Sara Carlson

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Sara Carlson is an American singer, songwriter and dancer. She has released three music albums and her songs have appeared in U.S. film and television. While starring on a top-rated TV show Al Paradise on Rai Uno (Rome, Italy), along with five other prime-time shows, she influenced a generation of post-disco dance, performing some of the most memorable dances of the era. She has appeared in over 25 U.S. and international commercials ranging from Dr. Pepper to Bacardi; three major motion pictures; iconic rock videos, including The Power Station's cover of the T. Rex classic "Get It On (Bang a Gong)" and Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield"; and even had a recurring role as TJ on Guiding Light on CBS (USA).

Contents

Her album Heartdance was released in 2012 and is available for download on iTunes. [1]

She currently resides in New York City.

Early career

As a teenager, Carlson studied music and dance with many prominent musicians in New York City, including Finis Jhung, Betsy Haug, JoJo Smith, Frank Hatchett, Michael Owens, Michele Assaf, Rick Atwell, among others. During this time, she began professional work in commercials. Her first role was in a Dr Pepper Commercial, and she then signed a contract with Landslide Management.

Landslide sent her to a casting in New York for Al Paradise , a show based in Italy that was looking for a female dancer/singer where 700 females auditioned for that part. After multiple auditions for the director Antonello Falqui, the writer Michele Guardi and the producer Elena Balestri, she was invited to go to Italy for the show. In 2012, Carlson was quoted saying "To be honest, I did not want to go, but in some odd way I knew it was my destiny and that I had to go."

Career

After Al Paradise (1984), Carlson remained in Italy and went on to feature as a dancer and singer in five other prime-time shows for RAI television: Serate Da Campione, Chi Tiriamo In Ballo, Viva Le Donne, Serate Di Stelle, and The Eurovision Song Contest. An Italian fan posted videos from "Al Paradise" which set off a cult following of her dance. However, her career is as much as a singer/songwriter as a dancer.

Carlson signed her first recording contract with Cinevox Records (Italy) in which she co-wrote and recorded "Celebration" for the Eurovision Song Contest along with the song "One Night" and multiple demos.

Her second recording contract was with BMG (England) and the single "Mental," released with the group The Manic MC's, (RCA PB 43037) went to the top 30 on UK dance chart in 1989 and reached number 12 on Italian Dance Chart. She signed her third recording contract with Baby Records/Polygram (Europe) and released the album She.

After living in Europe for about seven years, she longed to return to New York City. Upon resettling there, she became a regular fixture in the downtown music scene, performing in clubs such as The Bitter End and CBGB, in addition to writing and recording the album Doorways. A video for the song "I Know Nothing" (from Doorways) was filmed in NYC and Woodstock, NY.

Her latest album, Heartdance was released in late 2012. It was a 14-song album for which she wrote all the songs, performed many of the parts, and co-produced with Scott Ansell. The music has a dance feel.

Aside from performance, Carlson is a Reiki master.

Music and dance performances

Film appearances

Press

Her album, Doorways received a glowing review from Billboard Magazine. "An irresistible collection of tunes that wash over the mind like a cool breeze, her songs are like mini-movies, richly detailed and empathetic," reads the review, written by Larry Flick. [2]

In 2012, she did an interview with The Aquarian regarding the release of her latest CD Heartdance. [3]

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References

  1. ↑ "Sara Carlson on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  2. ↑ Billboard Magazine review of the Sara Carlson cd "Doorways" by Larry Flick
  3. ↑ The Aquarian interview with Sara Carlson about the making of "Heartdance"/
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