Performance artist and occasional leftie–Zhanna Reed is a multimodal craftsman, who uses creativity as a tool of expression, to learn, teach, and tune in with herself and others. She has an innate sense of service and a love to be involved with the community.  Zhanna is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Buffalo State University of New York, from where she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, the Arts and Humanities Dean’s Award, and the SUNY Chancellor's Award. Instagram: @ZHELRE Shameless plugs of things I may have mentioned: My grandpa's IG https://www.instagram.com/henryv.reed/ Charisma Gospel Album https://music.apple.com/us/album/time/1137242402 https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l430NM3xjJxlBqhCK0uY98aIkKDM5Jvfo New business and project ventures: https://www.instagram.com/thezhenu/ https://www.instagram.com/livelabwithme/

Brandon Williamson is an Admissions Counselor at Fredonia State University of New York as well as the founder and creator of the internationally recognized Pure Ink Poetry Slam in Buffalo, NY. With experience serving as a high school teacher, Black Student Union advisor, Minister, Poet, Actor, Musician, Author, Athlete, Producer, community activist, and innovator, Brandon has a great understanding of the complexities of perspective in business. He is trained to conduct creative problem-solving facilitation for not-for-profit organizations, businesses, athletic organizations, student associations and groups, after-school programs, educational facilities, and community organizations. Brandon travels from Buffalo to the Hudson Valley, and the Capitol Region of New York State presenting to high school students the importance of education and choosing the path for the future they desire. As a creativity consultant, Brandon has had workshops requested by organizations including Fredonia Student Affairs, SUNYCAP, Center for Multicultural Affairs, various colleges and high schools in the greater Buffalo area, and the province of Ontario Canada. Brandon is fully trained in the art of Theater and has adopted a style of innovative, interactive style of presentation he calls DramaTeach. Brandon has utilized this teaching technique during his years of teaching inner-city high school students in the Western New York community. He has also trained and led his Pure Ink Poetry slam team to become Empire State and 2-time International poetry slam champions while using his performance skills to win multiple poetry competitions throughout North America and Europe including Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. This innovation in writing and performance brings unique dimensions to his presentation and workshops that are not to be missed. Brandon was a member of the Emerging Leaders of the Arts in Buffalo, Poetry Slam Inc, Innovative disrupters, and former Vice President of the Ujima Theater Company. He holds a Bachelors in Theatre Arts from Fredonia State University of New York with a minor in Philosophy, and a Masters of Science degree in Creativity from the International Center for Studies in Creativity at Buffalo State College.

Sarah Haykel is an artist, song channel, certified professional life coach, yoga instructor, dance teacher and performer.   Supporting her clients to heal from insecurity and build healthy self-esteem and inner confidence, she uses The Haykel Method, which empowers individuals to feel confident in their authentic selves through various life and mindfulness skills like dance, life coaching, meditation, body awareness, creativity, music and spirituality. Sarah has recently launched Inspirational Art by Sarah, which is a series of inspirational quotes and beautiful images from nature on ceramic wall hangings and thrown pottery for the home or office.  Feel inspired, uplifted and empowered throughout your daily life with these one-of-a-kind pieces.  Go to www.InspirationalArtBySarah.com to see the work.  Custom orders accepted. Links: Sign up to get weekly free resources here: www.SarahHaykel.com/resources See the new inspirational artwork here: www.Inspirationalartbysarah.com @inspirationalartbysarah @sarahhaykel @songchannelmusic

