NEWSLETTER: re-member

Hello there!

This will be a Memorial Day that will not soon be forgotten here in the Golden State. After the election on May 19, it is clear now that...the sky is the limit! That's right. I am not being facetious either; I truly mean this. So much just went wrong here that it is highlighting across the nation everything that can and often does go wrong when money, personal agendas, and politics are mixed in a glass called "democracy." Now that "voters" have made it clear that there is no way that we will collective agree to have children, the mentally ill and disabled, the drug and gambling addicted disenfranchised in our budgetary process. The pundits are asking if the state is ungovernable, but I think that is the wrong question. I believe that what we are now forced to consider in California (and also in major cities across the US with fluctuations in demographics) is whether or not the residents of California are willing to act as citizens and self-govern. I want you all to the read this amazing article in the Economist about the issue. Please. It is super important: knowledge is power! Okay, that was hokey, but really, we arts types and we educator types and we funky freaky wanna be ourselves types really need to check the VOTING reality to get a better handle on the legislative reality. So I opened this by saying the sky is the limit; it is. We have absolutely nothing to loose at his point. By the time Sacramento gets done trying to look as if it can make a balanced budget, thousands currently in "good government jobs" will be unemployed, at least a hundred health and social service programs will be cut, there will likely be another 10,000 people in the street in LA alone (there are currently an estimated 90,000) and the water battle between No. Cal & So. Cal will go "balls to the wall." Sounds grim? It could be, but I have hope that the Constitutional Convention can quickly put us in a fiscal position that will allow us to turn the free fall into flight. It will take all voters, no matter your political persuasion, working on this. It may mean foregoing your own special issue for a few months: I was mortified to receive a frenzied e-mail from Californians Arts Advocates asking me to call my rep to pass AB 700 after the election. I found that ridiculous, even though I understand that right now we are having a hard time getting NEA stimulus money into the state because there is no true strength in the California Arts Council. That email really underscored the facts discussed in the Economist article: there is a highly self-sorted group of white people (non-representative of white folks generally) who are polarized at either end of the political spectrum who are running the state into the ground bickering among themselves through propositions and narrowcasted bills. Miraculously, these folks manage to make it look like it's the rest of us who are the problem. We can all change this. I urge you all to participate, even if you absolutely hate politics, because you live here; this is your home. Admit it, you love palm trees next to firs. It works for you. So stopping thinkin Icarus and start thinking Phoenix. And yet We Rise...


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, act up--you can move mountains, now make it beautiful


BLOWIN BACK DA 'FRO this week is a plethora, a grip, a boatload of things to do around LA for three whole days. Whew! I'm gonna be very tired by the end of this. Get your party on! And give that uncle of yours who ain't been right since he got back from da war (pick one) a great big hug and an apology (just don't sneak up on him)



HIGHWAYS
1651 18th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Tim Miller' Lay of the Land
Has gotten rave reviews and will finish out its run this weekend as part of Highways 20th Anniversary celebration. This is a timely show, but the nailbiter--the CA Supreme Court decision on Prop 8--is still a week away. Again, pundits are guessing that Prop 8 will not be repealed so get your glitter out and set some major intentions that it will.

MASONIC LODGE
My FAV little museum that could, The Museum of Jurassic Technology, is collaborating with my fav mad scientists, Machine Project, to bring you a peepshow/panorama this weekend only. This is a walk-through performance, and while there is a kid price, it is not recommended for the 4yr and under set. Since it's my son's birthday weekend, we hope to be there tomorrow night.

UCLA
Reggae Fest is in effect and from what I hear, actually quite bombastic. I think I OD'ed (sp?) on reggae festivals in college....

LA MARATHON
Wow, so, um, it might be hard to get ANYWHERE is you live along the route, so just go out and cheer.


and...wow. there is not much to look at recently, but check the archives and find some gems that i never published that are going up now...


i think Monday is the new Saturday.

SANTA MONICA BEACH
May 25 @ 2 PM there will be a flash dance mob lead/designed by Christine Suarez. You wanna be there if you can. Last rehearsal is at 12:30 if you want to do it! Where Ocean Park Blvd meets the sand. The action will move all the from there to the Pier. Bring sunblock, water, light snacks.

