Follow Me to the Next Jump! This blog is no longer receiving updates, but I'm still going strong!

Enter your Email


Preview | Powered by FeedBlitz

Thursday, December 18, 2008

NEWSLETTER: slippin & trippin

OI!
My goodness gracious! We are almost done with 2008! So I "should" put together a list of tops and bottoms for the year. Whoops! Did I say that? I meant "best" and "worst" but as you can likely guess, that is so not my style. Maybe "expansive" and "contractive" (or would that be regressive). Anywhoo, I don't want to do that just cause I got some love from each and every event/performance/museum/gallery opening I went to in 2008. I also learned soooo much! I want to thank each of you for being the teacher when it was your turn. I likely will venture a "10 things I would do if I were _________" list everyday on the blog for the last 10 days of 2008. Item #100: If were sane, I would not make such propositions. But I ain't, so check out the blog to see what I'm up to and post your own lists! Remember my insane analogy of mold, Blogo and Obama? Well it appears that Emmanuel is likely going to have to do that hustle "hisself" to get out of the skank. We shall see. I foresee a bizarre collapse of a good poriton of Obama's cabinet in the early days during appointments, forcing him to look to more liberal minded folks for a hand. With that in mind, who are the frenemies on the Inauguration Committee?! Rick Warren?! Alright, I can tell you exactly who they are and will do so in the action section of the newsletter. You've got some e-mails to send. This is OUR inauguration, not the Democratic Party's. A place at the table?! Maybe they are afriad of all those guns that got purchased right after the O made history? Additonally, the axe has begun to fall locally in LA on the lovely neck of the Arts. Aside from MOCA mucking up its own budget (oooh, I just thought about the Madoff runoff, omigawd), LAUSD just stopped all payments to all arts providers in the schools. Wham. Just like that. Er uh, I thought when you got fired, you got 2 weeks notice? Time to bake some cookies, host a video watchin party, dj for free to raise those funds, or just send some cash directly to your local artist; by the look of things, aside from the dudes sweeping out all the abandoned personal property after foreclosures, the other growth industry is performance art. Check it.

Afrolicious. Afrologia. Afrodelic. Afropoesia. Afrologica. How big is your 'fro? Fractal, improvisational, polemical, but always moving with spirit and in service to lifting us all up! That's the Logic of the Afro--sign up, read up, be up--you can move mountains, now make it beautiful


BLOWIN BACK DA 'FRO this week is the massive potential of the incremental. Check dat! We might very well have to change that phrase "go big or don't go at all." It's more like what Muhammad Ali said "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee," except now, you got to be a whole swarm with a DIY portable cocoon that you slip into ever so often for the costume change. Fractally fabulous.

TONIGHT
THE UNKNOWN THEATER
1110 North Seward Street, Hollywood 90038
Killing Game by Eugene Ionesco, directed & designed by Chris Covics
Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, Sundays at 6PM CLOSING DECEMBER 21ST; $18 advance, $24 @ the door
If you have not noticed, I've got a big streak of the absurdist a-runnin through my brain. Ionesco is a favorite absurdist, though after 8 years of dubbya capped off with a pair of size ten shoes (still giggling!), will you really think the play all that absurd? All the more reason to go.


MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN ART, directions&info
628 Alamitos AV, Long Beach, CA 90802
En La Noche @ MOLAA
Friday, December 19th 6 - 10 PM
Contra Tiempo is in da house for this, the last event in what looks to have been a hot series. Hopefully this is the last of the year and not, well, ever. Salsa class with CTD, then a DJ Saoco spins Latin grooves and finally the night concludes with a performance by Esprit Afrique. Long Beach aka Strong Beach doin it to ya Afrodiaspora stylee. Now, where did I leave my helicopter?


MACHINE PROJECT
1200 D North Alvarado, Los Angeles, CA 90026, map a location
Poetry Delivery Day
Sunday, December 21, Dawn till Dusk
Call the Poetry Hotline (213 448 7668)
This is for all of you folks out in Echo Park/Silver Lake: If you live within a one-mile block of Machine Project Headquarters, you can dial up and have a poem deliverd to your doorstep. Now, I think if you look around on the map link I have provided and find a comfy place in which to hang, you are within your rights to dial up a poem for delivery. I'm just sayin'. That's what I would do if my kids would cooperate. Joshua Beckman and Anthony McCann are your bards to order.


