thankful.

For the first time since high school, I'm going to be home in Kelowna for Thanksgiving. 

I have a lot to be thankful for every single day. This past year in particular has brought about as many fantastic as well as horrible things in my life and throughout my friend circle. 

There have been births, deaths, successes, failures, love, breakups job losses, career advancements, moves and so much more. 

There are somethings I wish I could have done much differently in the past year, especially first world problem-wise. However, every decision and event that's happened has actually helped me learn a new skill and (hopefully) grow as a person. 

This year, I'm especially thankful for the bumpy road. I'm still on it, and though it can get rough at times, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Enjoy your long weekend Canadian friends - Happy Thanksgiving! 

willie.

Forget Daft Punk, Selena Gomez and Jennifer Lopez. Willie Nelson has been on heavy repeat on my summer 2013 playlist.

No word of a lie, it's "On the Road Again" is on my 25 Most Played soundtrack.

Over the last eight months especially, I have had the opportunity to travel and visit, work or take part in a plethora of events across Canada. 

There was a period between February and May I was en route somewhere ever three weeks. In anticipation of each trip, I pulled my favourite red suitcase out of the back of my closet and left it next to my dresser. It reminded me of a small dog waiting by the door to go outside for a walk - my suitcase was begging to be taken out and shown the country. 

This little bag got it's wish - between weekend getaways, weddings, moving, dance opportunities and so much more, I've been a bit of a nomad living out of it. 

A few people have asked how I do it (luckily, I can sleep well in moving vehicles), so I thought it would be fun to share a few of my tips and secrets that help get me from A to B smoothly. 

• GREYHOUND CANADA - I have taken the Greyhound Bus more times than I can count to visit friends, family and my favourite place in the world, New York City. The express buses have outlets, WiFi, so I can work while en route. TIP: Buy your ticket online for significant savings 

• HYDRATION - It's important to stay hydrated all the time, but even more so when you're on the move. I always make sure to have a water bottle on me to keep my refreshed and avoid headaches. TIP: Bring a reusable water bottle with you on to the airport and fill it up post-security. You'll avoid the expensive plastic bottles and can refill anytime

• GET OUTFITTED - Whether I'm heading in to somewhere with sand or snow, I have a travel uniform that has always worked. The trick is to cover either your arms or your legs. For winter, it's long pants with a tank top, and summertime is short with a long-sleeve shirt. This way, you can moderate your temperature with layers. TIP: Always have a scarf/pashmina and sunglasses in your bag. Perfect to wrap around and cover your eyes while catching some zzz's. 

dinner.

The other day, someone asked me an interesting question that really got me thinking.

"If you had a dinner table set for you and three guests, who would they be?

They can be living or passed, and at any age." 

I knew my answer right away. I would love to have dinner with:

- Karen Kain, the current Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada 

 - Late German choreographer Pina Bausch, right after she choreographed "The Rite of Spring" 

- Nico Archambault, the first winner of So You Think You Can Dance Canada. 

If I could, I would also sneak a chair in to seat Michael Jackson during the "Thriller" heyday. 

I would be fascinated to hear each of their views on dance in 2013. Is it too commercial? Do average people still go to the ballet? What needs to change? 

With digital technology connecting us more than ever before, we can watch and share dance content so easily. As a choreographer, YouTube has become a huge source of personal and artistic inspiration, and has allowed me to watch full performances from around the world. 

However, I do wonder if this is actually helping or hindering our art. There have been many artists caught copying choreography from performances they have never seen in person. Some argue it's artistic plagiarism. 

For Pina Bausch and Michael Jackson, they both were apart of iconic moments in dance and movement that have and will continue to be reinterpreted and copied to no end. How do they feel? Was there ever any doubt while working and performing these pieces that it wouldn't work? Can they grasp what their impact was, and still is to the dance community? 

From there, I would be interested in hearing from Kain and and Archambault if what Jackson and Bausch did for dance really was significant. The National Ballet of Canada and So You Think You Can Dance Canada are obviously very different stages for movement, but in many ways, they have the same roots. If not, who would they identify as the movers and shakers (pun intended)? 

Of course, after dinner I would suggest that we all go out dancing. 

I've started asking my peers this same question, and have gotten some really interesting answers. 

Some talk about sitting down with grandparents they never knew, the future President of the United States, Beyonce, the actor who played Big Bird and so on.

So now I ask you...

If you could have dinner with three people of any time period, at any age, currently alive (or not), who would they be? 

Just a thought. 

ring.

Happy Sunday! 

A few months ago I had the opportunity to perform for the Canadian Olympic Committee for the athletes of Vancouver 2010, London 2012 and potentials for Sochi 2014. I also got to meet several of my favourite athletes (Joannie Rochette and Justin Warner) as well as one of my journalism idols, Brian Williams. 

Needless to say, you never know what path your life will take you in. I never dreamed my journalism and dance jobs would cross like this. 

We're less than a year away from the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics - I can't wait to get involved and throw myself back into the Olympic ring again! 

