NEWSLETTER: fire breathing

ALOHA!

"All right already!" Don't you just want to shout that out loud for no particular reason aimed at no one in particular? Sometimes it just bees like dat, but especially right now with the economy eating itself like a maniacal, cannibalistic pacman AND the election right around the corner AND a sudden influx of drivers returning to the road since oil prices are plummeting. (For the last time: the price of a barrel of oil has scant little to do with the price of a gallon of gasoline on the exact same day.) We are all feeling a mix of euphoria, impending doom, and just a touch of hamster. Yes, hamster. You know, running around that wheel for no particular reason, greedily nibbling that kibble in a corner so no other hamster can get at it...There's just enough of that vibe to make everyday discourse damn near disasterous. Advertising companies like Yahoo are starting to fail, large retailers are going belly up (hello, Mervyn's?!) More financial mergers are happening and foreclosures have not been stopped. The UC system just announced no raises as had been planned. The Sant'Ana Winds are broiling even the beach areas. Time to lift it up! If you hold fear in your heart and focus on what you fear, you will help it manifest. Hold delight, grace and forgiveness in your heart, dance A LOT, and focus on a society full of people ready to make a difference for the good of ALL. Every morning, get up and just sit still with a smile on your face and imagine your day amplifying that sensation of smiling. Thankfully, there are lots of offerings out there to smile about, a number of which require some cash, but we are cutting up those cards because we need to become the solution ourselves.


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 new subscribers! Hellooooo there! Not to mention a li'l sumpthin sumpthin for those SYTYCD freaks out there, some trips down memory lane and a lot of opportunities to DIY, which ain't QED but well worth the effort IMO. yeah, i can't stand texting english either. What should we call it? "Acronize?" "Digitese?" Whatever. You need to check at least one of these out.


THE MUSIC CENTER, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Night Spot, Miami City Ballet
Thursday October 23rd - Friday 24th 7:30 PM, Sunday October 26th @ 2 PM; $30 - $120
MIAMI CITY BALLET performs the West Coast premiere of NIGHTSPOT, a Twyla Tharp and Elvis Costello collaboration. Big budget, big tour, big names, big ballet. be aware, that Night Spots is not evening length. There are 2 Balanchine pieces, Symphony in # Movements & Tarantella, and a Christopher Wheeldon piece, Liturgy.


ECHOPLEX
1154 Glendale BLVD, Los Angeles CA 90026
Underground Dance Masters: Final History of a Forgotten Era, film by GS Media Group
October 24, Doors @ 8 PM, all ages
This film will likely shake you up if you think you know hip hop. I've seen a few versions, and Thomas Gùzman-Sanchez is adamant about undoing our reliance on easy, sloppy terms and quickly shifting memory. The last bit has gotten him into a whole bunch of trouble. People have the right to forget; does not necessarily make them liars. That said, his reliance on television variety shows to help set a timeline for the evolution of "break dancing" is just sheer genius. The battle for truth still rages on though, so you can expect a lot more films on the topic from a number of "OGs" round the globe. Go check this one out and you will get to see many of the masters in the film, throw down live. Kenny Ortega hosts the jam after the film. No price given for admittance...and I cannot find an actual mention of the event on the Echoplex website; sera que no existera? They sent me a press release directly. For a review copy or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Tom Sachelle, Public Relations (818)727-1979



SEA AND SPACE EXPLORATION
4755 York Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90042
Exchange Rate: 2008 hosted by the Audacity of Desperation Exhibition
Oct. 26, 6-8 pm; then watch the election returns on November 4th alongside performances
Featuring performances by: Danielle Adair, Dorit Cypis, Liz Glynn, Adam Overton and Sara Roberts
I have to admit to not feeling the title of the exhibition, but the concept sounds very wonderful. The event here is one of many around the globe, all focused on the US Presidential election. Elana Mann helms the project. Check out their home page.


AVENUE 50 STUDIO, directions
131 N Avenue 50, Highland Park, CA
The Black/Brown Dialogues: Inspiration House Poetry Choir #4
Saturday October 25th, 7 - 10 PM
Hosted by Peter Harris, this evening of poetry is going to rock you and move you. If you remember his radio show back in the day on KPFK, Inspiration House, you know this will get you lifted. Featuring Music by Maria Elena Gaitan, cello; Robert S. Hilton, slide harp; Curtis Robertson, Jr., acoustic bass & Spoken Word by Peter J. Harris, Amalia Ortiz, Francisco Letelier, Imani Tolliver


THE NEW LOS ANGELES THEATRE CENTER
514 S Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Saturday October 25th & 26th, 3 & 8 PM on both days; $35, though discounted tickets may be had
The Limón Dance Company presents: Lament for Ignacio Santos Meijas and The Moors Pavane
Truly, this tour is a dance history course unto itself.


