Peach-y Keen!

The trailer for Video Game Reunion has been haunting me for weeks! I am so excited to see what kind of mischief all of these classic characters will get themselves into! Tonya Kay, one of our compassionate 'Movers' created the role of video game histories most kidnapped character, Princess Peach Toadstool. Aside from her you will also notice characters from the 80's like Mario, Luigi, Zelda, Kid Icarus, Megaman and many, many more. Video Game Reunion releases on Atom.com and Gametrailers.com as a 13 part series so get tuned in with the rest of us on March 8th, 2011.

Tonya Kay is the perfect example of a compassionate 'Mover.' She danced in STOMP, De La Guarda, Peggy Spina Tap Co and currently performs with the Lalas Burlesque. She is also a Second City improvisational actress whom just played I ROCK, the lead comedic role in the first fictional film about the Animal Liberation Front, Bold Native and now is starring as Princess Peach, the nasty hot mess of a human being in the Video Game Reunion series. Her talents are no stranger and just as impressive are her acts of compassion which are something that I would like to recognize. In her words:

I'm a 27 year vegetarian, 17 of those vegan and the last 8 1/2 RAW vegan. I am a staff writer for the environmental online magazine and I do volunteer work to conserve endangered species, including the Asian elephant and am currently also doing work with the critically endangered sea turtle here at home in California.

I'm inspired by her capacity to give. For more on this compassionate 'Mover'  visit her page: Tonya Kay! Video Game Reunion, March 8th, 2011!

Ballet: Not A Riddle To Decipher

Our compassionate 'Mover,' Justin Leaf wrote an article for the Minnesota Playlist which shares his thoughts on the many ways one can interpret a piece of classical or contemporary ballet choreography. It reads: Over the centuries, “ballet” as classical genre of dance has expanded from romantic story ballets to include neoclassical abstract works and contemporary movement pieces. Story ballets remain the style closest to other forms of popular art (literature, films, music, theater), as they incorporate an easily understood narrative. Dance, however, also uses movement as its language, which leaves plenty of room for interpretation. The more abstract the movement, the less identifiable the intent. (READ ON)

Clara Lofaro at Canal Room

Clara Lofaro filled the room with her beautiful voice and devoted fans on Friday at Canal Room. What charisma! This songstress always brings in an eclectic collection of artists to make for a more powerful presentation. She values the potential to further tell a story by incorporating elements of performance art. Everyone is always moved by her intimate, interactive yet exuberant concerts. To begin her set at Canal Room, Clara engaged her audience with an a cappella song, moved right into Wrinkled $ which included my collaborative dance performance, then musician Jordan Scannella, pictured far left, was featured from the band Jorscan. Clara is honored to be opening for the legendary songwriter, Karla Bonoff at Highline Ballroom. Karla has written hits for the likes of Bonnie Raitt and Linda Rondstadt in addition to her successful solo career. Details:

HIGHLINE BALLROOM Thursday, March 17th (TICKETS)

431 W 16th St New York, NY 10011 (between 9th and 10th Ave) (212) 414-5994

Photography by Sheryl Cohen

Video by Chelsea Dee Thom

Wrinkled $ By Clara Lofaro

I've been inspired by Clara Lofaro for years. Rarely do we see an artist take the stage empty handed, command silence with stillness, and begin filling our hearts with their voice. She began her set with an acapella performance at Cafe Vivaldi, in SOHO where I was asked to perform a dance in collaboration with her music. We were thrilled to be working together. Our first performance was her song entitled 'Wrinkled $.' Wrinkled $ speaks of a loss of innocence that is inevitable as each of us accepts reality beyond our youth. This happens sooner for some than others who may be more sheltered. Clara sings:

There was a school yard Where we used to play In our sweatpants and short hair We told secrets and we didn't care

About the world About the wrinkles on our face About the money we made About the pressures That weigh us down today About the impressions we made About the politicians And the apostles About the war child And the egos That smack us in the face About the hearts we break

In the spirit of The Beatles, 'Imagine' where no religion or war inhibits our ability to find peace, 'Wrinkled $' showcases the innocence of childhood as a utopia where no $, politics, or egos reside. Innocence exists here without knowledge or life experience and has no grounds for opinion. A child simply sees beauty in everything. It seems that we cherish these moments in our lives, ones where we are free from daily travails.  Then when does the agony begin? Part of growing into our adolescence and even into young adulthood means facing frightening truths. This may be where ignorance is born. Born as a fear, creeping up when that innocence is challenged with information that opposes our current understanding of the world, and if accepted, would require change, which is often difficult. It's clear why people maintain an iron grip on their traditions and opinions - we can't expect everyone to be be open to having their beliefs challenged, regardless of the validity of those challenges.

