TED Community » Zane Banyan

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About Me

I just discovered TED. I am slowly trying to take it all in and am left wondering how and why it has come into my life at this very moment. I am excited, and hopeful for the future.

Location:
Canada, Toronto
Current organization:
Government of Canada
Current role:
Trainer / Coach
Gender:
Female
Areas of expertise:
Acting & Theatre, Acting a fool, Comedic acting, stand-up and improv, Hair Products, Speaking and Training
I am:
Concerned citizen, Educator/Teacher, Environmentalist, Foodie, Idea generator, Musician, Performer, Promoter, Public servant, Writer/Editor
Languages:
English, French, Arabic, Spanish
Universities:
University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Member Picture

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Performing, educating people, sharing stories, the power of change.

Comments

  • TEDCred score: +0.30 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

  • A comment on Talk: Thandie Newton: Embracing otherness, embracing myself

    Sep 2 2011: I found this talk to be compelling and identified with it a great deal.
    I, too, have struggled with cultural identity having been born and raised in Canada by Lebanese parents with Muslim faith. I often found myself questioning where I "fit in" as a child. I could not entirely identify with my "Canadian" friends, nor did I see a reflection of myself in my cousins who were slowly immigrating to Canada from the Middle East. Was I Canadian or was I Lebanese? I still struggle with identifying myself even in my adult life, and find myself contemplating simple questions like, "Where are you from?"
    What I found to be most intriguing in Ms Newton's talk was the fact that she said her ability to perform and take on other personas was so easy, or natural for her due to the lack of a "self." I am an actor as well (yes, I used the term actor even though I am female) and have been performing in different capacities since childhood. I had never made the correlation before between my lack of cultural identity and the ease with which I can become someone else entirely, and my ability to do so at such a young age. This has shone a new light on my personal development and I am grateful to have watched this talk, and to Ms Newton for giving it so honestly.

  • A reply on Talk: Thandie Newton: Embracing otherness, embracing myself

    Sep 2 2011: Thank you for clarifying this for titus, ramona. I agree whole-heartedly.
    Perhaps titus, you can elaborate on what you were alluding to in your comment?
  • +2

    A reply on Talk: Joshua Walters: On being just crazy enough

    Sep 2 2011: My improv troupe recently created a game called "There's a Pill For That!" Whereby each member comes up with a rhyming couplet - performed like a rap - detailing some sort of ailiment, short-coming or bad luck they've encountered. Then the rest of the troupe sings the chorus, "There's a pill for that, there's a pill for that! Everybody knows there's a pill for that!" It gets quite ridiculous/amusing, but it's also a reflection on our quick-to-medicate society.
  • +1

    A comment on Conversation: Your life in a Haiku.

    Aug 31 2011: I discovered TED today while doing some research at work. I've been on all morning, trying to take it all in and I know there's a reason why I haven't discovered or heard of it until just now, and I can't wait for that reason to unfold itself to me. Your thread inspired me to create a profile so I could contribute my post!! Thank you!!

    My life is one big
    Perpetual adventure
    And I'm excited

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