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Cruise ship singing star looking forward to going back to sea
By MYRON LOVE After ten years – literally – at sea, it should come as no surprise that Winnipeg-based cruise ship entertainer Rochelle Kives is missing the life aquatic.
“I love to travel and working on cruise ships has been part of my life for so many years,” she notes.
That is not to say though that the daughter of David and Margarita Kives is unhappy being at home again.
Since deciding that she and her husband, Ruslan Rusin, wanted to raise their family (including four-year-old Paulina) in Winnipeg, the mezzo soprano and her musician husband – his instrument is the upright bass – have found plentiful opportunities in Winnipeg. Kives has appeared with both the Winnipeg and the Regina Symphony Orchestras, singing the role of Bloody Mary in the two orchestras’ tribute to “South Pacific”. She has also been featured in Dry Cold Production’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman”. She has also had roles in the Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Shakespeare Festival of “Elizabeth Rex” and Manitoba Theatre for Young People’s presentation of “Year in the Life of Frog and Toad” and had appeared pre-Covid in Rainbow Stage’s staging of “Ma-Buhay” – a celebration of Filipino talent in our city. (Kives’ mother is of Filipino origin.)
She notes that her husband has also worked with the WSO and RSO and was involved in the MTYP “Year in the Life of Frog and Toad”.
The couple are looking forward to their first live concert since pre-Covid days. That would be the final concert in the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre’s summer outdoor concert series (“Live from the Lot”) on August 25th ( with shows scheduled for 11:00 and 1:00.
Kives will be singing songs from Broadway, compositions from Rodgers and Hammerstein and numbers made popular by Barbra Streisand. Kives and Rusin will be joined on stage by Renate Rossol on keyboard.
Kives further reports that she and Rusin are part of Prairie Heart, a cover band, and are available for bookings.
“Being able to perform with my husband means a lot to me,” she says.
In addition to stage work, Kives has become involved in film and digital productions. She workshopped with the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre to produce a digital filming of, “Precipice”, a story written by Winnipegger Primrose Madayag Knazan about a Filipino girl’s journey of conversion from Catholicism to Judaism (as did Kives’ mother), trying to determine if she in converting for herself or her partner.
She has also participated in an MTC film production for the Manitoba Museum for Human Rights – working with Rob Paterson – entitled “Where.Are.You.From” – also written by Primrose Madayag Knazan – about identity, racism and how to deal with it.
And she has been teaching yoga and barre (a fusion of yoga and pilates) for the past few years.
Her first love however remains singing.
Kives began taking singing lessons at the age of nine and made her debut at Rainbow Stage in 1997 in a production of “South Pacific”. Raised in River Heights, she graduated from Grant Park High and the performing art program at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario.
“I was grinding it out in Toronto in 2007 – dealing with the challenges of being young and adjusting to living in a new city when I learned that auditions were being held for singers for a cruise ship. There were hundreds at the audition but I was hired.”
She recalls that for the first month on board, she was constantly seasick and second-guessing her choice, but, after that initial period, she never experienced seasickness again.
Initially, she worked strictly for the Norwegian and Celebrity Cruise Lines but has since sailed at one time or another with all the major cruise lines.
In winters, she says, the cruises generally would start out from Fort Lauderdale or Miami, in summers from Rome, Athens or Southampton in England.
“I have been all over the world and learned so much from working on cruise ships,” she says. “I became a more versatile performer. I can sing in a variety of styles. I picked up choreography very quickly. I had to learn how to perform on rocking and rolling ships.
“Most important of all was that I met my husband when he came on board in the Baltic. We worked several cruises together while developing a shipboard romance. We married in 2014.”
Kives notes that for most of her time at sea, she was working on long-term contracts and she and the other cast members were essentially considered members of the crew. As such, there were certain rules, including living in crew quarters, wearing name tags and limiting interaction with the passenger/guests.
“I did develop some friendships with guests over time, though,” she reports. “But my best friends were among the other performers.”
She explains that each show generally consisted of four singers, ten dancers and four acrobats.
And she would be able to get off at ports during shore leave whereas certain other crew members’ jobs required them to stay on board at all times.
