It's been quite a minute since I last posted here!
Good things have happened since.
Some hurdles of life along the way, but all for Good nonetheless!
Many benefits for Japan after the March 11th Tsunami/EQ has happened in Los Angeles.
The dance industry is very supportive, and keeps lending a helping hand to Japan even when miles away overseas.
It makes me think how great us Humans are.
Sure we all have our selfishness at times, but in the end we are all in it Together.
:)
Here are some clips from one of the pieces at IDA Hollywood's production of the Dance for Japan Benefit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9BPHHtL9TE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLloVt3T0qQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7-PJvSDyIU
It was a very heartfelt evening at the benefit.
In other news, I had an audition for a musical last week. It was a show I had done back in Tokyo for all two years it ran there.
I wanted it. I wanted it BAD here in the US.
So I went and auditioned.
To my surprise, and somewhat not, as I danced the movements I felt at "home."
Never felt so dancing-2nd-skin before.
I felt ALIVE.
Stayed for singing at the callbacks. I was really excited than nervous. I had always wanted to sing this particular song at an audition, but the theme never seemed appropriate... until THIS time.
All is done and done, now The Wait.
I actually have a Good feeling about this one.
And I'm going to keep it that way... ;)
Wish Me Luck!
xoxo
YK
Monday, May 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
It's been a while...
... But I'm still here.
Runnin' and Alive for sure.
Many many many projects got done these past few months, and more to come.
It's simply funny how it seems to work in Los Angeles.
They don't call it The City of Dreams for nothing... Things just seem to Happen for you when you most want it.
I suppose that's true elsewhere too, but it feels most here in this crazy city.
I've had a ball with a few friendships these past few months, and it's still going.
One particular friend of mine is having an issue... I gave this friend my support, advice, as much as I can possibly do, but this friend seems to still be freightened. It got to the point where I became frustrated with this friend. But then I realized it: I can say what this friend should do, should NOT do, but in the end, the friend is on its own. This friend of mine is the one to decide which path it should take, not me.
All I can do is support this friend.
Friends and friendships.... Do NOT take them for granted. I love all of them, and feel blessed everyday to have them in my life!!
I have finally got petty-yet-important business done yesterday. Very happy, and ready for more action!
...And I seemed to have open doors Wide open :)
Very VERY excited!
Happy March <3
xoxo
YK
Runnin' and Alive for sure.
Many many many projects got done these past few months, and more to come.
It's simply funny how it seems to work in Los Angeles.
They don't call it The City of Dreams for nothing... Things just seem to Happen for you when you most want it.
I suppose that's true elsewhere too, but it feels most here in this crazy city.
I've had a ball with a few friendships these past few months, and it's still going.
One particular friend of mine is having an issue... I gave this friend my support, advice, as much as I can possibly do, but this friend seems to still be freightened. It got to the point where I became frustrated with this friend. But then I realized it: I can say what this friend should do, should NOT do, but in the end, the friend is on its own. This friend of mine is the one to decide which path it should take, not me.
All I can do is support this friend.
Friends and friendships.... Do NOT take them for granted. I love all of them, and feel blessed everyday to have them in my life!!
I have finally got petty-yet-important business done yesterday. Very happy, and ready for more action!
...And I seemed to have open doors Wide open :)
Very VERY excited!
Happy March <3
xoxo
YK
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Success Is,...
...When you audition, get cut, but still had a BLAST.
The first audition I had in this city, where I had Fun even well after it!
The audition routine was taught by another great teacher Donyelle.
I was SO happy to see her, since I've only taken her class once before, loved it, but didn't have the chance to go back again.
We were auditioning for jazz dance, but the routine was very jazz-fused-with-hip hop. Tricky, sneaky, grande, Fabulous.
LOVED it.
I kept repeating the movements over and over.
Took a class (taught by Cameron Lee) after the audition, and my goodness, my focus was not there. I had used all my focus in that audition.
The class was GREAT. Less people, a great routine (slow and my mind actually got it), great music, ...but I was so out of focus.
