Eskimi’s Post

I enjoyed presenting at this event facilitated by lead researcher Dr Libby Worth from Royal Holloway University. A brilliant “Dancing Dialogues” conversation with community leaders, researchers and practitioners of community dances. Discussions flowed around negotiating embodied identity, “Englishness”, how folk dance is linked to territory, what consists of amateur V professional performers, and, of course, the eternal question of funding. In the visible hierarchy of the dance sector, folk dances are perhaps a poorly watered root of a very big tree. More than ever, we realized the need for community, in a post-covid world. It's easy to forget that community groups are often the first point of contact towards developing a love for dance. Even top performers, like Marcelino Sambe - principal dancer at the Royal Ballet- had a brief passage with local traditional African dance group Batoto Yetu in Portugal. The generosity of time and knowledge, shared by these community dance groups leaders, is probably unmatched in a cut-throat "professional" dance space. Acknowledging the importance of flexibility in discussions about territory and cultural ownership is vital, albeit we need to refrain from rigid perspectives while being cautious not to encroach upon cultural appropriation. It’s important to remember that even dance forms like the maypole dances that appear to be the epitome of Englishness only need you to delve into it a little further to discover its presence in various Caribbean traditions as well as in Congolese processions, as described by the late eminent researcher Robert F. Thompson. And, of course, the perennial issue of arts funding serves as a poignant reminder, as the latest policies from the Arts Council England (ACE) unveiled, that censorship is, once again, hitting the arts hard. It's time to get creative! For those who heavily rely on this funding to create art or express themselves, those community dance tree roots will be watered with a lot of…added chemicals.

News from New York

"Thank you for SEEING me" This - in a nutshell - is how we don't just survive, but THRIVE as we follow our path in life. Sometimes you need that one shining light - a mentor or guide by your side to really sponsor and SEE the unique SELF that you are becoming. I struggled with Visibility in my career and then my business for several years - in fact it led to me retraining entirely as a trauma informed transformational coach and hypnotherapist precisely for that reason! - and it's still one of the main triggers for why women decide to work with me now... I didn't understand how I - as someone with a lengthy background in marketing and acting (!) - could be confident and comfortable up on a stage or gesturing at a powerpoint presentation and still struggle to "put myself out there" when it came to starting my own business. I had to take a deep dive into healing all of the ways early developmental trauma (childhood abuse/ narcissistic abuse, emotional neglect, bullying etc) could lead to a deep Fear of BEING SEEN - and SEEN as my true, authentic self. And then understand how that upbringing had also created a myriad of layers to stop me SEEING myself! To SHOW yourself you must KNOW yourself - and some of us went into hiding a long time ago to keep SAFE. We also need caregivers to be our mirror and reflect back our unique, authentic essence- the little tender, essence of us that is growing. But not all of us received that attention. The impact is we land into adult life pretzelling ourselves for others approval, people pleasing to stop love or attention being withdrawn and overfunctioning to feel safe and in control. Most women I work with are high achieving, powerhouses succeeding in their corporate career or transitioning out into their own business - you wouldn't think on the outside they struggled with something like presenting themselves or their message... and yet.... It's what's going on in the inside that's a struggle. The creeping anxiety, or dread the night before an investor panel pitch or the boardroom meeting that regresses you to feeling like a little girl in the playground and not a powerful woman in charge of her own destiny...with no idea why... If this resonates with you I'm doing a short, deep (but very concise!!) talk on the three origin pillars of the Fear of Being Visible at the Fully Booked Fempreneur Festival at 14.20 tomorrow Wednesday March 13th 2024. You can book a FREE place here: www.cassiehicks.com/fff There's a whole host of amazing women speakers offering their gifts for free, and talking about everything from the energetics, mindset and strategy to running your own business.. Do join me or feel free to DM me to organise a virtual coffee chat over zoom and I would be happy to connect. www.radiantwomanchat.com

