HOLIDAY FUNKSHION!

Come and dance with me and my lovely DiscoLoveChild family! Classes in hip hop, house, and waacking. Celebrate the holiday season with us! Check out the Facebook event page here!

PS....I'm back... ;)

See you soon...

Taking A Time Out...

So...I've had this idea that I'm superwoman, and that I have these supernatural powers to do and take on anything that comes my way. 2011 has been a pretty intense year on many fronts, physically, mentally, and emotionally. With a very colourful calendar planned for August and September, much of those months are now clear. Last week during a rehearsal I sprained my knee and torn the meniscus.

Yah...ouch.

The snap that I heard and felt when it happened was probably one of the scariest things I've ever felt. In light of this minor set back, many things have come to light about my health, my work life, and my personal life. While in treatment with my chiropractor Dr. Blessyl Buan (who has been my saviour in the past and present), we've come to realize that August seems to be a transition month. Last year I was knocked out with a really bad sinus infection, and now this year its this...

People have told me that I don't know how to take it easy, and it's true. I'm off to New York next weekend for a mini getaway, and to really put things in perspective. We only get one life, so it's important to know what you want to do with it..

I don't know how to take a time out, so God has put me on one...

RIP Baby Girl...

R.I.P Aaliyah Dana Haughton..This is one of my faves..the vibe on this one is too smooth...jazz personality, G mentality..

Let's Beat Cancer's A#@!!

Over the past 2 years I've come to personally know a few people that were diagnosed with cancer. The first being my brother with breast cancer (YES - you read correctly, breast cancer). And now most recently my Godmother with lung cancer ;( I will never know the feeling that one would have when the doctor comes back into the room with your results to give you this news.

In Canada, our health care system is a bit better (and more affordable) than that of our American counterparts. On Sunday August 28th, DiscoLoveChild will be hosting PARTY FOR A SISTER! House Jam for Large Marj. Marjory Smarth is a pioneer in the street dance culture and has been battling cancer for the past 2 years. I had the honor of meeting Marj this year in Montreal. She has to be one of the most beautiful, soulful, and spiritual people I have ever met. (Not to mention we wearing the same kicks! LOL!) But the thing that I remember her saying when she was talking to us was, that when she was feeling down and out, she said - "let's go dance and hear some music." And that has been her saviour.

Let us all come together to not only raise funds for this amazing woman, but to raise the awareness of what is happening to those that we love, and beat cancer's you know what!

Please RSVP to our Facebook event page and spread the word!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=160644137345543

Check out this video clip of Marj!

Catalyst Dance Company hustles for their Art - Mateo Magazine

Check out this wonderful article written by my home girl Cat Jae! Hustle for your art, for yourself, and for what you believe in...

Catalyst Dance Company hustles for their Art - Mateo Magazine

Day 3: Identifying My Values

As part of my 31-Day Reset, I'll be developing my personal mission statement. But first I need to understand what I value in life. What's important to you? Here's what's important to me:

In no particular order:

1. The Lord
2. Family and friends
3. Healthy living (mind, body, and soul)
4. Cultural diversity
5. Arts and entertainment
6. Financial freedom
7. Love
8. Integrity
9. Community development
10. Humility

Have a lovely day!

Tash

31-Day Reset...

Eeewww...this is kind of embarassing. My last blog was in January?!?! And so much has happened. Been thinking about it, but just haven't committed to it.

Today I have a reason...

Life has been feeling quite interesting the past couple of weeks. Lots of changes. I was on twitter a few nights ago and came across a tweet from @happyblackwoman about a 31-day Reset. It looked interested so i looked up www.happyblackwoman.com to see what it was about. I've seen so many of these 20-day change your life things, signed up for them, but never actually do them. This time I'm actually doing it. I think I'm more anxious to see how disciplined I can be about this..I tend let other matters take priority over myself. This time I'm think I'm up for the challenge!

On day 1, I am to choose my reset notebook - I've chosen a nice brown, leather notebook to be dedicated to this process!

And, choose my personal mantra which is this...