On the contrary I can see benefits in our innocence and value it. A child is brought into life with an unconditional ability to love. Something to admire, they remind us of what is truly important. How might I wonder do we sustain this ability to give unconditional love. When a child asks a question about the world, we may find it in their best interest to be dishonest with them, to protect them. However, if we provide them with a platform of knowledge that helps them understand the world, they will be prepared for tough transitions. Life has a lot of evolutions to undertake and this is yet another one that we need to identify, where Innocence meets Ignorance. Our fear of evolution is simply something to acknowledge and seek understanding in its wake.

See Clara Lofaro @ Canal Room Friday, February 25th, 2011 8pm www.ClaraLofaro.com

James Koroni: Arrest Yourself, Part 4 of 4

JAMES KORONI, Arrest Yourself for complying with a mindless day to day routine. With that as our permanent attitude there would need to be an endless supply of goods for you to consume. Our common products are far removed from its original resource and this intangible "object" somehow gives us permission to relieve ourselves of any responsibility. This is how the huge corporations would like to keep it however, if we are kept dumb then they can do whatever they want. By not feeling any of the suffering that goes into production we give them power over us asa consumer almost as if we're hypnotized by their marketing campaigns. I find the statement "Ignorance is Bliss!," as the downfall of society. We turn our heads at uncomfortable information because once understood we might need to make change in our lives that are outside of our comfort zones. Our comfort zone is only concerned with our personal well being and this is where hope is lost. Selfish acts are blind to suffering.

This doesn't mean we need to write on signs and head out to the nearest protest. By being particular in where we make purchases we decide the results of tomorrow. How do we create a more compassionate and sustainable future through thoughtful consumerism? We need to trace our products back to its source. Were people treated as dignified human beings in the production of my clothing? Are animals individuals, do they deserve a life free of exploitation? Why is fast food so cheap and how does it affect your health, the environment and small businesses? There are too many issues to list.

'Arrest Yourself' was created to inspire individuals to seek answers and make change. Make your comfort zone bigger and offer compassion to those beyond yourself. It's not a question of faith. It's a question of reality. Where does 'this' come from and who did it affect prior to arriving before me.

James Koroni studied at ‘The Edge‘ in Los Angeles,‘Broadway Dance Center‘ in New York City and Santa Monica College in Los Angeles. A few of his credits include choreographing and dancing for Princess Superstar in Paris, France, dancing for Madonna at MACY’s in Herald Square, choreographing and dancing for Clara Lofaro in NY, NY, performing in ‘Rhapsody’s Sirens after Dark‘ at the BLVD on Bowery, participated in the production of Bagabones at The Fringe Festival in New York City and teaching at NorthPort Dance in Long Island. His Internships and Administrative credits include ‘Broadway Dance Center’ under the International Student Visa Program with Director Bonnie Erickson and is currently employed at Cynthia King Dance Studio in Brooklyn, NYC as Cynthia King’s Executive Assistant.

