Dear Madonna,
I went out dancing "in the wild" last night. It was a crazy day, with a site inspection at the new Toronto Trump (pretty shnazzy), a long-overdue rehearsal with my Masters partner, Larry (he's come up with some great changes to our routine), and then meeting up with another client/friend a the Bier Markt on the Esplanade.
I chose the place based on some pressure from one my dance pal's Nick, who organizes these dance outings in clubs where there are bands playing the kind of music we like to dance to. The space for dancing is usually somewhat limited, and encumbered by obstacles: free-styling dancers (sometimes with drinks in their hands), servers carrying trays dodging in and out....
Anyway, I went last night and stayed WAY longer than I'd planned. In fact I changed out of my dance shoes into my boots and back again *twice* when songs came on that I couldn't resist dancing to. Then, when we were finally leaving for the night, and I had my boots and jacket on, the band started the first strains of "Like a Prayer". Nick grabbed me, and started to dance me ALL OVER the dance floor - between tables in every direction - avoiding patrons and servers, and really, really dancing to the music (as Nick does so well). It was AWESOME!!
Speaking of "awesome" - I just saw that you've added a second show in Toronto. Congrats on the brisk ticket sales. Looks like it's going to be an awesome tour.
Julie
Friday, February 10, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
When I Was 18
My father's job wrenched me from the stifling boredom of suburban Ottawa and introduced me to international travel: boarding passports, currency exchanges, time zones. En route to Saudi Arabia we stopped in London, where we visited Buckingham Palace, watched the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, shopped at Selfriges, and saw Jesus Christ Superstar in the West End. On our way to the desert we stopped in Switzerland, took the train, and a funiculaire to the little village where Andy and I would be attending boarding school that fall.
When I was 18 we travelled from Riyadh to a camp in the middle of the Saudi Arabian desert. I had a summer job calculating cut and fill over sand dunes for the road my father was helping to build. The rest of the year I attended an international boarding school where I skied the Swiss Alps on gym days, shared girl-talk with my Japanese room-mate, and taught my school-mates to do "the hustle". I vacationed with my family in Greece; we cruised the Adriatic and my father tried (unsuccessfully) to teach me to fox trot.
When I was 18 I fell truly, madly, deeply in love - at least four times.
I can't remember how I felt at the time - whether I would have said I was "happy" - but it was an impressive year.
Enjoyed the Super Bowl half-time show, by-the-way. Loved the gold pom poms.
When I was 18 we travelled from Riyadh to a camp in the middle of the Saudi Arabian desert. I had a summer job calculating cut and fill over sand dunes for the road my father was helping to build. The rest of the year I attended an international boarding school where I skied the Swiss Alps on gym days, shared girl-talk with my Japanese room-mate, and taught my school-mates to do "the hustle". I vacationed with my family in Greece; we cruised the Adriatic and my father tried (unsuccessfully) to teach me to fox trot.
When I was 18 I fell truly, madly, deeply in love - at least four times.
I can't remember how I felt at the time - whether I would have said I was "happy" - but it was an impressive year.
Enjoyed the Super Bowl half-time show, by-the-way. Loved the gold pom poms.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
You ARE Everywhere!
Magazines, newspaper, television - and this weekend's Super Bowl. No sign of an "end-game", but continual renewal and reninvention.
I am inspired!
Let's Get Real
Dear Madonna,
I don't think I can do it any more.
I've been trying for years now to develop an appreciation for modern art, but I remain - unconvinced.
When I was in Montreal recently I visited the Musee d'Art Contemporian. There were a couple of installations that commanded my interest, but for the most part I just didn't see the point.
Same with the "Come up to my room" show at The Gladstone Hotel. (The Gladstone is where the Dear John's played their reunion gig - around which JulieFest was planned ). I was expecting the hotel-guestrooms-cum-gallery space to reflect the setting something more hotel-related than, well, small mirrored discs with hand-painted portraits of famous people, sheets draped like curtains with infra-red designs, chandeliers made from paper-clips, or computer parts hung like a mobile.
Sigh.
I'm wondering if my preference for representational art is reflected in the way I dance and my confusion over more "abstract" approaches or styles.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Gettting Rubbed the Right Way
Dear Madonna,
I barely had time to unpack my suitcase after ACC in Houston, do laundry, and re-pack for SwingVoucour in Vancouver. More than just a dance trip, I was overseeing the delivery of the event (as I'd booked the hotel), and took the time to conduct site inspections at six other hotels, both downtown and in Richmond. I took a client to lunch, met a colleague for dinner, and saw Bob Saget of all people perform at the Rver Rock Resort & Casino. My night at the beautiful Hotel Georgia afforded me the opportunity to swim in their saltwater lap pool, and have their driver, Jim, chauffeur me around in a Bentley! I got to get together with my first dance instructor, Graeme and his wife, Elizabeth, and was invited to help teach a couple of classes, but opted to get to the airport early and get some work down before my red-eye back to Toronto.
I knew I'd be feeling rough after a weekend of dancing, lack of sleep, and sitting all cramped up on a plane for four+ hours, so I'd booked a massage that the Stillwater Spa in the Hyatt - paid for in part by a gift certificate from one of my favourite sales people. My massseur, a tall, Eastern Eureopean man, introduced himself and - even after asking him to say his name again - I swear he said Steely Dan.
