'Fantasy is An Addiction': Nikki Powerhouse Speaks!!!

Nikki Powerhouse, Philadelphia based actress, playwright, poet, nude figured model and freedom dancer speaks candidly about her upcoming One Woman Play, Fantasy is an Addiction, for Adult Audiences only.

Interview by Lacey C. Clark!

1. What makes your heart smile?

When I wake at 6:00am and witness the sunrise. The sky painted in colors of purple passion, orange bliss and yellow boldness. My heart celebrates the sky’s beauty.

2. We can see that you are definitely a poet, but you are also an actress, how did you come to claim that title for yourself and what does that entail?

Well, honestly it took a long time for me to define myself as an actress. Fear and I had a long running relationship. When it came to my craft, I would deny myself the freedom to just be. To just say I am an actress is not enough for me, this craft takes active work. The active work that will sometimes test me with fear, but I am learning to stop fighting it and push through it. I’ll be the first to tell you it ain’t easy, but I believe to own and embrace who I am takes commitment, patience and willingness to push and thrive through the challenges.

3. Are there any instances where art has saved your life?

Absolutely! The art of freedom dance has saved my life. When I dance to house music, I am able to connect to my truth. It is my chance to live outside of my body and release emotions that restrict me to experiencing life fully. One vocal house song that elevates and inspires me higher is the lyrics of “It’s Alright, I Feel it.” This song has had me many times in the middle of my living room floor, bent over, shouting, chanting, crying and releasing. It reminds me that problems are only a test and they only stay as long as we hold on to them.

4. What does the phrase "celebrate yourself" mean to you? Have you celebrated or do you celebrate yourself? If so, how?

It means I am the most important person in my universe and I deserve to honor who I am. I like to plan "just for me time." It is the time that I give myself the choices to pick an activity to celebrate myself. Sometimes I struggle with taking time out for myself because making me first priority is a new playing field. The world that says NO to others and yes to me seems like I am being selfish, but I am learning that "just for me time" is necessary and I deserve it. Currently, I am planning to see the exhibit of Frida Kahlo at Philadelphia Art Museum. I believe Frida Kahlo paintings depict power, pain, and a healing honesty.

5. Do you think it is important for women to celebrate themselves to be better models for our teen girls? Why or why not?

We must lead by example to express how important it is to celebrate ourselves. When we show our teen girls the beauty in honoring ourselves, they believe us.

6. What was your most challenging experience in your girlhood and how did you overcome it or how are you overcoming it?

During my girlhood, the most challenging experience was dealing with body image and sexuality. I often sexualized my identity to receive love, respect and to feel beautiful inside. From girlhood into adulthood, I dealt with getting my core needs met through having multiple sex partners. The scars of this behavior had me living in secrecy. When I got tired of lying to myself, I asked for help and told my truth. This process has been the most painful because I found myself crying harder and longer for all the things I ran from. As I continue to work on me and work through me, I hope sharing my experiences with women and teen girls will help them to make better choices.

7. What is the most celebratory and most challenging aspect about being a woman?

For me , the most celebratory aspect of being a woman is recognizing that tears are healing and laughter is necessary. The most challenging aspect of being a woman is finding the balance between personal time, work, school, family, and friends.

8.How would you describe yourself in five words?

Unique. Powerful. Nurturer. Talented. Passionate.

9. I'm feeling the title of your upcoming play "Fantasy is an Addiction." Why this title and what does it mean?

I gave the play this title because it best described the main characters hunt to escape her reality. It basically means fantasy is a drug when it is used as an escape to deal with deep rooted issues.

10. Tell me about your play? Why is it important for women to understand it contents?

Through a collage of vignettes, Tina, a sex worker, discovers her passion for eroticism is not what it seems. By way of a series of recollections and reenactments, we discover, along with the main character, the root of her fantasy. Striking symbolism and powerful prose provide these characters and the audience a pathway to healing.
It is important for women to understand the content of this play because too often we use sex as a way to meet our core needs. We seek to be loved and respected by sexualizing our behavior.

11 Did you write it?
Yes.

12. Not only are your an actress, you are also a playwright. What is that process like?

The process is grueling. It takes me through one extreme to the next. During the process, I am constantly trying to find the balance between freedom and fear. On one hand as I write, the story wants to tell the truth, but the fear of vulnerability and judgment challenges me every step of the way.