“So much of life carries the potential to shock and excite me and whether traditional or controversial, if it offers compassion I find a reason to appreciate its beauty.” - James Koroni

LAUREN COX: Arrest Yourself Part 1 of 4 SCOTT HAMILTON: Arrest Yourself, Part 2 of 4 KIET LAM: Arrest Yourself, Part 3 of 4

Photography by Joshua Katcher of TheDiscerningBrute.com

Kiet Lam: Arrest Yourself, Part 3 of 4

“Ignorance Is Bliss?” Arrest Yourself! By avoiding inconvenient and unpleasant information we hide from the worlds current state. Whether it be Factory Farming, Green House Gas or Social Justice we must understand and address these issues before it’s too late. "I do my best to rehydrate you at the risk of absurdity/there's nothing left between us but a state of emergency" -Hot Chip

KIET LAM, Life is about relationships. Never taking myself as an isolated entity in the world, I am reminded that each day is marked by continuous give and take between me and the people with whom I work, or ride the subway, or buy groceries, or dance, or grab dinner- the list goes on. "Arrest Yourself," in its music and movement, is a reminder to me that the balances in these relationships are delicate, and that every relationship requires effort and sacrifice. This concept may seem obvious, but I think the part that many choose to forget is that it extends not just to one's immediate friends, but to everyone who crosses one's path throughout the day. Every person deserves compassion and kindness, and we often forget that duty in the hustle of daily life. It is in these momentary lapses, that you "Arrest Yourself" in order to rediscover what it means to be a part of Life.

Kiet started in the world of competitive Ballroom dance, then made the move into jazz and hip-hop through Groove Dance Co., a collegiate dance performance group at Yale University. He studied at Broadway Dance Center in New York City in the Summer Intern Program, where he got the opportunity to work with Jim Cooney as a dancer on a special Broadway-themed episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition. His other credits include the ISVP Performance Project at Broadway Dance Center, and various pieces he has choreographed for Groove Dance Co. at Yale, including his most recent piece "Mirrors".

"The greatest happiness is to transform one's feelings into action." -Kiet Lam

Performance of Arrest Yourself, February 19th 2011 @ 7PM!

Kumble Theater- One University Plaza Brooklyn, NY 11201

TICKETS Discount Code: BeKind

LAUREN COX: Arrest Yourself Part 1 of 4 SCOTT HAMILTON: Arrest Yourself, Part 2 of 4 JAMES KORONI: Arrest Yourself, Part 4 of 4

Scott Hamilton: Arrest Yourself, Part 2 of 4

“Ignorance Is Bliss?” Arrest Yourself! By avoiding inconvenient and unpleasant information we hide from the worlds current state. Whether it be Factory Farming, Green House Gas or Social Justice we must understand and address these issues before it’s too late. SCOTT HAMILTON, "I am a King with a million servants. At any moment, someone somewhere is doing work for me. Making my food, sweeping up trash, sewing the clothes I wear.  Just about anything I need is provided for me. Things are so easily accessible why would anyone bother worrying about where they came from? Could I answer that question most of the time? Probably not. Everyday I am bombarded with goods, services and information, and the most difficult part of the day is simply choosing what I want.

Modern civilization has become highly fragmented and micro-focused on the individual; while all this is happening, who among us will step back and take the time to focus on a more macro level?  What happened to, “The Greater Good”, and something more than ourselves?

I believe technology and the modern world have trained us to become numb and accepting of ignorance on some levels. Our ever growing desire to cater to the individual only perpetuates the issue, as we shift focus from our fellow man to ourselves at ever increasing rates. When we don’t know who to blame for our growing feelings of isolation in an ever connected world, and the irony of the situation becomes too much to reconcile in our own minds, we point fingers. In reality, we as individuals need to be held accountable.

I think it’s within human nature to crave knowledge and we need to start making real efforts towards being completely responsible for our own actions and knowing what important role we play within our society.

Its natural to be self centered, but to do so to the degree with which you would lose connection to society as a whole and blind yourself with ignorance is frightening. Even a King must listen and understand their people to survive."Scott Hamilton began his dance training in 2005 at Western Michigan University. Prior to relocating to New York City, Scott received Degrees in International Marketing, Vocal Performance and Dance Performance in April 2008. With New York as his base, Scott’s been busy touring and performing internationally, entertaining in theaters around the United States, and giving back to students right here in New York. His goal was to be doing what he loves, and thankfully he loves it more and more each day. "Laugh often, and tell the people you love, that you love them."

Performance of Arrest Yourself, February 19th 2011 @ 7PM!