IN THE AFRIVERSE
OAKLAND/BAY AREA
DANCE MISSION THEATRE
3316 24th ST, San Francisco, CA at Mission
AQUI E AGORA & SEMPRE, concept, choreography and direction by Isaura Oliveira
Saturday, December 20th 4 PM; $10 - $15, sliding scale, children are free.
My first instructor in Brazil is pouring honey all over the bay and invites you to come and have a taste. This is the culmination of a month long workshop held at The Dance Brigade's Dance Mission Theater. If you are headed to the Bay, or were looking for a reason to go up, here is a good one.
"This creation vividly evokes the rites of Orisha and Caboclo traditions through dance, theater and music in an experimental Brazilian piece."
-Isaura Oliveira, Artistic Director and Choreographer


coming up...Dance 4 LIfe, Fundraising concert for Djembefolla Abdoulaye Diakite, Jan 21st @ La Peña

NYC
coming up...Alexandria Yalje at JCCM premiering "TOV," Jan 15th


"Now, where was that other thingamabob I wanted to see last week?" Check the Archives, search by location or artist, or just re-live the bright moments by reading older entries!


coming up back in LA area
"Dance As Civic Duty" a lecture series @ UCR organized by yours truly, FREE, Jan - March
Joe Goode's "Wonderboy" Wednesday, Jan 21st @ UCR 8 PM, tickets now
Kingsley Irons' Rupture @ Unknown Theater,Jan 8th- 18th, tix now
Street Cred 101 @ HIGHWAYS Jan 10 -11, tix on sale now
Any One Home - The Reunion Tour at WAC UCLA, Jan 16 -17
Booty LA with R.A.I.D. will be back with commanding performances for all
i.e. Dance is cooking up some all-ages dance fun, stay tuned
Raphael Xavier is bringin b-boy pain and power moves in workshops and shows
Michael Sakamoto will magically appear
Marcus Quiland-Nazario will already be there when he shows, really


ONGOING CLASSES/WORKSHOPS
While the performance community catches its breath before the mamma jamma of all events, New Year's Eve, dancers can rest easy that they can still get a class or two before the year is out.

Linda Yudin has live drummers for the last class of the year at the Dance Garden! Friday @ 6:30 PM, $15

Simone Forti is setting your
kinetic kite loose on the wind of language as part of DANCEBank this Saturday @ 10:30 AM, $12
All class locations can be found on the dance map.

In Oakland, Regina Calloway is bringing to a close her month long celebration-fundraiser of/for Abdoulaye Diakite, our master drummer and former co-artistic director of Ceedo Senegalese Dance Company. He is still in the hospital(!), so if you will be in Oakland, go take class at Malonga Casquelorde Center for the Arts @ Alice & 14th Streets, 4:30 - 6 PM on Sun, 21st, $12 with Regina, Renée Puckett & Bontlé Willis, all my Ceedo homegirls! Then Regine Ndounda will give a smokin Congolese class on the 22nd @ 7:30-9 PM, $12. The Kongo class will be drum fire for sure! For updates on Abdoulaye: www.abdoulayeupdate.com



HOLYDAZE FAIRS & BAZAARS
Well...if you ain't got gifts yet, bettah make them little cute cupon booklets like you did in middle school: "this cupon good for one breakfast in bed" etc.
Really, end of year donations have a LOT of power this year. Seek out a beloved performance space/group/artist and make a pledge for a monthly donation of $10 - $15. That's the incremental I was talking about. Or be a badass and give a monthly amount equivalent to the founding year of the company: 1985= 19.85/mo. Get it? You can make these donations in the name of someone you love, or love to try to convince to behave the way you want them to!



