Social Butterfly Club Monthly Newsletter - Feb 08
Burning Man Festival
My ex-boyfriend, Trevor Scarfo has stayed in touch after he moved to Victoria, and sends me the odd letter giving me an update on his life. Two years ago, he made the trek with friends to The Burning Man festival. This is a very underground type of festival, which happens at the end of August, beginning of September of each year where tens of thousands of people gather for a week to celebrate art, music, creation, life, etc.
No money is allowed, and you bring all the gear you need. Each year there is a theme -- 2007 was Environment; this year it’s “American Dream”. I recently met a group of friends, some are regular burning man goers, and the theme this year just turned them off.
Trevor planted a seed last summer when I went to the BC Tourism Conference and visited him, and saw some of the mind boggling pictures from his travel. I saw a 10 stories high free standing structure built by 3 men and 1 engineer simply with 4 x 4s! It looked like an open flower vase. I also saw a picture of a 10 foot long metal dragon that 3 ladies created that could move its head and breathe fire! The lighting, dancing and miles and miles of art just seem like an oasis. I just bought tickets to go to this festival and recruited a dear friend of mine to join….. Knowing me, you’ll hear about my pitch to join and the wonderment of it all.
If you are interested, tickets are $250.00 right now. The price will go up as the date gets closer.
To me, this is a dream come true, and I can learn so much about how they organize such a massive global event without corporate sponsorship! I will share all my photos on Picasa Web photo gallery once I come back. Now I have to save up money and gear to get ready!! This year it’s from Aug. 25 - Sept. 1, at Black Rock Dessert in Nevada, USA. The event takes place on an ancient lakebed, known as the playa.
If you like more info, check out the following websites:
www.burningman.com
www.burningcam.com
www.tribe.net
www.recompression.com
Are you ready to Dance?
Are you a fan of the TV show, “Dancing With The Stars”? Do you feel a stir in your stomach when you see ballroom competition on PBS? My love affair with dancing started at the age of 5. On Friday and Saturday nights, my mother Jane, would spend 1 hour picking out the most beautiful dress, put her make-up on and take me to the local dance. It was a huge hall with great hardwood dance floor. There were men and women who danced the Waltz, Cha Cha, Foxtrot, etc… I would sit at the sidelines, and watch her gracefully glide across the dance floor with her long dress blossoming like a flower with movement. I never thought anything strange about her dancing with other men, since my father never came.
It was a special time that I enjoyed with my mom. I was usually the only child there, and the odd time there would be a young boy who I would try to convince to dance with me…with no success.
When I moved here at the age of 10, my passion for dance never skipped a beat, so despite being a single mom with limited English and a poor paying job, my mom send me to Chinese Dancing classes every Saturday. After about 1 year, my dance teacher, who is a famous choreographer and dancer in China, told me that I didn’t have grace and good balance to become a really good dancer, it nearly broke my heart. It just wasn’t my style. I later learned hip hop, trance, jazz, etc by going to dances and modeling after others. I joined our high school dance team and performed dances at school functions, cheering on our basketball team.
My family always thought that I had the innate talent for dancing, and supported me. When I went to university, I was able to convince friends to take the Vancouver School Board 10 week Ballroom Beginner, which was just for fun. My teachers were an old Italian couple, who had so much spunk and attitude. They were a delight, but they gave everyone 50 out of 100 for their final mark. Being the eager beaver, I complained about my marks.
I later took dance lessons with Andy and Wendy Wong at Grand Ballroom. Andy was hilarious, but the classes were too slow for me… and my partners kept changing due to their lack of dedication. I went as far as bronze. In Ballroom dancing, there is Standard and Latin. If you ever watch the shows, and if the ladies are wearing a long and flowing dress, that’s Standard. If they’re wearing a very skimpy dress, that’s Latin. I love Latin dances, especially Paso Doble! No one really dances that socially, so it’s like watching a dramatic play.
Now, being single and without a business, I have the time and freedom to pursue my passions with a vengeance. Getting back into ballroom and Salsa dancing just lifts my spirits. Last weekend, I went dancing with my good friend Peter Robinson and his friend Lena. We went to the Polish Community Centre, and then to the Perez Centre, after I spent some time at FUZE -- the new art exhibit all about environment and humanity at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The Polish Community Centre has an amazing Cuban band, and once a month they have a party where Cuban food is offered and the place is packed with all levels of dancers; at 9 pm there is a showcase dance. The Perez Centre was really big and nice, but it seemed to be filled with beginners. I was also recently introduced to the Howard Johnson Hotel on Saturday nights… what a great place! Brand new dance floors and the regulars.
I remember when I was first introduced to Salsa back in the summer of 1997, right after my high school graduation; I went to New York to spend the summer with my grandparents. I found work at a Manhattan retail store within 3 days of being there, and I made some AWESOME friends with Porto Rican and Dominican Republic heritage. They gave me attitude training (toughen up), a make-over (since I don’t wear make-up), and took me salsa dancing till 5 o'clock in the morning. I still like the excitement of going to a night club with 2000 other people, seeing a 14 piece Salsa band in 40’s fedora’s and suits, and the girls from the club going on stage to strip down to nothing while the crowd goes CRAZY! I learned how to Salsa, Marengue and observed Bachata for the first time, and was instantly addicted. For those who know nothing about Latin street dances, Salsa is similar to a Cha Cha, albeit a couple’s dance, but there is no frame, and there are several styles -- New York, LA, Cuban etc. Marengue is a two step dance, where the man does a lot of directing so that the woman spins around him, under his arms etc. Very sexy and sensuous dance. Bachata is a dance not for the faint of heart. This dance does not allow any separation between the man and woman. It looks like people having sex except with clothes. A 3 step plus a hip jerk dance, but the more advance dancers can add spins in there.