Kumble Theater- One University Plaza Brooklyn, NY 11201

TICKETS Discount Code: BeKind

LAUREN COX: Arrest Yourself Part 1 of 4 KIET LAM: Arrest Yourself, Part 3 of 4 JAMES KORONI: Arrest Yourself, Part 4 of 4

Lauren Cox: Arrest Yourself, Part 1 of 4

"Ignorance Is Bliss?" Arrest Yourself! By avoiding inconvenient and unpleasant information we hide from the worlds current state. Whether it be Factory Farming, Green House Gas or Social Justice we must understand and address these issues before it's too late. 'Mover,' James Koroni choreographed a piece entitled 'Arrest Yourself' to remind people that they are personally responsible for their own demise. To properly present this as a performance piece his dancers also shared their opinions on how this issue is prominent in their own lives.

LAUREN COX, "I've noticed that we walk around day to day bombarded with opinions from our peers, media and limited by our own comfort zones. We allow so much of it to guide our steps and we are often afraid of embracing new information because somehow it will disrupt our current state of heaven when, in fact, it’s the contrary that leads to the path of happiness. And we all do it! We all struggle to find our own happiness outside of ourselves…this makes absolutely no sense, so 'Arrest Yourself!' Hold yourself captive, if only to give way to the inevitability of change. By being an active participant of my own dream and staying open-minded to the dreams of others I sew anonymous benefits upon the world. It is through collective dreams that we realize we are all deeply interconnected and can progress for each other on our short visit to this earth. It is a daily choice…carpé diem!!"

She is a lifetime student and teacher of dance and movement. Starting at the age of 6, Lauren trained rigorously and competed as a passionate Rhythmic Gymnast around the U.S. for 11 years with the aid of ballet, modern dance and pilates, eventually achieving 4th in the nation for level 9 and 20th for level 10. During college she discovered a love for Sociology, hip hop and youth advocacy through Culture Shock Dance Troupe in Oakland, California where she received training with prominent guest choreographers such as Nappy Tabs, performed at events such as S.F. Aids Walk, Monsters of Hip Hop and the ACL Championships with LL Cool J & Amerie and was a part of their competition team, CS Allstars, winning consecutive silver and bronze metals at the U.S. & World Hip Hop Championships in Los Angeles. After co-founding and dancing for Groove Against the Machine San Francisco and exhibitioning annually at events like World of Dance and Battlefest Bay Area she set out to learn yet another style in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where she studied Samba, African and Street Dance for one year. She returned to the States to accept Broadway Dance Center’s Summer Intensive Internship and has been training in ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop and freestyle for the past 7 months in order to converge and solidify her deep passion for the universal language of music through dance. She is now the Portuguese translator for Broadway Dance Center, teaches Hip Hop at Center Stage New Jersey and has just started a choreography project called “The Ladies Freedom Party” bringing conscious light to music & movement.

Performance of Arrest Yourself, February 19th 2011 @ 7PM!

Kumble Theater- One University Plaza Brooklyn, NY 11201

TICKETS Discount Code: BeKind

SCOTT HAMILTON: Arrest Yourself, Part 2 of 4 KIET LAM: Arrest Yourself, Part 3 of 4 JAMES KORONI: Arrest Yourself, Part 4 of 4

Glee-fully, Tonya Kay!

'Mover,' Tonya Kay has been a busy bee! She performed Sunday on Glee doing a big deal "never-before-seen-on-tv" fire whip crack and more. There were four fire dancers and they all have wigs on, so keep your eye on the girl cracking the fire whip (seen on left in the image shown) and then remember what she looked like during the rest of this huge production number! Yes, you read correctly: they wigged Tonya Kay! She said, "Productions have tried and failed countless times. But not Glee's hair department. The stylist wigging me, whom himself had dread locks (thank goodness!) said he wigged Whoopi, so I knew I was in good hands. Literally. He kissed my locks when he had piled them up - I knew this one understood."

You might remember her on Glee's famous Madonna episode last year with Stilt World. Of course, a performer never knows what happens in post-production after the filming, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Glee wanted to be the first in television history to show her stunt! A big deal that it's a woman doing it - and that woman is Tonya Kay!

