I found my light in Europe..

My residency at the Au Brana Cultural center with OBRA Theatre Company was life-altering. It was the best gift I could have ever given myself.

Please don't take this as cliche. It's true, " Girl goes to Europe after one of the most insane years of her life, after her first year of graduate school, and finds bliss, life altering-bliss...." But, the fact of the matter is, it is true. I found bliss. Bliss is now in my tool-box and I know what it looks like, feels like, smells like and tastes like, ( a mix of fresh french baguette just out of the oven, crepes at midnight, jamon and sangria from an open air market...) I can always go back in my tool-box and double check what bliss is, what a gift I gave myself this summer. What . A. Gift.

Everything I experienced in my life, lead me to France.

France was waiting for me, to be explored, at that exact moment in time, and I took it in whole-heartily. I ate it up. I did not leave any left overs.

I had an incredible spiritual, emotional,artistic journey I could have imagined. It all started the moment I stepped foot in Paris, and continued on my path to the southern border of France where I lived on a farm for 3.5 weeks in a quaint, adorable town of Lectoure to play with a talented group of theatre artists as a resident of the OBRA Theatre Company physical theatre workshop.

Together the residents lived and played with our bodies, memories, stories and desires. It was a storytelling workshop like no other. At Au Brana, I was instantly challenged with the rigorous and intense physical work, even coming form a very strong physical background. My body never endured such explorations before. I struggled with full letting go, and trusting my strength. I'm so much stronger than I give myself credit for. This was a huge lesson to learn this year, as well as this summer. I was even nick-named " Gladiator- Woman" and " Amazon- Princess"....hmm good halloween ideas :)

Over the course of 3.5 weeks we worked very closely on physical movement techniques in ensemble building and our own personal material development. Writing, moving, moving, writing, non-stop from dawn until dusk for 3.5 weeks. Oh, and the food at Au Brana, still makes me salivate. The food was absurdly declious, fresh, and prepared by the OBRA leaders, they did double duty, all. the. time. I love you all so much for taking such good care of me.

The workshop was lead by OBRA company members, Kate Perry, Oliviero Papi, Unai Lopez de Armentia and Hannah Whelan a dynamic and powerful group of theatre artists from the UK, Australia, and The Basque Country.

Followed by a writing/capoiera workshop with Leo Kay and Mestre Carlao from the UK and Brazil; in which we generated a ton of writing about personal stories and memory, and site-specific creations.

Finishing with an intense Grotowski movement workshop with illustrious director Matej Matejka from Poland ( Theatre Czar/Studio Matjeka).

Following my incredible artistic journey in France--after living on a farm with 10 very interesting individuals from all over the globe--and meeting some beautiful people on my journey to and from each place I went, I began on my personal exploration of Barcelona and Paris, where I found peace, bliss, passion and liberation.

Barcelona was full of heat, excitement, fiery energy of art and intensity. I lived in a seedy apartment in a part of Barcelona equivalent to NYC's Time Square. It was Central and easy to get around, but not ideal for peace of mind. I loved exploring the entire city by foot and spent 8-10 hours walking without a map, getting lost in the labyrinthine city walls. Stopping for dolces and tapas. Thinking about the food in Barcelona makes my mouth water. The days were spent exploring the parks, street art, beaches, and mazes of sunshine in bliss. The evenings were spent getting lost in within the mysterious Gothic walls and mazes, sangria sipping, dancing, street performer/art exhibitionists, people watching, Catalan Shakespeare exploring ( YES, I saw Romeo and Juliet in Barcelona, and it was amazing!!!), and being a witness to the thrill seeking hedonism that surrounded me.

Barcelona is all about pleasure and intensity. The intensity lasted all the way up until I got myself to the airport and flew out of there. It was fun while it lasted but I was ready for some of the mysterious, romantic ,energy of Paris, and that is exactly what I found there.

Paris took my breath away. Over, and over, and over again. Thinking about it still gives me a heart palpitation.