ACTION
Now, I know this is rude. I is from da Souf and I does have hometrainin, but you don't let no snake up in yo house an' expect da party to go right. Unnerstan?! With that said, y'all need to call and e-mail the members of the Inauguration Committee and let them know that you think Rick Warren should be asked to step aside as the celebrant of the invocation and in his place...a praise dance piece should go in. If I had ALL my druthers, I would say Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith should deliver the invocation, but I am biased. Bruh can LIFT IT UP! So the folks:
Sen. Dianne Feinstein
http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.EmailMe

Sen. Harry Reid
http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Sen. Bob Bennett
http://bennett.senate.gov/contact/email_form.cfm

Rep. Nancy Pelosi
http://speaker.house.gov/contact/

Rep. Steny Hoyer
http://hoyer.house.gov/contact/email.asp

Rep. John Boehner
http://johnboehner.house.gov/Contact/

5. Post your letters on the discussion board. Let the whole world know why are you disappointed and outraged!
If you are on Face Book, join: No Rick Warren at Obama Inauguration
Why am I feeling this? Though he is doing much needed work against AIDS/HIV in Africa, he is only there to support "the innocent." This reverberates back in his "holocaust" of abortions. So, to be clear, Rev. Rick Warren is very vocal about his support of Prop 8, by his own admission ignored HIV/AIDS pandemic until the innocent were involved (?!), and does not support a woman's right to choose. Is this the change you voted for?

LAUSD stops payments to artists and art providing organizations.
If the admiral, or whatever his rank was, can get half a million to walk, I KNOW the folks who actually did their jobs can get their checks on time. Call, e-mail, and write to LA Times, Weekly and City Beat.
"Arts for LA has initiated an advocacy campaign urging LAUSD to release the district-wide budget freeze that has halted the delivery of arts education to thousands of students and is crippling arts organizations who provide services as part of the Arts Community Partners Network.

Take Action
Sign the Petition
Get Involved"
Arts for LA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts advocacy organization. Our mission is to foster a healthy environment in which the arts and culture may thrive and be accessible to all in our region.

LOVELY!
My goodness. This past weekend we did a marathon of dance madness. I finally got to meet Mecca Vazie Andrews, YAY! Her paddle boat dance as part of Thank Tank 2008 was most inspiring. Later that evneing I went to check out Lula Washington's show at the Broad in Santa Monica. Fierce dancers as always, but dang it, they were not working with much material. I'm hoping for better repertory shows in the future as Ms. Washington makes space for her in-house choreographers. I wrote a l o n g blog about the experience of the day on Face Book. It will migrate to Afrologica presently. Well, the day today was full of obstacles that pulled out moves so graceful, I did not recognize them as my own. I wish you the same as you get into the driver's seat of these momentous changes, cause honey, it is dangerous down there by the tires. Get up! get focused, and drive to your destiny!

in love,
-Anna

Thursday, December 11, 2008

NEWSLETTER: shift control

ALAFIA!

Wow and wow. !!!!!!! Alright, y'all I am pretty excited and can't quite put my finger on why. It can't be because of all the layoffs that are occurring. Nope. Nor can it be the announcement that I might be receiving an IOU as a check in March if the California Legislature does not get its act together and make a real budget. Naw. That's not it. Is it that gasoline cost less than $2? Actually, though that makes me grin like the Grinch, it has made my commute double ugly again. So no to the price of gas (though I ain't hatin). Could be the caffeine. Yes, could be that go organic is all I can say! But really, it is not that. Okay, I know it's kinda silly, but I think that it's because I dusted and wet wiped with an awesome organic all purpose cleanser. Under and within the dust were microbial worlds, not only adding a hard to trace almost-an-odor odor, but dampening the holiday spirit. It was a mega wipe down: I moved curtains, wiped blinds, tops of doors, those ornamental ledges on doors and window panes. I got down. A'ight, you know I'm about to go all metaphorical on you and what not, right? So, I realized that I had to apply that same level and approach to "clean and cleared physical spaces" to my egotistical ones. Pull your toes back! It is so superduper easy to have it all looking clean, well organized (or at least properly stacked, you know who you are) and continue to experience that, "sniff sniff, what's that? is that...? wait. what is that?" vibration in your life. The thing about that thin layer of dust is that it begins to create allergic responses. Imagine being allergic to your life cause your ego done gone and got epistemologically mouldy! If you are having a hard time with this particular leap I am making, check it: Blagojevich is Obama's thin coating of dust, giving refuge to a microcosm of greed, corruption and hate. Yes hate (you want me to say disdain, but really a disdain for the public discourse and due process is hate). Now the O got to pull back all the drapes, wipe down the blinds, open them and check to see what is growing on his window sill. And only he can do that; can't delegate that to nobody lest you invite the microcosm straight into your own lungs as tey kick up a lot of dust, pretending to handle the job. Here in LA, it could be that MOCA is having the same moment. The beauty on the hill is in big financial doodoo mostly because of its disdain for reality, but also because the board functioned in a closed world with very little air circulating: mold fiesta! Here's a great Op Ed piece laying out a course of action to get the air breathable, and another article laying down some law about collections. And still, I am excited, giddy, with the freshness of perspective, the possibilities, the shift in the need to control, cause we can maneuver....