13. I understand, that you have taught theater to youth, what advice would you give to mothers and mentors raising teen girls today?

Our teen girls need us and we need them. In the process in helping our teen girls, we help ourselves. When we tell them our truth, our teen girls will mirror the same. I believe it is necessary to remember when we were teens as we raise our girls. The tools we needed to survive are the same our teen girls needs. They need positive affirmation, support, and a safe outlet to tell their truth.

I want to truly thank you for sharing your truth with the world on our blog. I know it ain't easy being open, but thank you for your courage. You are beautiful Miss Legendary Powerhouse :). I celebrate you!

I celebrate you Ms. Clark!

Thank You :) Any final thoughts?

Live, Love and Laugh out Loud!

Nikki Powerhouse is a native of Philadelphia, PA soil. An actress, playwright, poet, nude figured model and freedom dancer are many of her artistic expressions. She began her extensive theater training at the Philadelphia Creative Performing Arts High School, and continued her theater passion at Black Nexxus, Theatre for New Generation, and many theater classes in New York City. Her New York City stage credits includes: Notice Me presented in NYC Fringe Festival, Sex, God, and Heels, Queen Mary of Scotland and Khepera. In Philadelphia she has trained with The New Freedom Theater, and currently in her second year at Community College of Philadelphia and will finish her BFA at Temple University School of Theater Communications. Philadelphia stage credits includes: her one-woman show Fantasy is an Addiction (2005 Philly Fringe Festival), lead role in Antigone, Seven Guitars, Fences, and Merry Wives of Windsor. Ms. Powerhouse's flexibility leaves her audiences captivated by each every performance giving true mean to the name: Powerhouse!

Fantasy is an Addiction
Through a collage of vignettes, Tina, a sex worker, discovers her passion for eroticism is not what it seems. By way of a series of recollections and reenactments, we discover, along with the main character, the root of her fantasy. Striking symbolism and powerful prose provide these characters and the audience a pathway to healing.

Co sponsored by

Sisters' Sanctuary(TM)

and

Valray Productions

The contents of this play is recommended for
Adult Audiences Only.

Saturday, March 29, 2008
3:00pm (Sharp)
In Celebration of Women’s Month
African American Museum
701 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA
Cost- $15 non-members and $7 members

To contact Nikki Powerhouse:
http://www.myspace.com/nicoletray

Nikki Loves

1. Deep Afro-soul house music
2. Freedom Dancing to Jembe drums
3. Writing at nighttime

What Do You Love?


Nikki Powerhouse is an actress, playwright, poet, nude figured model and freedom dancer. She began her extensive theater training at the Philadelphia Creative Performing Arts high school, and continued her theater passion at Black Nexxus, Theatre for New Generation, and many varies theater classes in New York City. Nikki has an upcoming one-woman play sponsored by Sisters' Sanctuary:

Fantasy is an Addiction

***Parental Advisory notice.*** Rated-R

March 29, 2008

Showtime @ 3:00pm

In Celebration of Women’s Month

African American Museum

701 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA

Cost- $15 non-members and $7 members

Temple Sanctuary by Monisha Garner

It’s easy to let yourself go when there is a lot on your plate, but here is a quick idea to pay some attention to yourself:

Start with your hands. By keeping the skin moisturizered, you keep your skin healthy and find time to show yourself some love. Use a richer moisturizer as the weather cools, or lighter if it is becoming warmer.

Monisha Garner is the owner of Moya Body Care is about returning back to our natural state, becoming centered beings and maintaining a balance between a healthy lifestyle and genuine wellness. There mission is to assist in creating a wholistic approach in attaining greatness in life. They offer a combination of Colon Hydrotherapy, Massage Therapy, Yoga and Organic Body Care as well as individualized Wellness Coaching that is designed to empower and move you to take action. Visit www.moyabodycare.com

Big But Do We Really Feeeel Beautiful!

Happy Self-love Day Beautiful People!

I weigh 200+ pounds.

I have been bigger than what the doctor says I should be for the most part of my life (Their standards are European and I am not.)

