Leaving for the US of A #TerrificTravels

I have the wonderful privilege of being the South African representative who will be coaching, guiding and mentoring a group of 11 talented artists taking part in the AMTC #SHINE Summer event in Orlando, Florida over the next two weeks.

Finally I am beginning to slowly recover from jet-lag after looooong hours in transit. (I still have some moments of feeling like I've just stepped off of a trampoline and my body continues swaying involuntarily). I traveled with the Gautrain from Pretoria to OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg arriving around 3pm to arrange travel and check-ins with the group of candidates and their families. Our flight departed at 7pm on Thursday 26th. It began with 11 hours to Paris, approximate 5 hour lay-over, then another 8 hours to Atlanta.

At Atlanta we nearly missed our connecting domestic flight due to lengthy customs checks and then after an hour's flight to Orlando, we sat on the tarmac for another hour and a half thanks to a lightening storm which made connecting the plane to the disembarking stairs and tunnels a risk for airport staff.

Add in another half hour's drive by charter bus to the hotel arriving at around 8pm on Friday 27th and that rounds it up nicely to 32 hours of travelling, ouch!

Our first day began with (well, Starbucks... and then...) a full day of shopping and outlet mall hopping and even a trip to Walmart. We had the most entertaining and sweet driver named Bill from the Mears Travel Agency, who played tour guide and soccer score announcer; and even demonstrated the correct way to swing a baseball bat - at length.

I thought I might just take a nap after the full day, but ended up skipping dinner and sleeping right through!

Today we had a full day of photo-shoots for all my candidates, with hair and make-up done on site by the experts, their looks selected and refined by excellent stylists, each 'look' captured by pro photographers and all this in a well-oiled machine of production efficiency. A great and productive day today. I even managed to go to the gym after and work out some of the jet-lag kinks.

Tomorrow my team attend the Pre-SHINE Launch 'training' and on Tuesday the games begin with #SHINE Summer registration and the first of all their showcases. It's so rewarding to see them all experience the US and AMTC for the first time and also those who have been before, increasing their skill-sets and upping their game.


The weather is lovely, hot and humid - unlike home. Hopefully I'll have some time to visit the gorgeous pools at some point! I adore staying at the Gaylord Palms with its gorgeous exteriors, spectacular alligators in the pools around the hotel, wonderful restaurants and luxurious rooms.

The only thing missing is my husband - who's birthday is tomorrow. *sad face* Wish he could be here, but thinking of him performing on the eve of his birthday at the very special charity event #67Blankets for Madiba Day as one of the Leading Men of Musical Theatre, hosted by the Auto & General Theatre on the Square.

Love you my angel, sending you tropical heat love from Florida!

Chat soon peeps,

.

RNDS Rehearsals #BehindTheScenes

It is almost time for the Reik Na Die Sterre musical cast to move into their technical week and soon after open the doors of The State Theatre  to the public! Only 14 days to go until the first audience preview and two days later the official press Opening performance on 13 July 2014! Eeek!

I am itching to see a small something of what's happening in the rehearsal room and might just be lucky enough to see a glimpse of the process today. I have been avidly watching the RNDS Facebook Fanpage for updates and pictures and I am getting beyond excited for each individual involved in the creation of this exciting new venture, Reik Na Die Sterre - die Grootste Afrikaanse Musical nog ooit!!

Here is a sneak 'behind-the-scenes' preview clip!

During that first week the tweets were going crazy (#reiknadiesterre) with all the cast members claiming aching muscles and exhausted bodies from the first few days of intensive choreography with Director Choreographer Ferdinand Gernandt (and hubby of moi!). The team even faced a lengthy power failure, but dedicated and determined, they continued tapping and dancing in the dark!

Vocal sessions soon followed with Murray Lubbe and Marlee van der Merwe, they have recently completed the studio recordings for all the supporting bv's and the fresh newly arranged tracks are being finalized as we speak. And I believe the first 'stagger throughs' of the show are already under way.

