NEWSLETTER: 'whine yo waist'

Alafia!

June gloom covers Venice with the sun breaking through ever so often for a peek. I'm loving the clatch of wild parakeets that have established residence in a large eucalyptus tree on my way to the library--mostly because it is not on my street! Boy are they loud! But AI did want to talk to birds and trees last, which I accomplished and in the process, got a listen to my own body. And it said: we (the billions and trillions of cells) love you, but the mass of us in what you call a lower back need a break.

And so it is.

In the meantime while I heal--it actually even hurts to stand and do the dishes--I continue to search for a studio with a floor that springs a bit. If you have any leads, please pass them my way! it is summer, so I have a bit more time.

Something exciting coming up: if you are in the market for an unusual sumer vacation, I am teaching 4 days/week for 5 weeks at UCR beginning in late July for Summer Session. It is an Intro to Dance course which I will offer as an Intro to African Dance. Should be hot. really really really hot. Class is in the AM, so that leaves plenty of time to wander the air conditioned halls of the mall. That's how we do in the 909! well, 951 now.

I'm still cranking the newsletter and thought I would give a shout out to a series of new newsletters, blogs and listings that have come my way and BLOWIN' BACK THE 'FRO. Dance in SO. CAL is POPPIN!!! SO thank yourselves for keepin the torch lit.

Afrologic. Afrological. Afrologica. How big is your 'fro?
Multiple, fractal, improvisational, polemical but always moving with spirit and in the service of lifting it/us all up. That's the logic of the Afro.

Meg Wolfe is gettin chatty y'all! The Dance Ninja is dangerously close to putting out a newsletter herself, in addition to being one of the masterminds behind...

ITCH. If you have not checked out this 'zine, you simply must. Do it now. The link will take you to their MySpace page, but you can find copies all about town, LA that is. #8 PORNOCRACY is open for submissions. They editors ask: "When have you felt like a whore for hire, little more than meat for the choreographer to beat?" These gals is SERIOUS, and really funny at the same time. SUBMIT!

Joel Smith of Caseboldt & Smith has just launched a blog Political Moves, that is bracing in its humor and spot on in its analysis. Go, baby! His first post, a review of Christine Suarez' (wait, do I put an s there?) wetspots left me wondering if us critic types bought up all the tickets. This first post points to a great blog in the making, and you gotta love his deconstructed goatee.

An Earful of Dance is a smart little idea that I am hoping gets more juices flowin soon. Please check out their posts, or better yet, offer to join them in conversation about a dance performance coming into town. There are several interesting offerings this summer, so join them around the microphone.

If you don't get it and you gig on the industrial scene, you are really missing out by not having a subscription to Grover Dale's Dance Blast. You can sign up on his web emporium, Answers4Dancers. Sometimes he has some very amazing labor analysis goin on. Yes, there are dancer walk outs, Virginia!


Now, you ask, "this is all cute, Anna, but is there something for me to actually leave my house and go and see?" Well, yes, yes there is. Freebies first?

GRAND PERFORMANCES
300-350 S. GRAND AVENUE, LOS ANGELES
Saturday, JUNE 14th 8:30 PM, FREE
The New Socrates Wannabe
David Rousseve is at the California Plaza Saturday night! Get there early, carpool or take the bus. And bring your own snacks.


THE MUSIC CENTER
135 North Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-972-7211
Dance Downtown
WHERE: Music Center Plaza
WHEN: 6:30pm - 10:00pm
ADMISSION: FREE First come, first served.

DJ/LIVE MUSIC from 7:15pm to 10:00pm
BEGINNER DANCE LESSON at 6:30PM
Dance floor provided. Dancers of all levels are encouraged to attend.

JUNE 13 Cumbia featuring Grupo Moderno


FORD AMPHITHEATER
"The Groove Divine," J.A.M. Sessions
June 17th, 7 - 8:30, FREE DANCE CLASS
Dance with Viver Brasil in one of LA's hidden treasures. I LOVE the Ford. Great vibe, and we have discovered that the stage is built over a creek! Now how is that for water dances?
The fantastic teaching team will be there to get you into the bahia groove and special guests José Ricardo and Rosangela Silvestre will be there too! I hope they dance for Oxossi and Logum Ede--could not be a better locale for dancing for the divine hunter and his mermaid warrior child. Oh, and parking is free, too! Y'all bettah pack that stage...