I felt a light inside me that I never knew I could feel as I first witnessed the Eiffel Tower and the Seine for the first time. We arrived to Paris in the evening and saw the tower at sunset. Chills still take over my body when thinking about seeing it for the first time as the metro train approached the grand view of the city skyline of Paris. I can remember the smell of the city, and the temperature my body felt while walking along the Seine from morning to night.

The streets of Paris were filled with romance and intimacy. Everything felt so intimate, petite, secretive, simple, and sexy. People taking their time. People kissing. Laying next to each other, staring at the sky, the river, the art surrounding. Simplicity and romance at every moment. Eye contact being held with strangers for an almost uncomfortable amount of time, but yet so thrilling and harmless. Random conversations at cafes, bars, singing with street performers, locals, having conversations about art, culture, theatre, independence, love, life, family and future with perfect strangers and new friends. Rendezvous is the word when I think if Paris. Rendezvous everywhere you go, and the light of this city is like a small fire burning inside your soul that's quiet and just about to boil. I came back from Paris really holding on to this light that I found. I don't ever want to lose it. The French greeted me with inquisitiveness, openness and sincerity. I had some incredible life changing conversations and experiences with many special people I met in France. Once we got past the American jokes and my accent in attempting to speak one of the most beautiful languages in the world, we really found a common ground and the relationships I made in France, even if they were just with singing with random street musicians.... " Saaaaannndy" from Grease, or a compilation of Beatles music in French, or riding on the back of a motorcycle with a friend I just made in a a cafe for hours, or meeting a friend I made on a Parisian Train adventure in a random farm village to talk about our dreams , or going on a dancing adventure with a group of friends I met at while dancing in a dive bar, or getting stuck in a storm without an umbrella, or getting lost on the metro and asking for help, Europe taught me so much. Europe gave me a sense of my independence back that I was always yearning for but perhaps too scared to fully claim.

Europe brought light inside me, and I will be back to touch that flame soon. I realized how essential traveling, adventure, language, and international art means to me. I must make a habit of committing myself to explore this world we live in! My artistic mission continues : International, Multi-lingual, Multi-media, Collaborative Art, that heals, moves, and entices all the human senses and senses that we do not even know exist.

One thing is for sure. I LOVE physical theatre and movement and feel that this is my calling in the generation of my work.

Which leads to my updates of where I am now and what I'll be working on at CalArts, Fall 2011.......

Yes, yes, yes, yes, Roller coaster of year 2 on my MFA journey is just now picking up speed, but this year, I'm in the front cart without any fear of flying out and splattering myself into a mush on the earth. I'm going to trust that the seat-belt on this roller coaster is going to protect me from losing my focus, determination and dedication. So I'll let the seat-belt do it's job, but don't be fooled- I'm raising my hands in the air, my eyes are WIDE open to see the horizon ahead, and I will allow myself, with total freedom, and confidence, to fly at the speed of light.....

The Journey.

In 4 hours I will be boarding a plane with a backpack the size of me on the back, and a back pack the size of a small child on the front.....Perhaps I have over-packed? Perhaps.

My last month in New York has been incredible. My family and friends welcomed me with the most unconditional love and support that I've ever encountered. There really is no place like home.

I took on a new hobby/obsession....its a martial art called " Krav Maga" at an incredible studio called Krav Maga Solutions on West 26st. Krav Maga is an Israeli CIA special forces martial arts class. I have never felt so challenged physically in my life.It has changed my perspective on my inner strength and what I'm mentally and physically capable of. It also taught me that the power within myself is capable of anything and everything.

I've also made some new friends in such a short period of time visiting NYC----and it has been very fun continuing to grow and learn about myself as a reflection of the people I attract toward me, and as I really absorb and reflect on what attracts me to people. My sirens of what I do not want in my life are extremely sensitive and alert. My sirens of what I do want are very crisp and present...and I hope to continue my path of self -discovery of being an courageous, honest, powerful artist and most importantly powerful woman. Independent, full of love....and possibility to share with the world as I go on my journey of curiosity and passion.

For the next month I will be a traveling backpack. It should be funny to witness me carrying my two huge backpacks through Europe...

