On my recent travels to NYC I had the pleasure of meeting a vibrant and talented woman. Her name is Ilyana Kadushin and she is a gifted and successful voice-over actress, producer and singer songwriter.

It was clear that Ilyana is connected to an energy that is bigger than herself- a powerful source of inspiration and purpose that infuses her work.

Ilyana has BIG presence. Presence you want to get close to and cuddle up to, presence that makes you curious about how you can get some yourself.

So take a look at her blog post below. In it she advises vocalists on how to create a powerful performance.

As I read her blog, I realize that her advice transcends the "performer" and applies to those of us who want to use passion and connectedness as a life force behind our work.

I am constantly asking myself "what do I want to give my life energy to?" I've gotta feel good about it- it has to guide me forward.

Ilyana's blog post reminds me, and inspires me, to find what I am connected to, find what motivates me, and find what gives me BIG energy that I can "wield" as she says below. Take a look!

Thank you Ilyana Kadushin!

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"As a performer and performance coach, I am often asked- what I think are the keys to creating a powerful performance? I thought i would share them with you and expand on what I mean.

I believe the keys are:

*Creating a strong CONNECTION to the material

*Well trained Chops, ie: putting in the time to hone your CRAFT and your INSTRUMENT.

*Knowing how to WIELD your ENERGY.

*Creating a strong connection to the material, the story and project you are in, is so VITAL.

Your connection gives you JUICE. Investigate what is behind the story and it's meaning to you and let it suffuse your body, voice and energy, trust me, your audience can tell and feel how you are connecting or not connecting to something.

Being well trained seems like a no-brainer. Well, you would be surprised at how many people I have encountered, who are "putting the cart before the horse". Meaning, they have not gotten to know their own instrument and are really struggling to be "something", instead of being their perfectly magical SELF.

So, what do I mean by, "Knowing how to WIELD your own ENERGY?

I have had some incredible teachers. One in particular, Andre Gregory, and his wisdom as stayed with me since I worked with him at NYU. He spoke about the act of "BEING" not "PERFORMING". He saw creating art as conducting ENERGY and that when we were playful with our own energy and allowing being without judgment, there was a magical emergence of a powerful performance.

You have to get to know your SELF, in a deep way and also get out of your own way, this is the balancing I investigate in my performing and my coaching."