She notes that on longer cruises, she would be doing only three shows with theme nights filling in the other evenings.
Kives says that the longest period that she was at sea was for a year and the last major contract that she signed as a crew member was in 2015. In 2016, she and a couple of colleagues working under the name “Unique Three” have developed a show that combines Broadway numbers, Soul and Rock.
“Now, we take on short term contracts as guest artists,” she says. “We are working on tweaking our show and looking forward to being back at sea by the end of the year.”
Features
BOOK REVIEW: “Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege”
Reviewed by MURRAY BENDER “Thinking on your feet”—quickly defending a position in a coherent, persuasive manner—is a situation that many people find challenging and stressful. “If only I had said this.” or “Why didn’t I say that?” Hindsight is always 20-20.
Following the Hamas atrocities of October 7, 2023, it has become increasingly necessary for diaspora Jews to “think on their feet” as they unwittingly face a barrage of tough, sometimes hateful, questions about Jews and their Israeli homeland.
Why is Israel committing genocide in Gaza? Why doesn’t Israel return the land it has stolen from Palestinians? Why are Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian farmers? How is Israel different from apartheid South Africa? Why can’t I criticize Israel without being called antisemitic? Is it true that Jews control the world? The list of potential questions is nearly endless.
Engage or hide? This is the difficult choice that confronts Jews as they look to deal with anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli behaviour. Fortunately, author and journalist Melanie Phillips comes to the rescue with her practical and insightful book, Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege.
According to Phillips, the dilemma has no single answer. “People need to decide how to behave in accordance not just with the specific circumstances but also with their own attributes and limitations.”
Some regard engagement with their opponents as a sacred duty. “They believe it is a betrayal of the Jewish people not to uphold Israel’s case.” Ohers may be uncomfortable with such a direct approach, but “those who decide to keep their heads down and avoid any altercation may well find that this leaves them with a permanent sense of regret and even failure,” she says.
As a result, it’s probably a good idea to adopt some sort of balance. And that’s where Phillips’ 150-page handbook comes in.
She starts by providing context around the “crisis of legitimacy and acceptance” from which Jews are reeling post-October 7. On the basis of extensive conversations with Jews from across the U.S., Britain and Australia, the author found that many “were near stupefied by the terrifying hatred and irrationality that was unfolding around them.” Again and again, they asked: “What should we do? What can we do?”
In response, Phillips offers a pragmatic approach to help prepare for the inevitable conversations, including a number of key principles:
- Get smart rather than emotional
- Stop playing defence
- Find common ground
- Be positive and confident
- Keep physically safe
Based on these overarching criteria, she provides an extensive list of quick and clever retorts to a range of different situations, emphasizing that “it’s our duty to our children and grandchildren to fight for truth and justice.”
So, the next time it is necessary to “think on their feet,” diaspora Jews will be able to respond quickly and confidently to those difficult questions about themselves and Israel. And they can thank Melanie Phillips for coming to the rescue.
Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege by Melanie Phillips is available online from Amazon and Indigo.
Features
ESports Meets Casinos: Overview of Bet Sport Gaming
ESports has become part of the interactive entertainment of online casinos. In fact, many fans already have the opportunity to use Dragonia Casino Bet Sport options while watching the matches of their favorite teams. The hybrid entertainment model opens up many possibilities and increases audience engagement. When video games intersect with betting, it creates a unique collaboration where participants have the opportunity to get a completely new experience right in their own home. At the same time, you can continue to enjoy the usual viewing of familiar tournaments and competitions.
How ESports and Casinos Interconnect
ESports has become a multi-billion-dollar industry that attracts spectators. Traditional casinos are focused on luck. But now they are introducing additional methods of encouraging their customers. Among such options, eSports events deserve special attention. Such bet sport offers combine the usual excitement with an element of competition. The structure of the casino entertainment provides participants with the opportunity to test their skills and reveal their own hidden talents. There are several forms of integration of eSports mechanics into the structure of a classic online casino:
- Competitive betting. Online casinos provide the opportunity to bet on eSports tournaments, which is similar to the usual sports betting. In addition, the possibilities are significantly expanded compared to simple viewing platforms.