First stop : Paris
Second stop: 3 week residency in Toulouse, with a company called Au Brana where I will be creating a physical theatre piece with 14 other actors from all over the world. Our piece will be based off of memory and personal stories.
Third stop: Barcelona
Fourth stop: ?
Last stop: Paris

then back to the big apple to say my goodbyes and re-group before my second year of graduate school at Cal Arts.

One of my friends told me " Let Europe wash over you. The good, the bad, the everything...just let it wash it all off, and you will come back a new woman."

This shall be done. I don't have rain boots, but I have a poncho..I'm ready to cleanse and revitalize my heart, soul, mind and every chakra that pulses through my veins.

I'm ready for an adventure of a lifetime.

If you are reading my blog, I would love to hear from you and get emails. Please write to me, it will mean so much to me to know you are following me and If I've moved you in some way..

sandy.levitan@gmail.com

"All we can do is keep breathing" Ingrid Michaelson

Last time I checked the semester was slowly creeping up on me.

Now, as ......of course...... it always.... happens.

I've blinked my eyes . Time flashed before me. My life never moved at such a fast, roller coaster, speed of light, emotional marathon pace.......I'm hanging on to the door of a speeding train. Help! Give me your hand and pull me in so I can keep going.

I will begin with some of the most important updates:

The RUSSIANS:

Russian family and friends you MUST look at these links, you will cry, laugh, and learn what this was all about.

http://www.lastagetimes.com/2011/03/calarts-and-gitis-students-craft-new-theatrical-vocabulary-for-russian-premiere/

http://blog.calarts.edu/2011/02/25/students-from-the-russian-academy-of-theater-arts-in-moscow-arrive-at-calarts-for-international-project/

http://english.ruvr.ru/radio_broadcast/35614392/44913292/index.html

http://calarts.edu/news/2011-feb-4/exchange-california-institute-arts-calarts-fosters-understanding-between-russia-and-

This entire project, process, adventure, collaboration, experience changed the way my brain functions,forever. One week has passed ( I think?) and my brain is slowly coming back...slowly.

I was not only given the amazing opportunity to collaborate artistically as an actor, with the Russian company---- but I was also one of the main hosts ( in charge of their day to day social activities, tours, excursions, party planning, carpools, etc) , not to mention the main translator assisting Russian Professor Yevgeny Kamenkovich and Director Andrey Shalaipin to communicate with CalAts Professor Mirjana Jokovic and the entire CalArts community. ( That was a long sentence. I know. There will be many long sentences in this blog.)

When the actors in our company needed to communicate and generate ideas with the Russian company---I translated..Russian to English and English to Russian, etc,etc,etc FAMILY: Can you believe this? Little Sandichka the " Russian Pro"...you all would have a nice giggle.

Jumping group to group, Director to Professor, Professor to Director, to student, to faculty, to stage managers, and back again....then after all that I had to come up with some creative ideas for myself to generate for my piece of the workshop scene puzzle.....hmm....it was insane. Good insane. But insane. I liked it. It was hard. I wanted to cry sometimes. Sometimes I did. My brain was on full volume and divided so much that sometimes I started speaking Russian to the Americans without realizing, and basically couldn't put English sentences together properly for those two weeks. I did this all, and will be grateful for the rest of my life. As crazy and hectic as it was, it was beautiful. So absolutely beautiful. I learned so much about my art, my language, my culture, process, instincts, simplicity, honesty, and integrity in the work...I hope our paths will cross, I have no doubt one day they will.

Our voyage to Moscow to continue our collaboration is still TBA....Of course this would be a gift. I'm keeping my heart and mind open to whatever is decided. I'm grateful for all I've experienced thus far, and will be forever touched by the experience.

Thank you, Geda Grisha. Baba Fania and Lina, for only speaking Russian to me when I was a little one.

Thank you, Mamachka and Papachka for allowing me to answer back in English but still keeping our conversations a mix of Russ-lish . If you heard me translating you would pee your pants.

