Peter Pan, Flamenco Style

Como la Luna en el Agua - Miguel Poveda

¡Hola todos! It's been a crazy month full of rehearsals, dancing, designing, painting, and now the big show is one day away! The Karen Flamenco Dance Company and School is performing Peter Pan, flamenco style. Here are a couple of behind the scenes snapshots! More photos coming soon!

Mermaids waiting in the wings...

Captain Hook and Smee trick Tinkerbell...

Venice Backstage

Vivaldi - Spring

I have always wanted to visit the romantic city of Venice. One day, I hope I will be able to walk through the winding narrow alleys and next to the canals. Although it would be nice to go when it is not too busy, I hope for a trip during the Carnivale celebrations! Some of the masks and costumes are absolutely jaw-dropping!

(Costume photo/design: Tanja Schulz-Hess, World of Costumes)

Carnivale designs aside, ever wonder the how's, why's and what's of Venice? Well, then you will love this very informative short film about the enchanting, floating city of Italy.

Venice Backstage. How does Venice work? from Insula spa on Vimeo.

New York Adventures Part 2

Back with part 2 of my recent New York adventures after an insane stint of presentations and school work! It's truly amazing what we accomplished in only four days! If you thought our first day was busy wait to till you read this post! Here's a brief run down of some things we did and that I highly recommend you to squeeze into your New York itineraries!

Day 2: Good Eats

First item of the day? Pastrami sandwiches from the famous Katz's Delicatessen! (Anyone seen that famous scene from When Harry Met Sally? That restaurant.)What's a fabulous lunch without coffee and dessert afterwards? Next stop: Sugar Cafe.In between our food sessions we did some shopping at C Wonder, EasySpirit, and Uniglo, and a quick stop at the Philippine Embassy.
Then on to Bloomingdale's and The Forty Carrots for the most amazing fro-yo!After all that, believe or not, we went home just to get ready for dinner in Little Italy, at a place called Angelo's.
Day 3: A hockey surprise...

After a slow start, we had lunch at a charming place called Fig and Olive in Midtown Manhattan, followed by another stop at Uniglo.While my mom, aunts and uncle (four people on the right side of that picture) went to the country for the night, I stayed in the city with my cousin (he and I are standing on the left). We took a quick train to new Jersey and watched the Vancouver Canucks - fabulous surprise and treat from my cousin.

Day 4: Independence in Manhattan... and I filled it up with as much as possible!

I made a decision to skip the museums this trip and spend on my other passion: theatre. The spending began with an early start at Wicked: Behind the Emerald Curtain tour!I have more fun pictures to come. This insightful and super fascinating tour was followed by a freezing walk all over Times Square as I tried to decide what Broadway show I would watch that afternoon! I settled on How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.If I was a big fan of Nick Jonas, I probably would have screamed when I saw him appear on stage. This seriously entertaining Broadway classic was followed by chilly, windy walk to Juniors to get cheesecake for my dad back in Vancouver (yes-I hand-carried a cheesecake along with pastrami).
I worked off all the food on this trip when I had to walk 8 blocks over and up to try and catch a cab back Uptown. Before I knew it, I was packed and headed to the airport. I wasn't ready to go home!

Travel Tip: Be friendly and charming to the airport employees. I know from personal experience, both as a traveller and as an airline employee, the difference it can make just to smile at the check-in counter or in the security line-up. We were treated to lounge access even though we flew economy and I got a birthday hug (a month early) from the passport check guy.

Hope you enjoyed my adventures! I'd love to hear yours!

Ballet Stills

Flamenco is beautiful and passionate and I love dancing it. But I have to say, ballet is beautiful and soft. Flamenco has it's quieter, soft moments as well but ballet seems to have a softer glow to it. I just watched Center Stage again and found myself browsing through photographs. Here are a few of my favourites. Enjoy...

Swan Lake, American Ballet Theatre, image by MIRA. (Links below)

Sleeping Beauty (2009), The National Ballet of Canada
Svengali, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet

Links: American Ballet Theatre, National Ballet of Canada, Royal Winnipeg Ballet

2012 Oscar Nominations

I love award season in Hollywood: the fashions, the costumes, the spectacle of it all! And what a spectacle it is. One day, it would be very cool to actually go an award show, especially the Oscars. I can dream can't I? The closest I've ever been to going to the Oscars is personally knowing someone who attended last year's ceremony! I'll see it in person one day...Positive thinking! Hahaha!

2012 List of Nominees

I'm off to look at the nominated costume designers and their work. I'll leave you with the PS22 Chorus' performance at last year's Academy Awards. Until tomorrow!

