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Redefining My Voice: Pt. I

Anna East

Featured in: ACT Dance Model Sing's January 2017 Issue

As performers, we are often given other people’s ideas to express, and other people’s words to say. It is actually part of the draw to the job; to live out other people’s lives… But what do we do when we have ideas and words of our own that we feel need to be expressed?

Throughout my journey of being a performer, I have been confronted with the feeling that I need to use my voice for something that is truly meaningful. Here is a snippet of my first steps into my new journey of redefining my voice…

Home. What does it mean to me? To you?

When our perception of home is challenged, how can it open our eyes? What do we invite into our home, and when is it that we accept new ways of thinking or living? Many people find comfort in the familiar. Is it change we are afraid of? Does our home have to be destroyed for us to embrace change?

Some might say yes… But I believe that as a creative, imaginative and hopeful species, we can embrace change before it’s too late.

Over the past three years, I have become more aware of my connection to the environment. I have connected what I eat to where it comes from. I have connected what nature is and what it feels like to live without it. I have connected issues to solutions.

Now that I’ve found out how important this all is to our future and wellbeing, I want to help others do the same.

Why? Because I love my planet, I love the beautiful people I have met, and I love experiencing what life can offer us.

I will be alive when the Earth is predicted to go South. So by spreading the word and saying, “Hey, I’m learning, too. Let’s do this together.” I believe we can make real change.

When I was about 12 years old, I performed a dance solo to the song, “I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders. It was an emotional performance and in the audience I saw a woman’s expression change. In that moment, I realized why I loved to perform. I could make people feel things, think new things, and connect with one another. This realization has powered my passion and career, in performing and filmmaking, ever since.

When I was 19, I moved to Japan. I moved by myself and struggled with depression. Seeking solace from my mind in such a beautiful country, I started hiking. I found the most amazing connection to nature and I started to realize how important it was, for my happiness and my health. But upon looking around most of my peers at work, I could see that caring for the Earth wasn’t a priority for them. They hadn’t made that connection. I was flabbergasted by it at first, but I knew I had to do something about it. I have been hooked to learning more about our planet and it’s people ever since.

I feel as though I have only hit the tip of the iceberg of ideas that I have to express; but I have so much to say, so much listening to do, and so much more to give. From community gardens and and bee conservation to learning from indigenous cultures and hiking mountain ranges, my dream is to pass on insights, inspiration and move people to a better future through filmmaking and storytelling.

In this new year, I hope to shake things up, and connect ideas and experiences to people’s homes across the world.

So, wanna take on this journey called life with me?

Cheers!

Anna


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© 2017 by Anna East

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