Guide to Fresher Lettuce: 2009 Edition

1. Bonne Année, Bonne Santé! I'm feeling 180° from where I was just a few days ago. The new year brought an incredible momentum that I pray won't evaporate. It feels so good to feel motivated towards an ultimate goal. I'm very excited about this year and as a matter of fact I'm quite proud of all that I accomplished in 2008. I had to sit and remind myself that while it might feel like my drive waned toward the end of the year, all that I'm doing is moving me in the right direction. I can be assured of that. I was recently approached with a request to teach abroad. While I'm not totally confident in my experience, this will only be a rung on my ladder, for better or worse. I just need to stay focused and get a press kit together, most importantly a performance/choreography reel. More on that soon.

2. I spent my first New Year's Eve out this year. I shelled out $30 for the AfroPunk/Coup D'etat Brooklyn Punk N' Paint Party. It was in a loft in Soho with some of the scene's well known live painters lining the walls and Dante's Fried Chicken providing the grub. I rolled solo, and while I generally avoid drinking when I'm not around people I trust, I wanted to throw my inhibitions out with 2008. I happily took advantage of the open bar and the cheap drink tickets and quickly went from nice to inebriated by 1am. I left not long after that, sliding all the way down the steep staircase from the 4th floor walkup, not feeling confident enough in my really high, slightly loose pumps to make down upright. I did manage to snag a number before I stumbled out. Go me. The three-plus-hour trip home was cold and frustrating and my bed couldn't have been more welcoming when I finally got to it. I'm proud of myself for going out alone and having a blast alone and having the good sense to make it home alone and in one piece. I let myself get discouraged sometimes, especially when I'm feeling tired. I want to be more social and this is how I have to make it happen. *pats self on the back*

3. I somehow never got around to making a list of resolutions in 2008 and I feel okay with that because I didn't put pressure on myself to get shit done. I just jumped at opportunities and was patient with the outcomes. This year, I'm going to be more proactive, however, and go a even further than just a list of resolutions. This year's Guide to Fresher Lettuce is a list of predictions. Inspired by this post, these are the moves I'm making in '09, no pressure, simply presence:

1. I will travel outside of New York once a month, exploring US cities through the spring and finally making my way to Europe this summer. I've already contacted former students overseas and friends in the States for advice and places to rest my head. I've gotten affirmative responses from everyone, further solidifying the accuracy of this prophecy!

2. I will set the foundation for being a self-employed Certified Pilates Instructor/Teaching Artist/Performer/Choreographer in 2009. I will develop a brand name, market myself, educate myself and make a comfortable living as an artist. 2009 will be the year I more match my salary currently sitting on my bum, as an artist.

3. I will immerse myself in the young art scene that in 2008 I so longed to be a part of. In 2009, I will have made a name for myself worthy of the interest of the powers that be.

4. In 2009, I will teach and land a performing job overseas.

5. Love will take a backseat to my career in 2009, saving me the distraction and heartache I suffered in 2008.

Here's to maintaining momentum in '09.
Cheers!

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Writing a Letter

A friend from college, one of my favorite people in the world actually, started a letter writing project. She sent an email with her address and asked to send mine. This afternoon I received my first letter! It's so strange, how excited I am. Time and thought went into writing this letter. The stationary, the little drawings, the ideas, the licking of the stamp and careful placement, the walk to the postbox. I feel special :)

Send me your address. I'll write you a letter.
laetiçiavp[at]gmail[dot]com

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Right now...

i'm thankful
for his impeccable timing
and his willingness to be patient with me.

*sigh*

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Yes We Did

I only wish I wasn't too chicken to have been part of it. I'm proud and inspired. Spirit rekindled. Let's get to work. Go America!

