Connections 3

I continue to explore the journeys our lives take when we make certain decisions. If you haven't read my first 2 instalments, check them out further below.

One of the things the military did for me was exercise my confidence and self-esteem. Not just the environment and circumstances of military life, but becoming a trainer gave me a newfound sense of comfort speaking (some would say performing) in front of a crowd.

Not that long ago, Darlene picked up a brochure for acting classes at the Epcor Centre downtown. She encouraged me to join up. OK, 'encouraged' may be too gentle of a word. So I signed up. The class changed my life. First, all my expectations were out to lunch. There was so much more to performing than I could imagine. Anyway, my instructor Georgette revealed to me a world that once I entered, would be powerless to leave. After two terms of acting for beginners, I followed a few performers in training to Company of Rogues where I actually did a little script work. This class, while enjoyable and challenging, made it clear to me that traditional acting was not my preference - I was looking for something a little more bleeding edge and the performance art that I had always been attracted to and have unmeasurable respect for, is improvisation. One of my fellow students in the Epcor class, Michael Roik, had already become an improviser at Loose Moose theatre and told me that I needed to check it out for myself. I did, and watched the very essence of improv unfold on stage in classes and during the dozens of performances I've seen so far. Another fellow student from my Epcor days (listen to me - my Epcor days - I sound like I've been doing this forever), Allison, invited me to participate in three Law Day performances playing her mother.

Wanting to re-familiarize myself with the foundations of acting basics, I asked Georgette if I could assist with her classes and she said yes. That led to me soloing on a night where I concentrated solely on improv. That went so well, that I decided to develop an improv workshop for beginners, which will debut this fall. And so the story continues to unfold.

OK, time to draw the connections. If Darlene hadn't convinced me to join that acting class, I wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to explore my creative side. Nor met the dozens of incredible people I've met over the last almost 4 years. It's only been 4 years. Wow.

I'm the blond in the sun dress.