Olivia Book, is a professional ballet dancer in Ballet West’s second company in Salt Lake City, Utah. Olivia grew up in a small town in Ontario, Canada and was born with a right arm limb deficiency. She has always been a natural performer and began ballet classes at a local dance studio at the young age of four, she later became a member of a competitive dance team from the age of nine until fifteen, competing in many different styles of dance.

Olivia attended The Royal Danish Ballet summer school in 2018 and 2021. In 2019 at the age of 15, she attended the Youth American Grand Prix, placed in the top 12 in both the classical ballet and contemporary categories, and was awarded two of the most prestigious awards, Outstanding Performance and Special Commendation from the Jury at the Youth America Grand Prix and was also personally invited to the Ballet West summer intensive by Adam Sklute, BW Director.  During that summer she was selected to join Ballet West Academy’s Professional Training Division at the young age of 16 and made the tough decision to move away from home to live in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2021, she was promoted to the Trainee program and most recently to the second company in 2023. While at the BW Academy, Olivia was awarded the Adam Sklute scholarship in 2020 and 2022, for her exceptional artistry and has appeared in the TV show, The Next Step, season 8. She is studying Plant Based nutrition and is working on writing her memoir, capturing her dance journey from the very beginning, co-authored with her Mom. In her first two professional seasons with Ballet West she has performed in Dracula, Stars & Stripes,The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, Jekyll & Hyde, Serenade and Cinderella.


Olivia has been featured in Pointe magazine(2020), Front Row Magazine(2024) and interviewed by KSL news reporter Carole Mikita (2023) and Cassidy Wixom, for KSL online(2024).


Olivia can be found at:

Instagram: @olivia_book_

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@oliviabook

Ballet West website: https://www.balletwest.org/dancers/detail/olivia-book

Artifice

Ep. 208: Olivia Book

Katharine Hooper is a Sommelier and artistic multi-hyphenate living in New York City. Raised by a celebrated painter father and an executive-career mother, she developed an early affinity for the intersection of art, science, and mysticism. After happily stumbling into a career in wine, she became engrossed in examining the overlap between the philosophical and the sensory, reflecting her balanced approach and dedication to truth. Her artistic curiosities include filmmaking, literature, anthropology, formal logic, drawing (in conte and charcoal), and both creative and critical writing.

Ep. 209: Katharine Hooper

Andrea Durfee is an artist and NYS licensed creative arts therapist based in Rochester, NY. Her paintings, sculpture and animation celebrates women, nature and sacred connection through vibrant landscapes and intimate portraits fusing the figure with flora and fauna. She is the creator of the oracle deck, Gaia: Lessons from the Earth and has a forthcoming book of poetry and goddesses being released February 2025. Her creations are an offering of space in which one can take a quiet walk, find light, and connect. 

website: www.andreadurfee.com and www.aracreativewellness.com
instagram: @andreadurfee and @ara.creativewellness

Ep. 210: Andrea Durfee

DEER IN MY DREAM

THIS ONE'S GONNA BE SICK

IT HURTS SO BAD

CALIFORNIA YELLOW PAGES

This episode is the fourth of the podcast series entitled Creative Sparks Unleashed focusing on the book Creative Sparks: 21 Affirmations & Inspiration for Creativity at Midlife by Yours Truly,  Sharon J. Burton, which was published in 2024 through Swiner Publishing Company.  During the series, I will be sharing a few chapters and interviewing some of the artists, writers, and other creatives whose advice is featured throughout the book on an number of topics that affect the creative process.

In this inspiring episode of the Spark Your Creative Podcast, we're diving into the world of Feel Good Spaces—the focus of a powerful chapter in my book entitled Affirmation  6:  My Space Nurtures and Supports My Creative Practice (P. 52).  I'm joined by my best friend and twin sister, Sherry Steine—author, artist, and multidisciplinary wellness consultant and founder of Aligned Expressions.

Together, we explore what it means to create a nurturing environment that supports your creative flow, no matter how much (or how little) space you have. From the importance of lighting and aromatherapy to using color, sound, and intention, Sherry shares her holistic insights on how to turn any corner of your life into a sanctuary for expression and well-being.

Whether you're working from a full studio or a kitchen table, you'll come away with accessible, soulful tips to design a space that truly feels good—and inspires your best creative work.

About Sherry Steine:

Sherry is  a Certified therapeutic yin yoga teacher, home energy practitioner, and aromatherapist, specializing  in using ancient techniques for physical, mental, and spiritual resiliency.  She is also an accomplished art doll and watercolor visual artist. 

Sherry received her 500 Hour Yoga Teacher training and  specializes in Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda,  Trauma Sensitive Restorative Yoga , Depression and Yoga, Yoga & Mindfulness for Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma,  Women, Embodiment, and Trauma Recovery.  She is currently completing studies for her International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) Certification.

In addition, Sherry has been an artist for a number of years and has exhibited her art dolls and watercolor artwork in juried art exhibitions across the country.

Learn more about and follow Sherry:

Artwork: https://www.facebook.com/SankofaStudio
Website (Wellness): https://www.sbwaligned.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SBWAlignedInstagram (Wellness)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alignedexpress/  (Wellness) or https://www.instagram.com/sankofaartsstudio/  (Art) 

The book, Creative Sparks is available on Amazon.com (Kindle or Paperback) and a signed copy can be ordered on the Spark Your Creative website at SparkYourCreative.com/store/html.