BUT learned a ton from the instructor and dancers from just listening and watching.
One of those days, but well worth it :)
GREAT class!
It's the next day and I'm still repeating Donyelle's routine.
Gotta make it to her classes now....!
Rehearsal, more classes, and Grammy night tonight :))
xoxo
YK
The first audition I had in this city, where I had Fun even well after it!
The audition routine was taught by another great teacher Donyelle.
I was SO happy to see her, since I've only taken her class once before, loved it, but didn't have the chance to go back again.
We were auditioning for jazz dance, but the routine was very jazz-fused-with-hip hop. Tricky, sneaky, grande, Fabulous.
LOVED it.
I kept repeating the movements over and over.
Took a class (taught by Cameron Lee) after the audition, and my goodness, my focus was not there. I had used all my focus in that audition.
The class was GREAT. Less people, a great routine (slow and my mind actually got it), great music, ...but I was so out of focus.
BUT learned a ton from the instructor and dancers from just listening and watching.
One of those days, but well worth it :)
GREAT class!
It's the next day and I'm still repeating Donyelle's routine.
Gotta make it to her classes now....!
Rehearsal, more classes, and Grammy night tonight :))
xoxo
YK
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Awesome posseum...
Let the drum roll and the rain fall and everyone be merry!
HUH? You ask.
...I'm not sure either.
But today I had most fun at Debbie Reynolds before, during and after class.
Met new people, some old pals who I haven't seen much lately, and new friends, new inspirational dancers, and something else.
I took a class taught by Kennis. I knew it was going to be intense as the last time I took the class. His style is very old school hip hop, but something about the way he teaches really push the dancers to another level.
I love those kinds of teachers!
The class ended and golly, was there a monsoon in the room!
I then hurried to IDA to catch Yuki Shundo's class.
SURPRISE! She gave us a fun routine, but a TOUGH one.... speed, cleanliness, and technique all were required, REQUIRED. ...And I was still trying to catch up with the movements!!
Lover her works though. Every class I'm amazed and in awe of how she comes up with choreo. And everytime I fall for the music she uses!
Wanted to take another class, but called it an early night.
I had a lot to take in from those two classes...
Tomorrow's another day, and I will be DRing it up! ...AND deciding on a day of the week for something that has been brewing for a while.
*CROSSING FINGERS!*
xoxo
YK
HUH? You ask.
...I'm not sure either.
But today I had most fun at Debbie Reynolds before, during and after class.
Met new people, some old pals who I haven't seen much lately, and new friends, new inspirational dancers, and something else.
I took a class taught by Kennis. I knew it was going to be intense as the last time I took the class. His style is very old school hip hop, but something about the way he teaches really push the dancers to another level.
I love those kinds of teachers!
The class ended and golly, was there a monsoon in the room!
I then hurried to IDA to catch Yuki Shundo's class.
SURPRISE! She gave us a fun routine, but a TOUGH one.... speed, cleanliness, and technique all were required, REQUIRED. ...And I was still trying to catch up with the movements!!
Lover her works though. Every class I'm amazed and in awe of how she comes up with choreo. And everytime I fall for the music she uses!
Wanted to take another class, but called it an early night.
I had a lot to take in from those two classes...
Tomorrow's another day, and I will be DRing it up! ...AND deciding on a day of the week for something that has been brewing for a while.
*CROSSING FINGERS!*
xoxo
YK
As Marylin would sing,...
"When love goes wrong, Nothing goes right"
True.
I had a Fuzzy-Fun, puppy-filled Monday evening and loved every moment of it, while waiting for a friend who was visiting from Japan.
Post-ballet (taught by a vibrant Kana Miyamoto), I forced two of my friends into walking over to KingKing on Hollywood Blvd to meet my visiting friend.
Seeing that we had plenty of time, we went and rested our feet and souls (pun intended)at one of my friends' apartment, to be greeted by none other than two lively puppies and three baby puppies!