Afrolicious. Afrologia. Afrodelic. Afropoesia. Afrologica. How big is your 'fro?
Fractal, improvisational, polemical, but always moving with spirit and in service to lifting us all up!
That's the Logic of the Afro--sign up, read up, be up--you can move mountains, now make it beautiful



BLOWIN BACK THE 'FRO this week are changes, transfers and transitions.


TONIGHT
DOWNTOWN ART WALK
Phyllis Stein Art
207 W. 5th Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
Why not start out at Phylis Stein's? Today is her birthday after all! Or was it yesterday? I"m time warping, but this event is for sure tonight, so get down there ad wish that the air were much cleaner so you could live there without courting Asthma. PSA is hosting, A Smorgasbord: A Group Feast with 9 artists works on view and the reception tonight.

PERSHING SQUARE ICE RINK
532 South Olive, Los Angeles, directions
the movement Movement
Thursday, December 11, 8 PM; FREE
Mecca Vazzie Andrews heads out into the world with her new initiative, the movement Movement. Tonight she makes a pass at dancing on ice with live music by Holloy.

METABOLIC STUDIO, directions
1745 N. Spring Street #4, Los Angeles, directions
The Moth, storytelling, tango and drinks
Thursday, December 11, 7 PM; $20
So I was gonna blow this one off, until I saw on Metromix that Joel Smith and Liz Casebldt were dancing in it AND the bards were kinda hot too!?! Um, so, when you put up pretty pdf fliers on Face Book as pictures, just know that it is really difficult and highly unlikely that anyone will be able to see all the details, so please repeat them in the listing. You can always email me any press release for my consideration at afrologic@gmail.com. Whew! SO y'all, go and see my baby dance! This will likely be a very memorable evening causing you to take tomorrow off...

MS. DONUT
1353 Glendale Blvd in Echo Park
Thank Tank 2008: Going Public, presented by arts collective 1830
Friday & Saturday, December 12 & 13 Noon - 5 PM; FREE
Okay I will see you there! This is my kinda roving experiential, unlikely scenarios but we'll believe you anyway type of gig. Since it moves all around, wear great walking shoes, bring your own water and pack a snack and arrive on time! Yes, you are meeting in a donut shop getting the details there no doubt which hopefully includes a map. mecca Vazie will dance in a paddle boat at some point during the afternoon. A city bus will provide the stage for an "instadance." Another attraction is the group Fallen Fruit helping you to get your glean on--free fruit! See you there.

THE BROAD STAGE, directions
1310 11th Street, Santa Monica, CA
Harambee Suite, by Lula Washington Dance Theatre
Saturday, December 13th 7:30 PM; $39/$49/$55/$75
GO SEE THIS SHOW! I saw a preview of the little kids section of the piece and you awill be delighted. Plus you have to see this latest addition to the So. Cal performance venue constellation; swanky!

A+D MUSEUM
5900 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Artbash
Saturday December 13th, 8 pm - 2 AM; $20 door, $10 Open bar
As if you have not heard, there are lots of parallels with our historical moment and the 1929 stock crash. To drive home the point, and offer sardonic hope, Need Theater and Hollywood Fringe team up to produce a live "museum piece" to just twist the knife in a little bit deeper. Of afrological interest on the bill: Poor Dog Group (they irk me but i can't stop looking, kinda like a car wreck even though you know it's just one lucky fool with a flipped over car, you rejoice) and Original LA Breakers. Others: Anacron • DJ Jedi • DJ Shiro • dj.AnaRoxSicc • Himself • Kruse • Tha Brothaload • Cabeza de Vaca Arcestra • CDN Collective • Gavin Worth • Invertigo Dance Theatre • Kinetic Theory • LA Contemporary Dance Co • Monday Night Tease! • Poor Dog Group • Ryan Harrison • Soup Greens • The Follies Sisters • The Original L.A. Breakers • The Petrojvic Blasting Co • Vox Dance Theatre You can get in for free if you show a copy of Theory of the Leisure Class. I guess Das Capital weighed too much...Get tickets here.

