The Responsible Casualty!
organized by Dan Shaikh and Rina-Lee Rovinelli
The THEME was Body Beautiful, which is right up my alley with all the work I do with body image and self-esteem in Myselfie. The CATCH was that I had to prepare a 4-6 minute piece! What the wha?!?!? For anyone who’s ever tried to make a long story short, you’ll understand how incredibly challenging this was! I chose one story from Myselfie, the one about my heart murmur that leads up to my hit song My Innards. The HITCH was that I realized I like to cap off a story with my music. What do you mean I gotta end on the un-accompanied word? But when will I dance?!?!
4-6 minute piece just talking. Okay. I put myself on a mission to hone it in. That is something I’m often told to do in commercial auditions too: “Kat, can ya please hoooone it in?! Take it down a notch! Be more regular everyday.” But THIS IS my regular everyday! These facial expressions ARE subdued! And if less truly is more, then just imagine how much more more is! Maybe casting directors used to say that to Will Ferrell too.
So I crafted a story for Speaker Slam called The Responsible Casualty— which is really kinda what the story became, a casualty of the process. I didn’t craft a story. I hacked away at an existing story in order to hone it in and take it down a notch and fit into a 4-6 minute piece for a Speaker Slam competition. My modus operandi was to keep it under 6 minutes. I lost sight of what “it” should be and focussed with the piercing eye of a hearty maritime fog. If I had it to do over again, I would honour the challenge and theme of Body Beautiful to create something brand new and with respectful intention for this event specifically.
I had so much fun at the event and I shared the stage with some pretty powerful speakers that I now consider friends. I was disqualified from the competition because I went over time. I know you’re shocked. You can watch my 6:15 minute long The Responsible Casualty video here!
And here are my new friends!
Anthony Bianchi, Gina Hatzis DiFonzo, Unstoppable Tracy Schmitt,
Sethu Kotharamath, Darius Bashar, Zubin Sethna,
What will you do this month to challenge yourself?
New Show Announced: Body Beautiful!
“Embrace and Love Your Body, it’s the most AMAZING thing you will ever own.”-Speaker Slam’s tagline for this event shares my sentiment and reason I wrote and perform my show Myselfie. Myselfie complete consists of about 3 hours of stories, music and dancing that I pare down to 60-90 minute shows at a time along with a companion workshop. What’s my Speaker Slam challenge? To show appreciation for my Body Beautiful in 4-6 minutes for my Speaker Slam performance! Whoa!!! And the stakes are high because this is a competition and I could win big! BIG! 😉
It goes without typing that I would love to have you come out and support all of us aiming to inspire with love for our own body beautiful. More information on the event below! Love you! 🙂
Body Beautiful- a Speaker Slam even
Tuesday March 27th 6pm-10pm
Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas Street West
TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
Our Body Beautiful event celebrates the imperfect perfection of our bodies.
Get prepared for a tribute to self love and self acceptance and an evening of vulnerable and inspirational story telling. Whether you are at the beginning or the end of your journey towards self acceptance – join us on March 27th at the Lula Lounge,
and be inspired by our 10 powerful speakers.
The Speaker Slam website: www.SpeakerSlam.ca
New Show Announced: VoicED!
February 6, 2018 7:30pm at Transac Club Toronto!
Join us for an evening of performance and art exhibition at the Tranzac club for Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Featuring visual art, music, dance, comedy, and spoken word performances by those whose lives have been affected by eating disorders.
VoicED is an annual fundraiser hosted by NEDIC – National Eating Disorder Information Centre in order to raise money and awareness around eating disorders.
I’ll be doing a wee bit from MySelfie!
19+ event
Hosting the Body Love Ball!
I’m helping host the Body Love Ball this weekend!
Saturday December 2! Come one, come all!
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Dance soothes the soul! On Saturday December 2, inside the 519, Body Confidence Canada’s Body Love Ball dance fundraiser promises to ignite our senses as we dance the night away celebrating our bodies. Come one come all to our dance space.
“What shall I wear,” you ask? You define your fabulousity. Begin your evening in the ballroom on our electric dance floor or take a moment to indulge in body positive art installations, the candy room, live music performances, inspirational speakers, a silent auction and more.
#BodyLoveBall is a fundraiser in support of The 519 Newcomer Settlement Services, Rainbow Camp supporting LGBT youth, families and allies andBody Confidence Canada Awards (BCCAs) which acknowledge Canada-based body equity champions and trailblazers. Join us as we celebrate our diverse and inclusive splendour and kick off the holiday season with us at the party that won’t stop until you do (okay, well 1:00am☺).
IG: Body Confidence Canada | Twitter: @BCCAwards
#BodyLoveBall – 7:00pm – 1:00am
Dress Code: Fabulously You!
HOSTS
Daniel Pillai
Kat Leonard
Talli Osborne
LIVE PAINTING
Frizz Kid
LIVE PERFORMANCES INCLUDING
Vanessa Lu
Tasheka Lavann
CURATED ART INSTALLATION
Feminist Art Conference (FAC)
MUSIC
DJ Maren Hancock
DJ Craig Dominic
Drinks*, Eats & Special Guests
PINK CARPET
AND MORE!!!
Accessible venue
Gender neutral washrooms
ASL
Presenting Sponsor | TD Canada Trust
Bronze Sponsor | Coco & Cowe
Community Partner | Canadian Women’s Foundation
Media Sponsor | She Does The City | Xtra | FabUplusMagazine
Publicity Sponsor | Touchwood PR
The 519 is committed to the health, happiness and full participation of the LGBTQ community. Newcomer Settlement Services assists newcomers in settlement and integration in Canada
Rainbow Camp® is a one-week camp for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer questioning, 2 spirited (LGBTQ2+) and Allied youth, their siblings and children in Queer families
Body Confidence Canada Awards (BCCA’s) acknowledge Canada- based recipients who are trailblazers advocating for and creating more inclusive spaces for diverse bodies
*Drinks included based on ticket level
STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES!
https://www.bodyconfidencecanada.com/body-love-ball
KAT LEONARD 