Sara Bynoe – Literarious!

Posted on January 22, 2012 by John Horn

Who are you?

My response to this question depends on who is asking. Since you met me when I was doing comedy I’ll answer from my performer persona.

I’m Sara Bynoe. I’m an actor, writer, producer, host and general ‘who’s that girl’ about town. I run a monthly show called Say Wha?! Readings of Deliciolusly Rotten Writing where I get funny people up onstage to read from the worst books they can find. I’ve also been the force behind a community comedy show called Teen Angst Night, where anyone can get up on stage, the catch is that you have to share embarrassing writing you wrote when you were a teenager. I’m also the Den Mama for the Vancouver Chapter of Dance Dance Party Party – currently on hiatus while I have a contract for the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival Jan 17-Feb 4 in various venues around Vancouver.

What do you do for fun?

For fun I dance, sing, and hang out with friends. I often combine all three by going to karaoke. I also perform, write, produce and act silly on stage for fun.

Other things I think are fun: yoga, pilates, traveling, and dancing. I said that already, didn’t I? I really like dancing.

What is your favourite community? Why?

This is a tough question. I feel a part of so many communities it’s hard to pick just one. Lately I’ve been loving how I can hardly walk down a street in Vancouver with out bumping into anyone I know. So I guess I’ll have to say Vancouver’s performing community. I know so many wonderful people working hard on and for events and their art; be it comedy, theatre, film, dance, writing, music or art. I’m constantly inspired by the endless dedication to creation that is in the city.

What is your superpower?

My superpower is the ability to see projects through to fruition. I don’t feel particularly talented in any art form but my gift lies in dedication and the ability to produce.

For example: In 2000, when I was 19 years old I had the idea for a website that would be the online database of the world’s worst teenage poetry – 11 years, one website, one book, several international gigs and maybe a hundred Canadian shows later I’m still doing it.

How do you use it to build community?

A lot of my superpower is already dedicated to building community, be it through organizing Dance Dance Party Party, growing my connection with the performing and comedy scene or through my audience at Say Wha?! Nights.

I’ve recently added a community element to my shows where I encourage the audience to talk to each other. It’s amazing how people will follow directions if you have a microphone in your hand. The way I see it, why shouldn’t you say hi to people at other tables, you’re at the same small event which means you’re all awesome, therefore you should know each other.

My Three Favourite Things About Sara Are…

1. She makes reading fun! Not to mention friggin’ hilarious.I absolutely love the powerful simplicity behind Say Wha?! - crappy writing, when read with style, sass, and interspersed-witticisms, begets many laughs from lucky guests. With perfect stage presence, playful unpretentiousness and Jill Barber-ish style (unless, Sara, you aren’t a fan…I’m just saying that you have a wonderful, throw-back fashion sense that jives well with your act) Sara makes us all appreciate good literature while we cringe, squirm and howl at the bad stuff. My lovely wife and special lady, Michelle, doesn’t care too much for comedians; and she absolutely loved Sara’s performance at the Havana Theatre in early January. Because Sara makes reading fun!

2. Organized drive that delivers awesome. I have the highest respect for people who deliver on what they say they’re going to do. And people who set and achieve goals (especially stretch-goals). And people who get results. So, what’s the difference between real entrepreneurs and everybody else? Entrepreneurs do things. Their life is a living laboratory of thinking, testing ideas, revising them, and then testing them again. Seeing Sara perform – and then conversing with her in person and through the Internets afterward – revealed her sparkling possession of such character. And it’s a beautiful thing!

3. Audience participation. Inclusiveness is once of the most important pillars of happy and healthy communities. And whether it’s organizing Dance Dance Parties Parties (right?) or encouraging a talkative audience, Sara gets more – maybe the best – out of myriad Vancouver communities. Hey, Sara, I look forward to bumping into you on the street sooner than later!

- As told by John Horn | masthead image from robholland / flickr

Krystle Sivorot – The Dancer

Posted on May 16, 2010 by Kurt Heinrich

Who are you?

My name is Krystle, almost always spelled incorrectly. I was born in Korea and was raised in Kelowna, BC. I am a self professed geek, dancer, and foodie. I work at Peak Communicators in their social media department -where I can be as geeky as possible – right now I’m enrolled in a web development class.

What do you do for fun?

Besides binge eating with my cousin, I love anything cultural. I like discovering new and exciting activities around the city. Especially taking in live music, theatre, or trying a new dance style. My agenda is always full with shows. I love to dance and have tried a variety of styles – ballet, modern, jazz, flamenco, bollywood…currently I’m shaking it in an afro cuban dance class at Harbour.

What is your favourite community and why?

As a dance enthusiast, I really have an appreciation for the arts and dance community in Vancouver. I recently attended a dialogue on the future and growth of the Vancouver arts scene. Even with the recent cuts to the arts in BC, it was great to see the arts community, and artists from different disciplines, come together and discuss what the arts could be in 2050.

