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WEST VALLEY VIEW NEWS | SEPTEMBER 1, 2021
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Ballet hosting auditions for ‘The Nutcracker’ BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF
S
outhwest Ballet Theatre, in partnership with Estrella Mountain Community College, is seeking dancers ages 5 to adult for four performances of its seventh annual “Nutcracker” production. Dancers will share the stage with professional guest artists in the holiday classic.
This year’s production will be under the artistic direction of Tasha Stramecki. “We are very excited to return to the stage at EMCC after a year away,” Stramecki said. “We are planning a show that will delight new audience members but also surprise our returning patrons.” Dancers can audition at EMCC’s Perform-
ing Arts Center from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11. All information — including group times, fees, dress code and ballet class requirements — is available at swbtballet.org/ performances/auditions. Auditioning dancers must reserve a space online prior to Sept. 11. Adults with acting experience who are
interested in participating in this year’s production should contact Southwest Ballet at admin@swbtballet.org. Performances are Thursday, Dec. 16, to Sunday, Dec. 19, at EMCC’s Performing Arts Center, located at 3000 N. Dysart Road, Avondale. Tickets go on sale online Friday, Oct. 1.
Entrepreneurs hope to raise customers’ self-esteem
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI West Valley View Executive Editor
L
orenzo Carson was working as a plumber when he met Taqee Zareef on a job in the Bay Area. Carson, of Avondale, wished he could spend more time at home with his family, as plumbing is a 24/7 job. He found
Zareef felt he same. In February, the duo took a leap of faith and invested in CG Essentials, a selfcare company that they say improves self-confidence. It launched in April. “We’re big on family,” Carson said. “Back when we were working as plumbers, it was so time consuming. We want
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to do well and make money and be comfortable, but not at the expense of spending time with our kids and families. “We have always been clean-cut men, and putting these grooming kits together is right up our alley.” Zareef said CG Essen- Lorenzo Carson and Taqee Zareef founded CG Essentials’ products are rare in tials so they could spend more time with their children. that men do not usually see (Photo courtesy of CG Essentials) grooming kits just for them. pand their business, but they’re happy Products range from a $4.49 Dip’N with the success they’ve had so far. They Du-Rag to a $90 Boss Bundle, a collec- are working on having CG Essentials tion of men’s grooming products on CG products in Walmart, Target and beauty Essentials’ website. salons. Perfume, edge control, beauty blenders “People are telling us how much they and cuticle oil are among the popular prod- love it,” Carson added. “We do it all at ucts for women. Their products are even home, which allows us to spend time named after their children to show their with our family and kids. We’re going to commitment to building a more splendid their basketball games and practices. It future — not only for their children but also opened a whole new world for us.” for the Black community. For instance, Zareef added, “It takes people years to some of their products are named Iyana’s be able to do it, to experience some of Edge Control, Love Aliya Perfume, Lay- this stuff. In a couple months’ time, it’s la’s Luxury Lip Balm and Carson Cuticle been amazing. We’re still really humble Oil. “The edge control is our top seller, to about it.” be honest,” Carson said. “It allows them to Zareef and Carson are in CG Essentame and style their edges.” tials for the long haul. The now-former plumbers — or “This is definitely not a get-rich-quick “house doctors,” as Carson said — enjoy scheme,” Carson said. “It’s more for the creativity and the opportunities that our families. It we were really worried come with CG Essentials. about the money, we would have stayed “It’s the same rush I used to get when I in plumbing. It’s a fruitful job. But with was plumbing,” Zareef said. time, you can’t get it back with your Zareef and Carson would love to ex- kids. That is our No. 1 priority.”