TOMORROW NIGHT, I said TOMORROW NIGHT,
DJAVAN plays the Ford..and it appears that there are still tickets. If you are looking for some seriously sexy and groovy Brazilian music, romantic even without speaking the language--no, i am not making that up--you MUST go see this show. Get the early with your own picnic and really be in the mood by the time he takes the stage with that mellow voice of his. Careful, you are likely to leave with a complete stranger.

and now, something quirky, because you know how I am, by now at least ;->

REDCAT
Toys and adult themes, can you say, 'Hasbro Nation?' Move over Transformers.
June 14, 2008
TOY THEATER FESTIVAL (FOR ADULTS)
When the world's most remarkable practitioners of the art of toy theater and miniature puppetry come together in Los Angeles, expect clever manipulation of objects and brilliant table-top theatrical epics. Featuring Alejandro Benitez, Laura Heit, Great Small Works, and new work by collaborators Paul Zaloom and Lynn Jeffries. redcat.org/season/0708/the/toy.php


Coming a bit later this month...

SKIRBALL
2701 N. Sepulveda BLVD, LA, CA 90049
"Rammed Earth," Tere O'Connor Dance
Thu- Fri, June 26th & 27, 8PM; Sat June 28th 7 & 9 PM; Sun June 29th, 7 PM
$20, general; $18 members; $15 full time students
enter 99522 at on-line purchase and get %15 discount

By all accounts, this choreographer is a must see. You must, however, get on the road "way early" to make sure you can get into your seat because there is a no late seating policy in strict effect at the Skirball. So maybe they should provide a Helicopter shuttle. I do hear that they have a parking lot shuttle, though. Meg Wolfe said, "Go see this show." Told you she was getting chatty.


Look for a DISPATACH on:
RELAY:RACE
Dance Picnic at Ozone Park
African Dance Classes
Summer Intensives: Fareta is open for early registration! Kongo Camp; DANCEbank has listed instructors;ALUMETA is coming to LA; Regina Kleinjoski starts in a few weeks--much to talk about, needs its own blog entry. Check for it on Afrologica and my Face Book page.


Looking into July, so you can get the tickets as some of these will sell out SOON



THE UNKNOWN THEATER
Eleven Missing Days
Meg Wolfe/Show Box
with Faye Driscoll & Arianne Hoffman July 3 - 6; with Sam Kim and casebolt & smith July 10 -13th

More from Meg Wolfe: Faye Driscoll ( July 3-6th) and Sam Kim (July 10-13th) come to town. Driscoll has been hailed as “1 of 25 to watch out for in 2008” by Dance Magazine; Kim's solo Avatar "is part of an ongoing challenge to question deeply rooted assumptions in dance culture, which includes kicking the hegemony of recognizable techniques and systems". ; ; ; They will be presenting work at the Unknown Theater, on a shared program with me and L.A.-based artists casebolt and smith, and Arianne Hoffmann. I am super excited about these shows and know you will be too.

I am very excited. I will buy tickets with my "Stimulus package." Stimulate LA Dance!

JOHN ANSON FORD AMPHITHEATER
"The Gift on the Water"
Viver Brasil, July 5th

In their 6th season, Viver Brasil pulls out the stops and offers a program full of unusual and provocative pairings and collaborations: cellos with atabaques (drums); capoeira with release technique; African deities with trap drums--this show demonstrates the power of water to create the perfect solution. Pun intended. Get your tickets now!! This show always sells out and with gas prices as they are, this is a great way to "travel" somewhere for the July 4th weekend. I will be there, hosting in the VIP section. Wanna join me? We are always looking for some wonderful donors. (i am on the board)

SANTA MONICA PIER
GLOW, dusk to dawn festival
July 19th

I have to say, that I am saddened to have missed this open call, but really excited to stay up all night participating in this very lovely event as a spectator-maker. BUT! If you connect with Viver Brasil and their Water Series, you, too can perform at the Glow festival!


AFROLOGICA
so...if it so pleases you, become a member of my on-line community, AFROLOGICA, so we can connect off-line. I love the 'net, but nothing beats hanging out at a show, or even making one! It is housed at www.ning.com, so you will need to sign up and sign in. Reviews, podcasts, YouTube recommendations, live calendar with eventual push to hand held device written by YOU and me...working smarter, not harder to connect artists and their audience.

LOVELY!

SO the dance class and summer intensive section will be back next time with a listing of African Dance classes--still in compilation mode--My class will be back in a week or so, right after my back is liberated from the car seat. Be expansive and beautiful in your deeds and words this week.

in love,
-Anna