04:00

I just need to share some excitement!

Artist Melanie Authier for OAG Event.
(c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé 2011

Photography is taking on a life of its own. I have been shooting a few projects, namely for the Ottawa Art Gallery (my employer). I am in discussions with venues for my exhibition project, I might have gotten a photo contract doing residential photos for a real estate agent (to be confirmed) and I've graduated from the ProProgram. Ottawa photographer and teacher Harry Nowell, has shared a feature on my recent accomplishment. Read about it here!

Photo Project: Documenting a Wedding

2011-09-16T22:37:00.000-04:00

Christine. (c) Mercedes Deziel-Hupe, 2011

This past Labour Day week-end, I attended Scott's sister's wedding. Christine was a most beautiful and graceful bride; she kept her cool and her smile all day. She kept busy, she kept on schedule. She'd been with her husband (then boyfriend) for nearly a decade. They are the rare case of 'highschool sweethearts'. Christine has an eye for beauty and a sixth sense for trends, fashion and overall style. Her wedding was a reflection of both hers and Nick's good taste.

Although she had hired a professional photographer, I had offered to shoot some candid and "documentary style" photos of her wedding day (leading up to the wedding) - less than about the wedding itself. This presented some challenges and some fun opportunities.

I first had to worry about the time constraint; there is only so long that the bridal party and the groomsmen are grooming, quite literally. And so, as both parties were preparing for the big day in separate homes, I missed the entire dress-up for the groomsmen. This was a major disappointment for me. I wasn't looking to see flesh (!) but was looking for nice classic shots. Had I known the schedule a little better, I could have worked around this. There is also the fact that I had to worry about not getting in the way of the official photographer, who incidentally, ran late.

Something Blue. (c) Mercedes Deziel-Hupe, 2011

On the plus side, I managed to get wonderful candid shots of the bridal party, a few "stolen" poses as the bride was actually preparing for poses with the official photographer; I shot from a different angle for the sake of variety. I also could afford to play around as I was not on a tight schedule. I got really fun shoe photos out of it!

Literature & Travel: Alternative Learning

2011-08-25T10:39:00.000-04:00

Literature is my cheap way of traveling. Instead of forking out $500 a plane ticket, I pay $15-30 for a book. It's also an opportunity to live vicariously a life of adventure. One that you would like to try on for size, for a week-end or just to change it up, without the risk. It is also a way to broaden the mind and learn in an alternative way.

Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat.Pray.Love Author

I frequently read about women of the world. Maybe there is a desire somewhere, to change the world, even just a little. I long to be a world traveller, that's no secret. But could I drop everything to move across the world? I doubt I would. I prefer the safer route of working a job I love, then punctuating it with spontaneous trips and culturally rich vacations. That said, I love to daydream about worlds away or differing from my own. Which is why I love to read about stories taking place in foreign countries or reading auto-biographcial novels about how travel changes one's life.

My love for this type of literature was latent, discrete. It came out of the closet when I read Eat. Pray. Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert. It grew when I read Buddha and it continued to grow after The Woman Who Fell From the Sky by Jennifer Steil. One wouldn't be surprised to hear I'm currently reading Indigo, the story of the colour that changed the world. I believe that reading is a fantastic educational tool, both as a language exercise and a cultural one.

Travelling really builds character as it constantly shifts your frame of understanding and provides perspective. Unfortunately, despite what we might say about "anything's possible", that "anything" may not always be possible at any given time. I believe I can work towards travelling more. And I do. Meanwhile, I read to broaden my mind, feed my imagination.

The Woman Who Fell From the Sky spoke to me as it told the story of a professional journalist who moved to Yemen to teach a team of aspiring and practising journalists how to improve their reporting. Although her tale was personal, it made any similar experience feel accessible. That is key to opening one's mind to other cultures, to travelling and in some rare cases, to other life styles.

I have never read so much in my life. Not as a child, nor when I was in school or even as a university graduate. It's now that my mind is open to deeper learning. My father is an avid reader and a cross-word athlete and yet, he has not pursued post secondary education. He is one of the brightest and curious people I know. I don't believe our education system is deeply flawed, I believe society at large expects too much of it. There is truly something to Mark Twain's famous quote: "I never let my schooling get in the way of my education." True, lasting learning has to come from the heart; there is only so much your parents or your school can give you. You need to run with what you have and when that's not enough, seek what it is your heart longs to know.

Vegetarian, not Alien

2011-08-21T16:51:00.003-04:00

I haven't been a vegetarian for very long (it'll be a year in September) nor have I cut out fish. No matter your reason for chosing vegetarianism, you'll inevitably go through some rough phases and period where you wonder about your place in an omnivorous society.

I grew up in a family eating all types of foods, including meat. I've never been a huge fan; I only ate extra-lean, well-cooked meats. I grew to like the taste, but the sight of raw meat (or the feel of it) and the preparation always turned me off. The idea of hunting or picturing an animal dying to be on my plate would make my stomach churn. I pretended I had no part in the process. In a way, you'll say, it was an easy choice for me to cut it out. It was, and it wasn't. I grew accustomed to certain meaty tastes (i.e. bacon, anyone?), I forgot how gelatin was an insidious ingredient (i.e. in yogourt and marshmellows) and I took for granted social rituals, especially surrounding holidays.

Paul McCartney - Famous & successful vegetarian

It was like stepping into an entirely different world. Restaurants, office lunches, travelling snacks hors d'oeuvres at gallery openings, offered far less options than I was use to. Most restaurants would tell me "we have salad" (which meant they had a green leaf salad with next to nothing in it) - as though I were a rabbit, giving me the most disconcerted look. I could read their expression: "Why in all the world's bounty would you want to be vegetarian, lady?" For the first few months, my extended circle of friends kept forgetting about my choice. Even though it wasn't intentionally neglectful, it felt like my decision mattered very little to anyone but to me.

My first Thanksgiving and my first Christmas were rough. My mom was very supportive and incorporated plenty of vegetables, protein rich dishes and baked me a salmon pie. However, my father was still in denial about my "quitting meat". I had to bring my own vegetarian option as a main course and was offered a few veggies. The smell of the turkey and meat pie filled the houses I went to. Maybe I'm wired all wacky, or maybe it's the effect of years in my Noth American omnivorous culture, but I still thought the smell of a roast was mouth-watering. Fortunately, my friend Victoria invited me to her (Polish) Christmas Eve and luckily, most of their traditional dishes are vegetarian or fish-based. There was hope.

Celebrity Vegan - Natalie Portman

If you're wondering why I chose to become vegetarian (pescetarian as it stands) this would be about the time I asked myself the same question. It's a combination of factors. Meat didn't sit well with me. I couldn't digest it, I couldn't sleep properly, I couldn't loose weight despite my very active lifestyle. I couldn't prepare meat on my own without needing to distract myself from the idea that this was once an animal... I personally felt like a hypocrite. Yes, I believe in animal rights, but I also believe that this is a personal choice. However, I do feel strongly that a mainly carnivore diet has many negative effects on environmental sustainability. If everyone reduced their meat consumption and integrated more vegetarian options, no one would have to "give it up", except if we wanted to, of course.

Vegetarian Lasagna

I made my decision by telling myself this was a temporary choice and it is for most people, but I firmly believe I can make this work for a really long time. With appropriate protein replacements and planning, not only can my daily routine of food preparation be nearly effortless, I could also easily adapt to traditional holidays. I found that knowledge is power; did you know red lentils replace ground beef wonderfully in most recipes? My inner Garfield threw a party as I could now have a hearty lasagna.

Support is incredibly important. From other vegetarians, but also from your social circle. Your friends and family need to be aware of dietery restrictions and substitutions, veggie-friendly restaurants and ensure to involve you in holiday and event meal planning. My brother use to be vegetarian, but essentially, my family and partner are meat-eaters. Fortunately, Scott makes tremendous efforts to accomodate my lifestyle by reducing the amount of meat we store at home, cooking vegetarian dinners for us both and informing our hosts of my diet. He's even quicker to ask waitors about their vegetarian options when we walk into a restaurant. That is the type of support that makes the omnivore/vegetarian relationship work!

North Indian Curry - Vegetarian

I've learned a lot about my body, about blood types, about protein and about cooking. I've learned the differences in types of vegetarianism (ovo-lacto, vegan, pescetarian) and the motivations that drive many of us to this choice. Many ethnic foods are surprisingly vegetarian friendly. So there, I have the world on my plate, from Thailand and India, to Italy, Ethiopia and Mexico.

The obstacles do not discourage me. They stimulate me: how can I thrive when all these factors act against a lifestyle I chose because I believe in it? I just need to create new traditions, adapt old ones, find new restaurants, browse cyberspace for new ideas, get one trusty cookbook and keep reminding people that this is a legitimate lifestyle choice.

As many vegetarians joke, when you get down, remember there is no meat in chocolate! :-)

That Boy Red inside all of us

2011-08-20T17:15:00.000-04:00

Back when I was working for the AOE Arts Council, that is when I started meeting interesting artists in need of tips for self-promotion. Unfortunately, part of the problem in building a career in arts has often more to do with a lack of business and marketing knowledge than it does with a lack of talent or opportunity. This said, as the Communications Coordinator for AOE at the time, I frequently met with these local artists to discuss their target audiences and strategize on their next moves. This was a very stimulating but also very tedious task. Occasionally, I met an individual with a lot of drive and I felt even more encouraged to share my professional tips. Ottawa Award winning author Rachna Gilmore is one of these people.

I first met Rachna at an AOE Meet'n'Munch and we chatted briefly about the writing and publishing business. She struck me as a lively woman, with a bright mind and buckets full of curiosity: for learning, for life and for people. Over the space of a couple of months, we chatted about new ways to reach out to her demographic: youth and schools. Her books are both researched and well-written, accessible and relevant. Having known tremendous success with The Trouble with Dilly, we wondered how to promote That Boy Red, a historical novel about an 11 year-old boy growing up in PEI, in the Depression. The whole book was based on anecdotes her father-in-law would recount. I thought the book would basically sell itself: it's dynamic, it's fun, it's realistic and it speaks to Canadians. And what a hook to say this was based on family stories! As a thank you, Rachna offered me a copy of my own to read. It's a few months later, in preparing my trip to PEI for a family wedding, that I decided to crack it open.

To my surprise, I couldn't put the book down. At best, I expected a charming story with a few chuckles. What I got was a captivating tale of a fiery lad with a thirst for life. He is hard working, curious and has a temper but a good heart. He gets caught in these crazy adventures but in the end, he's a good kid who loves his family. I laughed out loud and I even read a few chapters to Scott - who loved the chapter on the Outhouse Bandit. The protagonist somehow reminded me of my childhood, despite having grown up in the 80s-90s in a city, near the capital. That is to say, I can't help but think there is a Red in all of us. The narrative flows, the dialect comes through, the drama is balanced with humor and the tale is believable. I highly recommend That Boy Red to any child, teen or adult needing to connect with this youthful spirit.

A trip to PEI

2011-08-17T12:24:00.000-04:00

Bridge in Summerside, PEI. (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé 2011

My short adventure to the Maritimes took me to Prince Edward Island. The catalyst was a family wedding, but the greater motivation was definitely the thirst for travel and discovery.

I found out the Island is divided into four major areas, including the famous Cavendish, known world-wide because of the tales of Anne of Green Gables. We drove on the Confederation Bridge and into Gateway village; we had ways to drive still as we were staying in Waterford, in the North West part of the Island.

We stayed in a cottage on the water front. We enjoyed a walk on the golden beach with red cliffs, even in a misty rain and an unfriendly breeze. Our arrival day aside, we had absolutely beautiful weather. The Islanders told us we brought the sun.

Rusty Anchor. (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé, 2011

We spent the better part of our time there driving around, seeking sights to see, things to do and locals with whom to chat. We drove through Skinner's Pond and saw Stompin' Tom's house. We went to Cavendish and Summerside. We even signed up for Deep Sea Fishing. An idea I half-regretted for the number of flapping fish and fish guts I hadn't accounted for... serves me right I s'pose. The photos I took from the trip overall were fantastic (I'm still going through them).

We also visited the Green Gables house, made famous by L.M. Montgomery, and we stopped by the Glass Bottle House in Mont-Carmel. On our way out, we had breakfast in the capital: fishcakes at Maid Marian's, a local restaurant in Charlottetown.

The family activities enabled more bonding with my man's clan - an opportunity I was happy with which to be presented. As for the wedding itself, it was a delightful (and short!) ceremony and a low-key reception in River Mills. The guests were so welcoming and kind and all were in a festive mood. Scott and I even got to dance!

My trip was made even more interesting by the fact that I was reading, parallelly, a novel by Ottawa writer Rachna Gilmore, about a PEI boy growing up on the Island in the Depression. But, That Boy Red is for another post.

From the West to the East Coast

2011-08-10T16:29:00.002-04:00

I love to travel. I love everything about it. The discovery, the sense of adventure, the people, the food and music, the transportation, the spontaneity, even the waiting in transit and the mishaps. This year, I could not leave the country for some customary globe-trotting, but I am definitely one to seize opportunities when they come my way. Actually, I swim out to my ship frequently, I don't wait for it to come into harbour. This summer, the wind blew my sails from West to East.

In July, Scott was sent to Vancouver to work on a conference for about a week. Due to a very fortunate combination of circumstance, I was able to follow. Actually, I prefer, to say I bumped my own rather blurry plans to visit Vancouver to this summer, as there were good odds of this trip being a successful one. My brother Tristan often says: "Mercedes, why do you rush to go overseas, when there is so much of this beautiful country to see?" He's right. Travelling, much like charity, should start at home.

I'd taken a few trips to Europe and of course, I had been to the States, Mexico and Cuba all by 2009. But how much of my homeland had I seen? Well, I'd been to Montreal and Québec countless times. I have only been to Toronto a few times as a professional and I'd only really toured through the many picturesque regions of Québec in 2008, back when I worked a Liaison contract for the uOttawa. Since then, I hadn't ventured much out of Ottawa or Montreal. Friends lived in Vancouver for the past year or so, but I couldn't afford the plane fare nor the time off.

With Scott working there, lodging came with the deal and thanks to my avid traveller friend Phil - who also happens to work for Air Canada - I found a ridiculously good ticket deal! Effectively, there were no more obstacles keeping me from drifting to the West Coast. Cold weather aside, I loved Vancouver. How can it be so cold in July? I don't mind the rain so much, but I hadn't exactly packed for 15 degrees Celcius ! I guess that serves me right for not checking the weather network. Oh well.

Vancouver Art Gallery, (c) Ahmad Kavousian (Flickr)

I explored on my own; visited art galleries, namely the Vancouver Art Gallery, Granville Street, cycled through Stanley Park, danced at the Show Boat, had sushi at Shabusen, met local swing dancers and shot plenty of photos. Together, Scott and I made our way to the artsy Granville Island, brunched at Café Medina, walked through Gastown, we dined at the seafood Mecca Joe Fortes, we surfed the free wave when our friend Lisa got us into the Aquarium. We also visited the UBC campus, the Nitobe Garden and Wreck Beach (clothing optional)...we took off our socks - My my!

I guess I'm grateful for Scott in more ways than one. Not only does he enhance the quality of my life with his friendship and love, but travelling together is also a delight. I must admit also, that he provides me with the "excuse" to travel to these places with specific targets: when/where/why/what to do/with whom? I had a choice and I chose to experience something new. That's what it's all about. This past spring, we also found out that a cousin of his was tying the knot...in PEI. I heard the Maritimes calling, even then and my heart skipped a beat.

Anne of Green Gables, PEI Tourism.