HIGHWAYS, directions
1651 18th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404
The Nutcracker Suite Electronique
Thursday - Saturday, December 18 - 21 8:30 PM, Sunday 2 PM; $25/$15
Santa Monica Contemporary Ballet teams up with Earthwalk Dance Company. This could be a big mistake, or a delight. I just remember going to see Quebra Noz while in Brasil once and being distraught at the discovery that I was watching the NUtcracker...in Portuguese. WIll this have the same effect? Well, you could at least do a comparison, the Kirov will be in town doing the original. Thus far in my life, The Nutcracker, Sweetie by the San Francisco Mime Co. is by far the best redux of this enduring "classic. So let's see what they got for us at Highways.

DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILLION, directions
135 N. Grand Avenue, Los ANgeles, CA 90012
The Kirov Ballet presents The Nutcracker

Wednesday - Saturday, December 17th - 20th; 2 pm and 7:30 pm except wed & fri; $30 - $130
If you are one of those ballet freaks that MUST know the casting for each night, you must check the website this week and pray for no more changes! Tickets are likely mostly gone--they went on sale before the big collapse--but see what you can dig up at a broker. I actually hate nutcrakers (creepy toothy soldiers) but love this ballet for its sheer lack of political correctness, even though its the one ballet where the brown girls are guaranteed a chance to be in the front. Oh irony. I'm guessing though, that people in this cast will need to "brown up."


coming up...
Kingsley Iron will blow your mind Jan 8th - 18th, 2009 at the Unknown Theater, get tickets now!
"Street Cred 101" at Highways on January 10th, 11th out hip hop artists bring da noise



"Now, where was that other thingamabob I wanted to see last week?" Check the Archives, search by location or artist, or just re-live the bright moments by reading older entries!



HOLIDAY FAIRS/BAZAARS
THE GOOD SPACE
6824 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Volunteer Day & Field Trips & Community Monday
Saturday December 13th @ 9AM - 2PM & Sunday December 14th @ 9 AM- 1 PM, Monday 11:30 AM - 5 PM
GOOD Magazine/Foundation has been in ton for a weeks spreading green, good fun. The Good Space is still open and taking it higher. The things listed above are excellent ways to bring in the holidays, gifting to get. Special RSVP's are required and you have to become a member on the site to RSVP. Saturday will take you to volunteer at Watts House, sponsored by Jet Blue. Sunday the TreePeople take you on a tour 9 AM - 1 PM then artist J. Michael Walker guides an All the Saints of the City of angels 2PM - 6PM. On Monday you can take in new ways to make community and be communal learning to plant and bake. Later in the day the kiddies get to hang out with puppets.

LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Near you! It is likely that your neighborhood elementary school is having a winter fair or art bazaar this weekend. So go and check the fence for the poster and support your local schools!

ABBOT KINNEY WINTER FAIR
Friday, December 12 all day; FREE
Downtown Venice hosts Santa and all his "architectural" elves. Kiddies are the focus so it should be a stroller haven, but the street itself is not closed to traffic. There should be some green Christmas ideas floating around, so check it out if you are here on the West Side.

MICRO- FAIR, FINANCE = MACRO LOVE
Great gift idea/ongoing lovefest/fair: KIVA.org!! In keeping with the "teach a man to fish..." idea, Kiva gives micro loans, mostly to women I might add, to start up their own businesses in the Global South (developing world, as opposed to the decaying world, where we now reside). Your money is invested and you get to follow the progress of the business. This is an awesome way to give a great gift with a little bit of cash that will do a lot of good.

STOP H8TE
Here is a bit of a sneaky "gift:" send a $10 donation to any of the orgnizations working to repeal Proposition 8 and the other anti-gay measures in Florida and Arkansas in the name of famous h8ter or better yet, someone in your family who has shut down communicaiton lines around the issue. Support your cause and elevate the vibe! Jointheimpact.wetpaint.com should have some links.



ONGOING CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
Don't miss DANCEbank @ Metabolic Studio/FarmLab with Simone Forti on Staurday at 10:30 AM.

Hey, if you have an ongoing class, give me an update please. It's time to do a relisting of all the afrologically stimulating classes in the mix right now.