The cast are being dressed and styled by The Warderobe Studio who are hard at work putting the 'look' of each character together.




The set and decor is developing day by day and inch by inch to become the largest set the theatre has held in over a decade!

And the cast and production team have been actively promoting the show on television and radio, with several cast members visiting the wonderfully supportive GrootFM. With lots more marketing and promotion on its way!


This promises to be one spectacular production and I honestly can't hold myself in until Opening!


Look out for their TV spot flighting on the kykNET channel from next week and check out the weekly upload of videos on the YouTube channel SmashHitTV.



AND while you're at it, why don't you enter the KykNET Reik Na Die Sterre competition!!
You can win 5 double tickets to the show, that's 10 tickets!!! Just follow this link to enter. :)

I believe The Smash Hit Company has a hit on their hands, you're not gonna want to miss it!


Tickets available at Computicket!
Kaartjies by Computicket beskikbaar!

See you all at the show!

Enjoying Where You Are #PersonalPost

Sometimes we can get a little frustrated with where we are in life and end up feeling stuck. Because in our own minds we have all these expectations about where we should be, what we should have achieved by now, what we should be seeing or having in our lives... But the reality is, that's not your current reality. And that's okay!

Here are a few things I do to remind myself of the now, to remind myself to enjoy where I am, right now, in this moment and season of life.

1. Daily Gratitude 
For me it has taken many forms over the years, but I like to create a daily ritual in which I either write in a journal, or on cards that go in a jar, or share with a family member at least 3 things that I am grateful for that day. It really makes you look at the blessings in the now and feel positive about where you are.

2. Celebrate Self
Make a fuss over your own achievements, even if nobody else does! Reward yourself. Take a day off. Go to the spa. See a friend. Save for and buy something you really want and desire. Make a gold star chart if you want! And emotionally, take on that feeling of achievement, that 'well done' slap on the back and own it!

3. Do more of what you Love
Walk the dog. Walk in the park. Walk in the mall. Create a scrapbook, take beautiful pictures or visit museums. Watch your favourite series, go to the movies, watch a play. Visit with friends. Go to classes.. dancing, acting, yoga. Have a bubble bath. Drink wine. Eat chocolate. Work out like a mean mother. Go for a run, do warrior races, play your music really loudly. Write, plant, paint, sleep or whatever makes you feel really yummy inside.

4. Replace lower energies with high ones.
Acknowledge any feelings of guilt, fear or worry, understand why they are there and then replace them with energies of joy, passion and love. It takes practice, but not allowing negativity to cloud your world is the first step to being happy with and enjoying where you are.

5. Stop, Breathe, Observe
When you have a moment of frustration, stop. Look around you. See life. See beauty. See people. There are many people around you who you may aspire to, but also those who make you realise how far you have come and all you have to be grateful for. Breathe. Accept. And go on to nr.6.

6. Take Action
Every small piece of action counts. Even if it means that today the only productive thing you did was sweep your porch, or sort through old photos or made an important phone call - then that was the one thing that filled you up, cleared things out or propelled you forward.

7. Believe for the future 
You will have a hard time being okay with the now, if you do not have worth-wile and worthy goals for the future. Have some, or at least one big hairy scary goal that makes you dream and hope and wish and believe for it! Then also have interim goals that are stepping stones, not too far away and feels achievable in your mind. Make a vision board, or a vision journal or a vision Pinterest board! ;) But do have a picture for your future in mind. That is what will fuel you on the way to getting there, while enjoying where you are.





Love to you all,

Gustav Gerdener Photoshoot #BehindTheScenes

Location shooting with the talented photographer Gustav Gerdener!

Talk about locations... a very cold and early morning shoot in Delta Park with graffiti walls, library steps, and a beautifully misty dam to an industrial office park with winding metal steps, an artistic textured wall, elevators and a parking garage... and each new location made for incredible new backdrops.

I can't wait to see what Gustav's creativity will bring about!


