penny.

Talk about a throwback Thursday - it's been 10 years since Britney Spears and Madonna teamed up in the "Me Against the Music" video.

I was dancing competitively as a jazz and tap student at the time, and remember one of girls, Penny, had just left the studio to pursue a professional career in dance.

To me, she had made it. Penny landed a backup dancer position in the video, "Me Against The Music". You can see Penny at the 1 minute and 40 second mark, when Britney and Madonna are dancing opposite each other through a wall - Penny is just off of Britney's right shoulder.

For me, this was my first brush at the professional world of dance - when someone you know makes it, it completely changes your perspective. I remember thinking that maybe one day, I could dance for Britney Spears.

Now, I may not be dancing for Britney Spears (but would in a heartbeat if she decided to revisit The Oynx Hotel Tour circa 2003), but I'm still performing professionally at various events, shows and across the city.

As I've written before, I'm now finding a niche and passion for instruction and choreography. Seeing may students emerge as performers after 13 weeks of serious training has made me feel that maybe, just maybe, I might be making it in my own way. P

I never thought that "Me Against The Music" would be a milestone for me - but it has reminded me just how many things can change, how my movement has changed and ultimately how my perspective has changed. Sometimes fulfilling your passion does not always mean being in front of the camera. Sometimes it's building up those who will be.

And I'm more than okay with that.

playlist.

It's always interesting looking through your "Recently Played" songs. As I'm in full dance and choreography mode, I'm finding that my taste is all over the place.

I'm experimenting with the same phrase of movement to a plethora of different songs not only to see what works, but also find the nuances in the song.

Needless to say, I've been listening to everything from Def Leppard to Frank Ocean and everything in between.

Here are a few of my favourites for this month's playlist:

playlist22.

Not going to lie, playing DJ last night at my friend's going away party was actually quite fun. I love seeing what kind of music people are into, and how they respond is so interesting.

We had everything from people dancing on tables, echoes along on a piano and even a few misty eyes when Whitney Houston came on.

Although I'm not quite ready to officially be DJ Mama P just yet, here are my picks from last night for this month's playlist.

I'm obviously leaning very heavily on 80's hits, but hey, they're the classics. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I'll also be live-tweeting the Grammy Awards tonight for The Ryersonian...interested to see what they do for a Whitney Houston tribute.

Follow me @PortiaFavro

Have a beautiful Sunday!

seventeen.

We have made it to Friday, hallelujah!

I finally got my exam schedule and will be back in BC on December 13. I'll be teaching dance and doing choreography throughout the Central Interior, if you're interesting in having me do a class or a piece, contact me! I still have some spots available.

Looking forward to some time at home and a few days off here and there. I'm very lucky to get to head back to somewhere so beautiful, but am continually trying to figure out how to divide my life between my two homes. Le sigh, so is life.

Have a great weekend!

playlist11.

Lately, I've felt like my music has been stuck in a rut, much like this horrible winter weather. As the sun is getting a little brighter into each evening and the temperatures are rising, it's time to update that iPod with some fresh, new songs to celebrate the season.

Here are my picks for this month!

"Finally Moving" - Pretty Lights
"Set Fire to the Rain" - Adele
"Naked As We Came" - Iron and Wine
"Big Jet Plane" - Angus & Julia Stone
"I Follow Rivers" - Lykke Li
"American Pie" - Madonna
"Dance Me to the End of Love" - Leonard Cohen
"Cowboy Take Me Away" - Dixie Chicks
"One Good Thing" - Lou Rhodes

Enjoy enjoy enjoy!

B&W16.

I love the Academy Awards so much. I have such fond memories watching it with my mother while we were making dinner, analyzing each dress. Now, things are a little different, but just a special to share celebrating excellence in film - especially recognizing all those who are behind the scenes.

alejandro.

I adore Lady Gaga. I know that her music, fashion sense and videos are all controversial, and the fact that she is commercial despite her avant-garde image and persona fascinates me.

This week, the video for my favourite Gaga song, "Alejandro" was released. As of two days, there are over six million views. There has been so much debate and comments on Youtube, Facebook and Twitter (the same way it was for "Telephone" and "Bad Romance") but I think that there is another way we can look at this video.

A lot of people think that she is copying Madonna in her black and white cinematography and the religious connotations - both similar to the "Vogue" and "Like a Prayer". However, there are other things that her creative team have brought to the platform.

From a dancer and performance aspect, I immediately picked up the references to the movie Cabaretwith the hairstyle and outfits/the dancing on the beds around the four minute mark. The dancing is brilliant in my opinion. So subtle, but clean, sharp, and the simple black costumes (even with the guns bra on Gaga) accentuates the choreography. The dancers and Gaga aren't using smoke and mirrors to distract the audience from the lack of talent, it is there, crisp and raw. I think that the choreography is heavily influenced by Bob Fosse's style, with the flicking wrists, heavy walks and more. Except instead of being "All That Jazz", it's updated.

And what's so wrong with being inspired?

She's inspired by Madonna, who broke so many boundaries for women and identity. Bob Fosse, who changed and modernized the world of dance. Michael Jackson with the mini-film music videos, who burst through the barriers for African American artists.

We might not understand exactly what we're seeing right now, but in 15 years, there'll be something that comes out of this. Artists in the future will be copying her, but in the same way we say no one can replace or ever be as good as Madonna, the same goes for Gaga.

This is my interpretation strictly from a performer's point of view, not getting into the politics of the video, etc. I think "Alejandro" is much more creative than MIA's recent video where she shows an Iraq-esque battlefield and killing/hunting red-haired people like the army would terrorists. That didn't work for me.

I really relate to Lady Gaga in my own way as I have gone into the major arty/ethereal/some-may-think-I'm-weird side of dance and performance, and to see that raw talent and it's place in mainstream entertainment blows my mind.

Here's the video. It's quite out there, but take it for the choreography.