SANDY SILVA-

DANCER & CHOREOGRAPHER-

I thought I was going to be a healthcare practitioner. I was on my way to college and stopped off at a festival and saw dancers and musicians playing together. I was completely blown away by their conversations. The way they talked to each other and listened with their instruments and bodies was all so rhythmic. Eventually I was living in a house with musicians. Between classes and studies, I would listen to them practice with a metronome and play tunes through the night. I couldn’t get enough of it and I wanted a piece of it. I knew that to fully immerse myself, I would need to travel, discover new cultures, embody their percussive dance language, listen and embrace their music. Everything I do now comes from my travels and life experiences. I don’t feel that it was conscious choice. I was simply obsessed.

The work became an unending process. When you repeat something a thousands times, you get it in your body and it becomes you. I think I found what I loved and just rode the wave. It wasn’t “should I” or “can I”,  I just had to do it!

I never auditioned, because I never had to. I know this might sound slightly cocky, but I was one of the few people doing it! When I travelled for work, study or to festivals, I would listen to musicians and if I liked what I heard, I would ask if I could go in the corner and dance a little. They would reply: “Get out of the corner!”. Sometimes I would get a gig with them or even a small tour months or even years later.

There’s still more to learn and thankfully, there’s also more I want to do. As I get older and listen to my body, I have to adapt to where I am physically and spiritually while exploring what is true to me. That is where the work comes from. Naturally, I am not the same as I was in my 30’s or even early 40’s. I want to continue to explore and refine ways to speak with my body and share it with other people.

Website: http://www.sandysilvadance.com/

COSTUME DESIGNER-

My involvement with costume design probably started with my first Halloween costume at the age of eight. I cut up a blue bed sheet and hand stitched an elf costume; boots, a tunic and a cape. No one showed me how, I just did it. In my adolescent days, I set trends with how I was dressing. I’d scavenge second hand stores and my friend’s attic trunks, always insisting on wearing old dresses and accessorising my look with modern day flair. At my boyfriend’s graduation, (I was a year younger) he wore the classic black top hat and tails with white spats on his shoes, and a golden headed walking stick. I wore a long black chiffon gown, white satin gloves and my hair in ringlets hanging to my shoulders. Everyone went crazy; black was not the norm for the occasion. The following year, many couples copied our style. I knew then that I had a sense of style that influenced others.

Later on, I became a dancer first and a costume designer second. Sometimes, I danced in the pieces that I had created the costumes for, and at other times, I watched my designs dance on stage without me. It was such a thrill! This was a passionate, prolific, and creative period in my life. In these years, I attempted to capture the meaning of the dance in the costumes.

Today, returning to costume design gives me a fresh attempt to capture dance; collecting ideas and putting them into some collage of inspiration, mixing and matching to find the final design that will accompany a choreographer’s work to the stage.

Website: http://fousdemiseenforme.weebly.com/styliste-et-couturiegravere.html

TUDOR RADULESCU-

ARCHITECT-

 
I decided quite late in CEGEP to study architecture. I was headed towards something colder, more mathematical. However, I needed something more, something between science and art. We have the right to allow ourselves to dream, to do things differently. Architecture, with its technique and details, is an art. It’s creation.

In the morning, I have butterflies in my stomach. I have a desire to work. And it’s not for the aesthetics, but for the appreciation of the everyday people who pass by our creations. Just because we may see something every day doesn’t mean that it needs to be mundane. The right to dream is something that stands out because people often have a tendency to do repetitive things.

For those who are interested in architecture, I want to tell them that they can allow themselves to do things differently; you just need to have the will and you mustn’t be afraid. Architecture is a wonderful profession that deserves to be pursued. If you think you’re not good enough of an illustrator, rest assured, that’s something that can be learned- as long as the desire and passion are there.

To find out more:

Website:  www.kanva.ca

Facebook page.

KIM BARR-

FILM DIRECTOR-

It’s always an interesting question for me: “why do I do what I do?”  I guess at the heart of it is the desire to tell stories.

When I was a fashion photographer my editorials always looked liked film stills. One day it occurred to me that with a motion picture camera, not only could I capture the movement I tried to create in my photos using odd angles and framing, but I could also fill in the gaps of the story I was telling. So, one thing lead to another and I started making films.

When I am working on a script, or editing another writer’s script before production, I always ask myself if this is the most authentic way I can tell this story. And, if not, what can I draw from in my own experience to make it so? The best films for me are those where you just know that the scriptwriter and/or filmmaker have been on a journey that informs the story you see unfolding on screen. It doesn’t matter if it is a romantic comedy, buddy film, animation, or a great drama- it must ring true. This is much easier said than done and I can’t say that I have mastered it, and maybe I never will, but I love trying – which is probably an indication that it is my life’s work.

To find out more:

Website: www.kimbarr.com

Facebook page

IMBD: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1409900/

GABRIELLE ALICOT-

PROFESSIONAL MAKE-UP ARTIST AND OWNER OF MUA COSMETICS-

I have been a professional make-up artist for 5 years now. Since I was little, I always loved working with my hands and for as long as I can remember, I’ve always done manual work such as painting on fabrics, drawing, sculpting, glass engraving, etc.