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." - Steve Jobs

Wish me luck!!

Live It Wear It

Hey Everyone! Happy New Year!

My boy Mark Stoddart, better known as the Koncept King, has been working long and hard on his Live It Wear It Campaign.

THE MISSION:

To provide individuals of like minds a place to network and exchange positive suggestions, and information pertaining to local/world events. The goal of this site is also to help us indentify and pay homage to various individuals within the GTA who have excelled in their designated field, or who exemplifies POSITIVE strides towards their goals and to the betterment of other individuals. A place where individuals of all ages can come and realize that each and everyone has the ability to do GREAT things once they are able to RECOGNIZE their talent.

"Iron sharpens iron" As we will sharpen one another by what we read, write and think. The goal of this site is to help us identify and follow truth in all areas of our lives. I encourage you to LOOK WITIN and transform yourself and others through the renewing of our minds. The great possessions of life are not simply those things we discover on the outside, but what we also discover and develop within. "GIVE THANKS" EDUCATE the mind and EMPOWER the body that our souls may UNITE.

Please check out the website, and recognize the talent that lives in our backyard!

LIWI68: Natasha Powell

“Be the change that you want to see in the world…” Mahatma Gandhi

Born and raised in Toronto, Natasha’s love for the performing arts started at an early age. Being trained in hip hop, waacking, jazz, dancehall, tap, ballet, contemporary, popping, and locking, has not only enabled her to be an extremely versatile and passionate performer, but a soulful mover.

Dance only started out as a summer activity that her mother enrolled her in, not knowing that Natasha was about to meet the love of her life at the age of 9 years old. After 6 years of dance competitions across North America, graduating from high school, and completing her teachers’ certification under the British Association of Teachers of Dance, Natasha then went on to teaching at local dance studios, while completing her 3-year diploma program in Accounting at George Brown College.

As a dancer she has had the opportunity to be a part of many projects including dancing in Rihanna’s hit music video “Pon de Replay”, spot dates with Cory Lee, X-quisite, and has worked for corporations such as Air Canada, Woodbine Casino, MAC Viva Glam Fashion Cares, KUYA Productions, Tim Horton’s and The Design Exchange. Her film and television credits include “The L Word”, Nickelodeon’s “Spectacular!”, “Center Stage 2”, “Talk to Me” starring Don Cheadle, post-production work (dance Foley) on the film “How She Move”, and a commercial for Sylvan Learning Centre. Natasha has also performed alongside some of Canada’s most talented such as Blaze Entertainment (Toronto), OTI (Vancouver), and the Vancity Lockers (Vancouver). She has used her choreography skills to choreograph a concert featuring Mikey Bustos (Canadian Idol, Season 1) and Jasmine Trias (American Idol, Season 3).

Forever a student, Natasha has trained and continues to train in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and New York. She has been fortunate and blessed to learn from Poppin’ Pete, Jr. Boogaloo, Jazzy J, Wes Veldink, Archie Burnett, Gemini, Michael Thomas, Leon Blackwood, Luther Brown, Jae Blaze, Brice Mousset, Caleaf, Buddha Stretch, and many other choreographers and teachers across North America.

In 2008 Natasha teamed up with Janet L. Castillo, another dancer/choreographer and friend from Toronto, to create and produce Catalyst Bootcamp for Dancers. Catalyst Bootcamp is an intensive training weekend for dancers who are pursuing careers as professional dancers. Catalyst is like no other workshop in Canada whose mission is to provide an alternate pathway for aspiring dancers to fulfill their ultimate dreams! The duo went on to create Catalyst the Company. After years in the industry, Janet and Natasha joined forces to shape their vision of creating an eclectic taste of movement in their home city of Toronto. In May 2010 they coproduced the dance production, The 5th Element, an insatiatiable journey across the four elements which was well received by audience members.

Photo: Nathaniel Anderson
Makeup by: Xquizit Makeup
Graphic Design: Kurupt

Learn how to do well by doing good. -Educate, Empower, Unite.-MCMLXVIII