Oh the ADORable-ness!
The rest-stop-turned-cheese,ice cream,7up-puppy-party was too fun, so we called over another fabulous friend which made the evening ever more fun.
I have FUN, FABULOUS Friends. I'm very aware of that. :)
After saying goodbye to the puppies and our lovely hostess, my two friends and I went to KingKing and met up with my visiting pal.
Chat chat.
Since I was getting over a cold, we just chatted for a bit, and then my friends and I went home.
Again, I have very fabulous friends!
Tuesday was A Day too.
Took two hip hop classes, Todd Flanagan and Aliya Perry.
Todd's class was filled, and I mean FILLED with students and for some odd reason spacing was a big issue (at least for me).
When dancing, ANYWHERE, Any style, please, consider the other's space as well as yours. It helps with learning the movements, as well as all of our mental well-being.
....I'm a space-nut. One of my bigger pet peeves in dance.
(It's all that training in ballet)
The routine was simple, but hitting the moves was somewhat difficult (at least for me). Must've been the music: Prince. Late 80s, early 90s,...nostalgia won over?
Second class by Aliya was a BLAST. I love her energy EVERY class.
And she watches and corrects EACH of her students in class... I find that very rare in LA hip hop classes. Each class of hers, I learn so much!
Lovely person as well.
:)
Post-classes, my friends and I had another fun chat-session about nothing and something, and funny and rat-a-tat-tat. *lol*
Really, they never cease to amuse me!
After endless laughter after laughter, we called it a night and headed home.
I, however made a pit-stop to NoHo to meet a friend who wanted to talk.
Starbucks.
Never thought this particular friend was the type to meet me at a Starbucks.
As we started to talk about dance classes, and teachers, auditions and work, I started to talk about the earlier classes.... then, we see Todd striding outside. He saw us, and came in to say Hi. After a few this and thats, he strided out and on his way.
(I hadn't mentioned earlier, but Todd is a very fun person. His personality wins everyone over. So it was fun seeing him outside the studios.)
Ah, coincidences.
As Starbucks closed, my coffee/tea-chat friend and I moved our conversation out, and because nothing was open, into the car and spoke some more. We hadn't talked in about a month for several reasons, so this time we laid everything out. It was difficult but freeing. I didn't expect this from this particular friend but finally got the Truth out, and admittance.
In life, nothing goes as the way we plan it. In playing the game of Life, I believe communicating is crucial. Sometimes we neglect to say things that are important to the other, but don't not only because we may not know it's important to the other, but because we hope that in not saying anything the subject will slide and life goes on, uninterrupted.
But in this particular friendship, those little things unsaid turned into hiding and lies, which lead to silly drama that wouldn't have happened the way it did.
I was asked, "Do you still hate me?"
My answer was, "Of course."
Maybe not "hate". We did talk for a little over 2 hours afterall.
As we parted, I felt relieved. Much less steam.
Driving back home, I remembered the funny conversations post-class with my other friends. Made me laugh all the way home.
xoxo
YK
True.
I had a Fuzzy-Fun, puppy-filled Monday evening and loved every moment of it, while waiting for a friend who was visiting from Japan.
Post-ballet (taught by a vibrant Kana Miyamoto), I forced two of my friends into walking over to KingKing on Hollywood Blvd to meet my visiting friend.
Seeing that we had plenty of time, we went and rested our feet and souls (pun intended)at one of my friends' apartment, to be greeted by none other than two lively puppies and three baby puppies!
Oh the ADORable-ness!
The rest-stop-turned-cheese,ice cream,7up-puppy-party was too fun, so we called over another fabulous friend which made the evening ever more fun.
I have FUN, FABULOUS Friends. I'm very aware of that. :)
After saying goodbye to the puppies and our lovely hostess, my two friends and I went to KingKing and met up with my visiting pal.
Chat chat.
Since I was getting over a cold, we just chatted for a bit, and then my friends and I went home.
Again, I have very fabulous friends!
Tuesday was A Day too.