The August wedding is happening this week-end, finally. My suitcase is packed with the essentials: clothes for unpredictable weather, fancy outfits for the wedding (I bring two, I don't know my crowd!), a few products and of course, my camera gear. Digital and Mini Diana are my companions. they are witnesses to my adventures. In preparation for my departure, I read a bit about The Island, I am half way through That Boy Red, a novel by local award winning author Rachna Gilmore and I've been listening to a Celtic satellite radio station. WHAT? To me, a trip is like Christmas; I get in the mood and I feel very enthusiastic about the whole deal. Whale watching, local arts & crafts, Cavendish & Anne of Green Gables, red sand, potato-parade and scary lobsters; I won't eat. Honestly, I wonder about food that looks like it could either escape my plate or worse, fight back.

Based on my relationship to each coast, respectively instigated and in utero, I gather that Vancouver will have been for the Art, and Charlottetown, for the Heart.

The wind is rising, I'm set for the Island adventure...

Swing Blogger

2011-07-29T13:26:00.000-04:00

Charleston Dancers, Photo from DanceHeritage.org

Lately, I've been blogging a little for Swing Dynamite. Check it out, here. My latest post is about the importance of venturing outside of your comfort zone while trying to grow as a dancer.

Cropping Your Photos

2011-07-20T12:23:00.000-04:00

Music Exhibition, Photo from Harry's Blog

Harry Nowell Photography writes both a blog and a monthly e-newsletter, which I read carefully. This month's post is a very interesting perspective on cropping your images: from the camera to the print. I happen to agree that when it's possible, producing a next-to-perfect photo from your camera saves you tremendous amounts of time in post-processing.

Read about cropping!

Want to read more about photography?
Harry Nowell's Blog

My Adventures in the Darkroom

2011-07-12T13:30:00.000-04:00

The James Dean Character, (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé, 2011

I recently took a Film Photography Bootcamp with SPAO. I absolutely loved it! I've posted my four best prints on my tumblr site. Check them out!

Rideau Street, Ottawa, June 2011. (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé

Snapshot: Evaluating your own improvement as a photographer

2011-06-28T21:03:00.002-04:00

"Be good to yourself. Be critical, in order to improve, but also, recognize what you have accomplished" Harry Nowell said to me during our latest class.

During the course of the Professional Program, which serves as a certificate of Photography, one needs to follow a minimum of five workshops, 40 hours of shadowing and four one-on-one classes. Having completed my shadowing and classes months ago, I have been taking privates to discuss my progress and learning. As the end of my Pro Program is fast approaching, I'm filled with a little nostalgia, a bit of anxiety and a worry... am I good enough?

Victoria. (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé, 2011

Sure, I can usually manage to calm myself down with reasonable explanation, but I can't help getting a little antsy. "You have accomplished a lot in barely a year..." Harry told me. "I'm sure you could teach me a lot about photography. I'd like to learn." Scott said to me the other day at Bate Island. He was shooting on my Nikon D3000 and I was shooting on a 35 mm Minolta SLR.

"You are completing a certificate, not a PhD," I told myself.

I also look at my first photos and some from 6 months ago. I suppose in this respect, a photo blog is incredibly useful... It allows you to monitor your progress visually and chronologically. "Oh, it seems I've mastered the concept of depth of field after X amount of months..." or "Wow, I don't know when or how, but seems I can now freeze motion (or any goal you had)".

Peek-a-boo. (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé, 2011

I updated my tumblr photo blog and was astonished by how some of my photos - but mostly the ones I set out to get as part of a project or vision and not just random shots - are technically better, compositionally stronger and my exposures are now only sometimes slightly off... as opposed to "always" and "terribly".

I must say that my experience with film - although limited - is forcing me to slow down and reflect on the creative and technical processes of photographing. Of 48 photos (2 rolls of film), I can safely say from seeing the negatives that at least a third are overall successful and at least half are well exposed, if not anything else extraordinary (i.e. subject matter, composition).

Knowing this, I'm encouraged to shoot more and with the end of my program, comes a certain level of freedom to shoot for myself. Perhaps that through this new perspective, my photography will reach new levels and allow me to freelance occasionally.

Darkroom Tales

2011-06-27T14:15:00.000-04:00

I've been taking the School of Photographic Arts: Ottawa (SPAO) Film Photography Bootcamp with David Elden. The course is well constructed as it involves two theoretical classes on history of photography and aesthetics, then three hands-on classes including shooting, developing and print making.

This week-end was the Fringe Festvial and of course, Rib Fest. While I passed on the meat parade, I did join in on the Fringe. I'm only a little disappointed I hadn't taken my camera. But then again, I'd had my fill of photography for the day...

A Darkroom with Ilford light filters

Yesterday, while my boyfriend was licking BBQ sauce off his fingers, I was wiping developer, stop and fix from mine as I swooshed around my contact sheet in bins of solution. I'm a new vegetarian - not quite a year yet - so I could pass on rib fest and he was happy not to have to worry about me finding something of interest for myself at such an event. I would've been okay regardless, but I was filled with excitement, knowing that not only I could skip out on Rib Fest, but I would be in a darkroom learning all about the chemistry behind all those images I hold dear.

When I got to class, I was nervous. I'd shot my two rolls of film (24 frames) thinking they were 36... I was anxious at having to admit I'd "broken" the reel. I was afraid of "not doing it right". Our instructor was not only informative but also patient and kind. I was relieved to discover that I'd done nothing wrong at all! I found the developing tank and bobins to look quite foreign and the idea of standing in a pitch black room with seven other strangers and scissors kicking around to "cut the film" once it has successfully been loaded was a bit nerve wracking. As it turns out, processing film is a lot like "doing laundry" as Dave put it. There are many simple steps that become like second nature. I must say I very much enjoyed the less messy bit involving timed exposure lights and red safe lights. As this is a class, we accomplished in 4 hours: developing our film, making test strips and printing our contact sheets. In two weeks, we actually make our second contact sheet and print our photographs.

IE University Darkroom (mediacampus.ie.edu)

Once I left SPAO, I met up with Scott in Meatland, where he was waiting for me with a clean shirt and sandals I'd asked for... Awe. I guess I'm ok with him eating meat. Afterall, there's bone marrow on the film emulsion, so despite my best efforts, some parts of living are just not that ecofriendly. So to appease my conscience, I attended the Fringe and supported the local arts scene. An improv play and a comedy duo later, I'd laughed and reflected on my generation: Y. If I take my cue from stand up duo Chris N Peter Save the World, then I should sleep just fine, because I, my friends, already compost.

Reflections Post CDF

2011-06-22T16:19:00.027-04:00

Last week, I attended three out of four nights of the Canada Dance Festival. I saw Montreal's Jacques Poulin Denis as well as Lara Kramer, Vancouver's 605 Collective and Ottawa's own Bboyizm, led by Crazy Smooth.

605 Collective. (c) Wendy D Photography

I could probably say a lot about how fantastic this edition of the CDF was and how relevant its programming was. I think it's more important to give a few key comments about the artists who performed as it says more about canadian dance.

I've blogged about Jacques Poulin Denis and relayed interviews with Helen Husak and Kevin Ormsby from Kashedance as well as with Brian Webb, the artistic director from the CDF.

Kashedance

A few things were particularly memorable, in my view, in Kramer's, 605 Collective's and Bboyizm's choreographies.

Kramer's Fragments retold the story and more importantly, the emotions felt by her mother when she attended residential schools in Manitoba as a child. The first part of her show was very slow moving and much less focused on dancing, but the second half was very well constructed; it featured blood stoping facts on audio clips and very compelling choreography and music. The latter merged both contemporary and traditional aboriginal music and movement.

605 Collective. (c) Wendy D Photography

The second half of that evening's program presented 605 Collective's Inheritor EP, exploring the relationship with time, age and the concept of heritage in all forms, whether cultural or genetic. This group of five dancers was incredibly energetic and fun. Their range of performance extends from contemporary and ballet to hip hop and martial arts. Their 3-piece number progressed towards more dynamic sequences and seemed to explore different aspects of heritage, such as genetics, environment and individuality. Their closing piece was definitely the one that had the crowd moving in their seats; it presented the dancers in a combination of choreographed group sequences and selected seemingly improvised solo jams, hence the notion of individuality within a group or set circumstances.

BBOYIZM

The Festival's very last show was offered to an Ottawa troupe: Bboyizm. The show, IZM, was about introducing the audience to the essence of hip hop culture - a very contemporary wave. The group, although mainly composed of male dancers, showcased the talents of three b-girls who held their own in a style that usually plays to the male physique and strenghts. Crazy Smooth (aka Yvon Soglo) opened the number with a small prologue and an introduction to hip hop and how it's a concrete representation of cultural disapora and ideally, of cultural dialogue. The athleticism, the aesthetics, the reflection and the sheer fun that went into pulling this together and sharing it with the audience was truly inspiring.

Double Bills at the CDF

2011-06-17T13:49:00.000-04:00

Helen Husak

Last night, Helen Husak premiered her choreography Fight or Flight then, Kevin Ormsby and his company, Kashedance, presented Recalcitrare. You can see the interviews with these artists and with Brian Webb, Artistic Director of the Festival.

Helen Husak Interview

Kevin Ormsby Interview

Brian Webb Interview

Tonight, the CDF's double bill includes Vancouver's 605 Collective's Inheritor EP and Lara Kramer's Fragments. This promises to be a dynamic and fresh show.

CDF opening hits bullseye with Jacques Poulin Denis' Cible de Dieu

2011-06-16T12:26:00.000-04:00

The Canada Dance Festival opened last night. The National Arts Centre's Studio welcomed Montreal contemporary choreographer Jacques Poulin Denis. His piece, Cible de Dieu (Target of God) was both compelling and a perfect choice to launch this year's program.

Jacques Poulin Denis. Photo: Joffrey Rivard

The choreographer walked on stage and addressed the crowd, introducing his performance. At first, we think that he is truly speaking for himself, but we soon realize that he plays a character who happens to be a dancer.

The piece speaks of delusion and defeat. How he handles the struggle is what throws us off while reminding us that we all have our bag of problems. He faces challenges with sound and props, feelings and memories and engages the crowd, every step of the way. For instance, the performer asks spectators to hum his song so that he "can perform anyway". At every turn, something goes wrong, but the show must go on. All he needs is "a little adaptation". He also recounts anecdotes that are either humorous, nostalgic or sorrowful.

Jacques Poulin Denis in Cible de Dieu

He takes the audience through a range of emotion, tracing his character's experience. Jacques Poulin Denis believes that it's important for the crowd to feel something during his piece, rather than to simply reflect on it. In doing so, he feels that the audience accompanies him in getting back to basics, to what is important and to what it means to be human. This charismatic artist's work is brilliant and accessible.

Canada Dance Festival Opens Tonight

2011-06-15T11:18:00.001-04:00

It is coming to the stage tonight: the 2011 Canada Dance Festival.

The festival opens with Montreal artist Jacques Poulin Denis, who will be dancing his Cible de Dieu choreography (Target of God). The number is meant to convey the struggle and victory of the artist over challenges. The dance will bring performer and audience together through compelling movement and dialogue. As a CDF volunteer, I will be meeting Poulin Denis today to interview him about his work and his participation in the festival. Stay tuned for the video posted on Youtube!

605 Collective - Canada Dance Festival website

The CDF will also showcase Kashedance, Helen Husak, Lara Kramer, 605 Collective and Ottawa's own BBOYIZM. The festival runs every evening at 7:30 p.m. from Wednesday June 15 to Saturday, June 18 at the National Arts Centre. Check out the schedule here.

I'll be attending most of the shows and blogging about them. If you prefer to see the shows than to read about them, then get your ticket before it's too late! This is the best quality/price ratio in contemporary dance so if you like this artform or this type of event, don't miss out.

Le pArty - Ottawa Art Gallery's Annual Art Auction

2011-05-31T16:59:00.001-04:00

This week, it's the visual arts happening of the season. The Ottawa Art Gallery is hosting Le pArty, it's annual fundraising art auction. It showcases local artists, whether they are emerging, mid-career or established. It's a great opportunity for the community at large as well as art lovers to witness what artists are up to in our Nation's Capital. Proceeds go towards our public programming.

As the Gallery's communications and marketing manager, I'll be attending the event. While my purpose for attending is first due to my functions, I feel priviledged to discover many new artists, to learn about our local arts scene and to be part of a growing culture in Ottawa. And who wouldn't be excited about the bidding and networking? It's almost like being part of an episode of Sex and the City, you know, minus Manhattan as a backdrop. That said, stay tuned for the City's decisions regarding the Arts Court redevelopment plans and of course, how Ottawa plans to expand the Ottawa Art Gallery.

"You are invited to the ‘party’ of the year! An exciting annual art extravaganza which features over 60 original works of art from some of the region’s most talented visual and media artists. Cocktails and delicious appetizers are served by innovative local restaurants and caterers. The excitement in the room is palpable as the enthusiastic crowd of “le pArty-ers” bid on outstanding works of art. We guarantee an unforgettable evening of art, fun, and fierce bidding.

Funds raised are dedicated to Public Educational Programs, connecting children and families to the exciting world of modern and contemporary visual art."

Thursday 2 June 2011

6:00 to 8:30 pm

The Ottawa Art Gallery

2 Daly Avenue

Tickets $85

Balicious Westie Hopper

2011-05-31T12:06:00.001-04:00

This past May long week-end, I attended the annual Canadian Swing Championships. I have not seen too many photos surface yet, but it was the event's 10th anniversary and there were definitely plenty of great dances to be had and Solomon Douglas played live!

Balboa back in the day

As this was my second year, I went to CSC with the intention of dancing more, or learning from experience. I also went to witness my contemporaries dance an 80 year old dance style as though it were still danced in clubs today. You'd never believe we're in 2011 based on the dancing, the clothes and the vintage hair-do's!

Myles & Tessa, Canadian West Coast Champions

I also aimed to compete more, and I did! I signed up for the Newcomer West Coast, Open Lindy and Open Balboa Jack and Jills and made finals in West Coast. I did not place, but I was very happy to make finals in a style I have not been dancing seriously for more than a month and with one workshop and one private as formal training. I was proud that I competed, knowing that I was sharing the floor with dancers I knew to be stronger than I was in Balboa, such as my coach, Natalia Rueda. I was a little disappointed in my lindy dances for the JJ competition, but that's just the way those roll; it's luck of the draw from the partner to the music to the mood you're in that day and the judges' panel and those few seconds they look at you. Oh well...

What I enjoyed most were my social dances. I even got a birthday jam with the pros. I had quite a few fun lindy hop dances to Solomon Douglas' band and I danced mostly to the Westie rhythms and learned plenty!

I may not have won any titles, but I left CSC feeling like a hybrid dancer, like a balicious westie hopper, or something like that. Anyhow, I had a blast!

Will Work For Food: Community Arts Project here in Ottawa!

2011-05-25T12:48:00.000-04:00

The Ottawa Art Gallery has put together an exciting and compelling community arts project involving two artists, Operation Come Home and The Ottawa Mission. Will Work For Food is an initiative of the OAG and presents the works of Jennifer Cook and Alexis Williams.

Jennifer Cook is an artist inspired by culinary themes, colourful combinations and quilt patterns and with this in mind, she has pulled together many garden designs. Thanks to her creativity and involvement, the lawn at Arts Court will soon become an oasis of colourful edible goods. Alexis Williams is the artist who will build mushroom sculptures with recycled phone books in which will be grown actual mushrooms!

Will Work For Food web page

The idea is to learn and share knowledge about growing your own food and following the artist through the process. The best part? It's produce will be shared with the community and of course, the hands-on participants. In the Fall, a feast will be held to celebrate the harvest.

This Friday, May 27 is the Community Work Bee from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., rain or shine! Come lend a hand to this tasty project! You can also follow their adventures and read the blog here.