I am Robyn and I have a deep love for all things beautiful. Because of my desire to make all humans feel fabulous Bubbles & Berries Boudoir was born. I am happily married to a wonderful, creative and caring man. Together we are Onion Studio. We shoot weddings, lifestyle, and commercial photography. I have had the honor of documenting women’s beauty through boudoir photography for the past 11 years. It is a truly humbling experience to take someone through a journey of self-discovery of who they are before, during, and after their session with Bubbles & Berries Boudoir. As my personal life expands to a full expression of my truth I want to bring boudoir to all bodies. Boudoir is for EVERY.Body, and I am here to help you embody your inner sexy. As an Award-winning boudoir photographer, in Buffalo, NY, I am constantly reminded of how lucky I am to be able to meet so many amazing people and capture their energy through my lens. I can’t imagine doing anything else for a living. Boudoir Website: www.bubblesberriesboudoir.com Boutique Website: www.bubblesberriesboutique.com IG: @bbboudoir Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BubblesBerriesBoudoir Members Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bbboudoir Book Recommendations: https://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Hacking-Shamanic-Personal-Transform/dp/1250232694/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=spirit+hacking&qid=1614285106&sr=8-1 https://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Slut-Third-Practical-Relationships/dp/0399579664/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1W6GZNDUIA7PP&dchild=1&keywords=the+ethical+slutt+third+edition&qid=1614285124&sprefix=ethical+slut%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-1 Fellow business babes: IG: @rachelrizzohairandmakeup @wildrose.creations @drj.xo @primrosepathboutique @onionstudio @lauriegurrbeauty @northnodeholistic @beyondthestudio_yourstories

A Note From Miss J: During the Covid-19 pandemic in April of 2020, I closed my studio for good. As a result, I have built such an online presence with my students and followers. I realized that connection can happen no matter the odds. Where there is a will there is a way. I truly believe in the power of dance therapy. And I am so grateful to be able to share my passion with others. That is why I have started to offer my classes on Patreon. I had considered this platform for quite some time, and now I have finally made it.  I am so excited to start this journey. I couldn’t do it without your support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you. Xoxo  www.patreon.com/buffaloburlesquestudio Bio: Burlesque Superstar Mistress J Kiss is now offering classes in the timeless art of Burlesque. Whether you are looking to start a career in the popular and ever growing world of Burlesque or just dying to let out your inner-bombshell this studio offers a little something for everyone in a fun and supportive surrounding. Allow yourself the opportunity to feel the empowerment of self-confidence. Feeling and believing that you are beautiful, sensual, and truly divine is the ultimate gift that everyone deserves. You’ll feel sexy and liberated, and the people around you will feel it too! It’s your time to shine! 100% Fun Guaranteed! Miss J is the founder and Mistress of Ceremony of Buffalo’s longest running burlesque troupe, The Stripteasers. She has been a performer her entire life. Even her birth was a spectacular show of how one starts life kicking and screaming for the world to know that a star was born! After starting the first Buffalo-based Neo-Burlesque troupe in 2004, The Stripteasers quickly became a hometown sensation. Three years later Miss J began to teach burlesque classes so that she could share her knowledge and passion with the rest of the world. Links to follow: Facebook- Buffalo Burlesque Studio Instagram- @buffaloburlesquestudio Patreon- www.patreon.com/buffaloburlesquestudio

Nels Ross is an entertainer, speaker, and teaching artist. As Chief Executive Oddball of In Jest, Inc., he works solo and with others to uplift and inspire audiences (www.InJest.com). His diverse background includes performing theater, touring with a nonprofit circus, teaching math, leading juggling/life workshops, and performing and speaking for 25+ years. He is also a husband and proud father of five kids. @NelsRoss @InJestInc

During our interviews, we try to capture as much of the artist's story as possible, but sometimes we cannot fit it all in. After our interview, Sara and I were talking and we got to the topic about her hair, I hit record, and here is what she wanted to share! 

