Saturday, September 13, 2014
This Friday September 19
This Friday we're celebrating a number of things it's the one year anniversary of Boob Thirty every third Friday by the Columbus Burlesque Collective. I am excited to perform a new number that evening as well be a pre birthday party with the public. It will also be the last local performance for Roman and Jennifer two choreographers I've been so fortunate to collaborate with. Please come out for a special evening and special performances!! 
Friday, September 5, 2014
something in our society that happens that should stop
I never would have imagined that in this day and age I would have to post on this topic, yet it is one that continues to come up very often while discussing booking, photo shoots and the like. Technically we're in the "business" of promoting beauty of all sorts but how is that often communicated to young ladies who want to pursue burlesque, dancing, modeling or acting?
My answer is this: keep going. Why? Because even though I do not publicly discuss it I quite often face barriers from cultural to my heritage. See, my father was Ukrainian and my Mum was Native American on the other hand in appearance I look more Native than anything. Does this question people when to book me, etc? Yes, in fact it does.
More than few times I have been turned down for modeling jobs or passed up because I am not porcelain white or blonde. Even though naturally, I am a red head and have freckles I still look Native and that within itself is a hard concept for many to grasp. I have also noticed that in our [American] society we love to subject one to one category or another-- it's either white or black.
I have been told that I cannot be certain characters because I am not "white" or put in the background for casting in modeling gigs because I am not "white" by their terms. The other question I have is what does this tell the future generation and young girls of our society?
That they are not capable of playing a leading role because they are not "white" or because they don't have a certain look they are unable to be something more...that is exactly what we are expressing to young girls as a society and it is a facet of our culture I wish would stop.
The whole point of it is just that is ACTING. So, maybe we should begin telling girls "oh you cannot portray that role, you're British, the role is Italian" no one questions that but it essentially is the same concept...right?
I remember once discussing with a photographer about a gig and he wanted to cast Native American models he told me I wasn't a "fit" but he casted a blue eyed model to be "Native American". It is remarkable to me how much in American society how people are still culturally ignorant about race and other cultures.
My advice is this: a girl can be whatever or whoever she wants to be in this world and I don't care what culture or race she is from. I always thought that was the whole focus of acting...we're portraying characters not race, when we strictly do that we are further giving into the limitations of young girls in society and not to mention self esteem.
Another issue that gets me is with the advancement of special effects and make up why not cast the best suited person for that particular job? Some food for thought.
Sure, I am different than most girls in pin up and burlesque and I am proud of that absolutely nothing wrong in being different.
My answer is this: keep going. Why? Because even though I do not publicly discuss it I quite often face barriers from cultural to my heritage. See, my father was Ukrainian and my Mum was Native American on the other hand in appearance I look more Native than anything. Does this question people when to book me, etc? Yes, in fact it does.
More than few times I have been turned down for modeling jobs or passed up because I am not porcelain white or blonde. Even though naturally, I am a red head and have freckles I still look Native and that within itself is a hard concept for many to grasp. I have also noticed that in our [American] society we love to subject one to one category or another-- it's either white or black.
I have been told that I cannot be certain characters because I am not "white" or put in the background for casting in modeling gigs because I am not "white" by their terms. The other question I have is what does this tell the future generation and young girls of our society?
That they are not capable of playing a leading role because they are not "white" or because they don't have a certain look they are unable to be something more...that is exactly what we are expressing to young girls as a society and it is a facet of our culture I wish would stop.
The whole point of it is just that is ACTING. So, maybe we should begin telling girls "oh you cannot portray that role, you're British, the role is Italian" no one questions that but it essentially is the same concept...right?
I remember once discussing with a photographer about a gig and he wanted to cast Native American models he told me I wasn't a "fit" but he casted a blue eyed model to be "Native American". It is remarkable to me how much in American society how people are still culturally ignorant about race and other cultures.
My advice is this: a girl can be whatever or whoever she wants to be in this world and I don't care what culture or race she is from. I always thought that was the whole focus of acting...we're portraying characters not race, when we strictly do that we are further giving into the limitations of young girls in society and not to mention self esteem.
Another issue that gets me is with the advancement of special effects and make up why not cast the best suited person for that particular job? Some food for thought.
Sure, I am different than most girls in pin up and burlesque and I am proud of that absolutely nothing wrong in being different.
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