Thank you, Family. Thank you, for sharing our language, culture, and history. Answering my 200 million questions about your lives before coming to America. Your stories inspire me and I'm so lucky to have access to the language those stories were spoken in.......

This entire experience was yet another reminder of how lucky I am. Yes, things were and ARE stressful. I get lonely, homesick, my heart aches and breaks, but in time, those things will pass and the sun will shine on me, I'll wake up breathing, I'll wake up walking, I'll wake up being able to have health, choice, dreams, passion, and my dear family. My family of eccentric Russians waiting for me on the east coast/west coast, my family of friends I have worked with professionally in art or fitness, and my current family here. My family at Cal Arts that is my backbone and will not let me sink when I look like I'm about to drown. I was drowning for a couple weeks, maybe a month with overwhelming emotions.. I wouldn't have been able to get through any of anything without these reminders. This fills my body up up with glitter that I want to share and spread all over the world. World covered in Sandy glitter. Purple glitter,for sure.

The World? We will come to that in a future blog :)..or what the heck, if you have read this far, why not read some more.Someone may be traveling this summer, and spreading my glitter to those who need it most.

Ok, World!

I've been accepted into a European Physical Theatre workshop in Au Brana ( www.aubrana.com). I'm OBSESSED with my movement class this semester with Tina Kronis ( www.theatremovementbazzar.org).

In a search to deepen my practice, passion, and love for this genre of movement, I applied to this " self with others" workshop on a whim. Guess what? I got in. Only 2 students from the US are asked to join. I'm one of them. It's GREAT. However, now I need to figure out how to pay for it. I'm in the process of emails and meetings, applying for grants and funds to support my travel and workshop expenses. I need to raise $700 for workshop coverage, and $1,500 for travel. But of course, even if I raise, half, that is amazing. I don't think I will be able to go unless I do have funds for half of it. It's my first time in the grant- proposal -writing -world......ahhhhh WOW, I have a new found appreciation and respect for anyone who does this on a regular basis to support a cause they believe in. If you believe in my cause, maybe you will want to help. If you are family, friends, any support system that wants to donate to my workshop funding, please let me know. As I said, even $5 is a great support!!! I will be starting an online donation website very soon to make this legitimate and easy. Feel free to email me and let me know if you want more info about this, and if you are interested in helping out someway:

Sandy.levitan@gmail.com

Workshop info:

www.aubrana.com

www.ensemblephysicaltheatre.com

Another opportunity I'm in the process of being interviewed for is in India.

Shanti Bhavan, The Children's Project.

After a serious talk with one of my my most sweet sweet sweet inspirational friends,about life, perspective, and the need for inspiration and sharing my gifts, I was introduced to this incredible school

www.shantibhavanonline.org

"Shanti Bhavan is a home and exceptional school located in rural Tamil Nadu, India, for the region's most socially and economically disadvantaged children.

The school follows a completely unique and innovative model of combating poverty, educating the poor and fighting social injustice. Admitting students at the age of four, Shanti Bhavan provides a holistic, high quality education until the age of 17 free of cost, and subsequently funds college education for its students.

No other model of educational intervention commits the same level of long-term and quality investment in the lives of the children it serves, or holds more promise for their futures and those of their families. As adults, our students will have the power to contribute to a better world.

"Shanti Bhavan’s mission is to adequately develop the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children of India’s "lowest caste" by providing them world class education and instilling globally shared values to enable them to aspire to careers and professions of their choice"

I am applying to teach a version of my ZUMBA class, creative writing, theatre adaptation, classic literature adapted into performance, world music dance, storytelling, ensemble created performance art, and health and wellness----and of course anything and everything else in between. My position would be at most, one month this summer during my break from CalArts.

I would live there for one month as a volunteer guest teacher. I am still in the interview process, but if I do get accepted, I will also be in search of funds to get myself to India--maybe it will be right after Aubrana in France? Who knows!

This will be a life changing experience for me and these children.

It is my mission to bring my work International. It is my mission to inspire, it is my mission to bring healing power through art and creativity..and what better way to start the first phases of my mission then now. I need it. The world needs it.