Because we know we can dance

2011-05-18T09:33:00.003-04:00

Jacques Poulin Denis, Canada Dance Festival website

There is this unfortunate stigma that with summer comes a slump in the dance world. True, major programming is at its off season in order to prepare the next big productions. However, it's a fabulous time for dance labs, summer camps, festivals and social dancing.

This week...

TOUT DANSE

Contemporary Dance by DORSALE danse
May 19 and 20, 2011
Salle Jean-Depréz

Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and $20 for students
Tickets may also be obtained by calling 819-243-8000.

A local dance project to encourage.
Excerpt from the press release:

City of Gatineau, in collaboration with DORSALE danse, presents an evening of contemporary dance entitled Tout Danse in which choreographers Peggy Baker, Lana Morton, Julie Anne Ryan and Sylvie Desrosiers invite audiences to follow the golden thread of their artistic vision on a journey through the realm of creative inspiration. (...)

These four choreographers, from Toronto, Ottawa and Gatineau respectively, will present three new dance creations back to back, looking at dance from three individual viewpoints.

Peggy Baker: Three Story House For Peggy Baker, who enjoys an international reputation as one of the most influential performers in contemporary dance of her generation, the spaces we inhabit reflect and shape who we are. She holds up a lens that allows us to observe objects in their miniaturized forms, destabilizing our perspective and leading us to greater self-awareness. (...)

The dramatic atmosphere created by these three poetic works is sure to provide audiences with a compelling and uplifting experience of what it means to be human.

Lana Morton and Sylvie Desrosiers are Ottawa based choreographers who are also behind the Ottawa Dance Directive (ODD) collective currently residing in Arts Court.

LALALA HUMAN STEPS

Lalala Human Steps, New Work, Photo from NAC website

I have been a fan of Edouard Lock's work for years, I have seen Amelia on dvd many a times, but now, always hoping I would get to see one of his choreographies live. That dream will come true this week; Lalala Human Steps' New Work is performing (today and tomorrow) at the National Arts Centre (NAC) and I purchased a ticket for myself. I wasn't sure exactly how I wanted to treat myself this year, but this is quite a nice birthday present, I must say.

In June...

Helen Husak, Canada Dance Festival website

CANADA DANCE FESTIVAL:

June 15-18, 2011

Ottawa hosts a contemporary dance festival annually. The Festival is a collaboration betweent the organizing committee and the National Arts Centre (NAC). The event showcases canadian choreographers from coast to coast who are often emerging artists and even, rising stars of the dance world. This year, the Canada Dance Festival brings you Jacques Poulin Denis, Helen Husak, KasheDance, Lara Kramer, 605 Collective, Bboyizm.

 All summer long!

Acrobatic Lindy Hop

Swing Dynamite & Ottawa Swing Dance Society

These two swing dancing groups have at least one common goal: to make you dance! Swing Dynamite, as I've mentionned many times before, is "Ottawa's Swing Dancing School" and specializes in teaching all of the swing dance styles, and does so, with instructors that are both FUN as well as competent, accomplished dancers.

Swing Dynamite hosts social dances with two lounges (traditional lindy hop and west coast swing) every saturday. They are also behind Petit Chicago Swing, every first Tuesday of the month.

Ottawa Swing Dance Society (OSDS) has been around for a little more than a decade to bring swing dancing to the capital. As a not-for-profit, they manage to organize social dances for all ages and even set-up some pretty cool workshops. OSDS hosts social dances every friday.

Salsa on Friday Nights with Dancestudios.ca
Join us for Friday Night Salsa!!

Every Friday, 9 pm-1 am
151 Chapel st - parking lot entrance
FREE PARKING
Free 30 min beginner Salsa class at 8:30-9:00 pmCover $4, Dance Studios students only $2
http://www.dancestudios.ca/

Polaroid Love

2011-04-22T19:53:00.000-04:00

I have been handed a treasure. One that I do not fully understand yet and perhaps, that I will need to deserve. My mom cleaned out her closets, boxes and storage as she is preparing to sell her house. She walked up to me with a big bulky black box dangling from a string, that I see from the corner of my eye...

Could it be??? No...

"I thought you might use this for your photography...you know, if it's not too old."

It was a Polaroid Spirit camera. The one I remembered my parents using when I was a child, the one from which came most of my baby pictures. The one I was so sad to hear my parents had "misplaced" or "gotten rid of". My mom pipes up: "I took all of my graduation photos with this, sweetheart." It was in front of me, in all it's glorious vintage charm.

I tinkered a bit with it, curious but afraid of breaking anything. A few blank photos popped out! The film was way too old and it'd been in there for...how many years? It was nostalgic and mysterious nonetheless. I started thinking of the fun I could have playing with this very old camera, if I were to get my hands on polaroid film... Apparently, you can get some anywhere on the web - remember how I've stated I find the Internet to be a wonderful place - but specifically, you can find anything polaroid-related through the polaroid-passion website. That said, my being entrusted with such an oldschool jewel, I'm inspired to learn from local business owners and experts such as the Camera Trading Company, on Bank street (Ottawa). I'd first like to find out if they have film and if they could evaluate its condition.

I really don't see how it would not work, as my mother took exquisite care of her belongings, but what if it needs to be cleaned or tuned-up? Ok, it's not a car, but any antique or car collector knows that you need to verify the condition of collectibles, and if you find a priceless piece, then you need to make sure it's up to par! I feel like I suddenly became a parent and feel ill-equiped to care for this new baby of mine.

At the same time, I probably know more about cameras (tools) and photography (art) than I ever have before. Maybe that is why I can appreciate the value of my mother's gift. Maybe that is why it still holds such wonder to me that this camera, however bulky for our digital age, is its own dark room. Wow.

As soon as I've settled into my new pad, I will go on a Polaroid adventure. After all, I will soon be exploring film more in depth through SPAO's Film Bootcamp.

For y'all swing folks

2011-04-19T21:56:00.001-04:00

Another of my Internet radio discoveries...

"Swing Out!" Vintage Lindy Hop shot.

This time, it's a specialized SWING music station! Indeed, Live365 (Kingdom of Swing) plays 30s and 40s classics that are both delightful to listen and dance to. While 8tracks present mixes, this is an ongoing radio station and is not user-generated.

I may be very behind on what began with satellite radio and developed with Internet based radio and custom radio, but I can't get over how FANTASTIC it is. I'm in love.

The World Wide Web is not just a big ol' scary place full of codes, spyware and viruses. Among my all-time internet favorites: email, google, youtube, facebook and blogs in general.

Regardless of being part of this generation who "grew up" with the web, I never quite "caught" all the trends and on the rare occasion that I really *get* a tech concept, I am overly excited by all the possibilities that open up. What can I say, I never cease to be amazed with all the good that technology can bring, despite what I mumble in my office on a daily basis about design and mass-email softwares.

Dancing at the Ottawa Gala

2011-04-19T18:04:00.003-04:00

OttawaGala.com

Midnight in Marrakech was the theme for this year's Ottawa Gala, this past April 16, 2011. The party was snazzy, the music was exotic and the food was delicious. What about the performers? Well, the belly dancing was very fitting for the thematic part of the entertainment and, of course, a swing performance was showcased.

Luckily, Swing Dynamite has been attending this gala for the past few years and I was part of the privileged few who got to wear the gorgeous costumes, dance our elegant choreography and of course, enjoy the fixings of a sweet gig: access to a VIP room, live music and a floor to dance your heart to, tasty nibbles and drinks. I suppose it was the place to be for up-and-coming young professionals and party goers.

Yes, I've been stalking the website for the 2011 photos... but considering that the 2010 photos aren't up, I'm not expecting them anytime soon. *Sigh*

Thinking back, I wonder what I was most excited about: performing this number for the first time, dancing my first swing gig, being on stage again for the first time in a while or simply to be at such a classy event. Definitely, all of the above.

It was a fabulous way – and I mean that quite literally – to break into performing this style of dance which I have been working on for nearly two years now. It’s different from competing or performing for other swing dancers: this is sheer entertainment and what it feels like to do show business… late nights, partying, dancing and putting your body through intense training and ensuring you are performance ready.

…I love the rush, and I put in the work, but at the end of the day, I’m grateful that this is not my daily routine. I truly respect professional dancers for how much they can handle and pull off.

Now, I'll admit, I still need an occasional fix; when is the next gig?

Event Photography - Part 2: Post-processing

2011-04-07T23:20:00.002-04:00

Food, flowers and drinks
(c) M. Déziel-Hupé

This week, I shot AOE Arts Council's AGM. Having never been assigned to this type of corporate event, I wasn't sure what to expect. I found that much like any other event, the challenges were the same.

Volunteer Gifts
(c) M. Déziel-Hupé

Lighting is always terrible, people move and some aren't very photogenic, no matter what you do to showcase their best features or get a flattering angle!

AOE Staff mix and mingle
(c) M. Déziel-Hupé

I decided to shoot mostly in 50 mm manual focus, using medium ISO (400 or 800 and 1600 for stage shots and practically inexistant light sources) big aperture (f1.8 to f2.5), medium shutter speed (approx. 1/60s) and often synching the external flash and diffuser. I was relieved to work mostly with one lens, as this allowed me to focus on the other features of my camera. I juggled the shot list and photo opportunities in my head, balancing again, the notions of technical perfection and circumstances.

Performance by OYPTS.
(c) M. Déziel-Hupé

I believe I was able to deliver a reasonable amount of photographs to my client (aka my boss: AOE Arts Council). In my very rough evaluation, about a third were a total loss, a third were decent to good and the last third are working progresses - which means (in english) that they need to be photoshopped to correct exposure or colour balance.

ARTicipate Endowment Fund Director,
Chantal Rodier
(c) M. Déziel-Hupé

Essentially, I am feeling encouraged that I've taken the challenge and have met expectations. Well, at least, other peoples'... mine are another story!

However, shots included here are among my favourite of the evening. They are also a fair mix of the elements of the Annual General Meeting and give an adequate overview of the atmosphere: formal speeches; networking and socializing among AOE members, Board members and AOE staff; entertainment and refreshments in a decorative "artsy" environment.

Event Photography - Part 1

2011-04-06T17:35:00.001-04:00

From the Black Light Party, March 2011
(c) M. Déziel-Hupé, 2011

I met with my photo teacher, Harry Nowell, last week to discuss my progress in the certificate program (also known as the ProProgram). Many items were discussed, such as balancing technical perfection and circumstance in the quality of your photos. Another topic we discussed was the level of difficulty in certain types of photography, namely, in Event Photography. This, of course, ties into to the conversation we had regarding technical perfection and circumstances.

What came out of it was that essentially, as opposed to Studio Photography, Event Photography is a field that offers little to no control over your subject. This in turn complicates your job as event photographer - how do you get everything on the shot list? Which lens do you use? Is your lighting test correct? What's too much in terms of equipment? Then, you have to make sure you don't mess up the podium shot, the VIP hand shake or that any other moment you cannot stage, like a christenning's blessing or a wedding's kiss.

From the Black Light Party, March 2011.
(c) M. Déziel-Hupé, 2011.

Harry was expressing how proud he was that most of what I was shooting recently was Event Photography because I was therefore challenging myself in a way, to get THE photo (or photos) that reflect the event I'm covering. Most of them have been dance-related events, which is a passion for me. Tonight, I'm actually applying my acquired knowledge and skills to my job's AGM. I'm already breaking into sweats about the podium shots... I'm more of a mix and mingle photographer then the type who boldly goes to the front of the crowd and attracts plenty of attention with her equipment. Alas, that is part of the gig.

Here's to hoping I get everything I need on the list!

Wind of Change

2011-04-06T12:40:00.001-04:00

Maybe it’s spring that awakens people, maybe it’s just the thing about change of seasons, the key word being “change”. A lot of people dread it, some people welcome it. The latter understand that the only thing that is constant, that is sure, is that all things pass, grow or evolve. To avoid frustration and to feel harmonious, it’s important to be open to change as it is inevitable.

This has become particularly important to me as 2010 was a rock’n’roll kind of year and only in the last few months have I started to embrace that some of the hardest and most dramatic changes are the ones who have the most positive impact.

My life, I am fortunate to say, is about to take on a very exciting journey.

I’ve successfully reoriented my Communications career into Arts Communication and this is an ongoing project which I believe to be increasingly more rewarding as I get involved further. Finally, my communications education is serving a passion of mine and going to work every day feels a lot less like a job and a lot more like a calling.

My photography certificate is drawing to an end and I feel a bit of nostalgia and anxiety. “How could I be done when I have so much left to learn?” I trust that I will continue growing, so much so, that I have challenged myself to a film bootcamp with SPAO. I’ll be starting in May…

For a plethora of reasons and because of a combination of factors, I’ve also decided to return to school part-time on a more formal basis. I broke the ice with photography, now I think I can handle exams as well… Come September, I’m tackling Social Media at Algonquin. Fitting, isn’t it?

If my career prospects weren’t effervescent enough, I’ve embarked on an exciting adventure with the Canada Dance Festival. I will be part of their communications team, so stay tuned! I mean, what better way to combine business with pleasure? Expect to be reading a lot more about dance come May/June…

Last but not least, I’m leaping into one of my biggest adventures yet. Actually, it would be for a lot of people…

It’s one that is both risky and thrilling. It’s bold and perhaps tinted with a bit of naiveness. It’s a rewarding battle between genuine happiness and mundane disenchantment. It’ll likely make me laugh and sometimes cry, it’ll yield feelings of frustration and of satisfaction. If anything, it’s bound to be a unique experience that will create cherished memories and hopefully, plenty of chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies.

Le Boyfriend and I have decided to shack up! Worry not, the career gal is feeling up to the challenge. She might even try to use the kitchen. ;)

Biennale Photo Contest Jitters

2011-03-29T18:27:00.000-04:00

It's not that I consider myself to be of the ranks of visual artists or of world press photographers, but entering a contest is something any photographer that aspires to get better should do. Why? Well, because it's an editing exercise, it's a challenge and it's rewarding if you do get exposure - and who knows, maybe even a prize?

A friend of mine told me about the Biennale Photo Contest, which is free to all applicants. I figured I needed to get my act together sooner or later, after having been shooting for just over a year now.

So, the editing exercise begins. One photo must be submitted, respecting a theme, of course, along with a artistic process (short essay form). I never thought I'd say this of my own work, but... ONLY one?

I've found there are many photographs of mine that I feel proud of or strongly about. But part of me wonders if you can really summarize one's work by one photograph? I suppose so, seeing as careers were built on unique shots - as it's often the case with Press or Celebrity/Fashion photogs.

I will keep you posted as to my Biennale adventures!

Diana Mini...Heart "Boom"

2011-03-24T21:57:00.001-04:00

The Toy Camera Saga continues...

After a disappointing first experience with my Holga film not developping - for not having been properly set, I suspect - I wrapped up my Fisheye and Diana Mini rolls and dropped them off to be developed.

Cassandra. Shot/Diana Mini (c) M. Déziel-Hupé

Thinking I was sparing myself hassle by dropping them to a local photolab, I cost myself aggravation: I waited three weeks for films to be sent out, processed and sent back...and NOT get a call from the lab to notify me that my photos were ready. If the photolab is not professional, I take it this means you cannot expect professional customer service either. *sigh* To make matters worse, I received my half-frame photos developed in full frame!?! Say what? No wonder the package was so voluminous!

Wow. I will be shopping for a new photolab. Suggestions, anyone? That is, of course, until I take my own crash course in film development. I may swear and rant and smell like chemicals, by God, I'll know how to use a darkroom by end of June!

