Behind the Lens with Shocphoto PREVIEW

Here's a sneak peak of the behind the scenes during my interview with Shocphoto! Full 2 part interview is coming soon so, make sure you stay tuned!!! Enjoy!

Let's get LIFTed with Daryl Foster

Daryl L. Foster Founded LIFT in 2009 with local dance artist Terry Slade. The first showcase premiered on May 15^th 2010. Foster currently is the sole artistic director of LIFT, and runs the company as a collective of choreographers, photographers, dancers, and other artist dedicated to the mission of LIFT. The work of LIFT is based on 6 pillars of manhood: Community, Masculinity, Sexuality, Spirituality, Politics and Family. The art is produced on these ideals with the purpose of developing strong male artists, and removing negative stigmas surrounding male dancers. 2014 will be a monumental year for Foster, and for LIFT. As LIFT prepares for its 5^th season Mr. Foster celebrates his 20^th anniversary as a Dance artist. He began seriously pursuing the art of dance at the age of 18 at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa where he is from. Mr. Foster would eventually finish the University of Alabama with a BA in Dance and English and move to Ohio to dance with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Over the past 20 years he has worked continuously as a teacher, choreographer, dancer, and arts administrator. In 2005 Mr. Foster graduated from The Florida State University with an MFA in Dance, and moved to Atlanta in 2006 where he has worked on the dance faculties of Kennesaw State University, Spelman College, Agnes Scott College, and the Dance Faculty at The University of Georgia. This year LIFT will add a six-man dance company to its annual season. This is an exciting move towards full realization of the LIFT artistic vision. Daryl, is currently the director of the Scholarship programs at Gotta Dance Atlanta. 


I met Daryl almost 8 years ago at Spelman College. It might be strange, but I think I remember the very first time I saw him! Spelman Dance Theatre was rehearsing for one of our concerts and he came in with Trent Williams, who is an AMAZING dancer and technician. A few months later he was one of my professors! Daryl's vibrant, unapologetic, creative energy beams off of him; when you meet him he is the same as if you've known him for 8 years. One thing I've always respected about Daryl is his business mind and this mind has carried him to the widely know Alliance Theatre on this 5th year of presenting Lift. What an awesome journey this must have been! I sat down to talk with the brains behind Lift....real questions for a real person and OF COURSE I got real answers! There is an overload of invaluable advice and material from Daryl that I was not able to add to this video blog, but I'll say this....if you ever get a chance to sit and talk with Daryl please do so. He's an awesome person and I thank him for what he's done for me in my career! I hope you enjoy the video and please visit mendancelife.com to purchase your tickets for next week's show!!!!

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GET INTO IT: quick notes just for you

http://www.firsthomelovelife.com/2013/12/budget-paychecks-differ.html#_a5y_p=1160772

We all know that the toughest thing to do is budget when we have inconsistent check amounts. Let's face it, 9 out of 10 of us consistently have inconsistent pay! This article is quite extensive, but a great read if you're really looking to be more responsible with your money. One of the most important things we can be as artists is organized. So, I hope this helps you get closer to that money goal you've been trying to set, but didn't know how to accomplish. Dancers can live comfortably too!!!

This is a little sub series I'm starting under the WERKing dancer blog. I will be simulataneously dropping little notes, tips, quotes that I find.....anything to inspire and assist you on your journey to/of being a WERKing dancer!!! 

Inside the Mind of Lauren Debrick

Lauren Debrick was born in DC and started her training in Frederick, MD.  At an early age she moved to Atlanta were she trained extensively in ballet, pointe and jazz technique at Decatur School of Ballet and joined the Decatur City Dance Company as a junior company member. Her training continued once she joined the University of Maryland dance department where she trained in modern dance. During that time she trained and performed with many modern and contemporary companies, which gave her tremendous growth. After receiving a BA in Dance she moved to Atlanta were she began her professional career in both performance and teaching.  Lauren believes dance is one of the best ways to be expressive and that it help us grow in every aspect of our lives.

CHECK OUT LAUREN'S WORK AT...

https://www.youtube.com/ldebrick

After taking an amazing, yet challenging, class from the talented Lauren Debrick, I sat down to get into her mind and find out just where her inspiration comes from.  I learned so much, in speaking to her, about her background and how it has shaped her into the dancer and choreographer she is today. I wanted to talk to Lauren because I truly appreciate the artist she is and how she has grown as a "vision creator". Yup! I definitely just made that up :-) To me that's what she is though....as we were talking I expressed to Lauren how an audience member might be able to see the exact story she is telling because her thoughts and direction are so clear...not much left to interpretation with this one; what she sees is what you get!! So, I hope you enjoy our convo and I hope that it inspires you! Answer the questions I asked her for yourself and see where you are on your journey, what's important to you, and find your message to the world. Enjoy!!!

THANK YOU LAUREN FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!!! EVERYONE PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR MORE FROM the WERKing dancer RIGHT HERE AT niatheartist.blogspot.com. Leave a comment and suggest a topic or artist you'd like to hear about! the WERKing dancer blog is here just for you so whether it be tips, suggestions, advice, inspiration....I'm here to serve you...so let's get to WERKing!!!!