Great Creative Moments
About
Dependable, Flexible, Affordable and Professional. In association with the Red River Actors-West, Great Creativie Moments can make a distinct impact on your dreams, bringing you closer to them than ever before. Perhaps even helping to make them come true.
With 45 years experience in performance, on stage and on film, Gia Catherine Motti brings a unique and well-trained sense of adventure to learning.
When she was a ballroom dance instructor, she had a student who had never danced in his life, he had never taken even one lesson before. But he wanted to learn. Within two months, he was entering tournaments, often winning 2nd and 3rd place, having never competed before. He went from thinking he had three left feet, to being a champion under her wing.
Because "can't" is not allowed. Too many people tell themselves they can't do something, when they should be saying "I can't do it YET." Give yourself a chance! It CAN be done.
I love sharing the joy of dance and the creative arts. The look in their eyes when they discover they were wrong when they told themselves they "can't" dance - discovering that they can indeed dance - I love it! Then they want more, just like I did, way back when. And I love to help them discover more.
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I interview a new student to see what they really are interested in, then I formulate a plan to bring that about. As we implement the plan, we can make adjustments as needed, but with the goal firmly in front of us.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Gia began performing as a dancer at the age of 7 (1972), under Madame Barbara Rudenko, in Santa Barbara, CA, training and performing with her for 17 years. She also began writing at the age of 10. She began a modeling career in 1989, and added the joy of Renaissance Faire to her repertoire from 1994-1998, developing 3 complete characters, from peasant to noble. In 2007 Gia enhanced her writing with screenwriting feature films and shorts. In March of 2008, she started worked with Cristal Clear Pictures, on the Dazy Dayz pilot.
She has filmed a minor role in The Hurting Kind with Glen Grefe, and is a Core member of the Red River Actors Workshop (RRA) developing various roles and screenplays, including becoming founder of the Red River Actors-West (RRAW), in Santa Barbara, CA, an affiliated acting community. And she has performed the lead role in Dreamboats, directed and produced by Cervantes Reck in 2009. She had another lead role in Don Juan in Chicago, directed by Cervantes Reck.
In 2011, she took the full course in commercial acting from Mike Pointer. She was also a member of the Gems of Cairo Belly Folkloric Dance troupe. Currently developing her web series, The LLC.
She is also an experienced graphic/web designer and writer/editor, with Great Creative Moments, which she has owned and operated for over 20 years. For samples of her design work, see GreatCreativeMoments.com, for her acting work, see RedRiverActors-West.com.
How did you get started teaching?
In 1990, I had the luck of being trained to teach Ballroom Dance, trained by a national champion. That teaching bug goes with me everywhere.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with the young and the old, the shy and the bold. It doesn't matter who you are, only where you're going, and how far!
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
When I went back to college in 2012, I had the chance to take dance classes again, especially tap, which I hadn't taken since 1979. I was in a class with 40 students, almost all of them half my age. What a thrill! I loved the energy and the passion. And after only 2 classes into the semester, the teacher said I could be in her Ensemble class, which is usually only for those who audition. But she said I didn't have to audition, she could see right away that I was perfect for it. She said this in front of the other students who did have to audition, and they didn't mind! They loved the idea that we could work together. It was a blast! Our show not only sold out, it got standing ovations.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Look for a teacher that is interested in you as a person, and has an unending passion for what they teach. Look not only for professional training and actual performance history, but also for a willingness to learn themselves.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
One of the first questions I ask a potential student is, "What would you like to accomplish with lessons like these? Do you want to be on the stage, performing? Or do you simply wish to experience the joy of it, and further your own personal growth?" Both are fine.
Another question I ask is, "What is your learning style? Are you a visual learner, who can look at something then do it with a fair amount of competency, or are you a physical learner who must practice a lot? Either way is fine, but it does also beg the question of how much time are you willing to put in to practice (even visual learners needs some practice) to get it right.