Gritty Girls in Action!

Summer Camp 2012 Registration CLOSED!

Gritty Girl Summer Camp 2012

New Location: Downtown Fort Lauderdale

Only twelve spots available
Girls in grades 5 - 12 (minimum age 10 years old)

First Session:

June 11th- 22nd M-F 9- 4PM

before and aftercare available

$175./week or $45./Day

Can do one week or both

Curriculum:   Songwriting 101, Voice, Guitar, Drums, Acting

        Intro to Fashion Design and Modeling

Fieldtrip to Broward Center for Perf Arts for a backstage tour

________________________________________________________________________________

Second Session: Gritty Girl Professional Ensemble

By Audition only (Auditions on May 5th 10 AM-12 PM and by appointment) Please prepare a monologue. If you sing or play an instrument please prepare a song.  

Camp Dates: August 6th-18th M-F 9- 6 PM and Saturdays, 10- 4PM

(Includes mandatory attendance at Saturday GG Labs (10 AM- 12 PM) prior to camp, starting May 12th - Aug 4th excluding June 16th and July 7th Fourth of July weekend. Some conflicts acceptable to be discussed at beginning of process: Also included are the Saturdays following the camp leading to show date of September 15th. These are:  August 25th, Sept 1st and Sept 8th Times: TBA)

Curriculum:   Acting; Songwriting; Music Performance

This is a unique opportunity to be part of the development of an original world premiere play to be performed on Saturday, September 15th at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. 

Cost:  Camp $375.

            Production Fee $50

15 Saturday Labs FREE 

Fieldtrip to Broward Center for Perf Arts for a backstage tour

This opportunity is sponsored in part by the Broward County Cultural Division and the Arts Access Program at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. 

Dec 19th - 23rd Holiday Camp Registration Now Open!

Calling all Gritty Girls, 5th Grade and up!!!

JOIN US for a one-week HOLIDAY CAMP for girls in the creative arts!

December 19th- 23rd
9:00 AM -4:00 PM
(Open 8:30 AM; Late pick-up available)

Sing Your Heart out! Speak your 'peace'! Make Music!
Strike a Pose! Write and act for the the theatre! Create empowering visual art!

No Experience Required

LOCATION:
4161 NW 43rd St
Coconut Creek, Fl 33073
COST: $45./Day or $175. /Week
(Sibling discount available)

Music, Acting, Modeling, Spoken Word, Fashion design, & Visual Arts!!!

The only missing ingredient: YOU!

Calling all Gritty Girls!!!
We want YOU! : )

For more info please call Michelle at (305) 951-9054
or email grittygirl@gmail.com

December 10th Gritty Girl Open House!

You are Invited to a
Gritty Girl Open House!

Saturday, December 10th, 1-3 PM
4161 NW 43rd St
Coconut Creek, Fl 33073
*Light Refreshments served *Bring your best girlfriends!

Calling all Grittygirls, 5th Grade and up!!!

JOIN US for an open house at our music and acting studios for girls interested in the creative arts!

Sing Your Heart out! Speak your 'peace'! Make Music!
Strike a Pose! Write and act for the the theatre! Create empowering visual art!

No experience required. Only a love of the arts! Bring a song, a poem, a monologue, or
a piece of artwork you made... if you'd like to share it for fun!

Music, Acting, Modeling, Spoken Word, Fashion Design, & Visual Arts!!!

The only missing ingredient: YOU and your girlfriends!

What is a Grittygirl? Grittygirl is a spirited, fierce truth-teller. She is courageous and resolute, honoring her word and her body. A young woman of integrity, high self-esteem and clear boundaries, she is respectful of others, loving, ethical, and kind. She is a leader, a role-model, and a trusted volunteer in her community. Balancing creativity and critical thinking, she is emotionally intelligent and makes effective decisions.

For more information, contact Michelle Riu at 305-951-9054
or e-mail grittygirl@gmail.com.

Summer Camp Highlights 2011

Project Grittygirl!

Create empowering visual art projects! Sing your heart out! Tell the world what inspires you on camera! Write and perform original songs in a pop rock band of your own creation!

Calling all Grittygirls!!!

GrittyGirl workshops use original curriculum to help teenage girls and young women find their voice through the learning of basic acting, poetry-writing, and music skills, as well as through an educational campaign that highlights famous and forgotten women and heroine archetypes as powerful role models.