If you're not already wondering, my Fisheye photos are alright because of the flash. Most of them turned out fairly decently. As for my Diana photos, most were out of focus. I suppose this is a combination of novelty, absence of flash and sketchy shutter - which makes the whole plastic body shake at every shot. Hmm. Well, there's only one thing to do: load another film and go again!

For all of my toy camera successes, visit my photo blog!

8tracks: custom web radio

2011-03-14T22:18:00.002-04:00

My boyfriend and I are social, art-loving, laid back kind of people. It just so happens that we also appreciate a wide range of music styles and discovering new ways to enjoy music is definitely a bonus.

Being a curious individual (an endearing and trying quality) and a trend-savvy Internet consumer, he naturally is a web radio user. Whenever we cook together, he instinctively puts on a new mix from a new site he's recently found. Once a fan of Grooveshark, he's been playing mixes from 8tracks, as of late.

I must say, I'm one of these people who is fascinated by technology - I am in awe of it. It's such that I feel wowed and intimidated by the wonders of the web. I don't know how to download or stream, not without major assistance, so digital piracy would probably always been way out of my league - thank goodness!

Courtesy of 8tracks - Hand Holding Mix

However, web radio is probably the ultimate pop-culture democracy. A site like 8tracks does not allow for free download or limitless skipping through playlists (and therefore consumerism) and as a social media platform, users generate the content. What better way to keep up with the trends, save money legally and boycott advertizements? It's brilliant!

I knew there was more to me liking my fella than his dancing, his charm, wit and good looks... I leave you with a cheesy hand-holding mix - quite the personal favourite, I must admit.

Moving Narratives: Contemporary Dance Meets Visual Art

2011-03-14T21:56:00.002-04:00

I have had the pleasure of following bits of the creative process by Anik Bouvrette from Tara Luz Danse. Her collaboration with visual artist Reid McLachlan was an innovative one which gave birth to Moving Narratives. Guerilla Magazine's G-Gallery has given me the opportunity to report on this unique project. Enjoy the read and drop by the East End to see the show!

Article from G-Gallery:

Monday, March 14, 2011

Story and photo above by Mercedes Déziel-Hupé

What would happen if visual art were to meet contemporary dance? Would paintings come alive through a dancer's movement? Would dance affect our reading of a canvas? Such questions brought Ottawa choreographer Anik Bouvrette (founder of Tara Luz Danse) together with painter Reid McLachlan on a unique project marrying a fluid form of art with one typically frozen in time.
Moving Narratives debuted at the Ottawa School of Art gallery (Orleans campus) on Thursday, March 10, combining two choreographies based on an earlier Bouvrette work called Ludivine and more than twenty of McLachlan’s paintings.
“I was rehearsing in a space that exhibited Reid’s work and I fell in love,” explained Bouvrette. “I called him and explained ‘we have got to talk. It’s eerie how there are connections between our creations!’”
McLachlan’s paintings are introspective, exploring the human condition with recurring themes such as love, grief, destiny and faith. This appears clearly in the artist’s use of colour and in the facial expressions of the figures that he paints.
To echo Ludivine, Bouvrette and Tara Luz Danse created Sariana, a sister piece forged entirely within the gallery, involving the space as part of the creation. In both pieces, the dancers/sisters interact with McLachlan’s work through use of speech, the objects depicted on the canvases, and thematic use of paper.
Both sisters leave behind a trail—one a row of light bulbs, the other with writing on the floor and a paper airplane—showing kinship as well as difference. The audience appreciated humorous touches in Sariana as a marked change from the innocence of Ludivine.
Performed at opposite ends of the gallery, the choreographies created the impression that the sisters were facing each other, conversing. Music added context to the images and movement and framed the pieces. Both dancers, Jacqueline Ethier (Ludivine) and Julie Anne Ryan (Sariana) delivered poignant performances.
One quibble about Sariana: Though there was plenty of interesting movement in the piece, as a dancer and audience member, I wanted to see a bit more actual dancing.
“It is always exciting for me to engage in a choreographic process where I have the opportunity to work with artists from other disciplines,” said Bouvrette after the debut performance. “It challenges me to approach my work in a different way: in this case, I had to reflect on finding moments of connection between the characters in Reid's works with the movement and the women in Ludivine and Sariana.”
Upcoming performances of Moving Narratives are scheduled for March 19 at 3 p.m., March 26 and 7 p.m., and March 27 at 3 p.m. For more info on the show or on Ottawa School of Art visit http://www.artottawa.ca/.

In the Studio with my buddy Fred

2011-03-02T11:36:00.001-05:00

This past week-end, Fred and I dragged ourselves to his sister's business (closed on week-ends) and took on the scary studio equipment.

I’m not quite ready to purchase a set of studio lights for myself. Fred decided to jump right in and bought some Bowens kit lights. Ready or not, I must tackle the tech-savvy genius inside me (which seems to be constantly on strike…) before I lose the edge. This would seem like a wise strategy mostly as to NOT forget any studio knowledge I may have acquired through my workshop with Harry Nowell and shadowing Gilda Furgiuele (Royale Boutique Photography).

So here we are on a sunny Sunday afternoon, inside an office space that has bright but locked windows and we are creating a space, building a set, finding a suitable background and putting the strobes together. In no time at all, the set starts looking like pros could be shooting there. Minus the soft box, the light-meter and synch flashes.

I went first.

Fred. (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé, 2011

Fred was my photographer client, looking for headshots for his website. That was the story anyway. I shimmied the lights around, played with the foolproof light wheels until I found a desired effect and I chatted with my model. I improvised with props and poses. The results were surprising. I must admit, I feel a spark of pride at the sight of my best shots. “Hey, I did that, all on my own!”

Then it was my turn to be a model.

I wonder if we are more difficult models, possibly even pickier than regular clients or if we are more easy-going as photographers in front of the lens… Somehow, I doubt that though. Could photographers be control freaks? Could it be that were are not able to withstand the sense of mystery from not looking through the viewfinder and being the subject? Or perhaps, is it that we don’t feel comfortable not being part of the creative process of a photo? In some cases, that could certainly be… My friend Alain, a fellow Pro Programmer, once told my boyfriend Scott (who was modeling with me that day) that I “didn’t take too well to direction” - a statement both of them found quite funny.

Ahem. Back to our shoot… Poor Fred; “Photoshop that. Crop there. Frame this differently. That’s not flattering at all: did you see the size of my arm? Why is there a shadow there? Maybe try this pose instead… Am I looking at you?” Regardless, Fred was patient and his results, although a very different style from mine, were quite unique. Maybe I’ll post a link to the photos he took, once they are up. One thing is for sure, it was a very constructive session for both of us.

Meanwhile, I am shooting Tara Luz Danse rehearsals at leisure and waiting on my Lomo Fisheye and Diana Mini rolls…

A Photo Slump

2011-02-24T22:38:00.004-05:00

Afternoon Bubbly (c) M. Déziel-Hupé, 2011

I have been lazy. I haven't really shot anything seriously or with any kind of care in over a month. Sure, I snapped photos here and there, but nothing I felt excited about. Am I a photographic failure? Am I a fraud? Am I simply in a slump?

Let's see. I have been in the Pro Program since August 2010 and have not only completed my course requirements, but I've also finished my mandatory shadowing requirements. I wish to continue following and helping my mentor, Gilda Furgiuele, as much as I can when the opportunity arises. If an interesting workshop comes along, like those of David Barbour, at SPAO, I'd sign up. Failure? Fraud? No, it doesn't seem that way on paper...

Starburst Bubbly (c) M. Déziel-Hupé, 2011

But for shooting on my own? Meh. It's like, I have no motivation. I'm guessing it's a phase. It may be that my first Holga film didn't turn out - not one bloody photo! My heart sank at the sight of "$0.00 - underexposed film". It may be that I had injured my ankle dancing and was somehow slowed down in anything I did. Or maybe it's the recent bad news that struck my family. In any case, I felt like photography became more than casual homework or a pleasant escape, it became a chore.

I began to ask myself how I could possibly want to shoot again. I'm not sure. But here's what I'll try... I've shot in the office in the last few days.

As someone who finishes what she starts and doesn't give up in the face of adversity, I've finished my roll of film on my Diana Mini. I dropped it off for development today and am crossing my figners tightly.

As a good student, I wondered what I needed to work on... I called my buddy Fred who's been shooting portrait for years and taking classes at Algonquin. "Fred, you and I, we need to practice with that set of studio lights of yours. I don't like all that tech stuff, but maybe together, we'll figure it out. How about this week-end?" Fred and I are shooting on Sunday.

Lastly, I thought that if I am to feel the shutterbug again, I need to shoot something I love. Thus, after weeks of procrastination, I introduced myself to Tara Luz Danse's contemporary dancer Julianne to ask her if she would be open to letting me shoot her rehearsal with choreographer Anik Bouvrette. I'm shooting tomorrow morning and attending their vernissage next week.

Project wrap-up! (c) MDH, 2011

Clic by clic, it's coming together.

My teacher, Harry Nowell, believes it is normal to go through phases, as you are learning and that perhaps, the best thing, is to allow yourself a break to better appreciate your hobby or sideline. I suppose the creative juices flow with ease if you allow the creative genius a holiday once in a while. And why not? We use our brains more efficiently when we are rested - a mind at peace is sharp!

Often, Harry tells us to "slow down" and "observe" to enable us to catch THE photo that is stunning, the angle that is unexpected, the detail that is overlooked. This applies to many things... When you step back, take some time and a deep breath, sometimes you can see the bigger picture.

Contemporary Dance in Music Videos

2011-02-22T21:53:00.001-05:00

Apparently, I'm late on this trend, but I've just discovered Christina Perri through her single "Jar of Hearts". I was listenning to one of these free music playlists such as Grooveshark and as I was basking in my enjoyment of a variety of styles and artists, this melancholic and haunting melody comes on. I asked my very own DJ who that was... As I drove home, I get a text: Christina Perri - Jar of Hearts. I youtubed her, and here I am, blogging.

Why?

Christina Perri's album cover

Ok. I like the song, but I thought I'd share how I appreciate the artistic appeal of her video. It's important for musicians to set themselves apart with a striking video, along with a peculiar sound and why not a touch of personal style?

I liked her voice and her vibe. I like the girl's look, ink and fucky hair. The video's gloomy grey tone, wind and dust contrast nicely with the artist's white dress and the delicate form of the dancers' bodies.

Have I mentioned that contemporary dance is showcased in a mainstream video?

Yeah, that's why I like this clip: despite the commercial context, the dancing is personal. The solo contemporary is accessible yet powerful. Moreover, the duet is one I find compelling.

In this clip, dance not only complements what the artist is singing about, but could easily tell the story of a broken heart and a conflicted relationship through body movement and semiotics.

Dance is self-expression. Dance is a hybrid of language and symbology. It communicates emotion on a level that is often difficult to verbalize. In this fashion, dance is an art form that can never be replaced, no matter how precarious or ephemeral it may appear when compared to more tangible and to seamingly more permanent disciplines, such as visual arts or even theatre.

Dance is a moment. It is a way to illustrate humanity with most accuracy: beautiful, imperfect, lively, ephemeral, delicate and powerful.

Film Roll Please...

2011-02-16T16:44:00.001-05:00

I am anxiously waiting for my very first roll of Holga 35 mm film to come in...

I have yet to finish my Lomo Fisheye and Mini Diana 35 mm rolls. Naturally, as luck would have it, my flash battery in my Fisheye died and my Half-Frame Diana indicates 57 photos… The roll ends at 72. *Sigh* More band for your buck, right?

So here I am, waiting. Like a kid for a surprise, which could go either way, really. But the excitement is still looming. Will the photos turn out? Will I like the effect or recognize the subjects on my photos? Wow, I have been snapping away at things nonchalantly for nearly 2 months. I can’t quite remember all I have captured. I wonder if I managed to warm up to this toy camera. I’m hoping for interesting hues and saturation, for vignetting maybe? At the very least, I want the shots to be decently exposed. Holga, don’t let me down.

I might be taking some contemporary dance shots of an ongoing project with Tara Luz Danse this week, which would mean the inevitable return to my Nikon D3000, but that does not mean I’ll give up on film trials. I must admit, I am looking forward to this sneak peek at Moving Narratives. It’s a race: will the film come in sooner than the dance shoot or will it be the other way around? I can’t recall how long film takes to be developed… Perhaps this is why I’m so excited about Harry Nowell’s film development workshop coming this summer 2011!

Either way, I’ve got awesome photo adventures to look forward to!

Valentine's Disclaimer: Romance is Spontaneous!

2011-02-13T15:11:00.011-05:00

Still from Across the Universe

Another year, another red wave in the stores and a rush to make a romantic stand (or be reminded of the absence of need to express anything for anyone special). I've spent many a Valentine's alone reflecting on the meaning of the holiday. I have my own. I choose to consider the broader concept of love: not the passionate tormented love, but the one that brings peace.

St. Valentine with Luke

I love Love. It's the air I breathe and the fire in my heart. Anything I do, I do with love. I dance with love: for the art, for the presence it allows me to reach. Any friends, family or relationships I have, I care for with love. Everyone has a purpose and it is not up to me to decide which it is: I love and accept with faith that the people in my life have something to teach me and perhaps, I may be able to help them as well.

For the lonely hearts: love your friends, your family and everything that makes your life so exciting. The right people walk into our lives when we are happy because that's when we shine. And the time you'll spend between now and then, you will spend fulfilled.

I think love is a wonderful, mysterious, powerful thing. I think it should be celebrated. To celebrate it is to mark it with something special or unique because every love story, whether parent/child, best friends or lovers is authentic. Moreover, I think that reducing Love to chocolates, lingerie and flowers is cheap and superficial. Don't get me wrong, I fully encourage romance. But true romance is not cliché. Rather, it's spontaneous.

Candy can talk...

Romance is when your heart skips a beat because your loved one said something totally quirky that only you two understand. It's feeling special because you share a thought, a laugh, a moment. Romance is improvised. It's expressing yourself as genuinely as possible with the means at hand. It's picking a flower from a field of wild daisies, it's a note wishing you a good day, it's sharing your snack even when you're hungry, it's acting silly for a smile, dancing close in a kitchen wearing a tea towell. It's asking about someone's favourite childhood memories. That's the stuff that leads to a happy heart.

I am very fortunate to be with someone who fosters creative interests, who strives for happiness daily and sees the world through his own glasses; he thinks outside the box. Even though I am close to him, he manages to surprise me. What a ride! I can honestly say his antics warm my heart, draw many smiles and... fill my tummy with deliciousness!

Love is more than romance. You see it in how a parent cares for a child, how devoted a teacher is to a class, how supportive a friend and how much of a friend your lover is to you. Great romance and love stories aren't made of lifetimes of trips to Monaco, bubble baths and fine dining. The happiest of people are the ones who want the life they live. What makes it so great is how you consciously make everyday an adventure. What makes Love so delightful is the balance between the thrill and the haven. It's how you discover each other little by little, the amazing fibre and the beautifully imperfect, and accept every part lovingly as you uncover the mystery, which you will never fully grasp...

Happy Valentine's Day!

My favourite blogger

2011-02-09T18:29:00.001-05:00

Does it ever happen to you, that a friend refers a blog as they would refer a book?

I guess maybe it's the crowd I hang around with but mine do, all the time. Blogs are a form of guilty pleasure. It's an opportunity to read something entertaining or witty and experience someone else's point of view. This other person is not necessarily an Ivy League graduate or an experienced journalist. They are often ordinary people with special itnerests or a particular desire to express them.

Some of them just like the sound of their own voice... But for the most part, a successful blog is one that has a marketable appeal. For instance, My Milk Toof is an artistic blog about the adventures of milk teeth once a child grows his adult molars. Naturally, this was a suggestion from my Fine Arts Major colleague at OSA - Thanks Virginia, I love Ickle and Lardee.

