The Showgirl
- Pastel Supernova
- Mar 19
- 2 min read
Stepping into showgirl mode is no easy feat. Her secrets & pain are not the topic of interest. What matters is the audience and the magic created to take everyone out of their mundanity. Tits & Teeth sounds frivolous, but it is a suit of armor worn to transport performers & audiences to a world where everything is beautiful, and all can be healed. It is a place of rest & celebration, if only for a moment. It is an opportunity to transmute the hurt through laughter, music & dance. Fantasy is the medicine, and the fantasy is the Showgirl. ✨️
The past few weeks have been challenging. The anniversary of my mother's passing, followed by the loss of a great mentor, Nadia Potts, Canadian ballet legend turned teacher, hit me so hard I had the spins for days. I couldn't see straight, speak, or do much of anything, really. Both of these fantastic women propelled my wild choreographic ideas and made me believe I mattered in the art world. They cared about what I had to say and accepted my abstract forms of communication. (Thankfully, I have one surviving mother-mentor figure left, Judith Davies)
Fortunately, I had a few shoots lined up in time to channel my emotions into art, find solace, and also as a temporary distraction. Time with Michael Cooper could not have been better planned. He is a genius when it comes to lighting, he is generous with his time, and like my Mother and Nadia, he sees something in me I don't quite believe, but will never resist. Going to the studio with him is why I believe true romance is great lighting.
So sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine the grief you are feeling. Thinking of you during this difficult time.