“My Journey to Hawaii”

Back in the late 90’s as I was heading over the Pali Hwy. to perform Magic and Face Paint at a birthday party, I was blessed with a double rainbow. That evening I called Dad in Minnesota to ask if he ever saw the Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow. His answer totally changed my thinking! He said The Pot of Gold is actually at the beginning of the Rainbow, not on the End because it is the Tools of Life that one is born with. If used wisely, hopefully there will be some left for family & others.

As I write About Me, I finally recognize and acknowledge my Tools at birth blessed my path. I was endowed with possibilities, aptitude, attitude, diligence, humor and curiosity for a very exciting Journey that eventually landed me in Hawaii. How lucky I was born healthy to wonderful parents. They bravely left their small farm towns for The Big City. They knew to be frugal, disciplined and appreciative of everything. When I was 2 years old, with the GI Bill, we moved to a new superb outside Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dad disciplined us three siblings with “stink” eye, not with hand or yelling. Mom was soft love with charm and grace. On Sundays after Church, we drove to country road stands to buy fresh fruits and veggies. Dad and his cousin slaughtered meat to store in our basement freezer. With three square meals a day plus Mom’s wonderful baked sweets stored high on the attic stairway, we were rich. Mom had a green thumb, I raided the neighbor’s lilac bushes. To this day, my upbringing nurtured my love to create floral arrangements at my home. Dinner and bedtime prayers along with Church every Sunday embedded rituals of thankfulness. All through childhood I sang in the church choir and played piano for Sunday school. My appreciation for music, theatrical pageants and candle light aesthetics were Church founded. Ronnie Nelson, Church choir director and his wife Betty remain an inspiration to me to this day.

I remember Mom told me she only had a 2nd grade education. At the age of 16 she left the farm to work as a Nanny for a wealthy doctor. She was self taught and I was learning with her. Dad had just enough skill and desire to attend the Minneapolis School of Business. My parents planted the seeds in me to be steadfast, do my chores, study hard, work hard, be thankful, be proud, love humor and play hard. We signed up at free Recreation Centers and learned to swim at Red Cross. Tennis was my game from 8th grade until now. Summer at the beach was the best. I think I was about 4 years old when I believed I was floating on my back. I ran up the sandy knoll to tell my parents I could float. Dad came down to see and had a little chuckle knowing my bottom was touching the bottom in about 6 inches of water. He was so proud of me. In Kindergarten I announced that Dad worked at Skippy Peanut Butter stepping on peanuts to make peanut butter. All the kids loved my story, the teacher smiled and our relatives received Skippy Peanut Butter every Christmas. I packed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch all the way through high school to trade to others for theirs. I still love Skippy.

Swimming and tennis were meant to be major Keys to My Life. In synchronized swimming in high school and college I placed 1st and 2nd place at State competitions. How I managed to hold my breath under water still amazes me. My tools molded me to practice, practice, practice daily after school. Sally Davis, our incredible swim coach, pushed us to challenge our bodies to succeed. Minnesota winters were extreme. No matter how cold it was, us kids were sent outside to ice skate, build snowmen and ice houses and did cross country skiing in the majestic river beds and golf courses. These year round experiences I remain so grateful. I thank my parents for everything. Their blessings, the tools they gifted me, carried me on an unexpected life path. My achievements, my talents, my adventures were made possible with their guidance to persevere with passion, compassion and a daring curiosity.

Every winter I raised my hands asking God if Minnesota was my destiny. It was a good start! My biggest decision was to move to California! For years San Diego was my base to travel and return to make money to travel some more. One of my favorite “jobs” was serving cocktails at a Mermaid Bar in the Valley in early 1973. On my last night there, I told the audience and hotel staff that I was going to dive in the tank to perform “The Nut Cracker Sweetie”! It was, shall I say, well received.

After a few months traveling in Mexico, I returned to San Diego to make $ again, but with hopes to find my real niche in life. People I met always complimented my skills, beauty and potentials, but I felt empty. Out of the blue, a waitress from the Mermaid Bar called me to meet Joe Mystic, a famed local Magician that saw my Mermaid Show. No, I was too tall to climb in small boxes and get cut in half. When he finally asked if I would like to learn how to Eat Fire, I got “Chicken Skin”. You know that feeling when something is connecting, vibing and going to change your life?

Making money was easy, I loved traveling mainly because as a family we did not travel beyond Iowa to see grandma. I needed a gimmick, a way to claim my Purpose in Life. Meeting Joe, being invited to learn to Eat Fire immediately reminded me of traveling to Jamaica alone in 1970. I was desperately there healing from an eye injury, basking in the sun, club hopping, dancing and listening to the roosters crow before dawn. I loved Jamaica, the people, the sway. One band actually asked me to stay in Jamaica to Eat Fire with them. Oh No, no way!

