lovers.

I can distinctly remember the first time I saw a full-cabaret show live. February 2012. Toronto. 

I had been training in a heels program for about five months, and several of the more seasoned dancers were performing in new show at a stunning, very Chicago-esque lounge. I had already been captured by the principal dancer of our company (and the owner of the new company I was going to see), but was completely unsure of what I was getting myself into. 

I was not only mystified by the interactive choreography, guest performers and storyline, but by the audience. People were coming out for a vintage experience, to be transported into a tale and watch something unfold live. 

After the first act, I was hooked. I knew this is what I wanted to do with my life. 

I realized I wasn't strong enough yet. Instead, I gunned all my energy during my last semester of university into school, finding a job and training as much as I could with my other dance troupe. But that mystical show hadn't left my mind. 

After that summer, I realized I could still dance and work my "real" job. I admit that it's tough (I'm still doing it!)

However, I wasn't being creatively satisfied as an artist - my everyday life wasn't inspiring me to make good art. I realize now I was hiding my art from influencing my everyday life. 

I wanted to wear pin-up clothing, flowers in my hair, dance in cabaret heels, flirt and talk to the audience. I also wanted to have a real paycheque, a career and wear a pencil skirt walking down Bloor Street. 

After moving to Vancouver, I once again put this cabaret dream aside to pursue other opportunities - which have all lead me down the right path. From the outside, it might look like I walked into this, but trust me, I've been dying to do this kind of work for over two years. 

Now I'm performing alongside five other beautiful dancers in The Lovers Cabaret in an interactive, mysterious, unique and interesting show from our newest sector, The Noir Series. 

I've had the opportunity to experience dance in a completely different way. I've been extremely challenged as a choreographer. I've pushed my personal and artistic limits to the edge. I've accepted the comfort in being uncomfortable. 

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." - E.E. Cummings. 

For the first time in my life, I feel like I found who I really am. And I'm happier than ever. Really. 

The Lovers Cabaret presents: Mistresses at The Fox Cabaret, Vancouver one last time, July 5 at 8:30PM. Limited tickets still available at www.theloverscabaret.com 

Even better? That principal dancer / owner of the company I admired in Toronto? She's giving me personal feedback, character and performance advise (thank you Facebook!) 

looplife.

My latest piece for +GetintheLoopca Marketing. Check it out on their blog, as well as other interesting content about tech, marketing and the #LoopLife!

Scene: We’re in a business meeting. 

“I’m a social media strategist and professional dancer.” Eyebrows usually raise after I say this. 

I’ve written before about dance and I breaking up due to an injury and crossing into another career full-time. Well, that changed, and now I’m working steadily as a company member, teacher and choreographer in Vancouver.

However, every once in awhile I get someone who says I should only be focusing on either communications/writing 100 per cent and drop dancing (or vice versa.) 

Yeah right. In my mind, working and creating in the arts  significantly helps my role at Get in the Loop. 

In a recent article for Fast Company, one of the top CEO’s of a major tech company spoke about her first career as a ballerina, and praised how it helped her in the business world. Personally, I think she only touched the surface – I’ve expanded on a couple of her points and added my own:  

 TRAINING

Before a dancer can effortless turn a pirouette or balance on pointe, they spend hours training at the barre; repeating and perfecting each movement as well as the technique. 

In real life, practicing your craft and analyzing your performance/results makes a difference. What you do in the studio or boardroom is a direct reflection of what will happen outside it. 

CHOREOGRAPHY 

Dance is a visual art. To learn choreography, you must show, not tell. 

Teaching things step-by-step in a 3-dimensional environment gives students a well-rounded view of your work. Much like business, showing your customers and colleagues how to do something and the results is more helpful than handing them a piece of paper with numbers. 

ATTENTION TO DETAIL 

The next time you watch dancers in a music video or live performance, look at their hands. Their fingers are placed and their wrists aren’t flopping around.  A couple months ago in a coffee shop, a photographer took a shot of my hands and said he could tell I was a dancer from how I placed them.

