NEWSLETTER: twists, spirals, & pivots oh my!

ALAFAIA!

Sending you all calming love and light as we weather some serious storms! Goodness! I just want to know: where did "they" get 86 BILLION dollars and the arts can't even get a serious national fund from which to beg money? And how will the clean up of Ike be covered with that money floating off into bankrupt financial companies? What agency will fund dispossessed homeowners who now likely will not even be able to vote in November? Yes, we make and consume art in this economic reality. It is the material condition within which we work. It determines so much, that we often miss it. Like, for example, the rise of hour long dance classes and 3 hour long anti-classes. In one hour, a consumer can feel like they have done something without getting bogged down in the complicated details of how the class will probably not bail them out of their fat bodies, but rather a systematic approach to shifting eating, sleeping and working habits in addition to that precious one hour (multiplying it by 3 times) would do the trick; in effect they need to regulate. On the other end of the spectrum, classes that can best be described as "Gatherings" endure for 2, sometimes 3 hours without so much as one correction on alignment, one tasty tidbit about finding your center (although often the metaphorical center will be invoked). "Students" roam free, dance with abandonment and likely hurt in unimaginable places once the ecstacy, I mean joy, has drained from their system. Hmmm. Me thinks that this financial market thing is not unusual or out of the blue. It seems like we have been living this moment for some time, completely denying and accepting our predicament simultaneously: we desire the stability that an inhumane work ethic brings but want to live in the moment, at specific times. Yikes. Last week I felt the need to tell you to hold to the credits, this week I feel compelled to say the wheel of history has rolled back around, but this time, it is not a repeat. However, it will likely be by the seat of our pants.

Afrologic. Afrological. Afrologica. How big is you '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--sign up, get your community on.

BLOWIN BACK DA FRO this week are the facts: everybody is trying to get their house in order, cleaned up, cleared out and ready to go for the soul-stix, I mean equinox. Y'all missed a lovely end/beginning with itch on Tuesday--get your subscription--and dancer types gathered last Sunday to chart a course. Other facts that actually got my ears a wee singed is the collapse of goodwill in the name of international cooperation. As you know, I work with Viver Brasil on their board and they just had a horrific time trying to get a visa application read, just read, even after expedition, to bring the lovely Dona Cici here for the Festival of Sacred Music. Yes, sacred. The facts are, that art and politics have long ago collided, but now you REALLY know, and will ACT accordingly. SO get out there and bring the big bag of love with ya (yeah, i'm preachin)


Lots of openings and one time gigs tomorrow/today! Start it off with a trip to the park.
PARK(ING) DAYLA
Friday, Sept. 19th
Yes! It is here! I plan to go and have tea in a number of these sites. Likely, I will make it after school gets out to downtown, but I will start in the AM in Santa Monica. Join me, e-mail afrologic@gmail.com if you plan to go to either of those spots or text WATA to 41411 for updates on my location. Check Park(ing) DayLA's live map for possible impromptu parks near you!


FORD AMPHITHEATRE
Backhausdance
Friday Sept 19th, 8:30 PM; $25/$5
I did not mention this group last week...but they will dance on grass! What a perfect way to end a day of strolling through park(ing)s. Tickets almost gone, allegedly.


MUSIC CENTER
Dance Downtown
September 19th, 7 PM FREE
Now if you end up downtown for the tea party, likely we will go dance disco at 7 PM, for FREE. Kiddies welcomed, so this might be where I end up. DISCO! Last one of the season, first come first served.

MILES MEMORIAL PLAYHOUSE
1130 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
September 19-October 5, 2008
Fri-Sat at 8:30pm / Sun at 3pm; $30 for opening night/ $20 general, discount for groups of 5+

Finally, I have ticket info! Good grief, good thing I delayed sending this as ticket info has changed. Well, the show is about craziness, so this is the pre-quel. She got a "go see" from Flava PIll, so watch out now! It opens tonight to sparkling cider fanfare! I am waiting for their Obama Fundraiser on the 21st--all proceeds to the O.


DIAVOLO LAB
6188 Moulton, Los Angeles
LA Contemporary Dance presents an Open Rehearsal
Friday, Sept 19th, 8 - 11 PM
It's a showing, wait it's a cocktail party. Don't you love that word? Cocktail, hmm, goes good with dance. Not sure, but a $20 donation is requested and you can do your best LA chic/slouch fashion statement, or bust out a vintage cocktail gown or smoking jacket. That'll teach them! Show up and help them get the Fall season off to a solid financial start.
Take a sneak peek at a rehearsal for our upcoming October repertory concert with original choreography by Kate Hutter and Kevin Williamson, while of course while enjoying an open bar courtesy of LACDC!