My personal favourite blog is one of photography. It was not referred to me by a friend but discovered randomly on Twitter. I was intrigued by the Tweeter's Photobooth profile pic and I ventured onto her website: Hula Seventy.

Andrea, a blogger, is a fan of photography, but not of just any type – traditional 35 mm photography. A blogger since 2005, she is addicted to Polaroid. Naturally, she also takes digital photos, but her preferred field is “old school” photography.

She takes a new look through old lenses.

With her choice of subject and use of light and colours, her images denote a simplicity and freshness that heals the wounded heart of daily monotony. Her postings include extracts from her activities and projects, as well as a brief description, anecdote or poem.

She also caters to her readers with her famous “Photobooth Fridays,” which have taken on a life of their own. Every Friday, Andrea takes pictures in a photo booth. Sometimes with her children, often alone, with whacky accessories to share a narrative.

Bill & Gab (c) Mercedes Déziel-Hupé

Despite her working with themes, she is not confined by them. The images she produces translate the joy for life that she expresses in her written texts. This is a blog for all lovers of photographic art!

This blogger communicates simply and effectively. Reading her blog just makes you wish you could befriend her.

As for me, well, I keep on dancing. Here's a Balboa shot, enjoy!

Art of Aerials

2011-02-08T18:38:00.003-05:00

Frog Jump. (c) Kristina Jensen, 2011

Last week, while most Swing Dynamite team members were at the popular dance event Followlogie (Montréal, QC), a few of us had a practice as per usual. Our assistant coaches ran the rehearsal and thought we should work on aerials.

That's usually a fabulous idea, considering our aerials are never perfect and could always need some polishing both for aesthetic and security reasons. Learning a new aerial when you have minimal acrobatic experience, is another story altogether.

The Fly. (c) Kristina Jensen, 2011.

So far, this newbie has learned the basics (Frog, Jump for Joy, Knickerbocker, Crepe, Dean Collins Dip, Snatch) and a few intermediate aerials (Pancake, Fly, Can of Pop) which I don't master quite yet... This time, my coaches were wanting to review the Ferris Wheel. Yes, it's as terrifying as it sounds.

All in all, I ended up elbowing my partner in the eye and kicking his hands. I was feeling terrible about it. My teammates were joking: "He had it coming!" Fortunately, none of us hold grudges; it's the nature of the beast. Aerials are demanding, technically complex and a tad dangerous. Yet, I love them. I get a rush when I succeed at passing them.

I won't be tackling this aerial again anytime soon, as I sprained my ankle doing something trivial as a scissor kick. Oh well, I'll be an acrobatic superstar later... Rome wasn't built in one day.

The Snow Monster

2011-01-28T17:56:00.000-05:00

For the first time in a while, I will not be dancing this week-end. I'm actually driving up to a cottage in Lac Sainte Marie with some friends to party it up in the fresh powder. On the menu? Snow, games, food, wine and friends.

Regardless, it feels a little strange to watch most of my dance friends attend an event I will be missing. It feels like being the sick kid who can't go play on snow day... Except, I'm the only kid playing in the snow, while all my buddies are dancing up a storm.

Then, I remind myself: there will always be dances, events and opportunities. Sometimes, the social dance world can become all consuming. I'm not complaining but many of my non-swing friends wonder what the fuss is about.

I then come to realize that I haven't shot photos in over a month. I can't remember last time I had a full week-end with my university friends and I haven't used my snowshoes since I bought them last year. Has it been that long?

It's time... I must wake the snow monster in me. Clip those snowshoes and go explore!

There's only the present and I've been neglecting other areas of my life. I haven't even enjoyed the ONLY winter sport I do practice yet. I say I should make the best of this; there's always practice on Sunday anyhow.

What my daydream looks like..

I love the feeling of the snow flakes melting on my cheeks, the sound of the snow crunching under my steps, the odd shapes my tracks leave behind and the sight of the powder that flies after me when I run.

I'm going home, packing my sleeping bag, warm clothes, my aluminum showshoes and Caleb, of course. I'm off for an adventure. While my friends will be enjoying the slopes, I'll be trail blazing with my DSLR, reconnecting with the non-dance Mercedes and with nature.

Some solitude, a change of pace and a bit of wine is good for the soul. At the end of the day, I'll be chatting it up with old friends over veggie dishes they are preparing just for me.

Time to be creative, time to be pensive, time to exercise, time to be social and time to gossip. That's what I call balance.

Cheers!

Second year in a row...

2011-01-25T18:07:00.001-05:00

I think we can safely say that I'm a decent shagger now. I swear, I have a medal to prove it.

This past week-end, my competition partner William Ewanick and I took 2nd in the Advanced Jack'n'Jill Shag Dance division. Not bad, considering that last year, I competed in Newcomer and took 2nd as well with then, J&J partner, Jean-François Harbour. That's all fine and dandy, but winning in Newcomer most often means you're no longer a newbie and should compete with the big boys.

All The Cats Join In, Disney, 1937

I garantee that is what Shag Explosion does to someone. For a whole week-end, I took workshops and learned about Shag moves and technique and of course, how to wrap it all up and make it look awesome on the dance floor.

People from all over come to this event; Toronto, Montréal, Québec, New York and Washington dancers represented. It was a wonderful sharing and growing experience for any shagger. More swing dancers should take time to learn how to dance Shag socially; it's a heart-pumping, calorie burning, pun-filled dance. Besides, what can you do on fast, rhythmic music? You Shag. It's the way to go really.

Congrats to my fellow competitors David Lee & Gabrielle Kern (1rst, Advanced J&J) and to Tony Fraser & Aimee Mannella (3rd, Advanced J&J). You guys made the competition juices flow, pals.

A special thank you to Swing Dynamite for organizing the week-end, to Montrealers Zack & Maryse for teaching, to our American friends who drove this far Tony Fraser & Jaime Shannon (NYC) as well as David & Chelsea Lee (DC). Lastly, thank you to my fellow swing dancers who are an inspiration.

Oh yeah... Bill... FASTER! Is this BLUES? Just messing with you.

Shag Explosion Week-end

2011-01-18T12:37:00.001-05:00

I've got the jitters already.

It's almost here! The Annual Shag Explosion week-end. It's jam packed with workshops, dances and of course, competitions.

What is shag? Well, it happens below the belt and on a dance floor... It's a swing dance with plenty of fancy footwork! Basically, while Lindy Hop was danced by african-american kids in New York, the white college kids of the Big Apple danced this crazy style.

What does shag look like? A lot like this...

This Saturday is the Mobster's Ball, which is a night of social dancing, live jazz and shag contests. It's great entertainment even for non-dancers!

I'm left debating if I should compete this year... You see, last year I placed 2nd as a Newcomer. De facto, I can no longer compete in this category and am bumped into Advanced.

Shall I face my fears and try my hand at another title?

Dance Culture at Ground Level...

2010-12-20T12:18:00.001-05:00

My Traces contemporary dance show review was published in Guerilla Magazine's G-Gallery. Check it out if you want to learn more about The School of Dance's students, choreographers and the Ottawa scene in general. Better yet, try attending the next student performance. They are usually great shows - and by that I mean quality dances and performances - for a reasonable price.

ODD: The Dance Compulsion

2010-12-17T17:40:00.002-05:00

If you thought contemporary and modern dance in Ottawa was dead, think again. Ottawa Dance Directive has stepped out of the ashes of Le Groupe Danse Lab as a beacon of hope. Portrait of a dancing phoenix.

Ottawa Dance Directive (ODD) is a company of four Ottawa based contemporary choreographers and performers. Sylvie Desrosiers, Natasha Bakht, Yvonne Coutts and Lana Morton have combined their efforts to keep the flame of modern and contemporary dance thriving in the capital.

What sparked this movement was the dilution of Le Groupe Danse Lab in 2009. What contributes to making ODD a fantastic initiative is a bouquet of passion, determination, pride, attachment and living memory.

When Le Groupe closed its doors, they left a significant hole in the professional dance scene. Suddenly, the city had no resident dance company anymore, and with it, died the hopes of finding relatively stable employment for our dance students. Dancers could no longer look forward to working with Peter Boneham in the wonderfully renovated studio at Arts Court. There wouldn’t be an opportunity to invite guest choreographers to share their experiences and there would be no more haven for contemporary dance. “I never would have come to Ottawa for my dance career if it hadn’t been for Le Groupe. I believe my colleagues feel the same way. This was our second home.” explains Lana Morton. These pioneer choreographers decided that something needed be done. “We weren’t going to let brilliant Ottawa dancers leave for lack of a better career option” says Yvonne Coutts, the conviction coming through. “In addition, we weren’t going to let this perfectly suited space go to another art form when it was specifically conceived for dancing” reasons Coutts.

Ottawa Dance Directive thus fulfils a need, but it’s more than that. It’s the evolving collaboration of four different dancers who have chosen to share a space, a passion, a goal and a sense of responsibility towards the community and the company that have given them so much already. Often times, they choose to work on each other’s projects but Coutts insists they remain independent artists. “We work together because we enjoy it but there’s no hierarchy, we all foster creative ideas of our own” says Coutts.

Courtesy of The School of Dance (Ottawa)

ODD has created Series Dance 10, which is thematic and brings guest choreographers to present their work. The collective has also founded BODYSpeak, which is a festival that runs parallel to Canada Dance Festival. The four women hope to recreate a hub of dance at Arts Court. Moreover, they hope to inspire local dance students. In fact, part of their strength is the quality of their relationship with The School of Dance, Canterburry High school and École secondaire De La Salle. Coutts believes that the way to achieve a strong dance community is through sustaining the next generations. “We want to provide a general career mentoring for dance’s youth.”

While this initiative is a crucial one for the survival and continued blossoming of modern and contemporary scene in Ottawa, the road is a bumpy one. ODD faces financial hiccups, as would any not-for-profit organization. “What we’re lacking is operating funds. We are relying heavily on grants for our projects however; we need a certain amount of those under our belt before qualifying for operation funds. In the mean time, it’s a balancing act to keep the collective running smoothly” admits Coutts.

When there is a will, there is a way. “We’ve managed so far. Thankfully, we have had the support of Ontario Arts Council, the City of Ottawa and of Arts Court. Because we believed in this, so did they” says Morton.

Stay tuned for next season’s Series Dance 10 programming this winter at Arts Court.

Flashy Fun!

2010-12-15T22:30:00.002-05:00

This girl just wants to have fun...flashy fun, that is!

I've been itching to use my new set of flash filters. My friend Isabelle (who's been learning about photography on her own, through books, the Internet, trial and error...and her film producer/photographer/all-around-artist significant other) had picked my name out of the Secret Santa hat.

Aside from being an amazing gift-giver and knowing exactly how to surprise me with just the right thing (an ovo-lacto vegetarian cookbook she put together!), she shares a passion for photography and therefore, an interest in equipment.

LEE Flash Filters Designer Edition

Isabelle is my environmentally conscious artsy friend and she's always aware of being green and frugal. Gotta love her for her brilliant project ideas. She knew I could use tools to continue learning...but what could she afford?

My friend surprised me with the Designer Edition of LEE Filters. Naturally, I need to use them on my pop-up flash but there are sure to be hours of fun. They'll change the hue of my photos, which will ad a dash of mystery and a small challenge. Once I've found the effect(s) I prefer, I can actually go and purchase a larger filter, as the Designer Edition has the Numeric listing. Truly, a brilliant gift idea for the amateur or beginner photographer. I'm only starting to use flash... available light, fill flash, flash with motion, only flash, flash as sole source of light... Harry Nowell has a great blog post about how to break down flash use.

I know, I'm really excited about trying them out.

And so, I lied a little bit about only spending mellow time at home over the holidays... Sure, there will be plenty of days on the couch, soaking up Ray Bradbury tales and reading theories of Simon Brault's No Culture, No Future. Sure, I'll cook a veggie frittata. But Caleb (my Nikon D3000) will be close by, just winking at me, waiting to get into mischief and snap a few moments in time.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

2010-12-15T18:12:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year again!

Madness in shopping malls, chaos on the roads, uber slow people in parking lots eyes peeled for a spot... Have I mentioned I disliked Christmas shopping?

It's that time... when people impose holiday parties, potlucks and gift exchanges. Whether "White Elephant" or "Secret Santa" I have never been a big fan of gift exchanges. Scratch that. I think they're wonderful, when they save you from extra expenses and added stress. I love how eco-friendly and sustainable they can be... when they are not of a zillion obligated party gifts.

Yes, I get it, the joy of giving... What if there's nothing left to give? What if there's no joy when you tell me I must give? I don't want to rant, but the spirit of Christmas is not about gifts, I'm sorry, but it's about love for human kind. Where does it say: "Thou shall love thy neighbor and buy him gifts at every office party" ?

I would not brag or complain about some unfortunate events that occured in my life in 2010 but they have served many a purpose. A lot of what seemed like loss or bad luck has actually had the effect of pruning; I'm getting back to basics. I'm grateful for that, now more than then, but hey, better late than never!

I've discovered my artistic potential, I've reconnected with the child in me and I've rekindled my relationship with Mother Earth - or so, I try. Limitations force us to be creative, especially when they are financial ones while simplicity has a way of easing stress and bringing out childlike spontaneity. Frugality was always a value I was familiar with, but lately, it's helped me realize how we over-consume, over-spend and how ultimately, we're damaging our planet and our financial and psychological well-being.

I'd like to thank my great group of friends for making this year's gift exchange an eco-friendly/homemade affair. I was able to put my talents to good use and to benefit from one of my friend's thoughtfulness and creativity. I received a homemade vegetarian cookbook to suit my new dietery choice (going on 4 months!) and a set of flash filters to have some photo fun. I was very excited with both gifts, but I was specially touched by how she took time to piece together all her favourite recipes to ease my transition into this lifestyle.

Thank you to Swing Dynamite, for putting together a clothing exchange and allowing the rest of the donations to be brought to charity.

Lastly, thanks for my photo teachers for encouraging me in pursuing my new hobby which is quickly growing into a passion. Your passion is evident and I'm so happy that you are sharing it with me. Harry, your workshops and continued support have been immensely helpful and generated many "Ah-ha!" moments. Gilda, your eagerness to help, your unique style and your eye for aesthetics have been inspiring.

This Christmas, I'll be enjoying down time with family, friends, some R&R in pijamas with novels and some much needed grass roots time in the kitchen with my new cookbook!

Musical Crush: Greg Laswell

2010-12-06T22:57:00.002-05:00

Greg Laswell singing "Comes & goes"

Even though I'd heard his songs quite a few times and my friends raved about him, I fell in love with Greg Laswell last Friday, at Zaphod's. He doesn't know it, of course, but that is beside the point.

Quietly sitting at a table, answering blackberry messages, he seemed pensive. In the background, a young woman's mermaid voice was already reaching the back of the bar, enticing the crowd. Was he preparing for the show, getting in the right mind set? Or was he wondering if he should have a pint? He doesn't look like the type who needs to loosen up. Calm and collected, he was understated. That is, until he took the stage. His poker face humor seemed to charm the crowd.

Greg Laswell was opening for Jeremy Fisher, but frankly, I was there to see what his live performance was like. Usually, I'll fall for a band or artist when I feel their presence on stage. Greg's lyrics are profound and his melodies get under your skin and into your head, permanently. Yet, I needed some kind of confirmation that this indie artist was a cut above many I've heard and seen before. You know, back in the days I use to be an emerging artist columnist... in the good old days when I was paid to attend shows and chat it up with bands. But I digress! That said, his connection to the crowd was a natural one; like a friend meeting up with old time buddies.