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Lighting Broadway Underground

I light a show at BBKings last night! AAAAHHHHHH!!! I'm beside myself! Jared Grimes, an incredible choreographer, teacher, and creator of Broadway Underground needed someone to fill in last minute and I happened to be in the right place at the right time. I know I said I'd given up production work, but this could not be passed up. BB Kings has moving lights dude! Are you kidding?! AHAHAHAH! I'm still beaming from it. The whole night was perfect, stressful, but everything I always loved about lighting. It's similar to dance for me. You breath with the board. You move with it. You plan and perfect. Ah, I had a blast!



The line up was sick too! Jared's choreography has always impressed me. He has phenomenal vision and as a tapper/hip-hop dancer, he's just effing talented! He invites musicians to perform as well. The Drumadics blew me away! And I loved the jam at the end where audience members get to come onstage to show their shit. Had I been able to relinquish my place behind the board, I woulda been up there too heheh!

Man! The perfect start to a new week. Check out the Broadway Underground website at www.broadwayunderground.org. Next show is happening soon!

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On: self-promotion begets happiness or an epiphany regarding blatant bragging

I've been challenged by my Sister-from-another-City to get into the practice of bragging. We had a great conversation recently about what it is to be positive, vocalizing one's blessings, and the laws of attraction. Apparently the key to this women's inspiring disposition is her gift of shameless self-promotion (!); her ability to brag about her flyness daily. She totally blew my mind!

Growing up, the best grades were never high enough. The sharpest church outfit was never crisp enough. That cute boy on the block spitting game at you was always somebody else's first, someone flyer than you. I learned to remember to be humble because someone is likely going to knock you down. The closer you are to earth, the less painful the swipe from above (even if it's just outwardly; I'm a dreamer by nature ;P). Remember to be modest because the good and the happy are never too proud. So for me, humility meant never being too excited about all the great things that happened and politely acknowledging a compliment then moving on quickly.  So imagine my simple mind trying to wrap itself around the idea of bragging as a good thing! That shouting your blessings from the highest peaks regularly will multiply your blessings! Word?

So I've been seriously ruminating on this idea. I've been Negative Nilly lately as I watch my peers being recognized and landing gigs left and right. The more praise people were getting, the more I felt like whatever I've got going on wasn't worth mentioning. I felt insecure and jealous. I just tried focusing on my own path and remembering to respect my time. But after this revelation of bragging, I began to see its value: (1) you have to let people know what's up for them to know what's up. People aren't trying to find you, they want you to come to them. When they see how fantastic you are they'll tell you so, but you've got to make sure they see; (2) reminding myself of my flyness, remembering to bask in my light, and putting into perspective all the greatness I'm creating will make me a happy, fulfilled person. UREKA!!!

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I brag that I've finally and successfully kicked my PK habit.
I brag that I'm told that I'm loved daily.
I brag that I made good money last week doing something I love and I did it well.
I brag that I said "No, thank you." to something I didn't want to do even though it paid well, because it would surely be a mind-numbing, soul-killing gig.
I brag that I said no and I spent all day yesterday as I planned. I cleared the entire day so that I could stay at home and work on the shop and work on me.
I brag that I'm getting a raise.
I brag that I had the most decadent pistachio cupcake from Sweet Sugar Sunshine this afternoon and I nearly cried because it was just that good.
I brag that I bought four of those incredible treats and a slice of bundt cake to enjoy at home while I'm writing to you.
I brag that my googly eyes were returned last week... thrice!
I brag that I get to be creative all day everyday and that is truly a blessing.

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The next time I see L, I'm giving her a big sloppy kiss.

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Treasures Galore!

My brand new sewing machine is here... and before I've left even! How exciting! I damn near fell off my stoop when I saw that huge amazon.com signature smile beaming gleefully at me from it's craft-colored box! If I didn't have so many loose ends to tie up before I go (only three days left!), I'd start learning the thing now! It's a Brother. Beautiful machine... and I made it under my budget!

Goodness! My head is spinning with all the beautiful fabrics and prints and patterns I'm anticipating! ... and the color! Oh the COLOR! I can barely contain myself! Oh rapture!