A video version of the podcast may be found for select episodes on the Spark Your Creative YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/@sparkyourcreativecoaching6582

This podcast is a service of Spark Your Creative Coaching.  Learn more about services for artists, authors, creatives, etc. at SparkYourCreative.com.

Follow on the socials at Instagram: @SparkYourCreative or Facebook: Spark Your Creative Coach.

Theme music for the podcast was created by Melvin Rodgers: store.cdbaby.com/cd/melvinrogers.

Subscribe, like, comment and share!


Episode 61: Creative Sparks Unleashed - Feel Good Spaces for Creative Living

Karen Arthur is back with part 37 of her show, “Can We Talk” and on this episode, she is joined by Kazvare, who is a writer, illustrator and graphic designer, forging a name for herself with her often ‘sassy sketches and searing satire’ (GRAZIA). She has also been listed as an ‘inspirational woman’ by Forbes.

Her work has been featured in VOGUE (UK and Japan) and she has also collaborated with major brands such as Adidas and Facebook and held a pop-up exhibition at the Tate Modern.

Her brand, Kazvare Made It, is home to striking stationery, homeware and accessories. Kazvare Made It combines cultural references and influences in a way that is bold, colourful and with a huge dash of playfulness. Kazvare Made, It’s stockists include Selfridges, Oliver Bonas and Scribbler.
Kazvare released 'Stay Woke, Kids!' with Canongate in 2021. 'Stay Woke, Kids!' is an illustrated children’s book for adults, covering topics such as white privilege, toxic masculinity and racism. It employs humour, rhymes and illustrations to convey big ideas in a digestible way.

Another fascinating story!

Check out Kazvaremadeit.com
Follow @kazvaremadeit
Kazvare Made It - Substack.

Catch the show bi-weekly Saturdays, 11:00 GMT @ Gold Dust Radio.

Karen Arthur - Can We Talk Episode 37 With Kazvare on Gold Dust Radio 7-6-25


On this episode, the outstanding broadcaster Karen Arthur is joined by Dean Atta, who is an award-winning Black British writer from London known for his heartfelt storytelling rooted in his Greek Cypriot and Jamaican heritage. He writes poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for all ages.
For adult readers, his poetry collection, I Am Nobody's Nigger, was shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize, and his memoir, Person Unlimited: An Ode to My Black Queer Body, received praise from Michael Rosen as "wonderfully original".

His young adult verse novels are The Black Flamingo, Only on the Weekends, and I Can't Even Think Straight.

The Black Flamingo won the Stonewall Book Award and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and Jhalak Prize. Malorie Blackman praised the book, saying, "I loved every word."
Dean has also contributed to middle-grade anthologies like Happy Here: 10 stories from Black British authors & illustrators and the Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood.

His picture book, Confetti, illustrated by Alea Marley, is a colourful celebration of love and life.
Additionally, Dean is a screenwriter and executive producer of the animated short film "Two Black Boys in Paradise", which was selected for the BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival and numerous others worldwide.

Web: Deanatta.com
Insta: @deanatta


Karen Arthur - Can We Talk With Dean Atta on Gold Dust Radio 21-6-25

The Spark Your Creative Podcast (formerly the Mindfully Creative podcast) explores how art is being used for personal and community healing as well as some tips on how creatives can break through barriers to make their “art” whatever that might look like.  Hosted by Sharon Burton of Powered by Spark Your Creative Coaching  (www.sparkyourcreative.com) and SJB Creative Ventures.  Intro music by Melvin Rogers (https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/MelvinRogers)

Great art almost feels like magic—it opens our minds to brand new ideas, and teaches us to see ourselves and our world more clearly. Of course, behind all great art, there are artists. And that’s where the real magic happens…

As we go beneath the art itself to explore how different artists do what they do, we see glimpses of the sorts of creativity, resilience, and bravery that lead to the art that moves our world. And maybe we can learn to borrow some of that magic for our very own thinking.

Join professional musician Emily Merrell for conversations with artists of all kinds. Together, we examine the mysteries of our own experiences, our muses and fears, our gifts and foibles, our beliefs about the origins of creativity, and the secret magic we’ve discovered in our unique creative processes. 

Mediums include: studio art, graphic design, dance, cooking, illustration, creative writing, storytelling, comedy, music composition, music performance, film making, acting, production, fashion design, photography, and more.

Visit https://emilymerrellmusic.com/artifice-podcast/  for more information.

- Theme Song "As You Are" by Emily Merrell @emilymerrellmusic
- Illustration and Graphic Design by Sarah Keele @sarahkeeleart
- Photography by Jen Palmer @jenpalmerphoto
- HMU by Shawna Turner @shawnaturnerdesigns

As part of the Gold Dust entertainment and media hub, GDR was formed in 2013 and provides musical entertainment 24/7, playing a wide range of styles, including Soul, Funk, RnB, Reggae, House, Hip-Hop, Drum 'n' Bass, Dub Step, Disco and more … old and new.

Follow us at www.golddusthub.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/golddustradio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/golddustradio/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/golddustradio/?hl=en

New tracks tagged #creatives