Monday July, 13th, 2015, will be a day I will remember.
 |
| Baby "Sandy Candy" Age 3 |
I was humbly invited to speak live on TV about my work....
Now.
Expressing one's deepest feelings, inspirations, and missions to the core of cores in your first language may feel like a vulnerable breeze...
However, a language that one was born into first spoke before any other...but has kept quiet of for most of her life...is a very different story.
I did it.
On Monday July 13th, 2015. I spoke on live TV... Live Russian TV...in America..right outside of the regaton blasting, salsa fasting, Washington Heights....in a tiny little Russian TV studio run by what felt like a family...I spoke for hours upon hours. In Russian.
It all happened. somehow. Like a Russian dream.
Morning show, "Contact," with charismatic and charming Host, Boris Tenzer.
Who, told me, within the first few seconds of our greeting ...." Do not be alarmed of my shaved head...I always shave and keep a bald head in the summer! I'm OK! Promise!"
Followed by deep adorable laughter and a smile that takes over his entire face.. An honest laugh...and deep glances into my eyes.
" Let's begin," he says...
....and he pours me a cup of green tea, he brewed at home before he came here...to, " Save Time..." he winks and giggles...
A room filled with VHS tapes in bookshelves and desks... autographed headshots ( from what seemed like the 1990s.)
I was in bliss.
I loved the VHS tapes everywhere.
I loved the view of the parking lot and the GW Bridge.
I loved the 90s Russian music playing, and the radio talk shows blasting in the background.
I loved how crazy it was that I was about to do a live interview in Russian. In my most expensive bright orange dress and my purple blazer I have worn since I was 16.
Boris says, " I heard it's best to forget about your birthday each year...not celebrate it or make a big deal out of it..keeps you younger! And short hair cuts...they keep you younger too!"
and another glorious contagious laugh!
How would this all happen?
Being that my vocabulary in the Russian language, as a speaker, is intermediate..
As a listener, advanced....
My accent is thick...
My heart and passion do my best, is solid..
After many years of harsh corrections and ridicule of my accent when I spoke my native language....More often I felt bashful of my ability.
As an adult, I have never held a very deep meaningful conversation in Russian...and there I was..with Boris..so desperately wanting to explain to him why I do what I do...what lead me here...what makes me wild and inspired...what fuels fury and worry..and yet he says patiently to me...with kind eyes in our pre-interview session...
" Be patient. You will find the words."
and I did.
The remarkable miracles in the ability to speak passionately, honestly and vulnerably in another language.
It was a miracle!
It was as if a language angel whispered in my ear. I spoke deeply and tenderly through my heart.
 |
| Post show photo with Boris Tenzer |
Boris welcomed me.
We took every breathe together as we conversed about my art, live on air.
The central topic was my beloved solo piece: Lost in Lvov.
He really asked me, "Why?" ....and nudged me to really dig deep into my mind's inspiration to share with his viewers.... "Why?"
... this work, my work, my passionate interest in the immigration experience... as well as my deep curiosity in turning our painful memories into beautiful works of art...why a woman of my generation would be interested in such a thing...why I rather not go out with friends and " enjoy life like a young person does?!"
To me.
This is what life is for.
To me.
This is what enjoying life looks like:
The ability to be free.
What really touched me the most....
Half way through...Boris, opened up the phone lines for callers.
A few very touching comments from people.
Sweet little sounds of Babushka ( Little Grandma sounding voices).
Perhaps I wished it was my Grandmother or Grandfather who lived long enough to see me talk about them LIVE on the same black and white TV they found in a garage sale..
To hear me speak of my inspiration....and share the ups and downs of my career choices and life road blocks and pathways...
To hear me speak of it all...in the language they taught me.
As a child, I watched the Russian TV Network with my Babushka Lina. We watched Russian films, concerts, music videos and soap operas...
Today...you can enjoy this sweet little interview too.
Thank you....
English subtitles coming soon! ( However I do slip in a few English words here an there...:)
Click here to watch LIVE Interview with BORIS TENZER
No comments:
Post a Comment