$20 suggested donation, reservations required, 323-883-1948. Free parking!



Looking for something mentioned last week? Check over in the archives.



PHYLLIS STEIN GALLERY
207 W. 5th Avenue @ Spring ST
Saturday, Sept 20th, 7 - 10 PM, FREE?
Artist in Residence Performance/Happy Hour
Come meet Mecca Vazzie Andrews and Sara Paul Occampo as thy host with Phyllis Movement Movement, VUM and Big Swell. Music, performance, drinks, art, a fine evening.

18th STREET ARTS COMPLEX
SOMA FEST is just about over. Classes are a wee pricey, but with anywhere from 3 -5 years for certification in these intricate techniques, we understand the price schedule. Tonight, check out...
HIGHWAYS PERFORMANCE SPACE
1651 18th Street, Santa MOnica, CA
Friday, Sept. 19th - Sunday 21st, $20 gen/$15 student DRC discount
"conscious embodiment in performance" (um, i hope you don't phone it in when on stage, but maybe they mean, nothing repetitive without thinking), a show featuring: Christie Svane, Kirk Andrews, Lionel Popkin (go Lionel, cause he uses his name), Jamie McHugh, Stefanie Cohen, Craig Ng, and Teri Carter, the hostess with the mostess. Show repeats with different cast on Saturday night, both at 8 PM; then Sunday at 3 pm.

THE OPEN SPACE
209 S. Garey ST, Los Angeles, 90012
One Step Ahead Fundraiser
Saturday, doors at 7:30, show at 9 PM,; $15 suggested donation
Marissa Labog wants you to come out and shake it! She just launched One Step Ahead, a hip hop nation exploration and has invited Rodney Mason of Rome & Jewels fame to come and share the space as the raise the roof and the company. Check it out.


ELECTRIC LODGE
1416 Electric Avenue, Venice
MAX 10, featuring Simone Forti and Rae Shaolan Blum performing "icebergs"
September 28th, Saturday, $20 at the door as this is a fundraiser for the full season

If you've ever been to an Anatomy Riot and wondered, "whose grandma is that?" you should go see her dance! Simone Forti is grandma to all of us; and the coolest type: the one who knows just how foolish and crazy you really are so she eggs you on, knowing you will stumble across something wonderful that she can't wait to see. Forget candy in a purse! Every time I see her, I am just filled with gratitude. This past Tuesday at the itch launch party, she blew us away with her writing as well. There are so few true Elders willing to walk among us, don't miss the opportunity to see one do her thang. And Rae can D A N C E, so you don't want to miss the young thang work it! bonus: there are two slots which will be raffled off to audience members to perform...


ONGOING CLASSES/WORKSHOPS
A new stripper-inspired class has just joined the Tuesday line up at The Open Space. Gregory Barnett presents dancing with your pole, I mean pole dancing as you likely often have seen it and thought , "i love to swing!" Just kidding. Check out the dance map for directions. Class begins October. Follow this link to the Open Space for more info.

Please, don't forget Viver Brasil's sponsored workshop for the Festival of Sacred Music at the 18th Street Arts Complex, Sat Sept 20th at 1 PM. $10 gets you choreography, song instruction and a SHOW. If you feel so moved, please leave double after the event. This one will be awesome.


LOVELY!
So this is sooo bloody late, that I have to apologize. Mil desculpas! I've had quite the week--likely I should've danced more! But the writing task that got in the way our/my weekly love offering to you is almost complete, and hopefully, I'll see you soon in a new studio space. I do have a show coming up that I am curating with Pat Payne in October; part of our VISCERA thang. So if you are not on Face Book, get on there and join our group! While you're at it, look around for groups that strike your fancy. Hot ones I recommend: Viver Brasil, Lula Washington, itch, LA Contemporary Dance, The Open Space, R.A.I.D. (Random Acts of Irreverent Dance), House of Wong and Phyllis Stein Art. SInce you are already in the business of donating your money to industry(86 billion from where?!), why don't you actually do it on purpose and "tithe" to your favorite group? $19.99/mo, every month. Just do it. At least you know you'll get a good return on your money.


in love and wishing you an abundant and expansive Autumn Equinox,
-Anna