 

For more info call Michelle Riu at 305-951-9054 

or email at grittygirl@gmail.com

Gritty Girls Create with Kristie Stephenson (Visual Art) and Michelle Maniaci (Belly Dancing); Poetry by Michelle Riu

CALLING ALL GRITTYGIRLS!!!

For more info or to enroll
Please call Marilyn at (954) 732-3345, or Michelle at (954) 467-8460
or email grittygirl@gmail.com

The term 'Grittygirl' and the Grittygirl logo are registered to Michelle Riu

Video of Gritty Girl's Camp Highlights, 2009

These girls are amazing!!!

This Work of Women, by Shiloh McCloud

Here's an empowering excerpt from one of my favorite artsists, Shiloh McCloud:

This Work of Women

Yes. It is time for a revolution in women and path, women and money, women and business, women and art, women and marketplace. We do not choose to give our work of any kind away for nothing. We are not starving or frivolous artists. We are creators whose creations save lives, heal the world, heal wounds. This work of women, preistesses and practicioners of every kind is VISIONARY WORK.

Your work is vital. Essential. Needed. This work of women must include creating livelihood. This is not easy, quick, fun, nor likely. This is not accepted or encouraged. But this is what we must do:

Cause an abundance revolution.

We must create our own path.

We must create our own money.

We must create art.

We must create our own marketplace.

We must be compensated.

We are creating our own mystical cosmic luminous overflowing BANK. A bank that does not cause, contribute or condone the suffering of others for profit. A woman's bank. Believe it. Create it. Deposit into it. Draw from it. Invite other women to it. Enter the income stream in your little golden boat and dream and work and pray and play and do not stop. Keep going. It will almost always seem inpossible. But we will make miracles. Miracles are organizing themselves around our dreams, our work, right now.

Believe it.

Shiloh Sophia McCloud 2005

Gritty Girl's Empowerment Program Makes NEWS!!!

Here's the latest on our growing GrittyGirl Program for girls:

Dear Friends!

I'm exited to share this article in the Herald with you: GrittyGirl Music Girl's Empowerment The summer program was so successful, we are continuing into the schoolyear with Saturday sessions. Please email me or call 954-467-8460 for more info.

Onward and upwards!

Michelle Riu
Gritty Girl Music
www.grittygirl.com

Project Grittygirl!

Create empowering visual art projects! Sing your heart out! Tell the world what inspires you on camera! Write and perform original songs in a pop rock band of your own creation!

Calling all Grittygirls!!!

GrittyGirl workshops use original curriculum to help teenage girls and young women find their voice through the learning of basic acting, poetry-writing, and music skills, as well as through an educational campaign that highlights famous and forgotten women and heroine archetypes as powerful role models.

 

For more info call Michelle Riu at 305-951-9054 

or email at grittygirl@gmail.com

Calling all Grittygirls!!!

Calling all Grittygirls!!! Ages 11-14

JOIN US for a two-week pilot summer camp for girls in the creative arts!

Sing your heart out!
Write and perform original songs in a pop rock band of your own creation!
Tell the world what inspires you on camera!
Create empowering visual art!

No prior experience necessary!

This is a unique opportunity exclusive to only 15 girls, ages 11- 14.
Don't miss out!!!

July 13-17th, 20-24th
9:00AM -4:00PM

LOCATION: Oasis Ranch
Coconut Creek/Coral Springs Area (Near Lyons and Wiles Road)

COST: $150./week

Music, Drama, Visual Arts, & TV production!!!

The only missing ingredient: Your daughters, your sisters, your friends, YOU!

What is a Grittygirl? Grittygirl is a spirited, fierce truth-teller. She is courageous and resolute, honoring her word and her body. A young woman of integrity, high self-esteem and clear boundaries, she is respectful of others, loving, ethical, and kind. She is a leader, a role-model, and a trusted volunteer in her community. Balancing creativity and critical thinking, she is emotionally intelligent and makes effective decisions.

Calling all Grittygirls!!!
We want YOU! : )

For more info or to enroll
Please call Marilyn at (954) 732-3345, or Michelle at (305) 951-9054
or email
michelleriu@grittygirl.com

The term 'Grittygirl' and the Grittygirl logo are registered to Michelle Riu

A New Mythology

I have the stoic spirit of Rosa Parks
I have the warrior heart of Joan of Arc.
I am as brilliant as I am dark
And you ain't even seen me start

I come from a long line of African Queens
My truth is the truth of Ma’at.
I come to claim my Kemet Kingdom
Now give me back what you got.