To see more of this compassionate 'Mover,' visit: http://www.tonyakay.com/

Indonesian Interlude

Venyci Yefriadi uses the power of dance to create a safe community at IDAI, Interlude Dance Academy Indonesia. Indonesia is ranked as 4th most populated in the world, the biggest Muslim population, the largest archipelago country, with a mix of democratic & sultanate governments, a home to over 30 different cultures & traditions - this is not an easy project for her. Her powerful warmth and interest inspires a generation faced with unpredictable cultural change and forced adaptation. She offers her students obtainable goals within dance and an eclectic family that is open to their differences.

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Her mother comes from a traditional Javanese family. Her mothers friends would often come into her home and share dance, music, art & philosophy while playing the gamelan (a traditional Javanese instrument). While her father is Chinese and has a classic respect for Chinese New Year and religious ritual. Her parents are a perfect example of Indonesia's complex cultural diversity. They never quite felt at home so they relocated throughout Indonesia, from Malang to Jakarta and later Singapore before Venyci chose Allentown, PA for college. She resides now, by her words, in 'sunny sometimes foggy' San Francisco!

Adapting to a new world and a new culture was very hard for me, every time you must face feeling lonely again, search for new friends and a community to call your own. The fear of moving to a new world effected me in my personal relationships, both with partners & friends. With every new "home," in the back of my mind, I knew that I would  be leaving soon. I kept all my relationships on the surface to avoid inevitable pain. Now as an adult I can see that change was my friend, changing is like flipping my hand & waking up in the morning. I have a special button or self alarm to activate my courage. I flow into every space and fit into any container. -Venyci Yefriadi

Her dancers experience confusion within their culture, the country is split into extreme conservative tradition and open minded liberal thought - there really is nothing in between. They don't understand why the two extremes exist and this often leads to rebellion and getting involved in self destructive activities. After being relocated to another country there is even less to identify with or hold onto. After listening to their struggles and experiencing it first hand she has come to understand what they need from her; guidance. IDAI is an interlude for young minds to be free of confusion and find a stomping ground right here on American soil.

Check them out here: Interlude Dance Academy Indonesia

Bubbly Bettina

Luck be a lady tonight, Bettina May performed Downtown at Bubble Bar on West Broadway and White St.

This swanky bar had fashion illustrations from the nineties with beautiful woman swimming in enormous cocktails even an alcoholic couldn't down. Management and service was phenomenal, their menu didn't have vegan options but as soon as our requests were in the waitress brought fresh strawberries and olives for us to enjoy.

The DJ then announced our Burlesque Goddess Bettina May. She strolled out in a full length faux fur coat kicking and grinning to her hit song "Hey Hey Bettina May" written for her by Hank Angel and his Island Devils! What a blast.

I will return and I will ask for an encore next time!

Don't forget she is in the running for Viva Las Vegas! Click on the link and support this beautiful Bombshell!

Too Young

Tremendous injustice is occurring all over the world. The most innocent and fragile of living creatures have no voice. Children are making textiles, toys (which they will never play with) and matches, among many other items. We call this Child labor. Child Trafficking is another malicious form of modern slavery. Each day, more children are trafficked into prostitution, forced labor, child marriage and other slavery-like conditions. Each day sees the growth of skills and experience of traffickers and those who purchase trafficked persons. Isn't slavery illegal? I guess not.

In our society we seek the most "delicious" food and at what cost? Do we know at what level of cruelty the farmers reach for particular forms of meat or dairy? Male chicks are useless to egg farms so they are simply plucked up and loaded into a grinder or left in a dumpster to die.

Veal production is also a bi-product of the dairy industry. It's beyond me how this kind of medieval torture is still around? Pulled from their mother immediately after birth, fed an anemic diet in a wooden crate to small to lie down in and then killed after 18 or 20 weeks.

You may ask what can I do about this? Being informed should be your first bit of effort. There are so many resources online for you to peruse. Then avoid companies that use child labor, create artistic works that educate your audiences, avoid cruel farming practices and you'll make a world of difference. All we have is each other to rely upon. It isn't difficult to be compassionate. It's simply difficult to know these ethical issues exist and then not do anything about it!

