BLOC auditions on June 9th for anyone interested.

Throwback.  2004.

I was the “green girl” my senior year in High School when we did Singin’ In The Rain.

I never imagined that 7 years later, I’d be teaching at Debbie Reynold’s actual studio.  I am completely grateful.

theotherduck:

Love what you do, and do what you love… With the people you love. <3 @kooch611 @apriljoy_ (Taken with instagram)

Hello Lady Gaga audition.  about 300 girls.

Very excited to announce that BOOGIEZONE.com finally has their own studio, and I’ll be teaching every Wednesday @ 8pm!

For those of you who haven’t heard of Boogiezone.com, it’s an online dance community where dancers can share with each other through forum posting and messaging.  Years ago, Boogiezone decided to take a step forward and host weekly classes for their local community, bringing in professional choreographers from the industry to share their knowledge and skills with those who wanted to learn.  Boogiezone’s aim was always to bridge together the professional dance industry with the community.  Boogiezone’s concept spread throughout Asia and Europe, and it’s only growing bigger and bigger every year.

I’m very happy that Boogiezone finally has a studio they can really call home.  The lineup of instructors here is nuts:  Tony Czar, Teresa Espinosa, Kristin Lorelo, Tiffany Bong, Tokyo, Arnel Calvario, Ricky Cole, Ray Basa,  Amanda Grind.. there’s so much more!  Click here for full schedule.

Personally, Boogiezone has always been a comfortable place for me to grow and experience dance.  The dancers I met through Boogiezone classes became friends and peers I eventually grew in dance with.  Can’t wait for this new home to open up to others out there looking for one!  Happy New Year, Boogiezone!!!

It was really crazy to go back and see where I grew up after 19 years… THE FARM vs. LOS ANGELES. I burst into tears when I finally got to visit my “home” and revalidate old memories of my childhood—my sisters and I running around in our stone house, boiling water on the stove for a warm bath, waking up to roosters crowing in our yard, climbing trees, playing with sticks and stones.. or insects…, wandering the dirt roads of our town, and playing with the other farm animals in our lot. 

Recently, I cried to my parents and felt a completely transformed kind of love towards them—which I didn’t think could happen considering how much of a brat and a rebel I’ve been my whole life.  This trip brought me to a closer understanding with them, and even with myself.  I’ve realized the hardship of my parent’s youth, their lives, and what they’ve had to endure to bring my entire family from the Philippines to America.  My sisters and I were in the Philippines away from our parents for a year while they established their careers and tried to save money to finally bring us here.  Any parent would’ve wanted to slap me for showing ungratefulness and for the way I talked back to my parents everyday of my teenage years, but I’m happy to have grown out of that phase and that their love was revealed to me this way. 

After being in the streets of Philippines, it’s like I finally knew after all the years what my parents were trying to teach me about appreciating my abundant life and opportunities in the U.S.—relatively abundant, even when I NEVER thought so.. and learning to appreciate what I have when I live in a society that always wants MORE and feel like it’s never enough.

I’ve also realized why sometimes I think the way I do and see life in a certain way.  This is because I’ve finally realized how strong my Fiilipino roots are.  I’ve never felt more proud of my identity and who I am, after rediscovering the true place I came from.  

Thankful for my parents.  Thankful for my family.  Thankful for my Filipinos.  Thankful for my country.

That’s all :)

click picture for more photos

art by Reggie Buchanan. Present from debbie reynolds dance studio! Woohoo!

Philippines: Ramos pt.1  - hometown where I spent my childhood.

we pretty much raise and own our own food—chicken, duck, fish, snails, frog… coconuts.. bananas.. :)

theotherduck:

Apple central. @kneeC @kamojurn @apriljoy_ @kooch611 (Taken with Instagram at The Other Duck)

From Manila to Los Angeles!  back to life, back to reality!!!!  workin @ The Other Duck office. makin moves. gyeeah!