TROPICO DE NOPAL GALLERY ART-SPACE
1665 Beverly Blvd./near Union Ave. Los Angeles (Echo Park), CA 90026; 213-481-8112
Faces of Nature -- a solo performance
Monday, May 25, 6:30 p.m. doors, 7:00 p.m. performance begins, $10
Rosangela Silvestre is finally showing her dance work here in LA! This is not to be missed!
"This unique performance will culminate with an invitation to partake in an open discussion about the nature of her extraordinary work and artistry." BLOWOUT COMB! plenty of street parking, but do carpool. www.tropicodenopal.com

HIGHWAYS
1651 18th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Queer Mondays is turning folks out over at Highways, last Monday of each month. This Monday should be legendary as the celebration for Highways 20th continues. To sign up:
E-mail IAN MACKINNON at imackinn1@hotmail.com Mon 7:30pm $5

REDCAT
631 W Second St, Los Angeles, CA
The REDCAT has a lot more programming beginning on Sundays and Mondays these days. I just went to the Spring Studio, which I co-curated with Chi-wang Yang and had a blast! George Lugg claimed I conjured that earthquake, but I think it was the voice of Jasmine Oripilla. Riveting! The next Studio is in the Fall, so prep your new works! For now, we are about to enter summer season there and weekends will reign supreme, kicking off with Dance CameraWEST on June 5. Buy your tickets NOW!

THE OPEN SPACE, on dance map
209 S. Garey Street, 2nd floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Anatomy Riot #32 is going to be a zoo! I am co-curating with Arianne Hoffman. We had a good time at AR #31, Time Clock OFF, and hope to see many of you at this next one, GrrrrrrAnimals or Beasts & Burdens or Pets that I can’t keep. This will be legendary, though I cannot and will not promise an(other) earthquake.




FESTIVALS
several series kick off the first weekend in June, and I've got my picks for you. but after i go dance in the sand and then scoot over to watch rosangela silvestre!




ON GOING CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
Well, y'all just missed Rennie Harris give a $15 master class at The Electric Lodge. it was smokin. All house, all the time. Hopefully, he will do it again next month.

Also in town for special workshops and events is the inimitable (though many try) Rosangela Silvestre, a great example of perseverance, dedication, and a whole lotta gumption! She gave an INSPIRED class, also at The Electric Lodge this Saturday as a guest in Kimberly Mullen's slot. Next class with Rosangela is Tuesday, May 26 @ 8 PM at the Dance Art Academy.

Next class series that is likely burning a new whole in the minds of the participants is Michael Sakamoto in the DANCEBank. The last Saturday is next weekend at 11 AM in the Metabolic Studio / Farmlab, 1745 North Spring Street, #4, LA, CA 90012. This brother really will rearrange your perception, so go take this class. A steal at $12.

At the CENTER THEATRE GROUP, DANCE GOOD DAMMIT, is offering a special workshop at the dirt cheap price of $10, Gregory Barnett is one rare bird and I have to say that you will feel sooo liberated afterwards that looking back at how you thought about your body and its place in the world, you go "WTF?! You mean I coulda done_____ anyway?!" Yeah, free your mind and your ass will follow. Except I think Greg would say, "release your ass and your mind will thank you." Sundays, 2 - 5 PM June 7th, 21st, 28th. Class is limited to 15; few spots left. Contact him now (dancegood.damnit@gmail) 310-749-0348 and specify which date(s) you will attend. NO DROP INS due to security: they need a list of who they're letting in the building. once confirmed exact location and entrance to use will be sent via email.

All locations on the Afrologic Dance Map!



LOVELY!
I've got some cool grants to tell you about and some more ideas about liberating ourselves from lack consciousness, but I gotta get to walkin so I can make rehearsal out on the beach! I want to urge you to join the Afrologica network at http://afrologic.ning.com and PARTICIPATE. My Twitter feed is live over there and soon I will upload a grip of videos from here and there. I hope you can join us since there is about to be big movement on several fronts around a number of the things I like to preach about here, lol! Seriously though, it's time to connect reader to reader to build networks that can help sustain us through this very difficult transitional move. Yes, it is just transitional, but it is complex, polyrhythmic, weight-bearing and zone-shifting, so please, do not hang onto your hat: hold somebody's hand...and smile, all eyes are on each and everyone of us!!!

in love,
-Anna