This is because we place an extreme amount of attention on the details. It’s about adding that extra polish or finding an edge that will take a pitch, tweet or article from good to awesome. 

TIME MANAGEMENT 

I should also mention: time management. If you were late to ballet, you had to sit and watch the entire class as a punishment. Now, I’m 15 minutes early for my meetings. I might be seen as a keener, but I still remember the sting of not being able to dance while I watched my friends get to. 

ENSEMBLE vs PRINCIPAL WORK 

Like any other team, dancers work in what we call a “core” or ensemble for performances. You learn a lot about attitudes and personalities while learning complex choreography in a group. Unless something unacceptable is happening, you leave all your feelings at the door.

Like a business team, you’re making decisions based on the forward advancement of the company, not just the individual. 

Principal work has personally been a challenge after spending most of my life in the core. Being pulled up as a soloist for a show is incredibly rewarding, but you have to prove yourself in every single rehearsal (trust me, there are 5 dancers behind you ready to take your spot). 

This is the same as holding your ground on an issue you feel strongly about. 

As the social media strategist on the team (and coming from a journalism background) there are moments when I know I’m going against the grain of the team. This hasn’t lead to conflict, but rather to collaboration and working together to meet a goal. 

The best thing about being a dancer and working in the “real world” too?

Seeing them come together.

I love watching pedestrian body movements and integrating them into choreography. My friends who have come to shows say a story through live performance is much richer than just watching a movie.

So yes, I’m a social media strategist and a dancer. Any questions? 

bombshell.

When I was a little kid, I remember having a big birthday party at my house with more friends than I could count.

I believe it started well. Cake, presents, the usual. Then everything changed.

I went from having fun to being completely overwhelmed by the amount of attention that was on me.

I left my own party and hid in my closet.

It's been nearly 20 years since I felt this way. But yesterday, it happened again.

More than ever before, I am truly touched and honoured with how everything happened during the Vancouver's Next Bombshell competition on Friday. Throughout the night, a series of events and factors played both in and out of my favour, and I ended up placing second overall.

Being a new face in the Vancouver dance scene, I was beside myself to have so much support from my peers and the judging panel.

The day after the show(and many verbal and Facebook messages later) I left another dance rehearsal and couldn't hold it in any longer. That same feeling I had when I was 4 years-old came up, and all I wanted to do was hide for a moment.

I've dabbled and struggled with injuries over the last five years, and never really thought I would dance, much less perform like I did before it.

Tears aren't normal welcome personally, but whether you're 4, 14 or 24, this feeling doesn't change. I'm still in a daze from it all, but realized this was all part of the process.

THANK YOU to everyone who voted and/or supported me this weekend. It doesn't go unnoticed!

weekly.

Growing up, I craved weekends - I was an odd duck who wanted all the time I could to work on my projects, homework and what not, so my evenings during the week could be spent dancing, not studying. 

In the "real world", I'm honestly surprised and pleased to say I haven't swayed from this work method much. 

Between rehearsals, dance class, teaching, events and what not, I find Saturday and Sunday my days to recharge and catch up on work that just didn't make it into the Monday to Friday mould.

Thus, I'll be focussing more on posting throughout the week, and less on the weekends - hey, I gotta take advantage of this beautiful autumn weather we're having!

Last week in Vancouver turned out to be one of those fabulous ones when a lot of things truly fell into place. Here are a few of the highlights from the last weeks of summer and the first taste of fall:

Incredible sunset caught just before the Richmond Night Market 

Photo via Tina Mandl - my favourite town between Kelowna and Vancouver 

The dancers of ARC Dance Company in my jazz technique/choreography class 

A huge turnout on the first night of the Army of Sass Kelowna, Fall 2013 session

Taking in the Dinner by Design tables and much more at the Interior Design Show West  

My first trip to the Kitsliano weekly farmers market 

Working with the students of the Scholarship Dance Program, Vancouver, on social media and online marketing

sass.

Life is funny. 