Steely Dan had some smooth jazz playing in the treatment room and asked me if that was okay. He thanked me when I said yes, and didn't ask for "frogs and waterfalls". I went for the eucalyptus-scented oil, even though I couldn't smell it, and gave the go-ahead for both scalp and glute massage.
To tell you the truth, I'm a little nervous about getting massages - not about being touched - but perhaps being touched too deeply. On more than one occasion I've started crying during a massage, and afterward I sometimes feel sick.
But Steely Dan did an amazing job. I swear he pulled out some moves I've never experienced before. And, of course, I've been a basket case ever since - but in a good way.
I barely had time to unpack my suitcase after ACC in Houston, do laundry, and re-pack for SwingVoucour in Vancouver. More than just a dance trip, I was overseeing the delivery of the event (as I'd booked the hotel), and took the time to conduct site inspections at six other hotels, both downtown and in Richmond. I took a client to lunch, met a colleague for dinner, and saw Bob Saget of all people perform at the Rver Rock Resort & Casino. My night at the beautiful Hotel Georgia afforded me the opportunity to swim in their saltwater lap pool, and have their driver, Jim, chauffeur me around in a Bentley! I got to get together with my first dance instructor, Graeme and his wife, Elizabeth, and was invited to help teach a couple of classes, but opted to get to the airport early and get some work down before my red-eye back to Toronto.
I knew I'd be feeling rough after a weekend of dancing, lack of sleep, and sitting all cramped up on a plane for four+ hours, so I'd booked a massage that the Stillwater Spa in the Hyatt - paid for in part by a gift certificate from one of my favourite sales people. My massseur, a tall, Eastern Eureopean man, introduced himself and - even after asking him to say his name again - I swear he said Steely Dan.
Steely Dan had some smooth jazz playing in the treatment room and asked me if that was okay. He thanked me when I said yes, and didn't ask for "frogs and waterfalls". I went for the eucalyptus-scented oil, even though I couldn't smell it, and gave the go-ahead for both scalp and glute massage.
To tell you the truth, I'm a little nervous about getting massages - not about being touched - but perhaps being touched too deeply. On more than one occasion I've started crying during a massage, and afterward I sometimes feel sick.
But Steely Dan did an amazing job. I swear he pulled out some moves I've never experienced before. And, of course, I've been a basket case ever since - but in a good way.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
2012 - Bring It On!
I was in Montreal just before Christmas and I picked up a copy of the free newspaper Metro (Métro in French, with an accent aigu). *You* were on the cover, and inside there was an article: Le retour de Madonna - all about how you were going to dominate the news in 2012. I was able to read the piece, even though it was in French, and actually noticed a few similarities.
Une nouvelle tournee A new tour? Me too! I'm starting the Masters Tour this weekend with my new partner, Larry (since The Meat lost all interest in competing or dancing West Coast Swing at all). Larry and I have been working together on a beautiful routine since last February and we're putting it on the floor for the first time competing against our peers at the America's Classic Championships (ACC) in Houston. Wish us luck!
Un nouveau film W.E., which premiered at TIFF, I think, will be released in 2012. Congrats! I expect to be working with my Diva Productions partner, Shelley, on a cool corporate Flash Mob project (building on something we did last year) which will be filmed and shared through social media sites. I'll keep you posted.
Une nouvelle fragrance Well, you've got me there. I stopped wearing perfume about three years ago, when I lost my sense of smell. :(
Une novel album It's been more than three years since Hard Candy came out in 2008 - the same year as JulieFest. I'm sure that's why you couldn't make it to my party....
De nouvelles amies As part of "Project Snowball" (inspired by Parker Dearborn's "Project Swing") I started offering free beginner classes, with Shelley's help, on the first Tuesday of the month. The momentum is growing and I'm developing strategic relationships and exploring exciting new marketing opportunities all the time.
ET LE SUPER BOWL! With Cirque de Soleil? Sounds like it's going to be awsesome! If you want to watch *me* this weekend check out the free UStream link: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/americas-classic-free-channel (We're in Texas, so the U.S. Central Time Zone, or GMT - 6:00)
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Ghost of Christmas Past
A couple of weeks ago I was invited to the Four Seasons Toronto's seasonal customer appreciation party. Along with an open bar and passed hors d'oeuvres there were cookie decorating stations set up. Geat fun! We were supplied with "blank" gingerbread men, snowmen and Christmas trees and all the "toppings": coloured icings in squeezable containters, sprinkles, gum drops, mini M&M's....
The hotel also provided beautiful boxes in which to carry home our creations. As I was carefully placing mine on the red and white shredded tissue paper I realized - with a start - that I had re-created my mother's Christmas tree: all blue and green.
I hadn't done it on purpose.
After Mom died, when we were cleaning out the house at 401 Elmwood, without a second thought I added the box marked "Christmas decorations" to the items that were to be sold at auction, grimly declaring: "There won't be any more Christmases."
Ha! In the decade since I've had to accept (kind of like the Grinch) that you can't stop Christmas. It's all-pervasive, even after your childhood traditions have ceased, and the blue and green Christmas decorations are long gone.
That said, I really liked seeing Mom's tree again.
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