The Blog of an Upsidedown Girl

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So this week I did a tiny bit of stunt doubling work for a television programme, i’ll be aired around summer next year.  Here are a few pictures of warming up and rehearsing for it.

Here is a very short video of a gig I did earlier this year.

Success is not something that is handed to you on a plate.  You have to work hard.  And to be the best you can be, to fulfil your potential, you have to work hard constantly.  Others can guide you along the way, but you are the key to how successful you become, anyone can tell you to go and practice something, but it is up to you to actually do it.

10% Talent 90% Hard Work

From the Rocky films, I found this quote which I like: Rocky Balboa: Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that! I’m always gonna love you no matter what. No matter what happens. You’re my son and you’re my blood. You’re the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, ya ain’t gonna have a life.

A few months ago I did a photoshoot for Du Sol Production’s Olympic photoshoot at Sapphire School of Gymnastics.  Two of the solo images that I did can be seen below.  The costume is Du Sol Productions. Photography by Simon Richardson.

One year ago when I was at Love Never Dies we made a video.

I am in the swans a swimming bit with the other Dressing Room 9 girlies.

 I just found some really lovely pictures of my handstand act performed in the Mavericks Tent from Glastonbury Festival 2010 (found on the Glastonbury website!).  The images are by Charles Gervais.

December is busy season and I love it !!!!!

I am handstanding at numerous events in London and around the UK during December.

I am also busy preparing for 2012 with lots of new ideas that I am going to work hard on and turn into a reality.  I feel i have so much creative stuff inside of me right now and I can’t wait to start working on it all post Christmas !!!

2012 is also Olympic year, hurrah !!!!!  Gymnastics geek me has got one beautiful lovely fabulous ticket to see the women’s gymnastics team final, sitting in a really good seat, and I am already so excited !!!! I am also off to watch the womens and mens final round of qualifications at the gymnastics test event in January.  :-)  :-)  :-)  :-)  

When I competed in gymnastics as a child/teenager I used to think that one day my hands would not be rough and calloused and i would never get a blister on my hands again.

Then I became an aerial hoopist, and also discovered adult gymnastics classes.  And my hands, well they have never really been completely smooth, but I do not mind because they help me to do what I love doing.

Anyway… rips (blisters) are ANNOYING.  I haven’t actually had one for a good few years, but sunday night after 30 minutes of front giants i got a small/medium sized rip

100% PURE ALOE VERA GEL/LOTION/PLANT is AMAZING !!!!!!  Four days post rip and my rip has healed really well, and so I just had to write this post to recommend Aloe Vera to everyone!!!!

Memories of the year I spent on Love Never Dies!  This is a video for the LND blog of our circus warm up.

 Over the past ten years there have been a number of other handstanders and contortionists that have motivated and inspired me.  They all have one thing in common - creativity.  They all have acts that are not just generic move after generic move, or chest stand after chest stand after chest stand, which can all get really really boring… The act’s that inspire me have a uniqueness, they show emotion, they mix extreme talent technically with a creative choreography.  They are not just a bland display of skills with background music, they work with the music, they choreograph not only around skills but within the skills, they feel the act, they perform.   They have good lines and extension, they are not ugly, they keep their bodies in good shape.

You may be able to do one arm handstand after one arm handstand, or you may be able to triplefold.  But the skills are nothing (and get boring) if you can not make your act your own, and create something that is uniquely you.  It is the difference between a good performer and a world class performer.

Me and Lisa appear on the front cover of a book by Monica Connell called Flying High - New Circus in Bristol.

The photo was taken by Monica at an event we did in Bristol last year.

Unfortunately, despite being promised a copy of the book in return for using our pictures in it I never received a book despite appearing on the front cover… I apparantly had to pay for one.  This angered me somewhat!  So I don’t own a copy of the book.

In November I went on a mini tour of Asia with Incandescence doing a series of corporate events for a Wine Company. We did shows in Manilla/Philippines, Ho Chi Minh/Vietnam, and Jakarta/Indonesia. I was doing my handbalance act plus another 5 minute set.

It was my first trip to far east Asia, and I would love to go back again one day. We had a few non-show and non-travel days when we were in Vietnam, and I got to see the country and do some touristy things which was nice. So often I only get to see the airport, hotel, and venue. In Vietnam we went on a trip to the Mekong Delta which was so so pretty. The roads in Ho Chi Minh were also an experience and a half, in Vietnam the roads are to put mildly - insane seemingly unregulated and busy busy. Crossing the roads involves stepping out in front of many vehicles that do not stop but weave around you, crossing a 4 lane dual carriageway was well… heart raising! Another thing I must mention is the food, I came back a few pounds heavier which was luckily then lost again by no appetite because of jet lag. The food was AMAZING, so tasty and so cheap. Also Green Mango Juice, omg delicious and i wish we could get it here in the UK!

In pure Sally style I was doing handstands everywhere…

I was at the Nokia World event on the thursday too, but this time with Colette Morrow.

Me and Lisa on the Wednesday promoting the Nokia Lumia SmartPhone at Nokia World 2011.

 We were painted by the wonderful Wendy Olver and Linda Nazari.  Me and Lisa blended into the wall until we emerged to perform movement based acrobatics before blending back into the wall.  

Amongst other gigs that I don’t have pictures of! then last week I went to Austria to perform at an Olympic themed gala night for Siemens.  I had a lovely time and my 2 handstand acts plus gymnastics walkabout performance went down really well.

It’s my Birthday and I have cake !!!!!

I am not sure quite how it is my birthday, the year has flown by far too quickly!  It has been a good year though.  I had a good 28th year of my life.I see each birthday as an achievement.  Some people aren’t lucky enough to survive to age 29, and so I count all my blessings that I am 29 and happy, healthy, and leading a good life.  Otherwise why celebrate?

Anyway…October!  Will take me to gigs mostly in London, but also in Austria, and in early November to Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.  So a very exciting few months ahead, and i am excited already