I am currently taking intermediate Salsa classes on Saturday afternoons with Alfonso Cadeira of Bravo Dance Company. You can check it out at http://www.bravodancecompany.com/brav_alfbio.html
He is young, hot and a good instructor. He’s a world champion in Salsa! If you have ever seen him dance at the Atlantis nightclub, you will feel envy, admiration and be so turned on…. I know I did 2 years ago when I saw him dance for the first time.
Vancouver International Dance Festival is on! Please visit www.vidf.ca for great performances and dances.
Snowball Classics 2008
Just getting back into the dance community, I got tickets to the day and night for Saturday event at Snowball Classic Ballroom competition. It was some Standard, mostly Latin dance finals. I think I lost my voice screaming for my favourite couples. At the last elimination, I really didn’t know who to scream for, because they were all my favourites. I was shocked that the couples I really liked did not even place in the top 3! Believe it or not, looks, facial expression, clothing, and attitude are huge in a world class competition like this -- of course given that you have flawless technique.
The dresses I saw were simply marvellous. People are adding more shining jewels to their outfits now, and clever usage of detaching parts of the dress adds a lot of flair to one’s presentation. I truly enjoyed the showcase dances, especially two couples of which one partner is handicapped! For next year's info and this year's pictures and video, visit www.snowballclassic.com
Hot Event Idea for Entertainment
Due to the scale and sheer workload of my last event, I have not had the time to attend ISES Vancouver events. I went last Wednesday to their “Hot Event Ideas for Entertainment” presentation by Michael Cerbali, the President of International Special Events Society in New York. Having lived in New York for two summers, I have an affinity for New Yorker’s straight shooting style. Read Michael’s bio below to get a sense of his background.
Michael Cerbelli, president of special events for Total Entertainment NY/NJ joins us with his energetic program that has been presented now in over four-dozen cities. This dynamic idea session has been delivered to corporations, MPI, NACE and ISES chapters. Michael's abbreviated version of the Hot Event & Entertainment Ideas session has just celebrated an unprecedented fourth year on the Event Solutions Idea Factory Stage as a featured speaker!
Cerbelli's program premiers with the new ideas and trends that he has researched and discovered in his globe trotting visits. Don't miss the action when he presents his latest Hot Event & Entertainment Ideas in a fast-paced and entertaining program. You will leave the session with a complete list of the ideas and contact information to put to use in your own amazing events. As an industry pioneer, Cerbelli travels the world helping to produce events by bringing his talent, experience and enthusiasm to every event he touches.
So anyways, Michel believes in sharing the wealth of knowledge when it comes to entertainment, even though his company is a talent agency! I found it very refreshing, because some people in our industry highly monopolise their supplier list, whereas I, like Michael enjoy giving referrals to my core suppliers and give them more business from my contacts.
There were so many great ideas Michael that shared. I have attached his tip sheet to this newsletter so you may enjoy his 28 top tips! He opened his talk with a short video of himself from being a party DJ at age 14, to playing guitar in Madison Square Garden in his boxer shorts! He was extremely funny, generous and entertaining.
I was truly inspired by www.dinnerinthesky.com and laughed my ass off when I saw the Neede brothers sing the “Mr. Metro” song (you can find it on YouTube). Events like this make me proud to be an event coordinator, due to the creativity and amount of technical skill required to pull something like a $1 million dollar event, such as Dinner in the Sky! All ideas/suggestions/material/etc came directly from "Michael Cerbelli's: Hot Event and Entertainment Ideas 2008 TM"
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If you would like to get yourself and your business featured or event featured, please contact Alice regarding Membership Spotlight, and event poster e-blast. The interview and writing is $100, email blast is $200. This goes out to 4,000 confirmed email addresses of professionals and business owners in the Lower Mainland. Only 2 spots per month. If you do not have a professional head shot picture, Michael O'Shea Photography can provide the service at $225. If your business is unknown to us, 2-3 business references with your requests please. As well, $300 for each event poster e-blast. It goes out with our twice a month events calendar.
Who We Are:
The Social Butterfly Club has over 4,000 members in the Lower Mainland, and around the world and we are still constantly growing! Members are business professionals and entrepreneurs from a wide range of career fields and expertise between the ages of 20-70 who love to network, explore and grow personally. The purpose of our club is to create connections; provide information and business resources to our members; and to inspire and enhance their professional and personal lives. Visit our website at www.socialbutterflyclub.ca
Monthly Humour:
Question: What is the difference between men and puppies?
Answer: Puppies grow up.
Question: What do men have in common with ceramic tiles?
Answer: Lay them properly the first time and you can walk all over them
forever.
Question: What did God say after he created man?
Answer: I can do better than this! And then he created woman!!!.
Question: Why did Moses wander in the desert for 40 years?
Answer:! Because even back then men wouldn't ask for directions.
Question: What makes men chase women they have no intention of
marrying?
Answer: The same urge that makes dogs chase vehicles they have no
intention of driving.
Question: What do you do with a man who thinks he's God's gift?
Answer: Exchange him!!
Question: Why do men like smart women?
Answer: Opposites attract.
Pass this on to some women who need a laugh.
and to men who can handle it!
Alice Zhou
Vancouver's Networking Queen
Tel 604 676-1587
Cel 604 773-5231
alice@socialbutterflyclub.ca
www.socialbutterflyclub.ca