If I can not do both workshops this summer, and only one I will be very happy. If I cannot do either, I will also be happy because I can try to do it when I have the support. I'm lucky to have the energy and passion to inquire, apply and put these ideas out there..if they are supposed to happen, they will.

Updates in other news:

My Zumba class at Calarts is a love shack. My students are the cutest, sweetest, most enthusiastic Zumba loving chickens. No matter what is happening in my day, as soon as I get to my class I'm greeted by 3o excited sweethearts, with smiles, hugs, laughs and love. I feel such support, admiration and respect from everyone that steps in to my class. I walk around Calarts and hear people screaming " WEPA!!" and overhearing them complain about their " sore-goodies".....its lovely.

Here is a lovely note one of my students wrote on a cal arts blog:

http://calarts.edu/blog/2011-feb-11/two-my-new-favorite-things

My core classes are beating me up as they should be. We are now starting our Brecht-feast...I will be working on a juicy scene from Jungle of the Cities and Arturo Ui. Next up in Directing Lab is my FAVORITE PLAYYYYYYYYYYY: Romeo and Juliet! I'll be playing, Nurse. It's real.

I'm also currently still playing with Othello in my directing lab..and Bianca and Lodovico are deliciously challenging. I'm still getting my mouth and mind around Shakespeare's beautiful poetry. When I get it, its amazing. When I don't, its stinks. I'm learning. I'm living. This is all why I'm here.

I will be looking into starting a kickstarter account for donations for summer projects.

You can also contact me directly if you feel so inclined.

And now, back to my high pile of books, and to-do's

I'm blessed that you have read my blog,.

Thank you for being interested in my stories, my voyage, my life, and me. Your support is love. I love you for that.

If I close my eyes and open them, the city skyline would look back and wink..

Things I miss...

the smell of the city

food

perfume

bagels

pizza

fresh laundry

broadway billboards

lights

lights

so many lights

underground soundtrack

ludlow and delancy

delancy

delancy

Oh, how I miss Ludlow and Delancy

sweet ladies on 66st

uptown,downtown, east side,west side

taste-buds being pleased at any time of the day or night

being stuck on the F

bumping into old friends on the street

paths crossing

paths missing

paths paths paths

the city streets

numbers

energy

24 hour flowers

24 hour life

numbers

juice bars

bulgarian rock bars

brunch

sheepsmeadow

sunrise over the city

sunset under the city

culture

language

so many languages

memories

bubble and chaos

concrete and sunshine

screaming

sirens

loud conversations

eavesdropping on the N train

late night cab rides

bridges

skyline

AM NYC

530am wake up call

11pm bed time

the view

history

discovery

waiting in line

waiting room

getting called-back

Up and down the stairs I go

music

dirt

silence by the water

my home

my family

my support

my bubble

my world

Second Semester of my MFA....

How lucky I am to have dreams...

Tomorrow, I officially start my second semester of Acting and Performance, Master in Fine Arts, at Cal Arts.

For the last two weeks I have and crazy apocalypse type dreams. Literally, apocalypse.

Like……….think : booms exploding, the world ending, running, falling, that sort of stuff-can you sense my anxiety? I’m actually beyond excited for round 2 to start—I feel like school never ended because I spent my entire break reading books, watching movies, memorizing text and mentally compiling what just happened, what I think about it, and what I want to work on and change, my list was long, I did’t a lot of self evaluation and reflection. I’m a perfectionist. I will never be perfect, but I will not give up or every get tired of working on myself as a person, an artist, and an eternal student of life.

The moment I got off my plane in California it was not only 80 degrees (and I left blizzardicious NYC of 20 degrees), my heart felt peace, tranquility and it felt almost like when you JUST get your license and you are driving home trying to take a “ short cut” when all of a sudden you get lost, and its dark, the weather gets worse, the neighborhood changes, you have to pee, your scared, drug dealers are on the street, shady stuff going on and people and other cars are looking at you funny, and then as you are imagining getting stopped by some scary person and jumped or mugged you find the interstate highway that will lead you back on track…you get on that road and it’s smooth sailing, you are on your way home, you are relieved and you feel peace and you all of a sudden don’t have to pee anymore. There are no shortcuts in life. Sometimes you need to take the long route, and you’ll find your inner peace and your home will always be within you.