By 1975, I was living in LaJolla in a large house with friends. Michael Hennessy, a friend from high school, was touring as a Mime. He brought “Flip and Bounce” fire eaters to our annual blowout New Years Eve party. They asked who wants to Eat Fire! Me? No way. But, the bartender from the Mermaid Bar said Yes! He disappeared behind the house to learn & 10 min. later, he Ate Fire. Wow!

It’s not that I ate matches as a Camp Fire Girl, it was these “Three times a Charm” invites that gave me the ultimate “Chicken Skin” to Learn How to Eat Fire, to start a needed career and build a Show to remember. Florence Murray was my California agent. She booked me in Palm Springs and at the Ambassador in LA. Eventually, I wanted to tour because Fire Acts were not notable in San Diego’s Old money. A buddy agreed to take a chance on the road with me. We put gas in an old car to head North from town to town selling our Fire Act for dollars. It was unforgettable Gypsy Time. We had very little money, but, I finally had a career, a gimmick, a goal that put me on my Map of Life.

Safety was first with Fire! Lots to learn. I added Fire Magic props and Magic Doves appearing from Fire pans and head pouches to expand my Fire act. I created costumes! Life was crazy exciting! We traveled the West Coast, up through the Canadian Rockies, down through Minneapolis to show my parents (Oh Boy) and from Cocoa Beach to the Florida Keys back to the West Coast, Reno, Tahoe and Las Vegas many times. I eventually performed solo in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Mirror gave me a great pictorial review and an agent there offered me a contract in Hawaii. In 1987 I landed in Hawaii and I stayed! It felt like “home”. Now I remember staring at the horizon from Mission Beach in San Diego. Little did I know I was looking at Hawaii! A dream came true from my childhood watching Don Ho on TV when I was a kid in Minnesota. Before a performance at the Hilton, we posed for pictures. He asked my name. After the Show when signing the photo he asked me how to spell Dizanne! He remembered my name after meeting hundreds of people. I was very impressed.

By 1990 I had met many entertainers asking if I could promote them. Dizanne Productions evolved featuring me as Dizanne, Hawaii’s Magical Enchantress of Fire along with a list of unique talents. I thrived because hardly any talents had a website. I became sole owner, performer and promoter. Proud? Yes! Creative? Yes! Passionate! YES! On my Way to “Claim my Flame? Yes! Jack Cione helped me produce my first Tropical Fire Stage Show at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Tapa ballroom. He wouldn’t take pay, but finally agreed to $50 a rehearsal. He introduced me to costumers and created great team of Show dancer prop assistants that also provided a club to practice in. I remember at one rehearsal he suggested “Let the Singers Sing and the Fire Eaters Eat Fire”. Maybe with voice lessons I could have become a great sexxy Lena Horn styled singer, but I was too busy creating Magic Fire Acts for conventions, carving tikis, painting flourescent stage props, rehearsing and learning how to market my niche in life everyday.

To this day, I know it is very important to inspire others to remember their Tools of Life and the many people that encouraged and helped them discover life’s purpose. I was lucky to experience many “Chicken Skin” moments that carried me to now. Booking these young super talented professional Fire and LED performers, I guarantee they will “excite to ignite” any event.

Wet’n’Wild water park featured this team for several years at Keiki Fun Days and Neon Glow Adult swim nights. They knew more than just Eating Fire, they created an amazing roster of Fire and LED Flow Acts!  Dizanne Productions fantastic roster of amazing magicians, jugglers, variety theme bands, hula and Polynesian halaus, dancers, comics, Santa and elves, face painters, glitter tattoo artists, DJ Sound, Video, Photography, Photo Booths, Petting Zoos and Pony rides and unique tour packages will create “The Pulse of the Unexpected”!

My performances and promoted talents and services have been featured at major Hotel conventions on Oahu, Big Island and Maui, at Military Bases, Shopping Centers and family parties and Keiki Korner Activities at Weddings and Baby’s 1st birthdays. I am also blessed as a substitute teacher at Honolulu preschools. At Circle Time I perform small magic tricks to give the lead teachers a break. Next thing you know, these children walk around pretending to make things disappear! They call me the Magic Teacher. I also bring poi balls to teach kids how to spin and fake snowballs for their outdoor play as a tribute to my Minnesota upbringing. For 30 years my Baby Bunnies & Chicks Exhibits were featured at Shopping Centers, hundreds of children’s birthday parties, military bases and were volunteered at preschools. Those “menagerie” days are some of my most precious moments in my career and in my life.