*** Let it SHINE in 2009 ***

~~~Baller*ina Blog Christmas Day 2008~~~

It has been waaaay too long since I have blogged! Wut the Hay Nonny Nonny!!??!? Maybe it is because I don’t think anybody actually reads my blog... DOES anybody actually read my blog? Maybe it is because I don’t set aside time during my daily life to blog; to reflect on my trials and tribulations for the whole wide web to read. Luckily, I don’t think I’m alone! Christmas is a time to stop the clutter and nonsense and get back to the basics: family, love, food... and blogging.*

I am proud of myself this year. I made it onto Santa’s NICE list! I rang in last New Years with the catchy resolution, “No Hate in ’08...” or it could also go, “No Hate-in ’08.” All year, I took it to mean ~ Stop Hatin’ on other people; other people’s choices; other people who be hatin' on me, you get the gist. Now that 2008 has almost come to an end, I realize the true meaning of “No Hate-in ’08:” It means No Hate-in’ myself. I hated the way I talked, sang, auditioned, smelled... I spent so much time trying to change the way I presented myself to get people to like me... NEVER AGAIN! I took a tip from Meg in “A Wrinkle in Time” and started embracing my faults. That’s what makes Baller Mahler Unique; and “Why would you ever want to sound like SOMEONE ELSE???” as my voice teacher always reminds me.

Now that I have reconnected with my new found sense of Self, I am going to LET IT SHINE in 2009. Whoopie for Me! Thank you to my Parents, my BFF Boi-friend, my Broz, My Homies and all my various Coaches and Mentors who continue to challenge me to be myself, trust my gut and take risks. This HOLLA day, I challenge you to do the same. “What’s the worst that could happen? You’ll FAIL?”

***Let it Shine in 2009***

BALLERINA. Word

Today's Word is BALLERINA. In Honor of my new shoes~ The BALLERINA bunny heelz. Fashionistas can also be called BALLERINAS. It is all about the strut, the stance and the positivity.

Let me know if you wanna buy my shoez. They'll make you feel like a BALLERINA.

Another Opening. Another Shoe.

OMG. OMG. Is that BALLAH MAHLAH in the newspaper!??
IT IS! Whoopie!

This weekend is the opening of Dog and Pony's "As Told by the Vivian Girls." The story itself comes from Chicago Outsider Artist HENRY DARGER's crazy imagination; where little girls are slaves who rebel against anti-Christian soldiers, with the help of dragons and butterflies. Oh yeah... and they have weiners...I told you he was a little coo-koo.

The play takes on a Choose Your Own Adventure approach. They call it PROMENADE THEATRE~ where the tables are turned and the audience wears a mask as they wander the halls of Chicago's Theatre on the Lake. They can follow any character they want, up and down stairs, in and out of rooms for a storytelling experience you will want to see more than once!

I play Angeline, the tomboy Vivian girl who must face horror on the battlefield. The Battles by far are the most BEDANG part. Boi oh boi! People get stabbed! Blood and guts! Only pretend of course.




I took my own stab at being Darger for a Day and made some outsider art of my own. With some scissors, glue and spare things in my room I created BALLERINA Bunny Heelz. (see pic). My first Patented design. Perhaps I will try to sell them to Prada.

So there it is. Unconventional art is taking over Chicago and I want in. I find doing things the unconventional way keeps things fresh and interesting.

No Hate-In '08

HOLLAday: Earth Day. GREEN is the new BLACK

Give it up for Mother Nature!

This is tha day when we celebrate the earth.
The greeness of weed and the browness of dirt
No matter the weather: wind, hail or tornado
Let’s sing to our Mother-Nature-Volcano
Let’s sing our song loud to be sure that she knows
~It goes~

CHORUS
We La La La La La Love you
We Tha Tha Tha Tha Tha Thank you
We will do whatever it takes to make your day.

Re Re Re-Lax~ It’s a Holla Day!
Keep your trash, Reuse it another way
Make it last~ Going Green is here to stay.


V
I do solemnly swear to take part in this process
Without everyone’s help, you lookin’ a hot mess
Go get dressed~ I’ll share whatz in my closet.
Mother Earth quick! needs a remix
Lets sing our song, make sure that she hears it
Blast that beat. Loud and proud. Never fear ~it goes~

Lyrics and Illustration by Ballah MahLah

Press Release: Mahler goes Wild-er

The results are in!



Performing day in and day out for children can be quite the task; but at the end of the day, there is nothing more rewarding than a job well done. I find myself feeling at peace when the smallest child realizes poetry can be cool, or that living without tons of toys might actually be fun. Re-enacting Gabriela Mistral and Laura Ingalls Wilder have helped me become a more powerful woman everyday, just by pretending to be one!

Historical Perspectives for Children has been making quite the impression on the media. The Daily Herald in Warrenville, IL covered my Laura Ingalls Wilder piece this past month. Check it out:
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/warrenville/homepage/x1651591410



I have also been receiving feedback from the teachers. Good feedback! Here's what they had to say:


“I thought Laura Ingalls Wilder did a great job. She captured my student’s attention and had them mesmerized for 35 minutes. She was a great actress, and my students believed she was real.”
Naperville Kindergarten teacher

“The lady who portrayed Laura Inaglls Wilder did a wonderful job capturing the attention and imagination of our student body. She was energetic, excited, and tremendous!”
Sue Domini
Principal
Itasca, IL

“Outstanding program! The presenter held their attention, articulated clearly while she sequentcially told the story at the level that all students could understand. Her energies and experiments kept the student’s interests as well as peeked their curiosity. Her question and answer session at the end allowed the students to seek answers to specific questions. Her knowledge of the material was clearly evident. I’d love to see her as Helen Keller!”
2nd grade

“It was good that the actress had a good rappot with kids and had amazing management skills.”
3rd grade

HOLLER

War with Mother Nature

Countdown in 5
4
3
2
1

Some Time for the Environment~

A Few weeks ago in Tenessee terror struck in the form of a tornado. My cousin was right in the heat of the action, took some pictures and made it on the Newz!! That goes to show the power of fast action and prayer. I think she’ll be president some day.

Check out the video for some footage; I call it

War with Mother Nature.

http://www.myfoxorlando.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=5715142&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

BALLAdayHOLLAday: Bedang

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY Lovers and Fools.

Herez the
HOLLAday BALLAday WORDoftheday:

BEDANG

This word is in honor of my favorite B BOY, Saint Valentine.
Saint Valentine supah flies himself around all day making people fall in love. If it weren't for this selfless act, No one would ever have a boyfriend.
Another B Boy favorite is my friend Brandon He is BEDANG
We just recorded a single together. It is BEDANG

Brandon would define today’s slang word as: Something Super Fabulous


Every time you use today’s word of the day: cupids, fairies and b boys will get their wings and become SUPAH FLY.