We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sara Bruno a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sara, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
My transition from burlesque dancer into the world of go-go dancing started by me taking a risk. I was back stage at my first electronic festival, Astral Harvest. I had headlined the showcase for burlesque and was back stage basking in the glory of that particular performance. Even applying to an electronic festival was a wild choice for me. I had never been to one before but I wanted the experience so I thought – why not?
One of the go-go dancers had not shown up for their shift, and since I was back stage in costume the hiphop artist about to go up walked up to me and asked me to join her on stage. I asked her what I was supposed to do, and she replied “just dance.” I was thrilled, and excited, I had never heard her music and had no idea what was about to happen; but I said YES. I got on stage and did my first go-go set by chance. Since then, I have climbed in go-go from Astral Harvest to headlining the Pagoda Stage. That small risk, lead to massive rewards. Go-go is now my main source of dance performance.
Sara, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Layla has graced stages across Canada. Most recently, she has performed at some of the most prestigious stages in Canada which encompass but are not limited to the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Vancouver Playhouse, and the Pagoda Stage. She is an award winning dancer and producer who advocates for artists worldwide. She has supported hundreds of artists across the globe in getting stages, becoming published writers, and arts management.
She’s is a professionally trained dancer who has no problem bringing the light to any stage she takes. Alongside Go-Go dancing Layla is a fire performer, burlesque dancer, model, published author, podcast host, and clinical counsellor.
Layla is the alternative queen of the underground scene. Her energy fills any room she enters, and she is the perfect marriage between play, and professionalism. She is a contractor who is apart of multiple troupes: DollHaus, La Gogue Collective, and Ember Arts.
At this point in her arts career she leads teams of 20+ dancers across Western Canada to perform on festival stages. She curates the costumes, hires the team, coordinates travel, and is there to bring the action to every stage her teams perform on. Dance is her passion, performance is her calling, and she is a full time creative artist.
When she isn’t stomping on stages, you can find her cultivating community through her clinical counselling practice. She is a counsellor for creatives to support them in gaining confidence in their art. Layla is a vivacious full-time love giver who illuminates every room she enters.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Everyone has a truth, and all truths are right.
This lesson took me a long time to digest. In the arts community there are rarely boards of directors, rules, or regulations. A lot of communication barriers or conflict is handled on a one on one basis. If you are an artists you know that reputation is a large part of your ability to continue to get booked for shows. Throughout my journey as an artist I have had many moments where conflict has arose. When I was a younger artist, I found I was often stubborn in the idea of “right and wrong.” Learning how to soften, to see other folks truths, and create a safe space for conflict resolution was a massive learning for me.
This lesson started to penetrate when I was in my first burlesque troupe and conflict struck the whole troupe. Triangulation started and the troupe ended up falling apart. This was something that broke a small part of me as this was the first troupe I had ever been apart of. From my perspective, I wanted to be able to move through the conflict and repair. The troupe lead was not open to feedback a lot of the time, and was often unsafe. This was for reasons of her own, past traumas and such. This in ability for us to see eye to eye ended breaking up a very special and talented group of people.
It took me time to grieve this and accept that even though I wanted repair, the possibility of that was out of reach for others involved in the conflict. Learning to accept that this was not personal, but instead that everyone has a truth, and all truths are right helped support me in conflict resolution, and repair for my entire arts career to come.
Conflict is inevitable, but releasing the need to be stubborn or right, and instead meeting one another in acceptance of each of our truths is the most important lesson I have integrated in my time as an artist.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The community I have cultivated is the most rewarding part of my art. My life is vibrant and full of opportunity to create at this point. Every single one of my friends, and chosen family is an artist. If I had not pursued the creative industry as intensely as I have, I would not have the community I do today. This community has supported me in learning valuable lessons, helped me understand boundaries, encouraged my growth as a person and artist, and been there for me every step on the way. Due to my creative passion, my life is abundant with art, artists, and folks who have the same passion as I do. This richness is something I could have never dreamed of when starting my career as a creative, and it is something I could never live without. The folks who surround me are the reason I am still standing, and for this I am eternally grateful.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.withlovefromlayla444.com
- Instagram: @with.love.from.layla
Image Credits
Vintage Photography SK Jon Christian Ashby James Deane Photography