Speaking of which, got some visitors to town you don't want to misss.
Visitng Kimberly Mullen's class is SILFREDO, former dancer with CUTUMBA BALLET
FOLKLORICO de SANTIAGO de CUBA, and SAN FRANCISCO's modern dance company, ODC. You will find them Saturday @ 10 AM at the Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave. Venice, CA. 90291. $15/class. For more information on SIFLREDO, visit www.silfredolao.com

KATI HERNÁNDEZ, graduate of CUBA's NATIONAL SCHOOL of the ARTS (ENA) in La
Habana begins her month-long series of classes in AFRO CUBAN FOLKLORIC DANCE & YORUBA MOVEMENT @ DEBBIE ALLEN DANCE ACADEMY, 3623 Hayden Ave., Culver City 90232. $15/class. For more info, happykati@hotmail. com.

All class locations can be found on the dance map.



ACTION
Master drummer Abdoulaye Diakite, who resides in Oakland, needs help to get out of the hospital and on his way home to Senegal. He has been in for one month, making phenomenal recovery, but he has a long way to go. If you would like to help me put together a fundraiser here in LA to compliment the one scheduled in Oakland, please contact me (afrologic@gmail.com) and let me know what you can pledge. Wouldn't it be great to have a show of all the African dance companies in town, one piece each with donated space so we could charge on a sliding scale? Find more information on Abdoulaye's status at this update blog. All donations are appreciated and handled by an established and managed fund.
Initiative contact: 510-464-3025 for procurement info or
email: vivaARTS1@yahoo.com
more info concerning Abdoulaye Diakite and associated efforts:
http://abdoulayeupdateweebly.com
Any Ceedo alums out there? There will be a reuion performance for the show at La Peña in January. Contact vivaARts for more info.


LOVELY!
Well, it is the end of the day and I am still glowing with the possibilities! Even though the kiddies are a wee cranky. Every week I continue to be thrilled by the artistic spark, the determination to not give into The Bleak. I hope you can go out to some of these events--I know cash is getting tight right about now--and if you can't afford it, maybe you can create a salon in your home, or put together a block party and invite some fo the artists you have come to know through the newsletter and offer them a bit of cash and some groceries. it's gonna get that deep, so you may as well start practicing on DIY Culture. Here we are, the Obama generation (he is only a few years older than me!) and we THRIVE on putting together the unusual, making friends with enemies, and learning how not to fear because we know: math is power, the world is a big blue marble, you can rock int he school house, and in 123 we can make contact. I know you feel me! Enjoy the full moon on Friday with friends who have the audacity to bring their dreams into reality. Be brilliant and share that smile!

in love,
-Anna


Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Afrodelicious

Sometimes, the kink is in the voice, the shape of the note, the glide of a certain refrain over unsuspecting back beats.



Here is the music video, with clearer audio for you to check out the prophecy in the lyrics. Will we forget what the rain has brought us? I think not. So many of us are in motion to plant is this newly tilled consciousness blip, planning for the most expansive, most beautiful NOW that we can possibly handle.




If you are feeling Yukimi Nagano's vocals, check her out on Koop's albums as well. And don't miss her Dec 7th in studio session at KCRW. I actually sat in the car trying to soak it all up. Music to get your shift on to...

Friday, December 5, 2008

NEWSLETTER: bring it or get off the floor

Whew!

I am so glad to have figured out the first part of the migration of the list to Gmail! The entire process put me in the mind of bureaucracy: you know, just when you think you've finally got the right form and talked to the right person, you have to start all over because you missed the first step that would've granted you access to the thing you figured out anyway? Yeah. And that's where we are as a nation right about now. The O-man's selections for cabinet members doth send the chilly chills down the spine, but maybe we should look at this another way: he ain't no dummy, and does not feel like wasting his time standing in the wrong line or talking to the wrong people during his first term, only to discover that he got absolutely nothing done once he gets into term two. Remember Clinton's Health Care Plan? Okay. So, the other side of the O's selection are the empty senate seats. If you know folks in those states, help them get an Obama supporter in the seat, cause the real deal is that the house of reps and the senate make the laws, not the prez. Are you following? If not, check out that Obama Hustle one more time. Those women really encapsulated the movement of this guy. But this is not to say that he's on the totally right track. He's just trying to figure out who's got the torch and who's got the fire extinguisher cause stuff is burning down to the ground! Speaking of burning, if you are or know ANYONE in a state college, university or especially community college, your access to an education was just severely curtailed. Here in California, the Cal State System has severely reduced enrollment and are not accepting transfers from Community Colleges. The UC is also considering similar moves and there are rumors that UC Berkeley and UCLA have already announced they will only consider the top 1% of applicants. I stress rumor. As I get info on this, I will let you know. As a dance educator, this directly impacts my life: most 4 yr dance majors come from the 2 yr CC experience. We could be looking at the suspension of our program if the numbers drop significantly. But what this means for all of us, are a whole lot of angry twentysomethings who were just trying to get ahead. And now, more than ever, it is imperative that you aim far higher than you think you should; there is more room at the top, and more help too. Go ahead and apply to the best, all they can say is yes or no. Write the president-elect every other day; someone is reading every line. Start that biz, write that novel, offer that service, preach, teach and BRING IT!