Snow White and the Huntsman

Back again! What a crazy, whirlwind week: coffee, dog walking, projects, overnight paper writing sessions, house work, faulty alarm system... tired! But I have just enough energy to share my intrigue for next year's Snow White & the Huntsman! It looks promising and visually stunning. Colleen Atwood has done wonders with the costumes again!How fabulously villainous does Charlize Theron look?!
Until tomorrow everyone! Here's the trailer in case you haven't seen it yet :) Ciao!

Designing Hamlet...

It's been a busy day of school, work and now homework. I'm reading Hamlet and coming up with costume design ideas. Suggestions anyone? I'll be back tomorrow with a much better post than this!Photo taken by Ines de S. at the Cross Decor & Design.

Glee's New York Colours

Hello everyone! While organizing my new purchases (school supplies for theatre design!), I realized that the season 2 finale of Glee was playing in the background. I loved the costumes and the colours. And the tunes were pretty fun too. What do you think?It would be fun to see Manhattan like Glee! Touring Broadway, dining out, exploring the city with a group of close friends! By the way, if you are planning a trip to Manhattan and wish to see a Broadway show, you have a very good chance of getting a cheaper ticket by going straight to the theatre box office shortly before show time.

How I got my ticket to Catch Me If You Can:
20 mins to showtime, I went straight to the box office and asked if there were any tickets left. There were! Instead of paying $120, I got a centre orchestra seat for only $79! So close to showtime, I think they are happy to fill the seats.
Okay. I love Rachel's outfits but I don't know if I could ever pull off a striped coat like this one!
Breakfast at Tiffany's anyone?

The Circus Sets Up on SYTYCD

I've already shared how much I love the film, Water for Elephants. So I was thrilled when I saw a routine on So You Think You Can Dance -choreographed by Tyce Diorio- that used music from the score. It was such an enchanting piece. See for yourself...

So what did you think? Gorgeous, no? I love the costumes, the colours, the mood... enchanting is the word that keeps popping back into my head when I think of this dance! I hope you enjoyed it!

Verana: Luxury in Yelapa Mexico

Happy Friday (almost Saturday)! It's been so busy here lately that it was a nice change when my browsing took me to a gorgeous Mexican escape tonight. One day, I'd like to see Verana, a luxury boutique resort in Yelapa, Mexico, with my own eyes! It's close to Puerto Vallarta and is situated in a secluded area between the jungle and the beach. So gorgeous isn't it? One day, when I win the lottery ;)Photos from the Nomad Lab and resort site.

Wicked

Wicked - The Wizard and I

Yesterday I watched WICKED! And it was amazing! I see now why people rave about this show. Have you seen Wicked? Easily some of the most incredible sets and costumes I've ever seen on stage (along with the Lion King). And I got to sit in Row 8! Unforgettable... If you ever plan to come to New York City, I highly recommend seeing at least one show. Here are some shots I found floating around the internet...Even the Gershwin Theatre lobby has been swankified!

Go left to Shiz University...
Or right to pass Munchkinland and meander to the Emerald City...
And as you leave...Isn't that the sad truth?! Majority of photos from HERE and more of my New York adventures to come :)

Moulin Rouge: Love or Fortune

Happy Friday! Today I spent the day on a Vespa weaving through taxis and New York traffic. I loved it!
I have a video of one of the numbers from Karen Flamenco's Moulin Rouge! Watch it and be amazed at how truly creative this traditional dance can be! And trust me, it's Moulin Rouge like you've never seen before... Enjoy guapas y guapos! Óle!

Water for Elephants

I saw Water for Elephants over the weekend and it was really lovely. I've never been a crazy Robert Pattinson fan but I have to say that he was quite good in this movie. Reese Witherspoon and Christopher Waltz were great as well! But the best part of this film? The stunning visuals of a 1930's circus! The costumes were gorgeous! Sara Gruen truly wrote a beautiful story when she put pen to paper on this novel...How adorable is that elephant!
Such beautiful designs by Jacqueline West (interview via Zappos.com)...

International Dance Day!

Hello ladies! It's International Dance Day today! There are performances happening all over the place, swing bombs in the streets (professionals spontaneously pairing up and dancing when you least expect it!), a troupe of tappers doing their own version of Frankie Manning's Shim Sham, Indian dancers in full costume, and of course, our flamenco performance! Vancouver is looking lovely, warm and full of sunshine and dancing events all over the city! Even more exciting is that our flamenco picture is the main promotional shot! In honour of this fabulous day here are some great dance photographs!

Every ballerina starts somewhere...

This is my cousin, the ballerina.
A flamenco 'bailaora'...
Karen has taught me pretty much everything I know about flamenco...
My guess here is the tango?Who doesn't love a chorus line?!
Lindy Hop!

Here's another version of the shim sham in full swing (no pun intended) at a party, led by the one only, Frankie Manning! Have a bouncing weekend!