This clip produced by Switzerland Tourism is something our government, the Nepal Tourism Board - NTB, the industry leaders and all Nepalese tourism stakeholders should really learn from. I have always emphasized on the fact that, in the modern era the power of films to promote a destination should really not be underestimated. Switzerland Tourism clearly understands this, having produced this masterpiece on "Swiss Autumn" featuring Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen and Roger Federer. While we witness such brilliant campaigns from the other side of the world, we’re missing the opportunity to attract major Hollywood projects that are showing interest in Nepal and its stunning landscapes. A recent example is one Hollywood production that recreated Nepal in Australia, spending a massive budget instead of actually filming here. Nepal is in no way inferior to Switzerland in terms of natural beauty, and more so in many other areas. The issue doesn’t lie in what Nepal has to offer, but in our inability to learn from the successful examples being set across the globe. It's high time we learn from our mistakes and encourage filmmakers from around the world by offering incentives and supporting them with the right resources to shoot here—rather than viewing it as a one-time opportunity to extract as much money as possible. Films, documentaries, and advertisements like these should be seen as long-term investments that leave lasting impacts, attracting travelers for years to come. And not as a golden chance to fullfill short term goals, that ruins our image in the entire world. #NepalTourism #FilmIndustry #NepalGovernment #DestinationMarketing #Stakeholders #HollywoodInNepal #Filmmaking #TourismPromotion #VisitNepal #FilmingLocations #Nepal

Jimmy Kimmel at Barbieland?! Jimmy Kimmel will host the Oscars for the fourth time and you can watch the first promo video at the link below.

Clearly media & marketing success is enabled by "Spandau Ballet" immersion... Be there with Affinity Solutions & DoubleVerify

🌟 Lessons from ‘The Silent Echo’: "A Journey Beyond Words" 🎥 Recently qualified for the Oscars®, the short film "The Silent Echo" has left an indelible mark . It imparts profound lessons that we can all learn from. Passion Knows No Boundaries: In a remote mountain village, four children find solace in music. Their makeshift band plays on a burnt-out mini-bus, their passion undeterred by their surroundings. This teaches us that passion transcends physical limitations. It blooms where hearts beat, regardless of geography. Dreams Require Courage: When a band competition beckons in a neighboring town, the children gather their meager resources and embark on a journey. Their dream of performing becomes a beacon. This teaches us that dreams demand courage. The first step is often the hardest, but it propels us toward our aspirations. Community and Resilience: The indigenous locals play a pivotal role. Their resilience and sense of community create a supportive environment for the children. This teaches us that together, we thrive. Community support turns challenges into stepping stones. 🌠 Let’s celebrate these timeless lessons and take inspiration from the film. #Oscars2024 #CinematicMagic #TheSilentEcho

One of the best moments of the job to date: hearing of audiences chatter in the foyer of The Lowry in Salford during the interval of Warhorse, talking about 'Our National Theatre'. No interest in postcode politics, just a clear understanding that they have in us a valuable service: a way they can access engaging inspiring world class theatre on their doorstep at a price they can afford, in a place they feel welcome. Made for them, with the same production values and care as on any West End or Broadway stage, by 'their' national theatre. Taking large scale quality drama out on tour across the UK is one of the things we were built to do, and it's deeply troubling that in recent years rising post-pandemic costs and cuts in funding have made touring near unaffordable for all but the most commercial propositions. We're not the only ones struggling - there's urgent need across the sector for innovative solutions to future-proof our touring ecology. Step in Arts Council England, with a new fund aimed to turbo-boost touring, incentivising theatres and producers to create brilliant work that brings people together, sparks imagination and share stories with audiences across the UK. ACE’s pilot fund will also deliver significant economic benefits to organisations, artists and employees. A fact I regularly add to my soap-box piece is that the National Theatre’s War Horse generated £9 million for the Greater Manchester economy during a run at The Lowry, underscoring the positive impact of a strong, sustainable touring ecosystem. For me, what's super exciting is that this new scheme will not only strengthen the touring network but has the potential to power quality drama and help build and bridge cultural and economic divides across the UK. Everyone deserves access to the positive impact that theatre brings into towns and cities across the UK. No matter where they live. ACE’s pioneering new fund (driven with verve by Hannah Lake) looks set to move us all a step firmly closer to making that happen - and it's one reason to be hopeful today, of all days.

Little Monday Transformation When you think you can’t, you won’t. When you think you can, you will. Be you. Ignore the chatter. Ignore the distractions. If it’s not meant to feed you, improve you, or make you better - be done with it. It’s not about Inspiration, it’s about transformation. Stand tall, lead the way and take others with you.

The next big project In Kaoshiung, Taiwan