Afrolicious. Afrologia. Afrodelic. Afropoesia. Afrologica. How big is your 'fro?
Fractal, improvisational, polemical, but always moving with spirit and in service to lifting us all up!
That's the Logic of the Afro--sign up, read up, be up--you can move mountains, now make it beautiful


Now, BLOWIN BACK THE FRO this week, other than the fact that Gmail is not at all simple and the year is just about over, is the 99Cent Calendar Girl Competition, Holiday fairs and the great feeling that everything is gonna be alright.

TONIGHT
REDCAT, directions
David Gordon: Trying Times (Remembered)
December 3 - 7, 8:30 PM; $20/$16/$10
This one is for all of you who want to understand PoMo dance from inside the experiment. At this juncture, a bit of dance reconstruction, Trying Times is remounted by Pick Up Performance Co. and The Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance at Cal Arts. Just a few shows left, so try to make it if you can.


HIGHWAYS
1651 18th St, Santa Monica
Rudy Perez Performance Ensemble presents, Surrender Dorothy!
Friday, December 5 & Saturday 6th, 8:30 - 10:30; $20
Tis the season for the modern dance reconstruction! This is another great opportunity for the dance historian in you. From their press release:
All independent choreographers and performers, RPPE members Anne Grimaldo, Jeff Grimaldo, Stefan Fabry, Tamsin Carlson, and Sarah Swenson, have participated in work by Rudy Perez dating back to 1987. Inspired by the poems of Dorothy Parker, the tribute will include an assemblage of choreography by Perez and the Ensemble, with live music by Steve Moshier and the Liquid Skin Ensemble.

Rudy Perez is a major creative force in the field of American concert dance. Originally from New York City, he trained with the giants of traditional modern dance Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Mary Anthony and others. It was during his time with the 1960's avant-garde movement, Judson Dance Theatre - whose members included Yvonne Rainer, Trisha Brown, Steve Paxton, and Lucinda Childs – that he emerged as a post-modern dance pioneer.

So, you wanna check this one out, fo sheezy.

BOOTLEG THEATER
2220 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057
99cent Only Calendar Girl Competition
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm
Tickets: $25 General Admission and $15 for children under 12

Mijo Marcus worked long and hard on some costumes for this show, so y'all better go justify his burns, I mean love! Opening night is SOLD OUT, so get your tix asap if you're planning on going. Cause aside from grooving music and hilarious antics, every body and they mamma wants some tips on how to rock the runway out of the 99cents Only stores, okay?!

Los Angeles Central Public Library, Mark Taper Auditorium
524 S. Flower St, Los Angeles, CA
"Peeping Tom Tom Girl" set to the music of Chola con Cello
Monday, December 8, 7 - 9 PM, FREE, but reservations strongly recommended!
Poet Marisela Norte reads from her debut collection, Peeping Tom Tom Girl accompanied on cello by
María Elena Gaitán, aka La Chola con Cello. If you are on Face Book, look up La Chola! She is pretty amazing. Pay Payne hipped me to her, so now you know!


SANTA MONICA ART STUDIOS
3026 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Darkness, an art opening with Performance Art by Jeremy Hahn @ 8:30
Saturday, December 6th, 6 - 10 PM; FREE
This will be a lot of FUN! I had the great fortune of doing this gig a few months back with Jeremy and the crowd is laid back, but engaged, the art is unusual, interesting and challenging and the space is great. If you are looking for a scene to make out on the West Side, consider it found.