Took two hip hop classes, Todd Flanagan and Aliya Perry.
Todd's class was filled, and I mean FILLED with students and for some odd reason spacing was a big issue (at least for me).
When dancing, ANYWHERE, Any style, please, consider the other's space as well as yours. It helps with learning the movements, as well as all of our mental well-being.
....I'm a space-nut. One of my bigger pet peeves in dance.
(It's all that training in ballet)
The routine was simple, but hitting the moves was somewhat difficult (at least for me). Must've been the music: Prince. Late 80s, early 90s,...nostalgia won over?
Second class by Aliya was a BLAST. I love her energy EVERY class.
And she watches and corrects EACH of her students in class... I find that very rare in LA hip hop classes. Each class of hers, I learn so much!
Lovely person as well.
:)
Post-classes, my friends and I had another fun chat-session about nothing and something, and funny and rat-a-tat-tat. *lol*
Really, they never cease to amuse me!
After endless laughter after laughter, we called it a night and headed home.
I, however made a pit-stop to NoHo to meet a friend who wanted to talk.
Starbucks.
Never thought this particular friend was the type to meet me at a Starbucks.
As we started to talk about dance classes, and teachers, auditions and work, I started to talk about the earlier classes.... then, we see Todd striding outside. He saw us, and came in to say Hi. After a few this and thats, he strided out and on his way.
(I hadn't mentioned earlier, but Todd is a very fun person. His personality wins everyone over. So it was fun seeing him outside the studios.)
Ah, coincidences.
As Starbucks closed, my coffee/tea-chat friend and I moved our conversation out, and because nothing was open, into the car and spoke some more. We hadn't talked in about a month for several reasons, so this time we laid everything out. It was difficult but freeing. I didn't expect this from this particular friend but finally got the Truth out, and admittance.
In life, nothing goes as the way we plan it. In playing the game of Life, I believe communicating is crucial. Sometimes we neglect to say things that are important to the other, but don't not only because we may not know it's important to the other, but because we hope that in not saying anything the subject will slide and life goes on, uninterrupted.
But in this particular friendship, those little things unsaid turned into hiding and lies, which lead to silly drama that wouldn't have happened the way it did.
I was asked, "Do you still hate me?"
My answer was, "Of course."
Maybe not "hate". We did talk for a little over 2 hours afterall.
As we parted, I felt relieved. Much less steam.
Driving back home, I remembered the funny conversations post-class with my other friends. Made me laugh all the way home.
xoxo
YK
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Diamonds are a sick-girl's best friend...
My mother is hunting for the perfect wedding anniversary gift from my father.
Thinking it would be a no-brainer, browsing jewelers and admiring works of craftsmenship, I tagged along with my mother.
We went to DeBeers, the world's most big, best, bold diamond company. We studied many sparklers, and from a lovely sales lady, learned about the 4 Cs, and the difference between a good/bad quality rock, how to appreciate craftsmenship, and so on. It was a LOVELY few hours there....
My mind was set on, "DeBeers is the only company with the BEST of the BEST diamonds, and I shall not accept nothing less!"
We browsed Tiffany's. We browsed Harry Winston (LOVE .....), but I still said to myself those words.... DeBeers... DeBeers...
We looked at Kwiat and Robert Coin.
All the excellent in jewel-craft. But the clarity and cut (the MOST important for the best sparkle in diamonds) was all DeBeers.
We took a peek inside Mikimoto for pearls, and fell in love with a lovely, charming pendant/necklace (it was from the Pearls in Motion collection). "Pearls, Mikimoto," I noted.
After some random browsing in makeup and apparel, we made our final stop at Cartier.
I had no interest in Cartier and glanced through the jewels as "oh, it's overpriced. Oh, it's too commercial. Oh, it's too vulgar for my taste,...DeBeers, DeBeers, DeBeers...,"
but,
I curiously slipped on the Panthere head ring, IT WAS LOVE.