Greg Laswell

His set was too short, it left most of us wanting more. Don't get me wrong, Jeremy Fisher was great and I'm quite pleased with this discovery as well. It was well worth the ticket. Greg played a few of his classics, such as Comes and goes. In the tradition of live shows, he graced us with covers: among these, his humorous indie cover of Lauper's Girls just wanna have fun.

I had no choice but to give in to the impulse. Seduced by the artistry of his album, his relaxed unpretentious performance and his somewhat reserved demeanor, the mystery was consuming me: I had to buy my own copy of Three flights from alto nido.

A wise choice of a stocking stuffer or gift exchange purchase.
Happy Listening to all!

The Flash Diffuser Saga Turned Sour

2010-12-02T17:07:00.004-05:00

A piece of photo equipment valued at $40, ended up costing me $100. My teacher did say photography tends to get expensive quickly… and in the oddest ways!

I was so excited about finally getting my flash diffuser and that joy was momentarily overshadowed.You see, when you go to Galaxy Photos on Bank Street, their parking is at the back of the building, not on the side. Having been bombarded by signs that all seem contradictory and being a customer of Galaxy, I figured, I’ll be here a minute and I’ll confirm whether or not this is the right spot for me to park. Having been told that the landlord was, (well, there are no flattering terms for him, so I’ll refrain)… I ran (yes, ran) out to move my car. Naturally, the person in question had already ticketed my car.

You read that right. Ticketed. Not “left a warning”, not “called the towing company”… Ticketed. Apparently, the City of Ottawa was so fed up dealing with this fella’s complaints, they awarded him his own ticketing book. I understand that it must be frustrating for downtown landlords to have to put signs up, give out warnings and call towing companies, but it’s important to remember that they are not city officials or officers of the law. Why are they allowed to take the law into their own hands? We don't even have that level of rights in civil disagreements... So who the heck gave this angry person the right to wear a vigilante badge and hand out tickets like they were candy canes? Merry Christmas to you too, Mr. Grinch!

To clarify: I saw signs that said “Private Property”, “Ticketed zone”, “For customers only”. My reasoning: I was a customer, I did my due diligence and went to confirm who’s customer I needed to be or if I needed to move… and bam, verifying just cost me $55 and an unpleasant encounter with an angry person.

For those of you considering shopping at Galaxy, and you should both their prices and their service are excellent, note that Galaxy parking is at the BACK of the building, via Catherine street, not next to them. There's a very unhappy Grinch operating to crush the holiday (and photog) spirit at 205 Catherine (it's a parking off Bank). BEWARE!

Valuable lessons of the day:

5-Photography is an expensive hobby… always over-budget, sometimes it may surprise you.

4-If you complain enough, the authorities will do what they can to get rid of you. Sad fact.

3-Being a car owner sucks. Gas, Traffic, Bad tunes, Parking downtown, Tickets. I want to ride the tube!

2-If the parking signs are confusing, pack it up and move…

1-The miserable people of this world are probably in worse shape than I am. Letting it go is my best bet. Namaste.

Tribute to a War Photographer

2010-12-01T19:21:00.001-05:00

It's always a wonder to me why war photographers do what they do. I suppose someone has to document the atrocities and the violence that humans perpetrate. Someone has to tell the soldier's story, so he or she, is not alone on the battlefield. Someone needs to know what was put on the line for our mother lands and in the name of peace...

I just don't think I could do it.

My visit to the World Press Photo Exhibit this summer confirmed my hunch: I don't have the stomach for the gore, I don't have the nerves for the pressure and I don't have the strenght to stand by and watch because, deep inside, I would know that immediate interference would not make a difference, but the image circulating across the world might. Maybe, just maybe, we'll snap out of all this chaos... "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one" (Lennon)

Cyberpresse and The New York Times share this photographer's last war shots. From my understanding, he is injured but alive and recovering. However, the loss of a photographer's legs definitely changes the conditions under which he or she practices their profession. As a tribute to this brave man, Joao Silva, here is the link to his photos.

Retro Shutterbug

2010-11-30T22:22:00.001-05:00

After scavenging the web for the industry of toy cameras' jewels such as the Holga or the Diana, I have finally found a loot of revamped lomography cams...at Urban Outfitters!

Diana Mini Half Frame

The variety was astounding... I couldn't believe they actually had the Fuji instant photo cam; you know, the one that replaced the Polaroid. The display was a splash of colour and a blast from the 1980's. I felt like a kid again. I managed to snap out of it long enough to channel my shutterbug mind in long enough to start thinking logically. I wasn't quite sure whether I wanted the 1980s Holga, the 1960s Diana or the Lomo Fisheye... I ended up with the Holga 135 (35 mm) and the Fisheye (35 mm). The Diana Mini Half-Frame (35 mm) will be on my holiday wishlist... ;)

You may have noticed that these "toy cameras", which are perfectly functional, are in fact film cameras. Why, would a digital photography student want an old school tool? Because it's retro, because it's a challenge and because it's fun! Also, I dig the degree of cool it provides. I figured that Urban Outfitters is carrying them because they cater to trends and hipsters.

Yeah... I know what you're thinking. I can no longer afford to be dressed to the latest fashions, I don't wear fluos or retro clothes and my teens were marked by the Skater trend. I have never ridden a banana-seat bike with front-side basket (for look and convenience), I haven't chewed genuine Bubblicious or been 15 since the beginning of the decade... So the "hipster" attraction? Really?

Maybe it's because I lived the 80s mostly through my brother and sister (who are in their 30s now) and part of my childhood memories were molded by their hobbies and interests and our humble family home. We always had enough but my greatest joys rose from the simplest pleasures. My mother seems to recall I had a thing for the theatrics. I loved dance, arts & crafts and photographs... Big surprise. Perhaps that dreamy, overly-colourful, grainy aesthetic appeals to the artist that was always inside me. Or maybe it just pulls on my heart strings.

I may not fool anyone as a hipster-poser, but I am most certainly optimistic about the funky shots I shall be taking shortly with my new toys, so to speak.

This shutterbug is conquering the image world, one clic at a time. I'll share my stunning successes and surprising mistakes...stay tuned!

From the Prince to Buddha

2010-11-24T20:58:00.001-05:00

I've mentioned in previous blogs how much I value the luxury (yes, you read that right) of reading books for pleasure. Despite how busy life has been, I've allowed myself to get carried away by an interesting novel.

Deepak Chopra's Buddha sure caught my attention. I was in a speciality library a few weeks ago now - a thing I do whenever I need an escape from the mad rush of my not-so-easygoing routine - and along with a few references books, this image of a blue boy in orange monk robes bearing the title "Buddha" caught my eye. I picked it up thinking it was some book about his teachings. To my surprise, it was actually a novel... on Buddha's life?

Here I was thinking this spiritual master and prophet was, well, holy. In my mind, the enlightened are somewhat righteous and let's face it, uninteresting. That's a wrong assumption. One of the things you learn, when you start delving into spiritual teachings (note how I did not use the term "religious") and digging into these teachers' pasts, is that no one has a perfect life, no one has a spotless past and no one has it easy. Actually, one of Eckhart Tolle's teaching is that for many of us, it takes hardship (or a modern "way of the cross") to push us to seek enlightenment. Some of us have a natural tendency for spiritual quests, others need to be shaken out of our "comforts" (the French say "Confort et indifférence" or "comfort and indifference") to bother asking ourselves "why?" and wonder about the essence of life and being. In Buddha's case, it seems to have been an intuitive quest which ultimately, pushed him to assume a monk's life. None of it, however, is explained in a way that places Buddha on a "superior human" level. Siddartha Gautama was a man on a quest to find himself and the universal truth. When he understood the truth, the essence of life, he then saught to help others seek it also.

It is not the celestial element that kept my attention throughout this story, nor was it the battles of a bloody war, or drama at court or even the love stories... The page turner for me was the question: "How will he do it? How can Siddartha and Gautama shed their suffering and egos to become Buddha?" His path was not an easy one, but he did achieve this as a man, not as a God.

The beauty of this book is that by filling in the blanks of his legend with his humanity, we can see how to better our life situations ourselves.

Good Ol' Suave

2010-11-23T21:37:00.001-05:00

Recently, a dance friend of mine posted this video of the Overtones on facebook. Since then, I've been playing this on loop and humming the song in the office, snapping my fingers like a jazz musician and adding a bounce to my "swagger". Basically, the dandy vibe is contagious. You'd think this would have more impact on men... but I think it's probably the dancer in me that can't resist the beat. My whole body moves to this song, it's beyond me!

Watching the video came after the melody crept into my veins. It certainly is easy on the eyes... It got me thinking about the musical industry, harmony bands and of course, men's image.

Disclosure: I am a hardcore fan of Michael Bublé and can certainly appreciate fellow contemporary crooners such as Matt Dusk. It's not that I swoon over these men, but their confidence, their charisma and presence have a way of getting me weak in the knees, getting me on a dance floor and singing along (witnesses of these symptoms are victims of my lack of singing ability).

The good ol' suave style, smooth singing and dorky dancing convey's a gentleman-like aura that constitutes a dying breed nowadays. Not that I want to brag about swing dancers (because you know I can!), but these guys have more of a tendency to clean up their look when socializing with women. The same applies to crooners... Why are they so successful in their album sales? Because women want to be serenaded to, treated with care and respect, no matter how modern we are... and men, well, should take a hint from these smart marketers.

Equality between the sexes is great. Much work remains to be done there... But, in this process of redefining proper social etiquette to be fair to everyone, let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater... Good manners, proper presentation and charm don't go unnoticed. That, of course, goes for both parties.

Guys, there's no need to have a singing voice to be appreciated by women or your female friends. Dress up when it matters, remember your manners and learn a few cute-dorky steps: if they don't seduce the object of your affection, they will disarm her with the comic relief. Most of us don't want a prince; we just want guys we're happy to talk to over dinner, who'll believe we're interesting, and who won't mind making a fool of themselves at our cousin's wedding when the catchy tunes spin.

Now... If only I could figure out how to buy "Good Ol' Fashioned Love" on iTunes, I'd have my fix!

Cute kitties still get me...

2010-11-09T22:04:00.000-05:00

I'm not more of an animal person than the next gal, but this cat just made my day. I are cute kitten

The Moment of Truth

2010-11-01T22:47:00.011-04:00

This Halloween week-end, Swing Dynamite was hosting its Trick or Treat party and Bootcamp performance. It was a night of fun, fright and fabulousness!

TNTeam 2010-2011

There was a costume contest, an abundance of dancing and of course... the moment of Truth for my equally insane fellow bootcampers! Yes, my friends, all the blood, bruises, sweat and tears have come to THIS epic night.

Swing Dynamite bombarded the crowd with the D-Boys, the Rhythm Blasters, the Westie Bombers, the Dynamite Girls, TNTeam (my possey) and the Jam Crew. Having trained intensively for 4 weeks, the bootcampers (of which I am a part) put it all on the line to wow the crowd. The performances were no less than explosive with crazy aerials and in sync musicality.

This was an opportunity for the dancers to show what they could do, but also, how they handled pressure. Geez, how else are you suppose to feel about costume fittings?!?

My Swing on the Bootcamp Performance

I had been nervous for most of the day leading up to this, wondering how I would do. I kept thinking, "after nearly 16 years of dance and performance, you should get over this!"

As usual, my pre-show jitters worked their magic: I danced and felt great about it! Thanks to my ama-swing partner, Bill Ewanick for his upscale leading. Couldn't have had more of a blast! The social dancing was so sweet afterwards, it was just like icing on the cake...

For the female & lindy readers: I wore a Sugarbum Design aubergine skirt and I performed a PANCAKE with height and might! Swing does sound yummy, doesn't it?

This week, the calls will be made to the bootcampers to determine who has made an impression, who will stay on board and who will keep dancing and show us all up next year!

Thanks again to Byron Alley and Natalia Rueda, our beloved coaches, for their support, encouragement and genuine butt-kicking. My abs thank you as well.

Twilight Zone

Aside from the freakishly creative costumes (I think here of the Bear-Mulled-Forest-Man and of the Baker and Bun-in-the-oven couple), there was as much social dancing as to be expected... and the floor was packed! Westies and Lindies put their stylish differences aside for this night only - where in the twilight zone, anything can happen - and shared the dance floor. I even flirted with the dark side: I was temporarily westified and liked it. Oh, how my keds lindy shoes were hating me then...

Ottawa Fashion Week: World Class Event

2010-11-01T22:17:00.001-04:00

Strike a pose!

There were so many eye popping outfits and generally impressive lines that it is a little difficult to wrap my head around everything I witnessed in those two evenings of runway shows.

Last Friday (Oct. 29, 2010) my main preoccupation was to soak up the environment, people watch (& photog watching too!) and evaluate how the caliber of the event. Not that I'm any kind of expert in Fashion or runway shows, for that matter... this was my first live fashion week of any kind!

Based on the amateur shows I've seen and on the many Fashion Weekly re-runs and Victoria Secret Christmas shows the tube has provided me, I would say that Ottawa Fashion Week has definitely delivered.

There were plenty of both accomplished and emerging canadian designers showcasing their spring collections. Adrian Wu's collection was a real crowd pleaser - except among the photographers. Wu's idea for ambiance meant terrible lighting conditions for the press. Fortunately, the media coordinator swept in and provided photo ops with Wu's models. Phew!

Naturally, I have my personal favourites. I especially enjoyed the Sugarbum Design, the Birds of North Amercia and Kania Couture collections. They were fun, they were fresh, they were colourful and elegant. Lastly, the show closed on Project Runway Canada winner Jessica Biffi. Her collection was delicious. Or were those the models? In any case, Ottawa showed Biffi lots of love.

The venue couldn't have been more suited for this event: The National Gallery of Canada is in fact, the host of Canada's most prestigious pieces and visual arts forms. Thus, it makes sense to host a fashion event (every day art) in this contemporary & artsy open space.

The logistics seemed to iron out nicely and many vendors were glad to be invited to such a high end shindig. On the final night, there was even a Kerastase sponsored red carpet studio for guests, designers, models and friends.

The floating hors-d'oeuvres and the flowing (but pricey) wine made the crowd friendly and gregarious. Hey, Gilda and I even made friends with other pro photogs!

Ottawa Fashion Week

All I have to do now is look at those shots and see Caleb and I's lovechild: are there some breath taking photos? To be continued... !

Ottawa Fashion Week: Here I come!

2010-10-28T22:54:00.000-04:00

I've got butterflies. I don't know what to wear. Am I going on a date? I don't know what to pack. Will I bring enough or too much? Will I fit in? No, I'm not going to summer camp. Will I meet good contacts? This isn't a conference. Will I succeed in getting the right shots and tame this new flash (SB-600)?

If you care a little about what's in vogue or if you put effort into your personal style, you may have noticed that this, my friends, is the beginning of Ottawa Fashion Week.

Why do I care?

Only because yours truly has been lucky enough to be invited to join Gilda Furgiuele (Royale Boutique Photography) to shoot for the organizers of OFW.

*Cue freakout*

As a girl and amateur of fashion in my own right, I now find my closet unworthy. "Look the part but be comfortable"...Really? Wish I knew what the recipe for that was.

As a photography student, I'm feeling suddenly very intimidated by my flash and Caleb (my D3000) seems to have gotten cold feet.

Just when I get a golden opportunity, an urge to self-sabotage invades the pit of my stomach. Will I be good enough? Will I mingle? Will I put my foot in my mouth? Will I embarass my mentor? ...

Then, I remember to breathe. I suppose I should enjoy the ride: I am in fact, a very lucky girl to even be attending, so for I'll try to make the best of it!

Let's just hope I make it there, on time, looking half decent without forgetting something, like say, a spare battery or a memory card.

