LADIES STEP OUT TO BATTLE BREAST CANCER                          

The Ottawa Sun, Wednesday, July 16, 2003; Page 40

by Allan Wigney

It's a provocative title. 

And Ana Miura reveals it was originally to be called "Babes for Boobs."  But if calling an event "babes for Breasts" guarantees a certain amount of attention, Miura has done her job.

"The idea came out of being at open mics almost every week adn being usually only one of two girls there," Miura says of the origins of Friday's show at Cafe Dekcuf.

"I thought it’d would be great if we could get more girls out, because th eons who were coming out were amazing. And what a way to showcase local female talent – by supporting a local charity.”

VICTIM SUPPORT

            The Charity Miura, Rhonda Stakich, Julie Perrault, Lindsay Ferguson and Seismic’s Sarah DeLuca are supporting is Breast Cancer Action, a volunteer-driven organization that offers support to those affected by breast cancer. 

            Located near Mooney’s Bay, BCA’s office houses a support center and dispenses information about the disease to women and men. 

            Miura admits she only recently learned of the 11-year-old organization, through a cancer-stricken neighbour.

            “I figured if I’ve never heard of it, most people haven’t,” Miura suggests.  “It’s a great organization; it helps on the people level.

            “And everybody’s had to deal with cancer.  I’ve been wearing the pink ribbon for years and thought if I’m wearing the ribbon I should be doing something for it, for the community.”

            There will be information about Breast Cancer Action available at Friday’s show (you can also consult the website at www.bcaott.ca or call 736-5921), but Miura stresses the evening has a dual purpose – which brings us back to her interest in bringing local female artists to a greater audience. 

            “It’s funny,” she says, “because when I was asking people on the scene for women – solo acts, singer-songwriters- they were usually saying the same people.  They couldn’t think of anybody else. 

            LIVEN THINGS UP

            “So I thought this kind of proves a point that I should be doing this, because nobody can think of a name right off the bat, or they can think of the same one or two names and then come up dry.

            “I thought, let’s liven up the scene a little and get some more women out there.”

            Women like: Perrault, a promising singer-songwriter who has organized and performed at previous breast-cancer benefits; the versatile DeLuca, who is usually found at the front of local faves Seismic; Stakich, a Toronto-based artist who dabbles in jazz, country and reggae; and Ferguson, whose powerhouse vocals are married to gentle melodies.

            Of course, opening the proceedings at 9 p.m. will be Miura, the expressive singer-songwriter who has juggled being mom to a two-year-old with the multitude of duties surrounding the concert. 

            Miura will be accompanied by pianist John Gillies at Friday’s show and admits she will likewise not be working alone should she attempt to organize another benefit. 

‘HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTEST’

            “I didn’t even want to be on the bill,” Miura says.

            “I didn’t think it was appropriate.  But Bryan (Ruckstuhl, Café Dekcuf Owner) talked me into it. 

            “So I’ll be going on first, then running around making sure things are going smoothly and being the ‘hostess with the mostest.’”