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!