What is your super power?

I’d like to think my super power is spontaneity. I keep an open mind and am almost always willing to take on a new challenge or try something new.

How do you use it to build community?

I think by keeping an open mind I am accepting of new ideas. It is always beneficial to be open to different perspectives – you never know what you can learn from other people.

My Three Favourite Things about Krystle are…

Her Positive nature and “I’m listening” spirit. Krystle emits positive vibes like a neutron star emits energy. Wherever she goes, it emanates outwards. Aside from being generally happy go lucky, she wanders the world being constantly interested in other people. Being interested in folks and “keeping an open mind” by accepting new ideas is a critical to a good listener and a good communicator. Krystle’s got it in spades.

She’s Hip to the Vancouver Arts Scene. A little while ago, a worked on Street Soccer fundraiser with a host of bands from around Vancouver. Many of these bands weren’t huge names, but they were local and generously donating their services. Krystle knew them and was enthusiastic about seeing them play. In fact she brought a bunch of friends with her to watch the show. Each week I learn about a different dancing opportunity, art show or other cultural experience that Krystle’s plugged into. It’s like having a super culturally trendy friend a stones throw away in the office. Good times.

She’s tried Bollywood Dancing. Is it just me, or is that just super interesting? Enough said.

Your Digital Fill – The Wedding Dance

Posted on April 24, 2010 by Kurt Heinrich

At 48 million views and still climbing, this video is a must see. Catchy music, fun dancing, a totally entertaining and inclusive wedding? What more can you ask for?

Decentralized Dance Partying: Not a Spectator Sport

Posted on March 1, 2010 by Stephanie Bowen

The 6th-ever DDP gets underway

Well, fellow Vancouverites and citizens of the world, the Olympics have drawn to a close. They swept this fair city with their upper-middle-class sensibility, polarized audiences across BC, inspired heavy criticism, inspired heavier drinking, encouraged athletic excellence, obnox-ified Canadian pride, and generally left us all reeling.

Love them or hate them, there was something undeniably awesome about the energy the games brought to Vancouver. Be it through political protest or exuberant celebration, communities were galvanized and Vancouver’s many social silos crumbled in the wild 17-day melee of sport, art and culture. And beer. Enormous issues aside, the games quickly became one big party.

Now, of course, BC is set to weather the $8 billion hangover. Throwing a 3 million- invitee party for 17 days runs a hefty tab, the extent of which will only be known tomorrow when the BC budget is announced.

Which is why it’s somewhat ironic that my fondest memory of the Games cost almost nothing to produce, required no lining up, and was only marginally sanctioned by VANOC. I’m talking about the Decentralized Dance Party I attended on the Saturday following the opening ceremonies. And, pseudo-Olympic-dissenter that I am, I have a bold claim to make: it changed my perspective.

Uphill Sidewalk Skeleton: Look for it in 2014!

The Decentralized Dance Party (DDP) works something like this: Tom and Gary, BFFs with a die-hard love for parties and a penchant for throwing them, pick a time, location, and costume theme. This information is spread virally, though their website and expansive Facebook group, and when the crowd assembles over 100 ghetto blasters are distributed. Using a radio transmitter to project crowd-pleasing playlists to an empty radio station, the boom boxes act as far-reaching speakers.

All of a sudden it’s a mobile dance party in the streets.

And on Saturday, February 13th, that street party represented the very best of Vancouver’s 2010 events. It was open to everyone, totally free, and completely steeped in fun. Beginning with a rousing rendition of “Oh Canada” at 6pm in Yaletown, the party snaked through the downtown core, picking up hundreds of rogue dancers as it moved. There were trampoline competitions, uphill skeleton races, giant sing-alongs and an overwhelming sense of inclusion.

For a few hours radical, non-partisan community was forged in the heart of the world’s most commercialized event.

It was some powerfully fun stuff.

The author demonstrates the Decentralized Dance Party Spirit

I don’t mean to suggest that a mere dance party can right the highly publicized wrongs of VANOC. I’m also not blindly endorsing the street partying that happened during the Olympics. I witnessed some very dodgy, near-riotous crowds during my forays, and I can’t say I’m sorry to see them disperse.

What the night made me realize, however, was how crucial civic events are for creating a sense of place and community. In some ways, the Olympics merely served as a backdrop for experiencing the city and its inhabitants. Strangers conversed on street corners, well-organized protestors drew international attention to Vancouver’s social challenges, and art and music were everywhere. Obtaining overpriced tickets to sporting events became secondary to human interaction, cultural participation, and dancing in the streets.

Luckily, decentralized dance partying is not a spectator sport.

Your Digital Fill

Posted on February 27, 2010 by Kurt Heinrich

The Gumboot would like thank the Globe and Mail for capturing this story. It’s a neat sort of community that enjoys flash mobbing. In fact the Gumboot’s own friends Yuki and Phil apparently participated in this flash mob!

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