It Gets Better

I met talented 'Mover,' Tracey Katof shortly after she had the opportunity to dance and choreograph for comedian, Rebecca Drysdale, on a music video called "It Gets Better." In a short interview with her, this is what she had to say:

Q. Why do you dance? A. Language barriers exist between communities worldwide. I choose dance as my form of communication and self expression because I feel speaking through movement is the natural global language. Even the most simple movements, such as a smile or a frown, can be understood regardless of where someone comes from or what language they speak.   I dance to promote efforts of human welfare and social reform.  If I can spark an emotion or idea in an audience member that leads to a positive change, then I have accomplished my goal.

Q. How does this influence your dancing? A. My dancing is driven by my devotion to a cause and a desire to express truth.  In addition, I hope that my body and movement can serve as a vessel for social change and awareness.  In a sense, I dance to be larger than myself.

Q. Tell me about your experiences with "It Gets Better." A. Working with Comedian Rebecca Drysdale was a fulfilling experience. She put forth an immeasurable amount of time and effort into creating her vision. I thought it was an innovative idea to produce a music video and use humor to get the message across and to reach a large audience.  Through the Internet and social media, the video has already been viewed 100,000 times in just 2 weeks!

Q. How has dancing for this social issue enriched your life as an artist? A. From choreographing for humanitarian causes, I have learned that no matter how foreign the topic is to me, I can always relate.  That is what I want for the audience as well.  I am not a part of the LGBT community, yet I have related to the pain caused by feeling different and being teased. The "It Gets Better" campaign is about accepting each other for who we are.  I support this project because I want to spread the message that even in the most disheartening situations, there is always hope.

Tracey was the first to tell me about "It Gets Better." After I watched it for the first time I thought, I wish this was around when I was 14 so I didn't have to watch "Undressed" on MTV to feel normal! I recall being afraid to simply think thoughts of homosexuality, for fear that I would be, "condemned to hell." Add any level of physical, mental or emotional abuse to that kind of existence and it would be very difficult to know what I know now, which is, IT'S SOOO MUCH BETTER! This campaign has become a worldwide movement and is helping troubled teens look to a brighter side. For this I thank Tracey for lending her talents in Rebecca Drysdale's video.

Tracey is committed to many social issues. I'd love to share them all with you now but I look forward to seeing how she plans to illustrate them herself! Keep up with Tracey Katof's moves here:

http://TraceyKatof.com

http://www.doyoubuzz.com/Tracey-Katof

First Class Gal

Took a night on the town to Park Side at 317 Houston Street to see Bettina May in action. Her performances are sensational! Offering the crowd an experience that takes you away from the NYC stress and into the charming smiles of Lady Bettina May's sweet character.

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Bettina is sharing the secrets of Burlesque at Beauty Bar Sunday, Jan 16th!

It's a must!

Foh Real? Faux Feathers!

Where in the world is Bettina May? Well she's in New York City. Certainly wouldn't be the same without her. Her innovative performances are more than just fanfare. Every bit of her costuming, performance and smile are genuinely committed to ending cruelty. She showed up to teatime today in a FAKE full length fur coat with matching hat. When I asked her where she acquired her matching set, she said, "I sew, made it myself." Well that's impressive! Little did I know she envisions and creates all of her own costumes. Her resistance to the mainstream costuming industry is that traditional Burlesque dancers use feathers, leather, and fur in all their performances with little thought of who they took it from. You don't need these items to entertain, be creative, innovative and inspire others to not feed into unfortunate tradition. We must not get involved with indulgent lifestyles that breed thoughtless performance rather evolve along with the environment and return the respect. Very refreshing to meet such a unique 'Mover' in our industry!

Check out her home made "Feather" Headdress in a performance entitled,

'Don't Touch My Tomatoes!'

While one end of a feather is soft to the touch, tickle worthy and awe inspiring there is another end of this quill that isn't quite as lovely. Live plucking is of commonplace among feather producing farms. If you thought getting hair waxed off was painful, imagine living a lifestyle, against your will, where being "waxed" regularly for anothers kicks and giggles was all you understood.

Alternative choices are available!

Coquette Faux Furriers

Bettina May's Links

For more on Miss Bettina May check out her website, click on the link below!