Except for that period of time in college when I lost a significant amount of weight when I was prompted to exercise three times a week for physical therapy. When I lost the weight, I could shop at an average shop for women. I mean I liked the feeling …it was easy to just go to rack and pick up a size 10 or 12 and keep it moving. But at a size 18 I feel the difference in my energy level in my ability to conquer steps like I used. Don’t get me wrong if you ever see me on the dance floor, you’d think I was I size two. I live in my body and I am not afraid to move it and not just in a sexual way but in a way that says this is me and I AM HERE! You should see my friend Nikki; she is more fluid than I am. I guess this is why I am confused by the BBW (Big Beautiful Women) movement also known as Fat Pride. While I live to see people celebrate themselves, and I want people to feel beautiful from the inside out, something about heavy breathing, fearing steps, and chasing toxic foods full of cholesterol, grease and sugar don’t really seem to celebratory to me.

I was watching a video about a sister who seemed a bit angry because Queen Latifah is now the spokesperson for Jenny Craig as if she sold the BBW community out. I am also truly alarmed by the number of 300lb+women poppin' droppin' and lockin' it and taking it off for the camera on You Tube. Just search BBW on You Tube and you will see what I mean. Historically, greasy and sugary food has been used as a pacifier to sooth our pain, just think of all the repasses you been to. What do we serve? Are we passing around fruit or fudge cake? What would you say if your grand mom gave you an apple instead of an apple pie? I am writing to say , that food and sugar is also an addiction, a way to numb our pain and if we are to truly practice self-love it’s about asking ourselves from a health and spiritual perspective, am I really happy with this weight or have I just learned to tolerate it? When I lay down at night am I really happy with how I feel? Is my attending the BBW conference really pride or place I feel like I belong? Because I do understand that the human spirit needs belonging and kinship.

A true and real question I ‘d like to ask that beautiful sister in Lane Bryant who waddled over to me breathing heavily and who took about three minutes to fold up my clothes is, do you feel like you are thriving or just surviving? Do you feel you are worthy vitality and optimal health? Because at 200+ I feel beautiful, I love being me but I am working on being lighter, not for fashion and image reasons but because life force energy is a beautiful thing, detoxification is a beautiful thing, walking up 5 flights of steps without feeling you’re your heart will explode is a beautiful thing. I deserve that.

Quite frankly when I look at the pictures of me as a size 10, I looked too skinny. But I liked being able to jump up and down on the bed. I still do it now but with more caution. J

When we put the bull horn down, and take off the skinny verses fat mask, when we stop operating in defense mode, when no one is watching, how do we really feel? Is high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, back and knee pain celebratory to you?

All in all, I am wishing us the freedom to be real with ourselves to tell the truth to ourselves even when it hurts. I am praying for our freedom to love our bodies no matter the size but also praying for our courage to know when it’s time to make a change, to know when we are worthy of more. Not through YO YO dieting via Dexatrim, or Appemine or for fitting in a smaller bathing suit but to save or develop the quality of our lives. Our girls are watching.

Happy Self love Day Beautiful People!

Lacey C. Clark!

Founder/Personal Empowerment Coach

Lacey! Loves

• Yerba Mate Herbal Tea
• The recent Philadelphia production of Ain't Misbehavin'
• Aleisha Vaughn
• The Independent Film Channel
• Dj- Louie Vega
• The movie -I Am Legend
  
  

What do you love?

Lacey C. Clark!, an expert in solving the communications challenges between young and older women of color. Her work includes creating the self-love movement and holiday , The Self-Love Celebration Series for female youth of Hip-Hop Generation, The Sisters' Sanctuary Inner Beau-Tea Parties, the workbook/journal, Celebrate HER Now! and the 5 Disc Audio collection, Healing the Gap. Lacey!'s clients include individuals, families, not-for profits, civic organizations and corporations. Lacey's insights heal wounds and bridge the gap created by our changing culture. She has shared stages and platforms with, Jill Scott, Hill Harper, Dr. Sonia Sanchez, Les Brown, and Dr. Robin Smith of the Oprah Winfrey show. Lacey!'s approach has been featured in both local and national media.

Self-Love Tip of the Month

Before you go to bed at night ask yourself, am I happy? If not, what do I NEED to achieve balance, joy and peace of mind? Continue asking yourself the same question until you are blessed with an answer. With patience, it will come.