Annette Daniels Taylor is an artist, and author of the poetry chapbooks, Street Pharmacist and other poetic tales, and Hush now poems to read aloud. Her debut YA novel, Dreams on Fire (October 2018) with West 44 books is a poetic urban teenage journey written in verse. An award-winning playwright, her drama A Little Bit of Paradise, won the 2008 Artie Award for Outstanding New Play. A poet, artist, and storyteller interested in American public history, her practice includes performance, poetry, video, sound, and vocals. A 2018-19 New York State Public Humanities fellow, a 2016-18 Arthur A. Schomburg fellow with the Department of Media Study, SUNY University at Buffalo alum; a three-time NYSCA awarded artist; a Pink Door Poetry alum; and lead teaching artist with Young Audiences, Underground Railroad Residency of Western New York program. A native of Staten Island, New York with roots in North and South Carolina,  Annette Daniels Taylor's storytelling practice reminds audiences of forgotten histories. https://www.annettedanielstaylor.com/ insta: @annette_daniels_taylor facebook: dreams on fire or annettedanielstaylor twitter: @nettieboom

A native of Buffalo, New York, Naila Ansari (she/her) is an award-winning choreographer, director, and performing artist.  She is a distinguished MFA graduate from the University at Buffalo in Dance and a Cum Laude undergraduate of Point Park's Conservatory of Performing Arts Program. Ansari is an original and former principal dancer for the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble. The company was named “Top 25 Dance Companies to Watch” in Dance Magazine for the 2012-2013 season, featured at Jacob's Pillow and SummerStage NYC at Central Park. Ansari has danced and performed works for the legendary Lula Washington Dance Theatre out of Los Angeles, CA. She has had the privilege of dancing works by Robert Battle, Kyle Abraham, Camille A. Brown, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Sidra Bell, and Trebien Pollard, to name a few. Ansari's choreography has been set on a host of colleges, universities, professional theatres, and commercial projects. As an Assistant Professor in Theatre and Africana Studies at SUNY Buffalo State College, Ansari has merged artistry and scholarship to build and create works through community and collaborative processes that facilitate conversations on race and Black performance. She has published articles in Theatre Journal, received numerous grants and awards such as the New York State DanceForce Grant, and The Pittsburgh Courier 40 under 40 awards. Ansari is a research assistant and assistant choreographer for AT BUFFALO the Musical and the recent AT BUFFALO TED TALK under award-winning artist and scholar Dr. Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin. Ansari's award-winning choreographed work "Mine Eyes Have Seen" was selected and performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C for the American College Dance Association awards in 2018. Ansari is a collaborator with the UB Arts Collaboratory under the direction of Bronwyn Keenan. Her most recent project and a forthcoming book, The Movement of Joy, focuses on the performance of joy through the creative archiving of oral histories, movement histories, live-performance, and film. Ansari is currently the Dance Director for Ujima Company, inc. selected by the late Lorna C. Hill.

Saranaide is an accomplished vocalist, songwriter and musician based out of Buffalo, NY.  With parents from Panama and Puerto Rico, Saranaide has dipped into her DNA to embrace and celebrate the pulses and sounds of Latin America; exploding on the Buffalo Jazz Scene with a new vigor.  Inspired by the legends of soul and jazz riding on the rhythms of the world, Saranaide's unique sound is sweet honey dripping over a spicy stew. A lifelong learner, she has traveled the world to better inform her process – whether it is studying Maracatu in Canada and Brazil or traveling to Ghana to immerse herself more fully in West African drumming & dance, Saranaide beautifully blends and reflects her Afro-Latino roots. She writes in both English and Spanish, most recently adding Portuguese to her singing repertoire. Her songwriting is universal and highly personal; her stage presence ethereal and earthy, wrapping her audience up in each story told through her sultry vocals, willowing flute and jazzy guitar riffs. She began her musical journey learning the piano at the age of 4. She picked up the flute in grade school and played in various ensembles and bands throughout her life. Her musicality sparked her interest in teaching herself guitar (and later ukulele) for church services, where she spent most of her youth building the foundation for her practice. Saranaide also sings with the Buffalo Afrobeat Orchestra and is passionate about her work as a birth doula. Most notable performances of her career were being a guest of the Brooklyn College Choir in 2018 to perform two sold out nights at Carnegie Hall with Joe Hisaishi in a symphonic concert featuring the music of Studio Ghibli, wowing a sold out crowd at Hotel Henry with a night of bossa nova, and opening up for Jane Bunnett and Maqueque. To find out more about Sara check out her website www.saranaidemusic.com