That’s how it felt coming back to California.

My winter break was very fast. It was bittersweet. I was snowed into one of the biggest blizzards in the last 20 years or so---I think that’s what channel 1 said? The snowed- in days were the best ones, I think. I couldn't leave and be distracted with my list of “ To-dos”. I spent quality time with my thoughts, my reflection, and most importantly my loved ones. One huge thing I realized when I came back to the big apple is ,that it is, exactly, and I mean EXACTLY the way I left it. The smells, the sounds, the energy, the people, my clients (and friends), my students, my train route, the love, the rats, the musical soundtrack that follows me everywhere I go…its all exactly how I left it. Untouched and untainted.

I, however, felt different.

I, however felt like I had this secret self discovery and insight to my purpose in life (whether its true or not) and that I was not the same person to all these same things I came home to….it was sad at first, but then I realized I’m growing up, changing, learning, discovering. and it’s okay. I’m just on a different path that I was before, and of course I’m changing—and it does not mean anything bad. It was scary feeling like an outsider in your home city…feeling “ misunderstood” in the slightest way…but it was the opposite, I was greeted with open arms, support, inspiration and excitement…it was I who felt out of place and felt that California was more of my home in those quiet moments of breathing in the city air.

It almost feels like being here, in CA for the first time in my life is the first time I’ve ever REALLY made a choice. A scary choice, that was truly mine and no one else’s. Even though I now have my fans rooting for me back home, when I made the choice to come here, I really took a huge risk. I left behind a life that was so truly good to me. Friendships and relationships that took years to build and gave my blood and heart to, work I spent sweat and tears creating…I took a leap of faith, I jumped, I didn’t even think twice as I do with many things. I’m such an indecisive person---but this choice was made in an instant. I had no second guessing or second thoughts or analysis it was just what needed to happen…

Making this choice to start a new life, a fresh chapter on my odyssey, it made me think of what my family must have felt when they were my age and they were already married, with children…and on their way to leave for a new world with a new language, culture and no guarantees. I’m told often that being an artist is a life without guarantees, a risky life---- full of bargaining, hustling, and rejection. To follow the path of your dreams is never easy, but at least you never have regrets.

Here I am, in California…away from my family, friends, business, loved ones, my safety, my income, my bubble of comfort—living off of student loans, on an artistic emotional roller coaster of unpredictability…but I get to do what I love everyday. I get to study the work that I’ve fantasized my entire life, ever since I put on full Broadway shows for my hand-me- down Barbie dolls and fisher price toys. I’m in graduate school taking this risk for what I love. My passion. I’m lucky that I even have the choice to live my life following my passion. I’m lucky that my life even allows me to have dreams---

When I was home, I began compiling my research for a project I’m creating based off of my families stories of living in USSR. I was frustrated at times when I asked my parents questions about their dreams and passions. I was often given a response of “ my dream was to have food” , “ my dream was to have kids” , “ I didn’t have any passions or dreams” It broke my heart. I became aggressive. I begged them. “ Please, think deeply, think about when you were a little girl or a little boy, or a teenager, be unreasonable. Think unreasonably, what was your secret selfish dream?” Both my parents repeated what they said before. It made me frustrated and upset until I had a very intense interview with my Aunt Alla who is almost a decade older then my Mama. She told me stories of her childhood growing up during WW2,with my grandfather at war when she was born. Her and my grandmother spent the first years of her life moving from a bedbug infested refugee camp, to an apartment that had mice run across it, to a beautiful flat in the middle of Lviv…where they shared one bathroom and one kitchen with 3 other families.—but they were happy, as happy as they could be.

