Fearless Carrie Ann

I knew the name Carrie Ann Inaba way before Dancing with the Stars. As an aspiring dancer, I watched In Living Color every week just to see The Fly Girls. I would video tape their routines and learn the steps. (That’s what you have to do when there’s no dance school in your hometown.)



Obviously, Carrie Ann was my favorite Fly Girl. She was the best dancer and had the best hair. I was sure that someday I would audition for the Fly Girls and become her best friend. Yeah, that never happened.

At last night’s intimate Evening with Carrie Ann Inaba, sponsored by CAPE and Verizon, I learned that even though I never did become a Fly Girl or Carrie Ann’s best friend, we actually have a lot in common.


First and foremost, we both got into MIT! I enrolled and drank water from a firehose for four years. She went to Japan and became a pop star. Probably more fun than my 5.60 problem sets.

We’re also pursuing many goals at the same time. I act, write television, write fiction, produce film and I’m still toying with the idea of writing a graphic novel. Carrie Ann hosts, acts, dances, produces television, produces Broadway, and plans to write her next script herself. We are multi-tasking goddesses!

But the big thing we share is a bright spirit and fierce drive that propels us past all obstacles and ever onward in our careers. Interviewer Wenda Fong lauded Carrie Ann for being so fearless in her career and life choices, and Carrie Ann bravely revealed that she does have fears – she just doesn’t let them get her down. She said it best – “It’s not about not having fears. It’s about facing them.” Amen, sister.

Another gem of wisdom from Carrie Ann about pursuing a showbiz career – “It’s not that difficult to succeed. There’s always a way. Figure it out. Don’t expect anyone to do it for you. It’s not easy, but it is simple.”

I love this woman even more now. Thanks for an inspiring evening, Carrie!

Hopping on the Blogger Challenge Bandwagon

I heard about this blogger challenge from my friend Lynn’s blog The Actor’s Diet, who heard about it from her friend Lauren.

The Rules:
1. List 11 random things about myself
2. Answer the 11 questions she asked
3. Come up with 11 questions to ask other bloggers
4. Tag 11 other bloggers to do this next

I want to play, but I don’t think I know 11 other bloggers. I know Lynn, Michelle, Junk Food Guy, and that's about it. And how exactly do I tag bloggers?

So I’ll do a half version, starting with 11 random things about me:

1. I’ve never been to Europe.
   
   
2. My high school band director told us he went to school with Jonathan Frakes, and I once wrote Jonathan a fan letter asking him to come play with our concert band. It never happened.
   
   
   
3. I had insomnia for almost two years while working at Disneyland. The happiest place on earth was stressful as hell! Listening to spa-type relaxation music finally helped me fall asleep consistently.
   
   
4. For my sweet sixteen birthday party, I asked my friends to make a donation to an environmental group instead of giving me a gift. (Yup, I was a charity nerd even back then.) My friends all made donations and brought gifts too. They were awesome.
   
   
5. I think Angelo should have won Top Chef Season 7 instead of Kevin. There, I said it.
   
   
   
6. Growing up, I always wanted to be a dancer and I still mourn the fact that I missed my window.
   
   
7. I had braces for four years of junior high & high school – head gear, rubber bands, the whole shebang. Five years ago, a fancy dentist in LA told me I should get braces and I wanted to slap him.
   
   
8. I was so scared by a kiddie roller coaster ride as a child, I didn’t ride another roller coaster until senior year of high school, and even then I did it under duress.
   
   
   
9. I had pictures of Barry Manilow and Bruce Boxleitner in my locker in high school. I know, total dork.
   
   
10. I actually like Circus Peanuts.
    
    
11. I got banned for life from Google Adsense for clicking on my own ads on this blog, which I honestly did not know was against the rules. At my last day job company, we were constantly told we should click on our own ads whenever possible by our VP of Biz Dev. Thanks for nothing, Richard.
    

And here are answers to the same 11 questions that Lynn answered:

1. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? In a magical version of LA with less traffic, cleaner air, and my family close by.
   
   
2. Beer or Wine? Both! In moderation, of course. I enjoy lagers, but also look forward to my first trip to Napa.
   
   
3. What is your favorite quote? “Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Gandhi
   
   
4. One thing you always have in your purse? My Lactaid pills – so I can eat cheese!
   
   
   
5. The best concert you’ve ever been to? Barry Manilow at the Hollywood Bowl, baby!
   
   
6. What would be your last meal? This is a morbid question and I cancel/deflect any energy created by answering it, but I suppose it would be a lobster clambake from Legal Sea Foods.
   
   
7. What is one word that makes you cringe? The F word that refers to gay people in a derogatory manner.
   
   
8. If you could live one day as the opposite sex, what is the first thing you would do? Make a proper machine gun sound effect with my mouth – it’s the one thing I will admit ALL men do better than women.
   
   
9. Do you believe in soul mates? Sure, why not?
   
   
10. Gossip Girl or Glee? Glee! Because try as I might, I can’t relate to rich white society girls in NYC.
    
    
11. What would be your ideal job? I have it! Though it would be more ideal if I had more hours in the day. Still, I’m happy.
    

Phew, that was fun!

Do you have a blog? Share your URL below!

Got Canned Heat in my Heels Tonight, Baby…

I love to dance. Or should I say loved to dance.

As a child, I dreamed of being a Fly Girl or an opening number dancer for the Oscars. The glory of VHS technology allowed me to rewind and play dances over and over until I learned every step. I leaped, twirled, and dreamed hard, but ultimately my professional dancing career became a dream unfulfilled as I set out to fulfill expectations instead.

As I tearfully explained to Debbie Allen when I met her on the set of Grey’s Anatomy last year, “Dancing wasn’t meant for me in this lifetime.” She hugged me and said, “Oh honey, that’s what they told me too, but I just did what I wanted.”

But I know it’s too late for me – the Heather Morris’ of the world are rising fast and my body just doesn’t move that way. I watch videos from the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and I’m blown away by their talent. Was I ever that good? Who knows.

So I watch dance videos on YouTube whenever I’m feeling nostalgic for what might have been. I watch the iconic dance performances (Hot Honey Rag, Music and the Mirror, anything by Gene Kelly), marvel at Beyonce’s body, and dream privately in my seat.

Lately I’ve become intrigued by dance films. Not films made of live performances, but dances created specifically for being filmed. A unique sign of our intersecting media times.

For example, we all know Irish dance innovators Up and Over It from their popular hand-dancing video:



But I’m also amazed by their dance film Alles Gute zum St Patriks Tag, described as an exploration of “the perception of Irish Dance and the global proliferation of carbon-copy 'Irish Dance' shows.” Bizarre, captivating stuff.



Another stellar example of dance meets filmmaking is this video featuring Melinda Sullivan of So You Think You Can Dance:



Does anyone have other examples to share? Post links below! There can never be enough dance in my life. Especially now.