Choreography Janet L. Castillo

I believe I've posted it before, but here's a quick look at our performance that evening. 

top5.

After two days of training, I'm feeling like could use a few extra hours of sleep, but also completely invigorated with the world around me.

Good things happen. Hard work pays off. Sometimes if you're lucky, you might get a chance to get to work and experience one of your dreams become a reality - even more a split moment.

On another note, I picked up one of my favourite weeklies - Toronto's The Grid, which always has interesting stories, polls and the link about the best of the city.

Walking home from work today, maybe it was because I was feeling pumped on life, or maybe it was the sunshine, but I decided it might be fun to make this month's Top Five all about Toronto.

Shakespeare at High Park

The Canadian Stage Company is performing one of my favourite plays, Much Ado About Nothing at this summer in High Park.

Even better? It's pay-what-you-can.

Where: High Park Amphitheatre (1873 Bloor Street West)

Dark Horse Espresso Bar

You're paying the same price as Starbucks, but the coffee is much, much better.

Plus, there's chandeliers at the Spadina location.

EuroCup 2012 at the Reference Library

I'm not enamoured with the EuroCup, but you gotta admit, streaming it on a big screen at the library is pretty cool.

The Gladstone Hotel.

This is by far one of my favourite venues to see music in Toronto. I've been lucky to see the drummer of Caribou there jump in with another band, attend many a Elvis Monday, and am always interested in the new artists they have coming through.

If you listen to one thing all day, make sure it's this:

Classic movies at TIFF Lightbox

I probably blogged about this before, but I can't get enough.

Before the fireworks and BBQ's on Canada Day I will definitely be catching a free screening of their featured films.

Next Tuesday, I'll be doing my best to catch one of my favourite classics, Jaws - now in a "director-approved digital restoration".

(PS I am dying for this shirt)

Have a great rest of the week and a Happy Canada Day weekend!

risks.

The death of a dance company is one of the worst things to hear about when you are a performer. It's discouraging to see how many young dancers you teach and who aspire to work professionally may not get the opportunity to because the financial structure, support and audience may not be there.

Last night, I learned that the company I was an apprentice to in high school, Moving Arts Dance, had its last performance a few weeks ago. I was, and still am, devestated.

This isn't the first dance company I've seen fold. I remember one page of the San Francisco Chronicle in 2006, telling the story about the Oakland Ballet dropping the curtain permanently. I couldn't even comprehend that this was possible, especially with a large company in Northern California.

To be honest, I haven't lost anyone extremely close to me, and have only experienced death through the life and buffer of someone else. This I'm thankful and very blessed for, and I know that losing a close relative or friend means suffering from unimaginable pain.

In some way through, that is how I feel about losing my company.

My artistic director worked for nearly 30 years teaching, choreographing and pushing the boundaries of modern dance. She took me under her wing, along with nine other ladies, and transformed the way we danced. Yes, it was hard to have a normal high school life; we trained nearly full-time outside of school and performed on weekends. It was an intense, mentally and physically challenging, and life-changing experience.

However, Moving Arts gave me so much.

Our company motto was,

"the only risk in life is not taking one"

- this has stuck with me

since day one.

When I come up against a wall, I remember how much harder it was to do some things physically from that time and work through it. When I doubt myself, I remember having to perform a seven minute solo to "music" that consisted of the sound of a chainsaw, doors slamming and glass breaking.

After that, I learned I could do anything.

I'm so sad that not more dancers will have the same opportunity I had to experience dance in such an organic and intimate environment, especially with how many commercial ventures there are today. However, the lessons, skills and drive that Moving Arts taught all its dancers will live on as we go into the next phase of our lives. True, it's been five years since I've been to the studio in California, but I still think about it everyday. As a choreographer, every time I start to create, I remember those lessons and skills I learned so long ago.

Perhaps it isn't that a dance company really dies, it just reincarnates into something new. Who would have thought I would be living in Toronto dancing and teaching all the B.C. Interior? Or that one of our dancers would make the top 20 of So You Think You Can Dance? Or another graduating with with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in modern dance this year? None of us saw that coming, so why should we doubt what's next?

So how do we make room for dance? I can only honestly say, that is to be determined.

As for now, all I can say is all the best to the dancers of Moving Arts and thank you so much for everything.

"Dance, dance...otherwise we are lost." - Pina Bausch

layton.

I awoke this morning to the terrible news that NDP Leader Jack Layton lost his second battle with cancer.

The Kelowna skies felt the same way I did all day...grey, gloomy and sad. When the clouds opened up and launched rain down on the earth, a deep sadness grabbed my heart and overtook me.

However, here is the letter he wrote to Canadians, shedding light on the challenges and rifts of life. Tonight as I was looking out over the lake, the sky had turned a brilliant pink. This cast an unnatural bronze haze over the still water.

I think Jack was smiling down on Canada, his way of telling us it's all going to be okay.

RIP Jack Layton, and thank you for bringing so much light to this country.

August 20, 2011
Toronto, Ontario

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.