At a young age, I quickly gravitated towards the arts, starting with dance. It’s an environment in which I always felt comfortable. I have never been a person capable of being enclosed in an office all day. I love walking to the beat of my own drum, being in my bubble, ultimately being creative. That’s what makes me tick. When I spend a day without being able to touch my brushes, it brings me down. Make-up and the creative process are vital to me.

I am proud of my career and I love seeing people leave my chair feeling beautiful and good in their skin. However, being a very artistic individual, little by little, I began body painting. It’s an aspect of my work that leaves space for unbounded creativity. I love starting from nothing and transforming a body the way a painter brings life to a blank canvas.

More importantly, what I love most is to be limitless and my career makes that happen. Whether it’s for weddings, fashion shows, cinema, theatre or television, I never do the same thing. Every face, every body and every project is different. I never get bored.

I wouldn’t change my career for anything in the world. I guess the one thing that may make it slightly more difficult is that as any independent worker, it’s not always easy. I don’t have a fixed schedule, and therefore no fixed income. We are often faced with uncertainty and stress. However, when I wake up in the morning to go to work, I do it with a smile and for that, I consider myself really privileged.

To find out more:

Website:  http://www.muacosmetiques.com/

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/mua.cosmetiques.5

KIM LALLOUZ-

CHEF-

Food is my passion. Like an artist, I’m inspired by everything around me. Music, scents, colours… my worldly travels act as my muse for new recipes. I love everything about food and sharing this passion with everybody is just such a gratifying experience. I’m a strong believer in being socially responsible and reducing our carbon footprint, which is why we try to use local and seasonal produce for sustainable and simple cuisine. I hope to be able to instil the same passion for food to everybody I cook for, one bite at a time…

To find out more:

Website: www.misspretamanger.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/misspretamanger

Twitter:@missPretAManger

RICHARD ST-AUBIN, a.k.a DJ SHASH’U-

DJ & COMPOSER-

I started playing drums when I was 9 and my dad was a classical guitarist, so music was always in my family. Later on, I was introduced to making music by a friend. My curiosity grew into passion. I was 17 when I started making my own music because I had access to the tools. I went to sound-engineering school, sharpened my knowledge and now I feel that I can do anything audio-related. Now I make music for other artists, corporate clients and websites. I’m broadening my horizons not by just making music, but by doing audio creation as well.

It’s something I enjoy and that I consider I’m good at, but I keep working in this field in part because I love the positive reaction I get from people who hear my songs. You have to get that response back from people; it’s how I can relate to them. I also find it highly rewarding making people feel a certain way through music. I do it to make people happy. I create a physical, mental, and spiritual escape for them through music. That for me has no comparison.

To find out more:

http://soundcloud.com/shashu 

https://www.facebook.com/btm.shashu (you must be signed in to Facebook to view the page)

https://twitter.com/iamshashu

http://www.silencedor.com/

KIM RUSSELL-

WRITER-

Ask any artist if they chose their career or if their path was predetermined for them; and I’d wager a bet – their answer leans toward them following their destiny.  In my journey, I have faced numerous career choices and all too often I chose wrong.  I’ve been a recruiter, a real estate developer, an exporter, and a tax preparer.  I have a BA in theater and a Master in Business Administration.  In each profession I reached a moderate level of success, UNTIL, I hit a brick wall during the journey.   A familiar brick wall – one laced with boredom, resistance, a sense of nowhere else to go, sometimes failure and sometimes panic.  The brick wall that signaled a time for change!

So here I am – in my 50’s – turning to the arts for a career.  At a time when I should be rounding out my retirement nest egg, I’m beefing up my performance and writing portfolio.  At a time when I should be thinking just 15 years to go before hitting the retirement road in an RV – I’m planning the next five years around booking conferences, auditions, and playwriting competitions.

So why do I do this at this stage in my life?  I have no other choice.  The doors keep opening and the path seems solid, unfettered, and promising.  It is a risk.  But for the first time in my life I believe it is a well-calculated risk.  The arts are a-calling me – and I’m packed and ready.

Have you answered the call?

MARIANNE GIRARD-

VISUAL ARTS-

Marianne Girard website -

“In my case, I don’t really think that I chose to be an artist; I was exposed, at a very young age, to circus arts, dance, and visual arts and the trajectory sort of traced itself.

The uncertain and contractual side of these sectors was instilled in me at a young age, which allowed me to become familiar with the negative sides that some may fear. I had the opportunity to learn very early on to adapt myself to different situations and variables. I was then able to make an informed choice to stay in the field and develop my career towards where I wanted it to go.

It was always obvious to me that there was more positive aspects than negative ones in having a career in the arts. You must, at the very least, have a good tolerance for uncertainty and change, be comfortable working alone (at least in visual arts), and love what you do unconditionally. No matter what career you choose, there will be always challenges and disappointments. However, I have creative freedom and the opportunity to be autonomous and independent. I also have the possibility to work wherever I want without feeling locked down. I love managing my own time and constantly reinventing myself. I also have a strong sense of accomplishment and pride when I create a piece of art from an idea, a feeling, a person into something very unique. I also enjoy what I do for the process of researching and experimenting which is very interesting on a personal level. No limits are imposed other than those that we impose upon ourselves.”