THE ELI & EDYTHE BROAD CENTER
1310 11th St., Santa Monica, CA
Lula Washington Dance Theatre Annual Kwanzaa Show
Saturday, December 13, 7:30 - 10 PM, tickets?
My info on this show is still evolving, but I wanted to get it on the radar! This is a l o n g show, but you likely will not notice at all. I tend to hold my breath when these young dancers start to work it. Not to be missed.


"Now, where was that other thingamabob I wanted to see last week?" Check the Archives, search by location or artist, or just re-live the bright moments by reading older entries!


and since it is that time of year, I though I would include a special holy daze bazar/gift section...

HOLIDAY FAIRS/BAZAARS
THE GOOD SPACE
6824 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Local World's Fair
Saturday & Sunday, December 6th & &th, Noon - 5 PM
GOOD Magazine/Foundation comes to LA for a week of green good fun. Do your holiday in a different way. The Good Space will be open everyday from 11 AM until 5, the 5th - 11th. Most of the special RSVP events are booked and you have to become a member on the site to even RSVP. I actually ended up spending some money just to get you this info (!), but at least it goes to one of the organizations I was going to suggest you use for gifts. The Fair features music and indie arts and crafts. The website is cute, but oddly designed so basic info is hard to find. So, unless otherwise indicated, all events are at the address given above.

CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
600 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, CA 90037
Kwanzaa Fest 2008
Sunday, December 7, 11 AM - 5 PM; FREE
Part of shopping dollars spent at Target return to the "community" for a day of arts, crafts, music and dance. This show is packed with young talent, and some often overlooked seasoned performers as well. If you have kids, or want to meet a fantastic artist, make sure to show up for the mask making event at Noon, then again at 2 PM with Elliot Pinkney. The Pinkneys are giants in Af-Am Children Lit. This will be a real treat. Also of note on the bill is Maia, who has some of the most beautiful and loving songs I have ever heard composed for Kwanzaa. She starts her set at 2:40. Lula Washington's Dance Academy students will burn a hole through the stage and DJ Namdi will spin sounds of the diaspora for your hips' delight. Bring extra money for the Marketplace. Now, I don't see anything mentioned about food for sale, and that could be a problem, but likely, there will be a vendor or two outside. This is a must go, for the sheer range of performances and art!

LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Near you! It is likely that your neighborhood elementary school is having a winter fair or art bazaar tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 6th. So go and check the fence for the poster and support your local schools! We host ours at Oakwood and Coeur D'Alene in Venice, 10 - 4!

MICRO- FAIR, FINANCE = MACRO LOVE
Great gift idea/ongoing lovefest/fair: KIVA.org!! In keeping with the "teach a man to fish..." idea, Kiva gives micro loans, mostly to women I might add, to start up their own businesses in the Global South (developing world, as opposed to the decaying world, where we now reside). Your money is invested and you get to follow the progress of the business. This is an awesome way to give a great gift with a little bit of cash that will do a lot of good.


ONGOING CLASSES/WORKSHOPS
I just found a new and unusual class for you! Mecca Vazie Andrews is offering a
Burlesque Ballet Class at Heart Beat House on Glendale Blvd in Atwater Village Wednesdays at 6:30. First class is only $5! What pray tell, is burlesque ballet? Well, you have to go to find out. The Heart Beat House is on the Dance Map . Also out that way is Linda Yudin at the Dance Garden. East side!

DANCEBank has a great double bill the next two weekends with Simone Forti and Terrence Luke Johnson, working on language and movement. Classes on Saturdays 10:30 AM - 12:30 AM at the Farmlab/Metabolic Studio, also on the map.

Looking to get away? Kimberly Mullen is leading an ethnographic excursion to Trinidad & Tabago! December 13 - 21st. You gotta hustle, but there may be some slots left. Contact her immediately at
mail@kimberlymiguelmullen.com


LOVELY!

Wow. So change change change. We are getting what we asked for, and if you are not feeling it in your personal life, my dear, you are in denial. Get your spaces clear (physical, mental, physiological, spiritual) so that you may see the abundant opportunities just within what appears to be a disasterous set back. I would love to hear from you about what you are doing to be the change as opposed to "getting changed up on." Post up to the blog, join Afrologica (which requires some more hands and maybe some j.o.a.'s--takers?) or email me back. Let us know how you are thriving.

in love,
-Anna

ps: The Kirov Ballet lands at the Music center soooooon!