The goal for this shoot was to focus on actress head shots and portfolio material, but there's so much variety and so many wonderful moments captured, it is going to be extremely hard to choose!

This time around I had to do my own styling and soooo longed for my Follicle Hair Atelier team! (read Follice Friends and Iris.Grace Photoshoot) But I don't think I did too badly all by myself...







My looks ranged from casual, to grungy, to bohemian and glam. It was fun to play around with a few different style options but quite a feat to get changed (unseen) in the car in between 'looks'!



Gustav is great to work with, he puts you at ease, he's creative and aims to get the best shots or moments possible - it was such a pleasure.
Thanks Gus! x

Check out his FB Page Gustav Gerdener Captured, and follow him on Twitter at @gusg79.

Chat soon peeps,

20 Things I Wish I Could Tell My 20 Year Old Self #PersonalPost

If I could go back and talk to the '20-year-old-me' there are many things I would love to tell her, warn her about, advise her on, encourage her and put her mind at ease...

At twenty I was a professional ballerina working for the South African Ballet Theatre company (now the Joburg Ballet) at the State Theatre in Pretoria. I was renting my own little apartment in the middle of Sunnyside (can you believe it), taking the bus or sometimes walking (even more unbelievable) to work in town as I didn't have my driver's liscence yet and at that point I was in my first 'real' 'long-term' relationship.
My, how things have changed! :)

Here are a few things I wish I could tell that girl, or wish someone had told her then...

1. The job you have now, is probably not the one you'll have 10 years from now. So do work hard, set goals and dream big... BUT don't hang onto it so tightly, hold it with loose palms like you would a butterfly. There might just be bigger and better dreams in store for you, which you cannot even fathom yet! 
2. Life only becomes more expensive, start learning about money now already. (Read books, ask experts) Invest yours. Learn about clever banking, saving, getting out of debt and investing in assets. If you don't need to, don't get into debt!
3. Start thinking about the long term.. think about life cover, pension policies (or investments that can serve as such) and medical aid schemes (that aren't you parents').
4. Travel, Travel, Travel... any and every chance you get! Especially if you are getting paid to travel or can add some leisure time onto the end of a working trip.
5. Make Back-Ups of Everything!! The digital age is amazing but hard drives, discs and flash sticks can get stolen, lost or corrupted... back that sh*t up!
   
6. Look after your skin! It won't show up now, but 10 years down the line the indulging in the sun, the sleeping with your make-up on, the not leaving your spots alone and the not using good products will all start to show!
7. Perms are a bad idea. End of discussion!
8. Have a little more fun, be a little more reckless... be safe but try new things - the 'adult' life gets serious quite quickly and you may just long for your days of freedom and indulgence. 
9. Enjoy your body! It's young, incredible and healthy. And it doesn't take months to recover or see results if you choose to really train hard, eat well and shape it. 
10. A relationship is not a monarchy. It is not keeping score. It is not wanting each other to change but accepting and growing with each other. It is a compromise and not a sacrifice. It is something that makes you so much more than you are (and not less). A great relationship is a union so powerful you would give anything for each other and yet never expect each other to. A great relationship is one that allows you to be a strong, happy and fulfilled individual, so that together you lift each other up. And it's out there, don't look for it, it'll come to you.
    
11. There are no quick fixes. Have a plan, set some goals and then have perseverance and commitment to achieve them. In the long run, it's the only way to do it and it's much more rewarding.
12. Stop worrying about what others think of you. You are the only measure of your own success. Stick to what you believe in. Be bold and confident in who you are, without giving your power over to others opinions.
13. Foster good habits and start now. Get up early, exercise daily, drink lots of water, look after your soul - meditate, prayer, community, sleep.. whatever it needs.
14. Take risks, do those things you won't regret doing and you'll absolutely regret not doing.
15. Take action.. small steps of action every day. A goal remains just a goal until you make a start at trying to reach it. Every small step counts.. it's easier to take small manageable steps than major ones. So just do it.. make the call, send the email, start the first exercise, say no to that doughnut, google your options, find out more.. knowledge is power.
16. Family is everything.
    