One day, you're following your chosen path, interacting and meeting new people and generally enjoying the ride. 

Sometimes you take a risk, jump off the edge and try something new, just for fun. 

Sometimes that "just for fun" activity actually turns into something bigger in your life. 

Last night after a sweaty and packed dance workshop in Penticton, B.C., I sat next to my friend from high school who will be running a program I have been working with in Toronto over the last two years. 

Across from me was my artistic director from T Dot going through teacher training with the Okanagan team, and to her side was one of my new contacts and client from Vancouver. 

Literally, my three worlds were all together sitting at one table, bonding over what we are all most passionate about - dance. 

There is no competition, no cattiness. Just support. We are here to build each other up as performers and communities, while also having a bit of fun. 

I'm absolutely over the moon to be a part of the Army of Sass Performance and Training Group teaching in Vancouver, and assisting with the Kelowna and Penticton groups. To all my Toronto students and peers, I miss you dearly, and know you are always welcome to visit! 

We will leave no good woman left behind...want to join the Army of Sass? Check out all the details here, and see you in the studio! 

solo.

My knees are weak, arms are heavy. There's no vomit on my sweater. I haven't had Mom's spaghetti in months (she lives three thousand miles away).

I'm nervous, but on the surface I look calm and ready.

At least, that's what everyone told me. 

mountain.

Well...hello, hello! 

I detest blogs that haven't been updated, and I'm very guilty of that right now. However, the past week and a half has had me running around the city like a mad person - but I loved every single moment of it. 

Between last-minute CBR rehearsals, performing, networking, helping plan and execute Divas in the City 4, taking part in year-end festivities,  I have finally found a moment to relax. 

Looking back at everything that has happened over the last 10 months,  I have made some mistakes, make some leaps and made connections I will cherish for the rest of my life. 

There are a few more things brewing in my pot - for now, I'm looking forward to taking some time off and refuelling before making my next move. Expect more happening on the writing/social media side, and then some dance and instructional work coming up in the fall. 

But first, coffee and time to tackle the mountain (and I mean it, mountain) of laundry that has been glaring at me since I got back from B.C. 

Enjoy the sunshine and expect a more updated blog this month! 

six.

It's here! It's here! It's here!

I can't believe it has been six months of hard work in the studio with my dancers - June is here and I have a plethora of performances, shows, lessons and the like coming up this month.

Thus, I am warning you now that this little blogette may be a bit sparatic (the week especially) with posts, as I'll be focussing on getting ready for our big performance later this week.

As always, I have my iPhone in hand, so please follow me on Twitter and Instagram (@PortiaFavro) for shots of the glitter, sequins and lipstick looks from
behind the scenes, last-minute rehearsals and more!

process.

Whew, what a week it's been so far. Working out at the TV station, dancing, booking clients for social media training...and to cap it off, getting ready to perform this weekend. 

I have been thinking a lot about "the process" this past week. 

With both of my careers, my peers and I spend endless hours  training, researching, interviewing, watching, et cetera until putting together the final product. 

Whether it's an article, television segment or a show, I find the process, though the most  difficult part, can sometimes be my favourite piece of a project. 

True, there are few things better than seeing your name in print or that moment when you step into the lights. However, the process if vital to making that moment happen. 

In a world where it seems like everyone demands to be paid every moment they "work" it was interesting to see what I found off-hours. The process doesn't happen in the nine to five time frame. It happens when you're in an impromptu Can Can dance rehearsal. Or running to the library archive to find a document to quote in once sentence. 

It's through building relationships, keeping your eyes open and most importantly, stepping back. Looking at things from the outside personally help me work more effectively. 

I've said it once, and I'll say it again, so much of this is relates back to what Charlie Skinner says in an episode of one of my favourite shows, The Newsroom. At the end of all the hard work, sometimes we then forget to relish in the result of the process. 

"It's going to be a long night and we need you to work fast and we need you to work well. But once in a while, take three seconds- you can't spare more than that- take three seconds to notice where you are and what you're doing."

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.