Viktoria T.
Interests: Art, Ceramics, Dancing, Nature, Designing
Viktoria T.
Interests: ART, DANCING, NATURE, CERAMICS, HEALING, DESIGNING
Blog Posts
2024-05-09: Sacred Threads
SACRED THREAD | an organic state of destruction bringing people together through the invisible strings connecting us all
There are certain people you meet that seem to be instant friends. Some could argue that it’s because of shared interests that bond people immediately together and I have known this to be true, but I also understand that these bonds can seem much deeper than simply sharing a common like or dislike.
As the first law of thermodynamics states, “energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can only change form or be transferred from one object to another.” When we change form by destroying the outer body through death, this invisible string or sacred thread keeps us together until we can meet again with a different outer garment needing to learn each other’s new names and faces.
This is how I felt with my dear friend Viktoria whom I met in fall of 2023. Both of us had come from different places in the world, Viktoria from Ukraine and myself from Texas, and we landed at the same school in the same modern dance class. We instantly became friends and it was clear the timing of our meeting was divinely guided to help support one another during our particular periods of growth.
Prioritizing our artistic avenues of interest was apparent for both of us as we had each been through other careers during our earlier years that we knew we had to learn from in order to get to where we needed to be. Viktoria was an accountant and graphic designer while I had worked as a nurse and done property management. Watching each other reconnect with our artistic talents was motivating and inspiring for us to see. We continued to collaborate with one another through dance, voice, and fashion, landing an opportunity for me to showcase Viktoria’s uniquely designed hummingbird dance costume down the runway during the Saddleback College Spring 2024 Fashion Show on Thursday, May 9th, 2024 that just so happened to be called, “Sacred Thread”.
INITIAL PHASES
Anything Viktoria touches turns to gold. When I saw her initial sketches, I knew the outcome of this piece was going to be good. The hummingbird symbolizing the following:
A highly developed, open heart
The ability to fly backwards
Being brave, cheerful , and fearless
The path of the soul, when through serving other people, a person gains the joy of being and trust in what is happening
An immortal soul and creative energy
Viktoria skillfully collaborated with Tetiana Markova to construct the costume. Over the next couple of months, I met with her for fittings, each time being more and more impressed with what was surfacing.
FINAL PRODUCT
The outcome was GOOD. Real GOOD. Far exceeding anybody’s expectations.
CHALLENGES
Anything good always comes with its challenges.
Viktoria had a vision for how she wanted the costume to be presented down the runway with myself improvising dance movements and poses to tribal inspired music. Because this wasn’t Viktoria’s own runway show, she couldn’t do whatever she wanted. We had a bit of push back as the fashion department wanted our number to fit within the theme and protocol set out for the rest of the models. We understood and chose to collaborate as best as possible finding the happy medium between both sides.
The hair and makeup became another issue. Seeing the fashion department’s vision board, their model looks consisted of slicked back, wet looking hair with dark, smokey eyes. Total opposite of the curly hair mohawk updo and light eyes with black symbols / dots precisely drawn on my face look that Viktoria was hoping for. Again, we chose to keep working towards a middle ground without fully giving up on Viktoria’s vision.
PERFORMANCE READY
The day of the performance became a different story. As I sat in the chair getting my hair and make-up done by the cosmetology department, there was no resistance from the fashion staff. Viktoria expressed what she wanted done and it all became a go. After, I went to do a test run of my walk / dance down the runway and the lead gal pulled me aside and said, “You know what. Go for it. I think you should dance the entire time even in between your poses.”
Getting my hair and make up done by the Cosmetology Department.
It was a good lesson to be learned. To hold your vision, but do so with love. Meaning harmony is more important than what you desire and most of the time it’ll end up working out better than you ever would have expected.
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOS
WHAT NOW?
The hummingbird costume adorns a mannequin in Viktoria’s art room. It’s new additions…a peacock feathered crown with a card that says, “Keep bloomin…Keep becoming” that I made for her to match it.
I have a feeling this costume is going to come to life in a future dance performance using this beautiful theme of sacred threads and friendship that not only shares my story and the many lessons learned from it, but many others as well. We’ll hold this vision with love and see where it leads us.
Til then my friends…Peace out!
HOLD ON - NOT SO QUICK
FAST FORWARD Seven Months
Remember I predicted another performance with this costume? Well, it happened. An informal dance concert at Saddleback College on 12/16/2024 where I performed a solo piece entitled “Wake Me Up”. Music by Simply Three. This piece symbolizing coming back to ME. Finding myself again. Of course Viktoria was in the audience and she got a big shout out at the end. Check it out below.
Maybe we’ll get MANY more performances with this gorgeous costume. Let’s wait and see what the universe has in store for us and this lil’ hummingbird.
Loveleen S.
Interests: DOODLING, ART, SUSTAINABILITY, GARDENING, MEDITATION
Blog Posts
2018-12-28: Getting Comfortable On Camera
The last two New Years, Loveleen has walked me through how to use three of her illustrations to express gratitude for what I have, release what no longer serves me, and set new intentions.
The first time I did this with her, I remember I wrote I wanted more laughter in my life. It’d been through a really tough year and I wanted to smile and have more laughter that made my belly hurt. Well when you put intentions down into written form, they really do come to fruition because you’re applying more will power towards them. I noticed how many times after that I’d be in conversations with family and friends and find myself laughing so hard I’d start to cry. Life didn’t get easier for me, but I learned how to use humor, smiles, and laughter to get me through it in a positive way.
I witnessed first hand the benefits these simple illustrations had on my life and when Loveleen came prepared to facilitate this process again for us, I decided to throw her a lil’ curve ball because I knew more people besides her small circle needed to know how to do this.
I was going to record the workshop and post it online for others to use.
Well at this time, Loveleen wasn’t too fond of speaking ad lib on camera yet, but we nicked that in the bud and got her to dive right in.
Earlier that morning, I had printed her three illustrations, used a paper with an astral design on the front and some embroidery thread to bind them into a booklet, then put out the additional art and clearing supplies to conduct the workshop.
We were ready to go….ALMOST…
My favorite restaurant in Houston called Pondicheri had started to post some of their recipes online and I found one for these vegan lemon square cookies that I knew I needed to make. So with those fresh out of the oven and our blood orange italian soda chilled, we were now officially ready to kick off.
The camera started rolling, and the below video is the result of this effort that we’d like to share with all of you.
Organizing Your Own New Year’s Workshop
If you are interested in setting up your own New Year’s Intention Workshop, click here to visit Loveleen's website and sign up for her newsletter so you can get your illustrations every year. Your new illustrations can then be printed and turned into an easy to assemble booklet to use during your workshop.
Other supplies you'll need:
colorful pens
paper of your choice to make booklet cover
thread + needle to tie booklet together
himalayan salt + water + bowl
sage (optional)
And if you want a healthy dessert to go along with your New Year's workshop, check out this vegan Lemon Square Cookie recipe by Anita Jaisinghani, owner of Pondicheri in Houston, TX.
Afterwards, I decided to put together lil’ packets for a small participant group who excitedly agreed to do this workshop on their own.
They were all super grateful and appreciated how we provided them with the tools and fun video to set their intentions for the coming year. It was a success!
MY OFFERING
