Make a Wish!

It's 11.11!!

Yes I posted twice in the same day... this is more of an update really.

I've done some research and I've found a neat little hostel like place in Richmond where you get your own room and everything that I can stay in for $35 a night. Cheaper than a hotel and far cheaper than renting a studio apt just for 2 nights a week!

Now I just need to get my residency approved, buy me a nice reliable vehicle and get me some work over there!

I'm going to start a double life: teacher in small town Van Island/choreographer in Van city!

Awesomesauce ;)

xxx

Choices

Again: I've no idea where I got this from... but it works :)

Ah the life of a dancer...

Don't get me wrong, I love my job. Teaching is amazing and there's nothing like getting to know the kids and seeing them grow year after year and the feeling of being a part of the community.

But then I watch SYTYCDC and read other dancers' tweets, etc and the only thing that goes through my mind is: God I wish I hadn't given that up. And I wouldn't have done if I hadn't lost faith in myself entirely... (and yes thanks, mean principal teacher at my dance school that was mostly your fault)

I've always been into choreography. I've got a lot to learn for sure but I have so many ideas that would be amazing on professional dancers and don't translate well on student dancers (not that they don't try or look good) but you know how it is...

*Le sigh.

I'm trying to figure out time to do both... buy a house here and teach mon - thurs then rent a flat/room in a house in van and dance/choreograph there at the weekends.

(Side note: of course doing this would effectively mean I couldn't buy the studio BUT I can do that when I'm older with more experience right?)

Granted I'd have NO time left to myself but I'd be ridiculously happy.

Okay...

...Let's get on this.

Big Decisions

So I've been 'umming and ahhing' for a while now about the best way to solve my studio's big current problem: lack of student registrations.

And I think my best bet is to bite the bullet and try to buy the studio.

That's right I'm going to buy a studio.

A studio.

At 26.

To say that I'm scared is an understatement... I've only been teaching 6 years (3 not including college training!) and the only business knowledge I have is whatever I can find on Google and my own common sense.

BUT I have a lot of the latter and although I am young I've got a lot of helpful friends full of advice.

Now I just have to a) successfully get permanent residency in Canada (it's been sent off now comes the nervous waiting part) b) get my business plan and finances sorted and most importantly: c) persuade my boss and her parents to sell me the place.

The last part could be the trickiest... others have tried to buy it before to no avail. I'm hoping that given the situation we're in that we can figure something out. I love this little studio and I do NOT want to see it die. My boss has the wisdom and experience and I have the dedication and innovation... hopefully we can put our skills together to make PCSDance the studio of the future!

***Watch this space***

;)

Vlogs!

So I'm a big youtube fan now... I've been busy uploading all sorts of choreography videos and now I'm branching into vlogs/tutorials.

Here are a few of the ideas I've had:

* Audition/Stage Make Up

* Competition Hairstyles

* Dancewear reviews

* Make up/hair product reviews (for stage)

* Choreography tips

* Home work outs/stretching routines

Anyone got any more ideas? I figured there are loads of regular every day tutorials but few (if any) dance related ones! So if there's anything you guys want me to do a vlog on? Comment/tweet me!

http://www.youtube.com/user/devilzsoup

p.s. What do you think of my showreel? Pretty funky huh? hehe not bad for a teensy camera and windows movie maker ;)

Immigration Story

There are a lot of things in the media right now about immigration issues in the States... ok I live in Canada but it's a very similar situation here and let's face it the US leads the way in a lot of things nowadays whether we like it or not.

I in no way condone the illegal immigrants currently ruining it for those of us trying to emigrate legally but let me tell you my story so you can understand just how hard it is...

I moved to Canada 3 years ago with a great resume, fantastic education and no history of anything remotely worrying. I'd never been in hospital, I had a good credit rating and the most I'd seen of anything to do with a policeman was some drunk student guy dressed up on halloween.

I was reluctantly given a 6 month visa at the border and allowed in.

3 years, 4 work permit applications and 3 jobs later I'm still just a temporary worker desperately trying to apply for residency so I can stay and continue contributing to Canadian Society.

I've been screwed over by rental companies, phone companies and even my employer... why? Because I'm an immigrant. Because immigrants have no rights.

I am stuck in a situation now where I'm having to survive off the kindness of friends and family to put food in my stomach: my employer underpaid me by $5000. I can't claim EI, I can't go on welfare, I can't get any other job than the dance studio and I can't fight my employers for what they owe me because I need the job to stay in the country.

If it wasn't for my truly amazing friends I would have no choice but to work illegally and get paid under the table in order to keep a roof over my head.

To put it simply: I've been working legally and paying my taxes every year like a good canadian citizen. I've not gotten into any trouble, I do a job that there is a high demand for and not enough well trained people to fill that demand... yet because of those horrible people who have to ruin it for everyone else (illegal immigrants) I am stuck in a situation with no income and no guarantee that when I finally have the money to pay for my residency application fee that I'll even be given residency.

THAT is the sad truth about immigration. Yes there are a LOT of stupid bastards out there (excuse my french) who screw the system but there are also a lot of honest immigrants out there who desperately want to be legal permanent citizens and contribute to this wonderful country... but can't because of government bureaucracy and have no rights against people that treat them unfairly.

I wish there was something I could do about it.