CATWALK! Clic clic clic!

Shadowing: Not a passive role

2010-10-25T21:41:00.000-04:00

Over the week-end, I had my second shadowing experience in photography. My first was with Gilda Furgiuele (Royale Boutique Photography) in the studio a few weeks ago, and my second was with my teacher, Harry Nowell (Harry Nowell Photography). Even though I have another 30 hours of shadowing to do, I can already tell that shadowing is anything but a passive role.

I haven't shot any photos in either case yet. Partly, this is because I didn't have the models sign releases for me as well as the photographers hired (Gilda & Harry) but also because of lack of experience and of material. For instance, it's difficult to shoot in studio without a flash - enough said. Also, Harry wanted me to pay close attention to his interaction with his client, to his set-up and to results achieved. In both cases, I had to observe, take mental (or actual) notes and ask questions about how to run a smooth shoot.

Sure, there was a lot of standing around and a few rather long stretches but they were all part of a photographer's reality. There are a lot of elements involved in a shoot, whether it be studio or on location. There's planning: getting to know your client and their needs and figuring out how you're going to meet those needs and achieve great results that will get you a good reputation with this client, and perhaps even another gig. There's set-up: where are you shooting, what equipment do you need and how long will it take? There's the actual shoot, with all this entails: interacting with the client, directing and taking the photos and providing feedback, asking for it and making delivery arrangements. Then there's post-processing and delivery. I haven't assisted in these stages yet, but from my own experience, this tends to be a lenghty, tedious stage.

At any rate, I've managed to successfully build a few sets, lug equipment, interact with the clients and even - lucky me! - choreograph some action shots. I left both shoots wondering just how much I'd learned. I realized that shadowing isn't about theory and what you can recite or write down, it really is about experience and growing ease with the "doing" part of learning. Shadowing, even when you are not shooting, is about familiarizing yourself with the environment, the dynamics and going through the motions of a photographer's unconventional routine.

Heart of a bootcamper

2010-10-13T20:06:00.001-04:00

I am two weeks into some of the most intense dance training I've ever known. I thought at first that I hadn't quite experienced anything like this before... But my muscles remember being taunted, being put to the test for art. I am bootcamping for Swing Dynamite's TNTeam. What this means, essentially, is that I'm currently training with some of the most advanced lindy hoppers in Ottawa. They are experienced, they are determined, they are fearless and their middle names are "Fun".

My heart says "Kaboom"

The last time I've pushed my body this hard, tested my memory for choreography or defied the laws of physics to achieve new movements, I believe it was when I was competing in jazz, ballet, tap and hip hop (circa 1997-1999). Obviously, I've danced since then, but I haven't quite challenged myself this seriously in a just over ten years - and I've been dancing for 16 already. This should attest to this milestone.

I am now dancing a minimum of twice a week for two, three or four hours at a time. Here I am trying to perfect my technique, to improve my style and to forget that if I loose focus, just one moment, I may injure myself. I also live with the stress of hurting my partner if I don't hold my own. I am tackling one of my greatest intrigues: aerials! I've never been light as a feather and even though aerials conjure awe, they also incite fear in me. Every bone aches, every muscle is tender and every day, I discover new bruises. My doctor asked me if I had gotten in a fight... Quite frankly, I think she should've been more concerned about my persistant cold. I digress.

Why, you might ask, would I want to put myself through all of this? Because I love swing! Because I can. But also because I was born in the 80's and not the 20's or 30's and I have to learn through training and not in a club. I am challenging myself because I learn about aspects of my personality that I've never known existed. As a little girl, I was always attracted to swing and hoped I would one day find a school to teach me. I am bootcamping because I have the heart of a swing dancer. Mine doesn't beat "boom boom" it sings, sings, sings to Benny Goodman.

Most of all, I'm trying so very hard to soak up as much information as I can and improve my dancing as far as this journey takes me. I'm bootcamping because it's an honor to even be considered as part of TNTeam - even temporarilly - and it's a pleasure to learn from all these fabulous dancers.

Stick around folks and drop by to see the bootcamp performance on Oct. 30, 2010 @ 151 Chapel Street in Ottawa. Be there or be square!

Swing Dynamite, 2010

To my fellow bootcampers, from Rhythm Blasters, to D-Boys and Dynamite Girls, and lastly, to TNTeam members who've so graciously welcomed me and encouraged me this far, thank you for sharing your passion. It's a blast!

Tic tic tic Swing DYNAMITE! Tic tic tic KABOOM!

Usher - DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love ft. Pitbull

2010-10-13T13:14:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you, but I've always had a special place in my heart for two male pop stars with mad dancing skills... Justin Timberlake and Usher. There's something about men dancing that I truly admire. I suppose one could say it's because dance is not a big part of our Western culture to dance socially. Maybe in part, but I think it has a lot more to do with the physicality and aesthetics of it that intrigues me. I enjoy watching male ballet dancers, lindy hoppers, latin ballroom dancers, hip hoppers and B-boys. I guess it must have something to do with the underlying idea that any dancer (man or woman) exudes a certain confidance; they must be comfortable with their body to use it as a means of expression and put it on display.

I thought of sharing this because this video - along with many I could post - reinforces my appreciation for male pop dancing. It also can't hurt that the tune is catchy, right?

Whirlwind

2010-10-07T19:18:00.006-04:00

Hot Air Balloon Festival, 2010

Wow! Has it been 2 months since my last entry? In all fairness, I was out, living life...or trying not to let it slip by without my surfing a few of those waves that have crushed here and there.

Festival, 2010

I started working as Communications Coordinator at the AOE Arts Council in Orléans (Ottawa). I have been on possibly the steepest learning curve so far. Thus, it also makes it the most exciting! While juggling the challenges of a new job, I have also been reintroduced to the joys of being a student... except that this time, it's on my terms! My photography program is tailored and offered part-time for busy-young-professionals-trying-to-better-their-conditions, such as myself. I have also auditioned and been accepted into the TNTeam swing dance bootcamp. Have I mentioned yet that I'm busy? My friend Ian - currently studying in the US - asks me today: "Are you feeling any better?" He was referring to the "broken heart" condition. My answer was: "Well, I've never been better... I've managed to be so productive, that I've worked myself sick (with a damn persistant cold might I add)." And so, I'm blogging.

Selections 2010, Juried Arts Show

Quick review of August-September 2010. I was hired, to my bank account and creditors immense relief, in a delightful and dynamic community Arts Council. I've been learning truck loads about publications and website content management. I can also safely say that I've been schooled on many of my misconceptions about arts in Ottawa. Why, yes, we have many galleries and vernissages, and we are blessed with numerous dedicated artisans, film societies, choral societies, community theatres and contemporary dancers. Let that be known, I stand corrected: Ottawa is full of Art.

Speaking of which, I have been getting friendly with Caleb (my Nikon D3000). He and I and starting to develop some chemistry. My ratio of bad/decent photos has improved considerably; I even now have the occasional "breath-taking" shot. I've taken the Natural Light Portraits workshop with Harry Nowell and the Photojournalism and Social Documentary with David Trattles (Canadian Geographic). During this "break from blogging", I've also shot a baptism, Swing Explosion 5, a musician's portfolio and a vernissage. There may be a photographic style emerging there... Last week, I've secured myself an internship with Royale Photo Boutique - Vintage photography. Check it out: www.royalephotoboutique.com.

Theresa & Scott, Swing Explosion V

As for swing... Well, I'll be blogging about it on http://blog.swingdynamite.com shortly! I'll be posting news about the Ottawa scene, about Swing Dynamite and I'll share discussions with Lindy Hoppers as I'll share my own experience as a student and bootcamper! Performance is on Oct. 30! Don't miss it!

Did I forget something? I suppose that's what happens when you get caught in a whirlwind.

Pursuing Photography: Now or Never!

2010-07-09T13:45:00.008-04:00

Christie, Fire Spinner at OIFF launch party

I have made a decision. A small one perhaps, but nevertheless, a decision to impact my learning and my career. Ironically, this seemingly passive accomplishment comforts me. Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, taking decisions gives oneself the impression of control (or of steering) one's life. We often make the mistake and think that too much is out of our hands. Unfortunately, that is partly true. But for most of us, the problem lies in our inability to assume our own freedom. But I digress... And so, I was saying: this ship is mine, and I'm steering!

If this "experience" (e.g. career crisis) has taught me one thing, it must be that one can never be too prepared to face challenges and that the only limits you actually face are the ones your mind sets. I began to think of ways to kill time in a pleasant way until the faithful call back. What can I do? How can I help myself further and unwind? It hit me, like Al Pacino in Scarface: my Nikon D3000 was looking at me, shouting "Say hello to my little friend!"

I then thought: I've been rambling about photography, reading up on it, attending workshops, but why not actually study it? Afterall, if I can gather a few dollars this fall, I could spend this year of "financial rejuvination" in a constructive investment for my career - and hey, why not feed my soul while I'm at it?

I realized that if I ever wanted to get nourrishment out of my career, I had to feel challenged but equiped. I also need to express my creativity. Learning - and continuing education - are essential tools to any professional's survival. Furthermore, it is a key to self-fullfilment, Maslow's ultimate need.

Seeing as I had already taken a workshop with Harry Nowell Photography (Creative Fundamentals), I figured I'd have a second look at what he is offering... I was astonished to find two courses Harry himself had later recommended me to take: Natural Light Portraits and Photojournalism with David Trattles. If I add these classes to a personal session, I can get a form of certificate. Later on, if my situation allows it, I could add two more classes, some shadowing and a few more privates and I'd be a certified professional. Oh the possibilities...

I am definitely looking forward to learning more about portraiture and journalism, along with how to purchase the appropriate lens. What a maze to navigate the selection of brands, functions, capacity, aperture...oy! However, that will be for a future blog anecdote.

"I love my art!"

2010-07-08T15:30:00.003-04:00

Zack & Maryse

Swing out!

Whenever people ask why artists (or athletes for that matter) dedicate themselves to extremes to their form of art, most of them just answer: "I love my art!" Simple. Obvious, even. It should answer the question. Yet, the outsider can't help but wonder what they truly get out of, say, falling off a snowboard on an icy slope or standing in front of a glass-blowing oven to mold a beautiful vase.

Earlier this week, I attended the monthly Swing night at Petit Chicago in Gatineau (QC). The Outaouais valley suffered a record breaking heatwave with a blazing 34 degrees plus humidex... which meant that the air was a wet blanket of 44 degrees. Temperature in the Petit Chicago? I'm not sure, but I'm guessing Hell must feel a little like this. This weather is also relatively dangerous for seniors, infants and well... asthmatics, such as myself. Nevertheless, without being reckless, I have never been one to play the victim or complain. I gathered my dance shoes, my water bottle and my pump. I put on some comfy shorts and - this is a first for my lindy dancing - a sporty cami. I sleeked back my untameable hair. I splashed deodorant and brushed my teeth. I even packed a towel. Think this heatwave was going to stop me? Guess again. And so, I was on my way.

When I arrived in Hell, gates wide open, I found there were a merry bunch of shiny newcomers and some laid-back oldtimers. I chatted a bit with some friends. No one seemed to mind that by merely standing there, sweat was trickling down our foreheads, our arms and our legs. Have you ever SEEN sweat from a knee cap before? I hadn't. The social dancing began and to my surprise, the folks that were present were actually dancing: maybe not busting out their fast lindy or their craziest charleston, but everyone danced, pressed to each other, no care in the world for the heat or its consequences... Everything from Lindy to Blues and WestCoast, the Ottawa-Gatineau Lindy hoppers and Westies totally blew up the joint. Who needs A/C? We're kicking it oldschool. Take that, Global Warming! See if we care what's cooking in your kitchen: we're cooking up dynamite!

The thing is, when you committ to the art - precisely for what it is - and you let it be, you forget about being self-conscious, uncomfortable, tired or sore. You just do it. Kahlil Gibran said that work was love made visible. When dancers work, they are showering the world with their love.

As a classical and modern dancer, I have experienced many injuries, aches, cuts and bruises. I have also been a victim of wardrobe malfunctions! Some nights, I barely felt like dressing down and leaving the house to attend my class. During these sessions, I often felt like I probably should have stayed home. But when my teacher wrapped up the class, I felt the warmth of my tired muscles weighing me down, my sweat pearling, rolling down every inch of me, I was beaming. I felt so satisfied: I had pushed my body and drew a live, ephemeral canvas. One, that would never be the same, but was unique and truly my own. When I dance, I am present, aware and alive. There is no greater joy than being in the now. Dance is the activity that achieves this for me.

In the end, the art doesn't matter so much as it changes from person to person, but finding that one thing that makes you say "I love my art!", that is the most precious gift I have found life has given me so far.

Driving Vision

2010-06-14T14:04:00.006-04:00

It's funny how the power of visualization can almost instantly draw an opportunity. I have recently been looking for a new job. I was working as a Communications Officer for a not for profit organization. My being the last recruit and the economy being what it is, I was out of work at a really awkward time of year: May. It's too late to meet the hiring craze of early spring for contracts beginning in the summer and it's obviously too early for the hiring wave of the fall, when students return to class. What's a girl to do?!?

That said, I've been living in a state of latent panic. Although I am a highly emotional and expressive person, my career choices are 95% based on logic, careful analysis and planning (FYI: The other 5% is hazardous: impressions and luck). Of course, I had my initial breakdown of tears and existential crisis ("Why now? Why me? What's the point of all this?"). The very next day, I put together a plan. I was to divide and conquer, no less. Might I mention that my plan has since been evolving rather positively, even if not entirely to my satisfaction (i.e. remarkably quickly).

I'll spare you the details, but essentially, I am to look for a full-time job in my field of communications. If that is to fail, my plan B (which seems to be the one currently in motion), is to opt for part-time employment at a lovely communications firm I know very well and to pave the financial gap with freelance writing. I would be working either a few days a week or every morning with my afternoons off and spare time to enjoy the sunshine, write and - this is the innovative part - build a photography portfolio!!! The idea came to me like a flash one afternoon. "Why not make use of this inevitable "free-time" to perfect the skills and knowledge I have already acquired? The whole point of my taking workshops this year was to broaden my horizons, both professionally and artistically. I guess one can say, "Be careful what you wish for".

And so, I have been contemplating how I could possibly get myself more involved in photography, mostly on a volunteer basis, in order to put together an interesting portfolio. Flowers are great, and I find shooting them very relaxing, but they just won't cut it. That day, on facebook, a dance acquaintance of mine posted a very clear call: "Looking for photographers". I took it as a sign. The friend in question is a musician and is currently creating a personal website to promote his performing and his teaching.

We met yesterday to discuss what he was looking for in terms of style and deadlines. Relaxed and open minded, the artist is giving me the creative freedom I seek to explore my capabilities. The wheels, they turn...

When I got home, I immediately started thinking of ways to make the shoots happen and to really convey what this guitarist was all about. In an enthusiastic message, I explained how I viewed the project. I realized then that there's more to photography than theory and mastering the intricacies of your camera. More importantly, you need vision.

It is the only way to tackle a project intelligently and it is the only way to tell a story, which is what photography does, in a snapshot, so to speak.

You need to get familiar with your subject and the project at large. You need to organize a shoot logistically speaking. You must direct the shoot (and in my case, hope to hell I know what I am doing!) and lastly, treat the photos. I'm perfectly comfortable with steps 1 and 2, and relatively comfortable with steps 3 and 4. In any case, I've promised my "client" I would do everything I possibly knew how to do to produce good photographs for him to use.

When there's a will, there are many ways!

For all the doubting and the fear that this situation has caused, I am grateful to have found myself obligated to rethink my life. Often, we forget that we are free to choose, at any point, the direction we're taking. Maybe my path is winding, but it doesn't lack narrative twists my mother calls "life's surprises". And that's just what they are: reminders that I'm alive for the living!

