We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lava (ash Hancock). We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lava below.
Lava , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Being selective with my mentors as well as self teaching adaptations has brought forth the knowledge I have today. I am often inspired by what I absorb within each day. The art of just existing and allowing my reality 222 be the inspiration infused with my own senses and emotions/thoughts/feelings is essential to my craft. What I have realized is trying to follow a trend or even just try too hard doesn’t ever work for me. When I focus on having fun with it whilst being productive and self-disciplinary it allows an organic creation that feels evolving and so right to share with the world.
Lava , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am indeed a jack of a trades but a master of fun. I am an insured fire dancer/entertainer as well as a model, actress, sound healer, metalsmith, oracle, muse, and consider myself a creative or as eye enjoy to say, creatrix. I offer performance art for private events such as weddings, birthdays and corporate to large scale such as festivals/concert venues and Halloween events. I have been dancing since I came out of the womb and truly never stopped. I chose to steer away from the competitive world of dance and chose the realm of flow art which incorporates props of various kinds, some including high-tech LED as well as the ones made for fire! What I am most proud of is performing at Burning Man with conclave PyrOasis and being Shin Assist as well as choreographing a fire dance piece with 6 performers; the cherry on top is that I handmade 4 of the props utilized.
I believe what sets me apart from others is how expressive I am when I perform. No matter the character or theme, I can fully embody what is needed to be and I am so passionate about all I put my energy towards. My experience working with various types of clientele also ensures I am adaptable and strong in following my intuition.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
At the end of the day, I truly believe everybody is a creative. Large or small scale of the creativity doesn’t matter as much as it does to fully believe in yourself and what you can make happen for you.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My resiliency and strength come from having no choice but to be my biggest supporter. My beautiful mother passed away just as I was in the first grade. Raising myself in terms of being my own mother in this lifetime has softened me after feeling so much rage and sadness inside. My blood family all thinks I am a crazy loser… besides my grandmother (who now has Dementia.) It has been challenging even with all my successes thus far to ward off the negativity constantly being thrown at me from my own blood. What keeps me going is the bonds I have formed that make me a better me. My discipline to self along with just allowing myself to be hueman, operating in love, and choosing joy when possible is the medicine.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Grant Palmer
Kenneth Stripe
Afterdarc (PJ)
Armando
Glen Miller