When I came home from that interview, I asked my mom again the same question with more compassion..” Mama, what was your dream, what was your passion? Can you think about it and tell me? “ She looked me straight in the eyes, her long eye-lashes and huge eyes blinked twice and she smiled “ My dream really was to have you, I really just wanted to be a Mother…and a Grandmother-and I have both now, that was my dream”…and I accepted it. I realized, that can be a dream too, and having food on the table can also be a dream. How lucky am I that I can dream even more selfishly and more unreasonably. My family had to have dreams of simple things a child, that to them meant HUGE things. My dreams are not simple, they are grand, they are beautiful, they take guts, they take courage, they take a leap of faith…and here I am about to take my next leap, into my second semester of my dream and my passion.

What is to come? Many of the MFAs don’t have an opportunity to teach until 2^nd or 3^rd year..usually 3^rd year. I have been BLESSED with an opportunity to teach a Latin/World Movement class inspired by my Zumba classes I offered for free to the Institute last semester. I’m So so so so so excited. I have almost 30 students signed up, undergraduate/graduate mixed. The next step in my movement development is to really develop my skills as an instructor at a University level. It will happen. It sure will. I’m manifesting as we speak. Some of my classmates are being silly and calling me “ Professor”…who knows, one day..

Speaking of classmates. Did I mention how ridiculously talented, inspirational and mind-blowing they are? I feel lucky to be in their presence. I feel lucky to learn from them and learn with them. I’m in awe on a regular basis.Being around them at times makes me think....hmm--if they are so amazing then I guess perhaps I'm in the same bracket? Perhaps I'm just as special? Or even close to it? I'm working on it...working hard. I think each of us goes through a 24 hour period of amazement of the caliber of talent and commitment that surrounds us.

My schedule is pretty similar to last semester. M-F class 9am-5pm and rehearsals 7-11pm every day. I will also be auditing a music school class…..I’m VERY excited to explore the music school as my outlet of creative therapeutic outlet. I will be a storyteller in a jazz ensemble….more details about that to come—I’m not really sure what to expect!

I have my Linklater voice, speech, acting studio, directing lab, tai’ chi, Graduate performance analysis, Playwrights lab (new class!) and a new INCREDIBLE movement class that has me so excited I can’t sleep the night before I know we will have class….on top of this I have my Movement class I’m teaching 2x a week, and my storytelling music class.

Who I’m playing with: Gertrude Stein for Ensemble work in my acting studio, Bianca in Othello……..BRECHT is coming!!! oOOOOOO

The Street Theatre Project is on its way! Our Director and playwright have finished the play and we begin rehearsing again this week. I will be playing many roles in this piece…it is amazing and beautifully written. I don’t want to give too much away but it’s a fairy-tale mixed with real time story of a homeless man in the LA homeless scene; who thinks he is a King J

A Russian Theatre Company is coming in a couple weeks from Moscow: I will be the official translator; yes dear family; please call me or skype me so we can practice my conversation skills. A secret: I’ve been having Russian conversations with myself while I drive to brush up on my vocabulary….sometimes I get so into my conversations with my imaginary Russian friends that I get lost driving or I realize I’m laughing at the imaginary responses….OH yes, I’m an actor, what can I say? I have a great imagination! I’m manifesting an AMAZING life changing opportunity to come out of this networking.Working in Russia is my dream. Although the country causes my family so much pain, I’m determined to make peace for them by finding beauty in the art I can create there with the language and culture that came before me.

Artistic Goals: Writing, MY VOICE and SPEECH!!!!! I work on my voice and speech for at least 40 minutes every day. I WILL have a loose jaw dammit, I will. I WILL ( those of you who know linklater work know how hard this is) I will learn to breathe when I speak, and think while breathing….

My Personal Goals: Confidence, Inner peace, enjoying the quiet moments, reflection, seeing the world and my life with eyes of love. Peace, Peace, and more peace.

I miss you all so much.

When I have my quiet moments, I think about all of you who helped me get this far. Each of you. Even those of you who may think there is no way I'm speaking to you. Believe me, I am.

If you have taken the time to get this far in my blog..you better believe that, I have gratitude for you. I don't have to dig too deep into my thoughts and my heart to say a big thank you for what you have done for me.... because I carry love, support and memories with me everywhere I go.