thanksgiving.

Last year, one of my colleagues said to treat each day like it's Thanksgiving. 

That really stuck with me - I'm so healthy, happy and living my dream work-friends-passions-interest-wise. 

Last night, I took a step outside of my comfort zone and performed with another dance group in a very different venue, crowd and style then what I'm accustomed to. 

In turn, I ended up connecting with some absolutely fabulous women and gents (inside and out!) and was invited to Portland, Oregon to perform in the future. 

Needless to say, I'm thankful. 

Thankful for going with my gut. 

Thankful for the support of my friends and colleagues. 

Thankful to be one hundred per cent myself. 

As we head into the next week and Thanksgiving weekend in Canada (I'm heading back to Kelowna for some family time, and couldn't be more excited), I'm really reflecting and soaking in all that's happened this past year. 

Thanks universe. You've been awesome. 

dreams.

Every season, I definitely feel a shift.

Whether it's physically with a temperature change, emotionally or even work-wise with projects and morphing or wrapping up...things change.

Full disclosure, I found my transition into autumn and the "school year" very difficult this year. I had a wonderful summer playing and working in Vancouver and across B.C. I've expanded my business and am challenging myself to take on things outside of my comfort zone and try new things. Alas, I long for those lazy attitudes and long days by Kitsilano Pool, tank tops and weekends away.

I just updated a couple portfolio pieces, and really stepped back to realize how much has happened - I've done a lot of work in things I really like doing!

This morning, I woke up and really felt the need to say thank you.

Near, far, wherever you are - thank you for the encouragement, support and feedback over the past year. It's helping me live my dream so big!

Happy Saturday.

understanding.

Oh my! How has it been nearly 10 days since I last posted on here?

I guess that happens when there just aren't enough hours in the day. But life has been good, real good. 

Lovers of Marley was a huge success - we had nearly 800 people see the show, with a sold out show this past Saturday night. Being a trained contemporary dancer, you don't often get the opportunity to perform in a project the general public will understand...but this was it.

A huge thank you to so many for their support and taking the time to come out to see the show. I still can't believe we had a line wrapped around the block to come in on Saturday night!

I've also been experiencing recent growth in both my social media consulting and dance instruction business - I've got a couple exciting projects in the works that I'll be announcing more about this upcoming week.

Vancouver, you've been sweet to me. Thank you for taking me for who I am and supporting these wild adventures of mine...it's just beginning.

gracias.

I'm very pleased to announce that I've had the highest amount of visitors to my blogette, ever, this past month. 

To all my readers, skimmers, photo junkies, dance nuts and such, thank you for taking a couple moments to peek at my musings. 

I never dreamed that this little site that I created solely to curate my favourite things of the moment, along with test out more styles of writing, posting, et cetera, would blossom into the Sunrise Junction it is today.

Anywho...just thought I would say merci beaucoup for the love - enjoy the last long weekend of summer! 

pops.

Happy Sunday! 

Today I'm wishing the happiest Father's Day to my incredible dad who has been my mentor and coach in work, school and life and has shown me how to not take life too seriously. 

Thank you for your patience, love and taking me for exactly who I am - dance, career and life goals and everything else! 

I love you more than words can say. Happy Fathers Day Señor!

mondays.

A few years ago in a restaurant in the middle of Mexico, I remember reading this quote scribbled on the wall in black sharpie: 

"If we don't meet your epxectations, lower them. Then everything is a bonus". 

This year so far has been a bonus. I went into 2012 knowing I would graduate from university. I had it set my mind that I would work as hard possible to pursue my passions. 

Growing up, I was a control freak. I hated not knowing what was coming at my next. However, with the news, live performances and well, life, I have finally freed myself from these constriants.

Personally, I have had a few friends experience loss or have had their world turned upside down by things they can't control. This really hit me how small the window is for us to grab opportunities and run. Yes, not every one may be perfect, but it's experience. 

I've gotten some really lovely tweets, messages and texts in the last week of people saying it looks like I'm doing well. I'm very lucky to be in the right place at the right time, working with some incredible people. Looking at each day as an opportunity has changed what I do, and I am in full, wild pursuit to make my time here (whether it be in Toronto, or on Earth) as valuable as possible. 

However, I wouldn't be able to live the dream without the support of my amazing family and friends. Major shout out to you all, you're my village that has picked me up when I tripped and have my back. 

Just a thought. 

harrison.

"It’s being here now that’s important. 

There’s no past and there’s no future.

Time is a very misleading thing. 

All there is ever, is the now. 

We can gain experience from the past, but we can’t relive it; 

and we can hope for the future, but we don’t know if there is one."

— George Harrison

 

These worlds could not pertain more to my life right now.

My yoga teacher said something interesting in class earlier this week. We talk about gratitude during Thanksgiving (which just passed). But what about gratitude year round? Why can't we take more time to appreciate what we have already? 

Gratitude isn't about taking that day to celebrate the year. It's about taking a moment each day to relish in the world around you. 

In so many ways, this is like Ferris Bueller's famous quote, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it."

Gratitude. Every. Single. Day. 

Just a thought. 

giddy.

Seventy-two hours, two bus rides and quite a few walking miles later, I'm back from my weekend in the Big Apple. 

I'll be posted photos and some highlights from my trip later this week - keep your eyes peeled for a post about the free activities my friends and I stumbled upon (and I highly recommend doing if you are in the city).  

For the moment I wanted to say thank you to you. Last month, I had the highest number of individual hits to this blog ever.

 

Readers from coast to coast to coast (and beyond!) have been checking out Sunrise Junction, and it looks like we're growing faster than ever! 

A lot of it has been word of mouth, dedication, social media and some good ol' classic support. 

It's little, but when someone says "I was reading your blog the other day..." I get this giddy feeling that people are looking at what I'm doing and paying attention. 

Thank you again, and stay tuned for a plethora of pumpkin pictures/obsession with everything autumn on my end.

There's lots of treats to come on Sunrise Junction. 

gotham.

After months and months digital and electronic mentoring (thank goodness for email and cell phones), I finally have gotten video footage of my dancers performing my choreography in British Columbia.

I'm slowly but surely getting all my pieces uploaded. First up is my duet featuring dancers Brittney and Keanu.

This piece was inspired by Batman and Catwoman fighting/dancing. I have always been fascinated with the relationship between the two fictional characters, and these two dancers let me run with the concept.

This was definitely taking a step away from what we would normally see in the contemporary competition dance category, but it was well received! These two did so well every time they performed, and the duet placed first overall, platinum and in the top 10 several times at competition.

We took a chance and went against the grain. It was more than worth it.

Thank you to my beautiful dancers who made my vision come alive. Who knows? There might be part two - there are many more characters lurking in Gotham...


"Gotham"
Dancers: Brittney Rost and Keanu Herzog
Choreography by Portia Favro

More footage of the solos I choreographed are coming up soon!

PS thank you to so many for all your support in my emerging choreography career. Your help means the world to me. There is so much more to come, stay tuned.

views.

I started blogging my little musings about three years ago to an audience of one. Moi.

Over the past year, my views, followers, contributors, interests and what not have all climbed on this little corner of the internet. In May 2012 I hit the most page views on my blog ever!

So today, I just wanted to say a little thank you to the little blog family that takes the time to check my page. Whether it be daily, weekly, whatever...thank you!

As summer is just around the corner, I'm planning to continue posting and focusing more on the events, people and places this season has to offer in Toronto. I have never been here for an entire summer, so it will be interesting to say the least.

Once again, thank you again and there's even more to come!



PS Remember even if I'm not posting everyday, I'm still updating my Twitter and Pinterest pages!