In other news, I stumbled across a forty-year-old SLR camera in one of my mother's treasure chests. I'm so lucky to have such a shameless pack rat for a mother. She doesn't throw anything away and keeps her things in such pristine condition, even though she has no intention of ever using them. It's a blessing. So, this camera, a 1965 Canon Canonet G-III QL17, is a sight to behold. Haven't tried it yet and I don't expect anything spectacular to happen once I do, but I was so happy to find it!

Alright enough about me and the joy I find in material things. Off to finish tying those ends (checklist, packing, scheduling quality time with my peoples, etc.).

Good night all :)

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Sankofa: Lettuce goes to Haiti

It's finally happening y'all! I've just purchased my flight to Haiti (and at $99 each way -- cause I'm a hustla, kiiid)! I'm finally going to see where I come from, where blood lines run. I can't even begin to express my sheer gratitude and joy for this most important dream to actually become a real! I'm arriving in Port-au-Prince on January 7th and returning to New York on February 2 -- just in time for a new crop of ISVP students and Orientation on the 4th. Gosh! I'm going to meet my people and see my skies and learn my tongue and explore... and hopefully when I return to New York, I'll be a more humble and gracious person; grown and more sharply tuned in to my daily blessings. What I'm especially looking forward to is a bit of spiritual enlightening. I want to return a happier, or at least more fulfilled young lady.


I'm actually doing something I said I was going to do! And what a spectacular way to begin a year. I have to start working on my Idiot's Guide to Fresher Lettuce: 2008 Edition (stay tuned). Stripping down to the bear minimum. No accessories. No labels. No email. Just me and my family and my people and my growth.

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Image of the Week: H U G (Pedro & I)

Pedro and I embrace in front of the Path Train entrance at World Trade Center. Swoon indeed!

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Images from the H U G Performance

Enjoy these images from the H U G Performance taken by one of the photographers who followed us the entire trip. We traveled from Union Square uptown on the east side to the Museum of Natural History across the park and downtown to the African Burial Ground Memorial (which is under construction) and the World Trade Center site. What I interpreted as the purpose of this project was to present a silent peace protest in the form of a site-specific performance art piece. I think the original vision include 20 or so couples embracing for 3 minutes at several locations around the city that harbor intense negative energy. The locations were all in Manhattan and were voluntarily submitted by random New Yorkers to the H U G Performance email address, along with a short description of the traumatic event they experienced there (as in a mugging or a death or a breakup, etc.) or a historic event that happened there. Our intension was to attempt to eliminate the negative energy in these public space and in turn helping the submitters grieve. I approached the project as if it were an exercise in meditation -- spreading my light for peace.

I must admit that I had a lot of trouble getting into the moment of the entire process. At the time of the final rehearsal, there were only 6 couples, which I think considerably lessened the intended effect and energy of the piece. When we left the Conflux Festival headquarters at noon, we were all amped to get to our first location and get through the 10 following sites the project would bring us to. We practiced with our partners (mine was Pedro... lucky me!), read the stories and memorized our positions. The first at Union Square was easy, and the next few continued to be easy, but by the time we got to the Museum and crossed the park, the physical exhaustion set in. We hit 7 locations in about 3 hours on foot and subway, approximately 70 blocks! And the action of the three-minute hug is taxing on the body as well. A couple has to negotiate weight change, balance, comfortable placement of limbs and skulls, etc.; individually, find a position that is comfortable is hard to pin point in just one step to your partner and because Julie (the director) wanted us to appear rooted and still for 3 whole minutes, voluntary weight shifting was out of the question.

Now, during the east side trip uptown, we inspired a lot of curiosity. It was when we arrived at the scene of a mugging at Port Authority on 41st Street that the heckling broke me down. The area west of Times Square is the stomping grounds of toothless junkies, street dwellers and all sorts of riffraff -- not exactly an ideal site for performance art. Unsurprisingly, we were heckled for three whole minutes. I being the only black female in the group, I received the brunt of the nasty comments and I broke from my embrace feeling pretty shitty. Finding myself at the African Burial Ground Memorial site a half hour later, I couldn't digest the weight of the place. My mind wouldn't stop. And when we made our way to World Trade, the last site, one person short, over an hour behind schedule and in the middle of p.m. rush, my thoughts began to clear. It was two days after the 6th Anniversary and construction had begun. The boom of metal against earth, the bustle of evening rush, fatigue, the heat and scent of my partner -- all of this slowed my mind, brought me back to the moment and to my purpose. I was beaming with gratitude and peace.