- Skill-based casino games. Games inspired by eSports encourage players to actively participate in what is happening on the screen. The games reward the player’s results with certain prizes.
- Interactive arenas. Some casinos broadcast eSports events in real time. This allows players to follow the games directly online, which creates a feeling of real participation in familiar entertainment.
- Cross-platform interaction. Online casinos are introducing eSports-style leaderboards and achievements to attract more participants.
Such innovations appeal to new participants. Cultural changes are part of the development of the infrastructure of the classic casino, and eSports fans find a new environment for entertainment and communication.
Growth of ESports Betting
Global eSports revenue in 2025 exceeded $1.5 billion. Each bet sport option has made a significant contribution to the development. Surveys show that over 60% of players will express interest in betting on eSports, which reflects the demand and the need to develop an updated infrastructure for participation.
ESports events attract 15-20% more new participants compared to conventional casinos. The eSports betting market will exceed $20 billion by 2027, according to analysts’ forecasts, which encourages new participants to more actively watch tournaments and participate in various types of activity.
Why Fans Choose ESports
Bet sport gambling is gaining popularity. This is due to several reasons. For example, large casinos in Las Vegas and Macau now host full-fledged eSports tournaments alongside traditional entertainment. Venues are also experimenting with separate fan zones where sports betting and classic gambling are available.
Some of the most popular eSports disciplines are League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Some online casinos even introduce eSports mechanics into slots so that players can try something new.
In short, the intersection of eSports and casinos is a natural development of the industry. Competitive play and an optimized betting system create a comfortable environment for true fans who want to diversify their leisure time.
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Card Game Traditions: Complete Review from Casino Online Lolajack Experts
Card games have been around for centuries. They are constantly evolving and improving. For example, there are now many different formats of online games available. On sites like casino online Lolajack https://Lolajack.com/ca/, you can choose a title according to your preferences and skills. The traditions of card games date back to ancient times. To better show yourself, it is worth familiarizing yourself with these features. This way, you will gain experience, have a good time, and get acquainted with something completely new.
Roots of Card Games
Card games directly reflect cultural identity. They have a unique mathematical structure and thoughtful moves that make even professionals think. Depending on the tradition, the rules differ, but the basic principles always remain similar. Each game has a unique origin:
- Poker. It originated in the USA back in the 19th century. During its existence, many variations of gameplay have appeared. It combines risk, strategy, and psychology; therefore, it requires high skill from each player.
- Baccarat. This game has ancient origins. It appeared in the 15th century in Italy, after which it spread throughout Europe. Now it is the basis of any operator like casino online Lolajack.
- Rimmy and bridge. Card games require the cooperation of participants, so coordinated communication is important here.
- Blackjack. This is the perfect combination of skill and chance. The player needs to learn to make decisions quickly and monitor the circumstances.
Card games have their own origins and characteristics. Currently, they are an integral part of any online casino, offering a wide range of opportunities for participants.
Why Card Games Are So Popular
Experts from casino online Lolajack emphasize the importance of card games in many cultures. For example, poker remains the leader for a reason. There are more than 100 million active players worldwide who compete and work on their skills. Blackjack also does not lag behind the trends. The level of participation exceeds 40% of regular online casino users.
Every year, the level of online card games grows by 10%. This is possible due to digitalization and increased player awareness. In addition, seasonal events also increase the involvement of participants during peak periods.
Traditions of Card Games
Unique events attract the attention of fans. For example, the World Series of Poker attracts not only participants but also millions of viewers around the world. Sites such as casino online Lolajack also give participants the opportunity to try their hand and compete with professionals.
Baccarat is associated with high stakes. This is especially noticeable among the Asian audience, who like to put probability theory into practice. Blackjack also has an appeal among math lovers. The probabilities of the model and observations directly affect the decisions of players. Online casinos strive to ensure that participants have the opportunity to communicate and find an activity option according to their own preferences.
As a result, card games remain the true leaders of the gambling market. They not only entertain, but also develop attention, perseverance, and social skills. A large selection of various variations of classic games allows you to choose the version that suits your preferences. Developers do not lag behind trends and do everything possible to surprise fans.