You see I traced my history,
I finally understood
Now give me back my priestess power
take your virgin-motherhood.

I am as beautiful as the Queen of Sheba
as raging as Kali
As sensual as the poet Sappho
as silent as the Furies…

I am as fiery as Brigit,
I’m the one who said no
I’m Lillith, I’m Nefertiti
and so many more you don’t know.

I am Judith, I am Esther, I am Deborah, I am Ruth
I am Nepthys, I am Hathor, I am Isis, I am Nut

I am the primordial Goddess, the first and the last
Some call me Gaia, some call me Tiamat

I am as independent as Artemis,
as whole and as fierce
And though you break through my hymen
my ‘virginity’ You can NEVER pierce.

I have the stamina of Eleanor, the guts of the Virgin Queen
I have the boldness of Hathsheput, and the strategy of Athene

I have the vision of Cady Stanton, the resoluteness of Susan B
I have the integrity of Dido, the depth of Proserpine

I am as wise as Sophia, as fruitful as Demetre,
I am as well-learned as hypatia, and man, would I have liked to meet her!

I am Inanna, I am Ishtar, I am Theodora, and Cybele,
Though I stand before you calling myself Michelle

i am evreywoman no matter how my name is spelled...

i am evreywoman no matter how my name is spelled.


in honor of women's history month, by m. riu

First female to run for US president

Why didn't we hear more about this during the election? So cool...

Check it out!

Sacred Sexuality

He did it! Someone finally did it! Just moments ago during the final presidential debate Obama mentioned the Violence Against Women Act (See post below) when qualifying Joe Biden as his choice for running mate. Not only that. He also said something really amazing: While  speaking to the difficulty of ever reconciling the two opposing views on abortion, he acknowledged that it IS possible to find some middle ground. For instance, both sides agree that no one is ever FOR abortion itself, and that reducing unintended pregnancies is key. Then he said it. The amazing thing. He said that if we could get people to realize that sexuality is sacred we could help reduce unintended pregnancies. Talk about changing the culture of this country- as John McCain had just said we need to do- in the opposite direction, of course. A country who was built on puritanical values and mores definitely could use some overhauling when it comes to sexuality- and it isn't in the traditional sex for procreation direction either. The implication of sexuality as sacred reminds more of the eastern tantric approach, and sounds a lot more appealing than abstinence, that's for sure. (We don't have to look further than Palin's own daughter to see THAT doesn't work.) Wow. Imagine a leader who is candid and responsible about sexuality? The implications here- especially for women- are huge. Not to mention the wonderful modeling of a healthy married couple the Obamas provide, as described in the recent article by relationship gurus, Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks. Read here to smile. This is getting better all the time. : )

Where are the women?

Maybe this is kind of heavy for a first entry, but it's heavy on my mind, mostly because I can't believe it isn't being talked about- at all- from what I've seen. Recently, I've been doing a lot of research about leadership, particularly women in leadership. I'm sure you can imagine why. And in searching for what's going on with women these days- in media, in politics, in education, in spirituality-here in the USA and abroad, I came across a disturbing site dedicated to stopping the stoning to death of women. Yes, in addition to gender mutilation, stoning to death and even live burials continue to be practiced in certain cultures under the protective veil of religious authority. While this makes me sick at heart, I am pleasantly surprised to learn about the International Violence Against Women Act waiting approval in the United States Senate. What absolutely floors me is that it was co-developed by none other than Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden! Why then, oh why, I ask myself, is no one- not even he- talking about it?! At a time when the Obama camp is trying to win over Hillary supporters and McCain chooses a woman as his running mate, why is no one talking about important issues specific to women? Not even Biden who is obviously engaged in this reform against violence toward women, and could easily have used it to reach out to us, makes mention of it. To me it is clear that A. We are not well-enough informed on these issues, B. The policy makers themselves do not understand the significance of these issues- not even in their potential for securing votes, and C. Perhaps saddest of all, is that the majority of women ourselves do not understand the real impact of living in a world in which more than half of the population is not equally represented in important decision-making. This situation affirms for me what seems obvious: That until there are more women in leadership positions, there will be few who advocate for them, perhaps out of sheer ignorance. You can support the passage of the International Violence Against Women Act here.