I didn't care about diamonds or the 4Cs. The 18k gold peridot-eyed onyx-patterned Panthere head is my goal-to-gift-myself-in-the-next-few-years. After all that DeBeers talk, turning other jewelers down, Cartier's Panthere won my heart.
Funny how things turn out, huh?
Oh, and I forgot that I was sick. ...I guess browsing diamonds are in my list of "natural remedies" from now on!
So my mother found a few choices for her anniversary gift, I found my gift for the near future....
Panthere, darling, I'm coming for you!
xoxo
YK
Thinking it would be a no-brainer, browsing jewelers and admiring works of craftsmenship, I tagged along with my mother.
We went to DeBeers, the world's most big, best, bold diamond company. We studied many sparklers, and from a lovely sales lady, learned about the 4 Cs, and the difference between a good/bad quality rock, how to appreciate craftsmenship, and so on. It was a LOVELY few hours there....
My mind was set on, "DeBeers is the only company with the BEST of the BEST diamonds, and I shall not accept nothing less!"
We browsed Tiffany's. We browsed Harry Winston (LOVE .....), but I still said to myself those words.... DeBeers... DeBeers...
We looked at Kwiat and Robert Coin.
All the excellent in jewel-craft. But the clarity and cut (the MOST important for the best sparkle in diamonds) was all DeBeers.
We took a peek inside Mikimoto for pearls, and fell in love with a lovely, charming pendant/necklace (it was from the Pearls in Motion collection). "Pearls, Mikimoto," I noted.
After some random browsing in makeup and apparel, we made our final stop at Cartier.
I had no interest in Cartier and glanced through the jewels as "oh, it's overpriced. Oh, it's too commercial. Oh, it's too vulgar for my taste,...DeBeers, DeBeers, DeBeers...,"
but,
I curiously slipped on the Panthere head ring, IT WAS LOVE.
I didn't care about diamonds or the 4Cs. The 18k gold peridot-eyed onyx-patterned Panthere head is my goal-to-gift-myself-in-the-next-few-years. After all that DeBeers talk, turning other jewelers down, Cartier's Panthere won my heart.
Funny how things turn out, huh?
Oh, and I forgot that I was sick. ...I guess browsing diamonds are in my list of "natural remedies" from now on!
So my mother found a few choices for her anniversary gift, I found my gift for the near future....
Panthere, darling, I'm coming for you!
xoxo
YK
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Bug.
I caught a bug last night.
It was so random.
I was doing fine in the dance classes at IDA, and feeling all chipper 'n' stuff, but as soon I parked the car in the garage, my body shut down.
Within minutes, sore throat, sniffles, fever, headaches, and the aches came about.
Flu?
Thought about it. But when I woke up today the symptoms stayed as it started last night.
I took the day OFF.
LONG naps, drowning by drinking huge amounts of water, poppin' vitamins, pills, the works. My trash bin and room is piled with scrunched up tissue.
Such a pretty sight, huh?
Feeling a lot better, though my body seems to be fighting a world war.
At least I'm fine enought to post a blog entry!
Hoping to be better by tomorrow.
One day off is enough for a busy-lovin' body like mine.
I added more music to my Playlist!
Listen and Enjoy~
xoxo
YK
It was so random.
I was doing fine in the dance classes at IDA, and feeling all chipper 'n' stuff, but as soon I parked the car in the garage, my body shut down.
Within minutes, sore throat, sniffles, fever, headaches, and the aches came about.
Flu?
Thought about it. But when I woke up today the symptoms stayed as it started last night.
I took the day OFF.
LONG naps, drowning by drinking huge amounts of water, poppin' vitamins, pills, the works. My trash bin and room is piled with scrunched up tissue.
Such a pretty sight, huh?
Feeling a lot better, though my body seems to be fighting a world war.
At least I'm fine enought to post a blog entry!
Hoping to be better by tomorrow.
One day off is enough for a busy-lovin' body like mine.
I added more music to my Playlist!
Listen and Enjoy~
xoxo
YK
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