San Jose State Alumni's "Viva Variete" Show

Last Tuesday, June 28, Fire Pixie co-produced and performed in Viva Variete.  This was a collaboration with San Jose State University, and the biggest show I've ever produced (or co-produced, I can't say I did all that much). It was at the San Jose Repertory Theater, y'know, the Big Blue Cube theater, and it was a fundraiser event put on for SJSU Alumni.

I hired a little more than half the artists, and Darrell and I did a lot of the pre-planning and conceptual work. The nuts and bolts (lighting, tickets, venue, etc) were all taken care of by the SJSU team, who also wrote the final script and hired the other half of the artists. Tuesday we did a couple walk-throughs of the show and then performed it, and I have to say I am TOTALLY impressed with how smoothly it all went off. It was really a flawless show! No backstage drama. Everyone on time and all the acts were really professional and delightful.

We had aerialists, physical comedians, jugglers, beat boxers, belly dancers, contortion, vaudeville, hula hoopers, and Fire Pixie did a light show.  I didn't get any photos from the show, but there was a video crew there and soon there will be footage to share.. yay!

We also had ambient entertainers in the lobby before the show, and these I did get photos of. Roller skating balloon twisters, stilt walkers, and cigarette girls. The costumes for the cig girls were what was keeping me oh-so busy the week before the show, and they turned out ADORABLE and now I have cigarette girl costumes so YAY!

Fire Dancing at Cache Creek Casino

Fire Pixie was lucky enough to perform for the VIP Club party at Cache Creek Casino last weekend.  We did 4 shows throughout the night on their gorgeous stage at Club 88.  The whole place was decorated with a Fire & Ice theme.. I love doing fire & ice parties!  Being a fire person, I'm really blown away and impressed with ice sculpture.  This event had a 6 foot long bar made out of ice, with drinks inside it (how do they DO that??).  The Ice Bartender was even brave enough to get her palm lit on fire by Darrell during one of the shows.  I guess maybe she was cold?  :)

Above is my favorite shot from the night, and here is a slideshow of all the best shots we got.  Darrell has been playing with placing a camera on a timer at the back of the stage so it takes loads of pictures.. we have to weed out the blurries but ended up with some great stuff this time.  Enjoy!

SFSU AIDS Awareness Day

Today we'll be performing at the SFSU Aids Awareness Day again.. come on out and see us!  We'll be performing at around 12:30 outside the Student Union.  Come and support this awesome event and the amazing students who put it on every year.

This event is lots of fun, with games, booths, food and entertainment.  The students always turn out for this one - be sure to come by for a fun lunchtime show if you're in the area.

Fire Dancing in the Rain

Last night we did a fire show for a 16th birthday party in Sacramento.  This show had been booked for MONTHS and the hostess was really excited about it.. we were too!  It was a very cool location, right near the capital building, and a "Fire & Ice" theme which is some of our best stuff.

When yesterday's thunder storm rolled in, I called the hostess..  Would the show go on?  The wind was whipping, the rain was driving and there was dramatic thunder and lightning!  We hemmed & hawed for a moment .. but then decided that yes, the show must go on.  I braved the traffic and the 2 hour drive, and got to the restaurant right on time.

It was raining BUCKETS.  I was a little nervous about the PA system.. electronics and rain do not do well together.. but I was able to borrow a catering cart and drape fabric all around to make a little "tent" for the speakers, and cranked it up just as loud as it would go to overcome the incredible noise of the rain drops.  The hostess pulled some capers to trick all the guests into coming outside in the rain, and then the show began.

Remember how fun it was to stomp in puddles when you were a kid?

Well, as the music started, I got a huge surge of energy.  There's this moment.. at first, you're trying your best to stay as dry as possible.  Keeping the hood up, avoiding the deepest of the puddles, hurrying to any overhang you can see.. and then there is an internal shift.  The music starts, your shoulders relax, your jacket comes off and you turn and face the rain... and embrace it.  Embrace the wet, embrace the cold, jump into the puddles and smile.  The rain drops sizzle as they hit the fire.  The audience shivers until you get close and share the fire's heat.  The light reflects from the puddles and from the falling drops, surrounding you in a magical halo of warmth and fairy lights.

When you embrace the rain while being embraced by the fire, the magic of the opposite elements twirling around you and surrounding you is absolutely transcending.

The last time I fire danced in pouring rain was at Castello di Amarosa, the very first time we performed there.  It was magical, and still one of my favorite fire dancing memories of all time. This weekend's show might not rank up with the favorites.. but it sure did an amazing job of making me feel truly alive.

Being an entertainer means bringing performance and art off the TV screen and into the real world.  Sometimes the real world presents challenges.. but if it's too easy, is it really worth doing?  Transcendence is easiest to find on the opposite side of adversity.

S8RG3V79REWH

Fire Dancing for Diwali at Junnoon in Palo Alto

If you're looking for something fun to do for Diwali this weekend come check us out!  We will be performing at Junnoon Restaurant on Friday night (November 5) and possibly also November 6.  Come have some delicious indian food in an absolutely delightful restaurant with great atmosphere - and of course, Fire Dancers!!

Photo booth!

..at the Nimitz Halloween Mansion party..

Next time I'll be more careful not to make Darrell mad. ;)