HOLLYWOOD FOREVER CEMETERY, directions
6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Dia de Los Muertos
Saturday, November 1, 4- 11 PM; To watch the altars going up, October 31st, 6:30 - 10 PM; $5, children under 10 are free, bring exact change or you ain't gettin in...
Woooo. Nothing quite as invigorating as a rager in a cemetery. You absolutely must go to this event at least once in your lifetime if you claim to live in Los Angeles. Parking is catastrophic to say the least, so get your walking shoes on and use a Melrose St. bus. Gate entry on Gower is less busy than on Van Ness. Check out booth #9, my friend Trisha Casasola's spot. Her family turns it out. Bring a warm jacket--it's colder in the cemetery for some reason (spooky!), a flash light, plenty of dinero for drinks and food and a blankie to sit on. This thing is huge. MUST GO.


HIGHWAYS
1651 18th St., Santa Monica, CA
Also has it's own Dia de Los Muertos performances, shrine making and cemetery visitation.
October 31st - Nov 2nd
Calavereando looks like a great time of imaginative theater, Nov 1, 2, $20/$15 on Sat @ 8 PM; $15/$10 on Sun @ 3:30 PM, $5 for Santa Monica residents. Check the link above for more details.



Missing something from a previous newsletter, like all those awesome dance performances happening at 10 AM at the Music Center? Check out the archives. Add a comment while you're at it!



as promised for the So You Think You Can Dance fanatics:
THE EL PORTAL THEATRE
5267 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood
Sonya Tayeh Presents, Battles
Thursday November 6 & Friday the 7th, 8pm, $25 @ www.elportaltheatre.com or call 866-811-4111. Get your tickets now...this show will sell out!
Last year's show was one night only and completely oversold according to Grover Dale. This year a second night has been added. I checked some of the footage: the work has a certain ferociousness that is appealing, the ballet fits some of the time. It was definitely surprising and engaging. Go see it if you can and take class with her at Millennium. She LOVES to move, get others moving and be moved.


HERRICK INTERFAITH CHAPEL
Occidental College,1600 Campus Road,Los Angeles, CA 90041
N'Ap Kenbe/We're Holding on: Hope in the Eye of the Hurricane
Saturday, November 8, 8 PM $10
Marshall Dance Company and the Occidental College Department of Critical Theory and Social Justice present an evening of performances to benefit Haitians affected by hurricanes Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike with Special Guests, Troupe Jaka, straight from Haiti. Elizabeth Chin would love to see you there. SO do come and help a great cause.


UPCOMING
Urban Bushwomen & Compagnie Jant Bi present "The Scales of Memory" at UCR November 14th. get tickets NOW!

Caseboldt & Smith present California Touring Project @ Diavolo Dance Space, November 21-23, tickets are on sale.

UCIRA, State of the Art conference @ UCRiverside, Nov 6 -8. Panels, performances & a party, too. Mission Inn is the conference hotel. Pat Payne is staging an instigation you don't want to miss.



ONGOING CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Don't forget about the Cuban and Haitian workshops coming up. Cuban song and dance hit this weekend, Haitian follows after Halloween. Check it out in last week's newsletter.

Kinky Stretch with Gregory Barnett has started at The Open Space. Get details on that as well as other ongoing classes on the dance map.

Viver Brasil is still hosting Dona Cici. Study Afro-Brazilian dance at a great depth...


CALLS
itch is looking for submissions. get your subscription if you have not already. The launch party for issue 8 was a good time. Red Cat lounge has just the right levels of swanky and boho geek. itch # 9 is Before/After: a small book of predictions, outcomes, and paradigm shifts
they consider all kinds of writing and images. submit@itchjournal.org. also, respond to issue #8, which can be purchased through their website.





LOVELY!
OH MY GOODNESS. Thank you to all of you who came out to Asphalt Sea this past Saturday. The performances & projections were magical and the Techno Hillbillies laid down some cool acid jazz riffs. Tiffy G burned up the side of the buildings with her VJing. It got me to thinking: perhaps we all need to get ready for the return of the rent party, not that we was raising some rent money (boy did we not) BUT, we did elevate all who came. With purse strings a-tightening, it is more important than ever to make art for the people, by the people and with the people. Art that can literally keep a roof over somebody's head. Art that can help heal the void of consumerism. Art that relieves the symptoms of affluenza and poverty. Art that informs you. Art that makes you laugh & puts a song in your belly. It's time y'all. Get Up Stand Up. Shine your light.

i love you!
-Anna