Eating books for breakfast

2010-06-10T18:51:00.004-04:00

In terms of what I feed my body, I would say I generally have a healthy diet. Admittedly, I have been a chocolate-monster for years now and my daily regime has long been to soak up as much dance related activities in my day. I watched youtube videos, I caught SYTYCD Canada, I went to my classes, I talked about it and now, I even blog about it. But, what do I feel my mind? And what do I feed the writer/blogger? That said, every blogger turned writer (or has-been journalist turned blogger if you insist on specifics) knows that the key to a strong vocabulary comes from... I'll let you guess this one.

Ok. It's obvious now.

READING!

In all honesty, my university experience was one that had me so wrapped up in career-planning, projects, networking and oh-so-dull theoretical essays, that I was utterly turned off from reading altogether. And that, my friends, was for a few years. I have been timidly reopening books, dusting off novels, shyly reintroducing them into my world (or maybe it's me, feeling sheepish, wondering if I'm worthy of them). Lately - and I am not proud to say this - I've read more in a few months (heck, in a few weeks!) than I have in the past 2 years. Ok, my job search may have a larger part to play in my having more time to spend on books, but I still say it's a matter of intellectual readiness or thirst. Books (practical or fictional) have a way of providing an opportunity for travel. This can be in the form of a journey in time, in a foreign country, in a fantastic universe, in a language or profession or inside onself.

A few of the books I've read recently are Fahrenheit 451 (Bradbury), The Prophet (Gibran), Si c'était vrai...(Levy), Novecento: pianist (Baricco), Silk (Baricco), Icons of Photography: The 20th Century and I've just started Gilbert's Committed.

I guess I had been craving words so much that I've been seeking them in all shapes and sizes: novels, short stories, news, blogs, French, English, yours, anyone's. I have no idea if my vocabulary has improved in any way, whether in French or English, but I can assure you that my mind is stimulated and my spirits are lifted, even from the sole imaginary travels...I suppose you could say that these days, books are what I consider my breakfast of champions.

Lindy Leader or simply obsessed?

2010-06-09T20:39:00.005-04:00

Byron & Natalia, Swing Explosion V

I received a surprising facebook message from a very bright artsy-type in my friends list. She's one of my best friend's little sister.

"Mercedes, can you tell me where I could possibly learn how to swing dance here in Ottawa?"

This Concordia art student suddenly took an interest in swing dancing. I have yet to figure out how it is she has come to discover it, much less want to dance it. But, hey, I figured, why wouldn't anyone want to learn how to dance lindy hop? Doesn't it just seem like the coolest dance and the most fun someone can have for under $10? The bruises you acquire are a bonus.

The message prompted my instinctual eager-to-please and dance-fanatic response: "But of course! I'd be glad to help!" I was about the send her a detailed list of Ottawa schools, social nights and activities - my commentary included - until I paused to think... "Have I made it to Lindy Leader status? Or has Lindy Hop taken so much space in my life that it is burned into my skin?" Or was it both? The question was relevant and pushed me to put effort and care into my message back to her.

Promoting businesses and societies equally while still offering advice seemed like the professional attitude a Lindy Leader would choose by being a beneficial approach to the Ottawa scene; by presenting different dance options, we are opening the doors to the world of swing. A mere sample which may suit one individual may not fit another's personality of learning style. Drawing more people to swing dancing means an enriched community with a variety of dancers, sharing interests and talents to enable progress on the whole.

A few months ago, I took part in Swing Dynamite's Lindy Leaders workshop where we explored everything from teaching, to DJing and community building. It seemed to me that the information was a goldmine but all, well, rather above my head. I wasn't a teacher, I've never really DJed (that university morning radio show doesn't count!) and I wasn't part of any "community" per say. I was left wondering what I was doing there. Meanwhile, I've got what a lot of people call "contagious enthusiasm".

Exhibit A: I go dress shopping for CSC and explain the types of dresses I'm looking for to the sales lady.

"I'm a swing dancer you see, I need something breatheable that covers my back. A bright colour would be fantastic! Does the skirt twirl?
-You swing dance? That's the coolest thing I've heard! I had no idea there were places who taught swing here in the capital! Could I give it a shot? Do I need a partner? ..."

And so, everywhere I go, I tend to chat up random strangers and slip into conversation that I swing dance. One thing leads to another... and I've intrigued another person about Lindy Hop. My friends, on the other hand, are kind of tired of hearing about my lessons, those mythical swing friends they never see and they now dread my opening Youtube..."LOOK! That's a pancake!...Oh, oh, that's a knickerbocker! Now, that's mad charleston styling, right there."

Back to my initial question: I may not teach regularly, host community activities or turn swinging tunes to drive the crowd wild, but my near-obsession seems to earn me at least a "Lindy Keener" title. In my defense, I prefer to live with the Jitterbug fever rather than with an obsession-free life and an inability to "Shout and Feel it" to Count Basie.

My First CSC Experience: KABOOM!

2010-05-24T17:11:00.008-04:00

Courtesy of Philippe Huot
CSC 2010

I anticipated as well as dreaded my first experience at the Canadian Swing Championships. Why did I have mixed feelings regarding such a highly regarded swing event? Simply put: I was excited to see what CSC was all about but I was also terrified to discover where I would situate myself in the dance pecking order.

Needless to say, the show was amazing. My tagline was: "Ok, I think my brain just exploded. NOW my mind was blown... no wait, NOW." Dancers from all walks of swing and from Canada, the U.S. and even France traveled to Lachute, QC to show what they were made of. What was that, you might ask? Dynamite, fireworks and a whole lot of yummy awesomeness. The best part is, most of these people are actually NICE. If they had egos, they were great at concealing them. The competition was fierce yet friendly. Competitors would only upstage each other for the benefit of the crowd and the love of dance.

I have to admit that the Ottawa crowd was very loud and proud. I suppose that some teams may have been irritated by our "dynamic" participation as spectators as well as competitors and performers. We kept yelling "KABOOM" - which is Swing Dynamite's slogan - "Ottawa in the house!", "YEAH! 300 BPMs... Is this BLUES or is this FAST LINDY?"... If it was not implode, we are definitely troopers. I suppose it is in corrolation with the fact that the Ottawa scene is smaller and offers less social dancing opportunities that we manifest an even greater appreciation for this sort of event.

Even though I only competed in the Lindy Newcomer Jack & Jill (and took 5th), I have to say the trip and exhaustion were justified by the spectacular dances and the high energy buzzing at all hour of the day. I must have been one of the biggest fans there; I cheered for my teams (Ottawa's very own Swing Dynamite) but also, bowed to the talent, spirit and dedication of Quebec, Montreal and Montpellier (France) lindy hoppers and westies. I am incredibly grateful for their generosity in sharing their passion and through their movement, a part of themselves. I have been flirting with Balboa, Jive and Boogie Woogie but now, I think I'm in love. My perspective on Lindy has also been broadened and I have a new appreciation for Blues and West Coast dancing. Why can't I do it all?!? I suppose I have to look at dance as relationships; I can be friends with many, but I can only be one style's lover at a time. What?!? That's only weird if you don't consider dance as a passion. And I do. So there! That said, I am still focusing on Lindy, but have definitely spotted future projects through this eye opening experience.

I am humbled and motivated by the wide variety of dancers, styles and personalities I have come into contact with through the CSC. Next year, I am coming back prepared!

One more time, for the heck of it... KABOOM!

I found a source of inspiration!

2010-04-27T13:52:00.005-04:00

I've been dabbling in photography for a few months, barely. However, just as with any hobby, we develop particular abilities and discover preferences. I somehow always knew I wanted to try my hand at taking photos, and only hoped that a talent might someday blossom. I am a far distance from calling myself a photographer but what I can say, is that I've definitely gotten the bug.

In a very similar manner, I have fallen in love with swing dancing. It is social, it's fun, it's crazy and challenging, it's creative and keeps me on my toes (quite literally) and it just embodies the part of dance that had not yet been fulfilled for me. I had been dancing for years, but this new zest for life that I've been blessed with has only swept me off my feet since I've discovered the swing family of dances (and naturally, the community that sustains it, here in Ottawa). I have thought of taking up photography for a while, but never got around to it. Now that I have started immersing myself in it - and only those who've taken up an entirely foreign technical hobby can understand the learning curve - I have really started to feel the vast realm of creative possibilities and how I could possibly grow as a multi-layered artist. From now on, I benefit from three platforms of self-expression; written, danced and photographed.

I believe that photography gives me an opportunity to express my inner "artist", in a way that writing validates the existence of my inner "poet" if you will. Writing satisfies my need for the spectrum of introspection and communication, which is more of an intellectual exercise. Photography (or visual arts in general) satisfies my irrepressible thirst for aesthetic and art, whether it be in a traditional or unconventional form; I see the beauty in "imperfectness" of life. When reality meets ideas, I sense a creative urge is born somewhere. And I feel that words fall short. It's like being fed when all you want is a tall glass of water. That must be it; language is my bread and butter, and visual arts are my water.

So last night, I had the opportunity to start taking shots of my friends' swing dance practice. I was disappointed to find my regular 18 mm - 55 mm lens to be inadequate, but I got a rush from trying to get the movement just... right. You know? I caught a knickerbocker in mid-air, swivels at their hippiest, charleston kicks at their craziest and trucking at it's geekiest looking moment. I felt like I was catching glimpses of the dancers' vibe.

If you are still wondering... Dance is the air I breathe and the fire that consumes me.

Now you can imagine how excited I was when I found out about Lois Greenfield (http://www.loisgreenfield.com/index.html). This woman is an artist and she has perfected the art of studio dance photography. She portrays the body as a flexible sculpture of beauty and vulnerability. She creates lines, plays with light and color, bends time and captures motion thus painting a canvas of dance as an art form, but also of a tribute to the human body. My mind is blown. She would definitely be an inspiration to me in my future endeavors in this world of images.

This is what life is about... Learning, loving, believing and never ceasing to be amazed!

RWB's Moulin Rouge: Can you Can-Can? I sure can Can-Can!

2010-04-20T17:03:00.003-04:00

Notably, one of the best theatrical ballets I’ve seen so far, it was colourful, dynamic and the sets were properly used. Why was it a memorable production?

Some might think that because I’ve got a dance background I wouldn’t be critical of dance shows. Quite the contrary; I’ve seen so many that they eventually blend together and unless they’ve done something to set themselves apart from the many other performances or pieces I’ve seen of the same genre, I consider them “ordinary”. There are dance companies who constantly offer refreshing choreographies that grab the spectator’s attention and keeps it for a long time after delivery, if you will. Others have produced a few very original pieces with a extended stage-life. That’s how dance companies become “main stream”; they manage to create something that is so authentic that it transcends the dance community and reaches the masses... well, the ones who bother to go to the theatre once in a while or read the paper at least. For instance, most people have heard of Lalala Human Steps (contemporary dance troupe) and its director, Edouard Lock, of Marie Chouinard dance company or of Rubberband Dance (hip hop group from Montreal).

That being said, all of these troupes produce numbers that are still respectful of their genres, to a certain extent. Otherwise, they produce hybrids, like the circus-theater group called “Les sept doigts de la main”, which is a fabulous Montreal showbiz product, by the way. However, the hybrids are hardly categorized in a specific form of performing arts. I could elaborate on how I distinguish an "artistic" production that has reached larger audiences from a pop production; I'll spare you. This post isn’t so much about my philosophy on performing arts, but I find it important to draw a bit of background in order to explain why I’ve appreciated RWB’s Moulin Rouge.

Sure, in the tradition of ballet, it told a story and used pantomime to do so. Old school? Yes. But… might I remind you that ballet was at a height during Louis the XIV’s rule? Was there a love story and drama? Yes, there was. Were there comic reliefs? Yes. Were there pretty costumes? Yes, of course, this is ballet!

So was so different, might you ask then? It had pizzazz. There was flow in every scene, the performers were dynamic, they wore their roles comfortably, the choreography was fresh and technically clean. Even the tango inspired number was quite passionate, without losing the technical strength behind every movement. The can-can was performed traditionally but with enthusiasm and funky costumes and it managed to get the crowd clapping and all. Not something you see every day in a ballet. The men wore suits and not tights and the sets actually looked like a Parisian cabaret of the turn of the century.

I especially liked the turning windmill and the colour-appropriate skyline lighting. The storyline was close enough to the feature film, except a few minor details which were probably stage-adapted. Although, I have to say, the “falling in love” bit and the “dying” scene, were very cliché. I felt I could predict the pas-de-deux, the kiss, the drinking binge, the fight scene and the sound of death approaching... Someone please explain to me WHY no one ever told a choreographer that characters in stories, if they are to reflect “real people”, don’t dance for a whole song as they are agonizing to their death. I would really like to know. I just think it completely ridiculous. Then again, we don’t “dance around each other” to demonstrate we are falling for someone... maybe I’m wrong. I do have victory dances when I’m over-joyed... but I doubt I would dance in extreme physical pain.

"Look at me! I'm dying!"... pas de bourré, jeté..."I'm agonizing..." piqué, arabesque..."Good-bye, my love" pirouette, lunge. Yeah.

All things considered, it remains a very entertaining ballet worth while seeing. "Can you Can-Can? I sure can Can-Can! Wooooo!" :)

Defining this blog, for sustainability

2010-04-18T18:11:00.011-04:00

Water Ceiling, National Gallery

There are so many things I would like this blog to be about, but like most people in our fast-paced world, I tend to shrug off as unimportant anything that doesn't "have a point"... or doesn't seem to have a clearly defined niche. How could I expect anyone to read my blog if I don't define its purpose?

Actually, I sense I might even give in to leisurely activities other than write here and I will find no solid reason to be loyal to this blog. Afterall, there are so many novels to read, so many drinks to share, movies to watch, dances to be danced, shows to see, galleries to visit, so many people to text or facecreep... Getting carried away in the endless opportunities that await, here. Therefore, I've decided to devote this to my two passions: Dance and Photography.

Ok, so perhaps I'm jumping the gun a little by saying that photography is a passion at this stage. Let's say, it is my glorified hobby. Dance remains my passion, no doubt about that. I was a dancer for 14 years before I took 4 years off to attend a Communications and Philosophy programme at the University of Ottawa and dabble in journalism and freelancing for a short while. Needless to say, I've joined the workforce like a good little soldier and now dedicated my career to communications. However much my professional field feels validating so far, there's something missing. Could it be my creative outlet? I think so.

Last summer (2009), I wanted to start applying my "do-er" philosophy. "What is a 'do-er' ?" you might ask. Well, simply put, my interpretation of it is, that instead of simply talking of things you wish to improve in your life, you ACTUALLY do it. Hence the "do-er" philosophy.

I began to search for dance styles and schools that might renew my fire for this artform I had been away for so long. Let's just say belly-dancing, not my forte. I did try contemporary dance, which I very much liked. But when I started swing dancing... that was love, baby.

The process continued... I had always wanted to learn about photography. So 2010 was my year! No time like right now, huh? I went ahead and bought the nicest, most polyfunctional DSLR my budget could afford (really, it couldn't but that's beside the point). I registered for a workshop, which I've completed this week-end with Harry Nowell Photography (best invested 350 $ in a long time, might I add). And the photo saga begins. I've even named my camera: Caleb.

Oh yeah, and back when I was freelancing for Le Droit and a few obscure papers, writing use to be my "thing" too, so hopefully, this blog will be a delightful melting pot of my interests, passions, likes, hobbies and discoveries.

In the hope that this might find some kindred spirits somewhere whom may appreciate these posts, I will embark on this journey with you. Cheers and let's dance!