I hope I was able to share it.

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H U G Performance (NYC) by Julie Troost

H U G

Helping Us Grieve

a performance installation by Julie Troost

Thursday, September 13, 2007 12-4pm

Manhattan Streets

BE A PART OF IT

www.myspace.com/hugperformance

www.confluxfestival.org/conflux2007/hug

Groups embracing on busy sidewalks surprise New Yorkers rushing by.

The negative memories of personal and community conflict are healed by a simple gesture of compassion.

Surprising New Yorkers in the midst of their day, H U G (Helping Us Grieve) is a city-sweeping performance installation that travels across Manhattan. Appearing and disappearing without warning, pairs embrace for a little too long at each site before dispersing. The performers have a predetermined path to travel on public transportation between locations as well as specific times to execute each installation. The pairs are arranged in site-specific formations predetermined by each location's uniqueness.

Sites were designated ahead of time from suggestions made by the public of personal and community conflict, responding to postings on craigslist and the Conflux festival website. H U G blankets scarred urban spaces that contain the memory of a momentous event of conflict while reminding observers of the ability to heal.

BE A PART OF IT - Huggers and Camera Phone Artists Wanted! --Seeking members of the public to join H U G's migration through Manhattan or meet us at an installation site posted at www.myspace.com/hugperformance beginning Sept. 11.

PARTICIPATE IN TWO WAYS (you can do both): 1) Hug someone! Add yourselves to the hugging installations. 2) Photograph what you witness with your digital camera or camera phone and text or email photos to Flickr (see instructions below).

LET US KNOW YOU'RE COMING - email your name to: hugperformance@gmail.com by 11:59pm on Wed. Sept. 12 or meet us at The Change You Want To See, 84 Havemeyer St. (off Metropolitan), Williamsburg, Brooklyn by 11:30am on Sept. 13. (L train to Lorimer stop. Walk west on Metropolitan.)

FLICKR Instructions: 5MB photos max. OPTION 1: (preferred by H U G) Text Message or attach your photos to an Email and send to action83writ@photos.flickr.com Put the location in the subject line and your name in the body of the email so you are credited. One photo per email. OPTION 2: use your own flickr account and tag your photos with "hugperformance".

H U G is directed/choreographed by: Julie Troost

performed by: Noah Damer, Johnny DeArden, Jil Guyon, Pedro Jimenez, Amy Jones, Courtney King, Renee Kurz, Omar Nasir, Melissa Sanfiorenzo, Jamie Sporn, Genevieve Sky Waltcher

costume advisor: Renee Kurz

image and design by: Jed Geiman

H U G is presented by the Conflux Festival. Find out more at www.confluxfestival.org/conflux2007/

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24 on an almost ordinary day.

Today, I turned 24 and it was a Monday like any other, almost. It isn't everyday a girl gets to leave work mid-day to take class, but I took full advantage and traipsed down to Dance New Amsterdam in the rain to take Ezra Caldwell's class which I'd been eying sheepishly for sometime. His is one of the most physically demanding classes I'd ever experienced and I felt strong for making my way through it. When I got back to the office, Bon surprised me with a long yellow dress and a Cold Stone raspberry cheesecake flavored ice cream cake which was delicious! Birthday wishes from students and staff and friends and family made me feel loved and blessed for all of the people in my life.

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Today was a muthaf*cking good day!

Good day beautious people!
I am in such a wonderful mood goddammit! I can bearly stand to look at myself! Will you look at all these exclamation points!! Life is great folks! Life is the shit!

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