    Spend more time. Send more messages. Call more often. Say more Thank You's and I Love You's. Life can be short, don't regret things you didn't say or things you didn't do.
17. Friends are a wonderful gift and treasure. Appreciate and invest in them, they may not always be
    around. Some come and go because they are just acquaintances, others go because they move, immigrate, change jobs.. and if you value them, show them. If they are true friends, they will do the same.
    
18. Follow your instincts and trust your gut.
    If you act on these sooner than you think necessary, you'll
    save yourself some heartache, time wasted and even regret.
19. Stop worrying. Stress serves no one and gets you nowhere. Life tends to work out in spite of you worrying about it. Our Creator has you in the palms of His hands and if you trust in Him, all will be
    well.
    
20. Live! Live with love. Live with gratitude. Live with joy. But Live!

So sweet-young-twenty-year-old Diani,
I really hope this 'thirty-something' will do you proud in the next 20 years to come.

Chat soon lovelies,

Iris.Grace Photoshoot #BehindTheScenes

Last week I had a fabulous photoshoot with Iris.Grace photographer Clarice Pieterse!


Focusing on a model 'test shoot' feel for my portfolio, we shot some dressed up 'glam' shots, some casual 'nothing-but-me' shots, some grunge 'I'm a hard-ass' shots and some floral feminine shots. It was so much fun to play around with different looks and different approaches in front of the lens.
(It is always a plus when the photographer is genuine, warm, encouraging and a friend!)

And what an amazing blessing to be able to rely on the styling experts at Follicle Hair Atelier for my hair, make-up and nails... they are magic-makers and just divine when it comes to styling and enhancing the best bits of 'you'! They are my absolute dream team! (If I had to take part in the Hunger Games, my Follicle stylists would give Cinna and his team a run for their money!)

Clarice shot most of my looks at her Joburg-based studio and later, just as the sun was setting, also took me to location in a field where we shot some great, warm and feminine moments.
I am soooo curious and excited to see the results!

I am an absolute fan and encourage you to check out her work on these social media platforms.
Follow Iris.Grace Photography on Twitter: @irisgracephotos and Instagram: @irisgracephotography and 'like' their FB Page here.




Dankie Clarice vir die super fun shoot en al jou moeite!




Watch this space, I'll share some of the final images with you soon!


With grace and love,

French Toast #BehindTheScenes

What an awesome day on the set of the new Hartiwood feature film French Toast!

Being back at the Hartiwood 'headquarters' i.e. the little town of Pretville in Hartebeespoort was so magical and every time I visit they have made even more improvements and added exciting new things.

There are now mini-sets created as rooms or shops for scenes to be shot for French Toast, but much of this film will be shot on location in and around Hartebeespoort, in Stellenbosch and in Paris itself. (Man, I would give a pinky toe to have gone to Paris, France! (One day...)

I play a small cameo role of a french-speaking nurse named Marion. I just adored my warderobe... (by Corlia Pienaar) Marion looked reserved yet classy and stylish. And the little watch on my dress was set to the appropriate time according to the scene. My hair and make-up was done by Lee-anne Nourse and I loved the sleek up-do she gave me, it was perfect.

And so, in our scene I had a couple of lines in french opposite the beautiful Lika Berning, who plays the lead in the film, as well as the legend Lochner de Kock, what an honour. I won't give too much away, best you all watch the film when it releases in 2015!

Here I am with Lochner (top right), with Paul Kruger (Director) and Linda Korsten (Producer and PM) (bottom right) and with Linda and Merishen Wessels. (Props Mistress and Art Dpt)  (bottom left).

I enjoyed every single second of being on set and I could do that day in and day out for hours on end, it's magical and I love it! #actresslife!
C'est magnifique!

Go and 'like' the French Toast Facebook Page to keep up to date with production news and the release in 2015!

Au revoir et a bientot!