AFRONAUTS! You have probably noticed a very weird series of entries from my other blog on No Impact Day. Try as I may, I cannot get the glitch worked out that is sending you that link: it's not in the feedblitz! However, since you have been getting it, I hope you take some time to check out at least the podcasts as I struggle through an attempt at a "carbon cleanse." Yes, delving deeply into our daily environmental impact is vitally important for us dance artists. Those of you who are true independent contractors and handle your business well can tell me exactly how many miles you clock behind the wheel each week, getting from one class to the next, one audition to a workshop, and on and on. Have you ever thought that this might not be the most sustainable way to live? Other than the fact that you likely have a very thin margin for error (especially this week with gas prices approaching $3.50), perhaps all your kvetching about not having enough time to make new work has more to do with your cabon impact than your time mismanagement. What if you set out to accept work that was only on major bus lines or what if you formed a car pool...okay, I hear you laughing. As an INDEPENDENT contractor, you have no set schedule really, and when you do--think adjunct faculty--you are expected to show up by yourself, unless you carpool with someone in another department (drama). That was exactly my response to the leaders of this week: yeah, if I were in NYC, I would have an easier go at getting around low impact stylee! But I would have a terrible time eating locally, or saving fuel on heating. We have our benefits to the rat race out here. But really, what if we decided not to race? not to compete? What if we formed cooperatives? What would we cooperate on? What are some of the major issues around sustainability affecting dance and performance artists in LA? Today I am reducing my water consumption but I wound up thinking about my conflict mineral consumption because I was thinking about all those birds and fish and crab dying off, in unison: creepy choreography! Choreography, cultural choreo started the whole thought line. I wanted to spend a week checking out "traditional drum and dance" classes. These choreographies are based on/ describe and analyze the environment in which they emerge. Each dying animal is a bit of choreo gone missing. Each major die-off is likely a direct result of our carbon and water footprints. We are killing the dance for many around the world (ourselves included) and setting terms for the global get down that are just outrageous. Time for a dance of disruption.
BLOWIN BACK DA 'FRO this week, other than the amount of trash my food is packed in (really, think about it) is the monster dance extravaganza, The A.W.A.R.D. Show and the fact that African Dance is somehow more commercially viable than po-mo and experimental dance thus, forever insuring that it ("African" Dance) is never quite considered an "art" form by ahem, certain sectors *cough*NEA *cough*. Conflict kinesiology? Okay, on the positive? AFRO PICK and the MORE COW BELL AWARD are going to the DCA & The REDCAT, respectively.
MORE COW BELL
THE REDCAT! don't stop get it get it! With the Unknown Theater closed, there is currently no place else developing adventurous dance-based arts in. If I'm lyin', misinformed, or that ticks you off, holla! Just be forewarned, I am serious about that "adventurous" part, and if the dance floor is only reserved for you and your students, then "it don't count."
AFRO PICK
Okay, now, The Department of Cultural Affairs doth obfucate, placate and otherwise delve into the art of prestidigitation, but y'all, they are the Monty Python knight of city departments! "Chop off me arm, that's just a flesh wound! I'll switch my grip! No arm? I'll kick you to death!" They are still there, sending out calls for participation and applications, and awarding grants and pulling down big national ones for themselves. Now if we could just get them some help getting the Controller's office to CUT them checks in 10 - 14 days, things would be nice.
on to the listings, finally!
CHINESE MANN THEATER
6925 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood CA
National Theatre Live presents FELA!, the film of the show, Live from London
Thursday, January 13, 2011, 7 PM, tickets are $20 only available online
I am not making this up. Too bad it conflicts with one of the nights of The A.W.A.R.D. Show. Fela! is coming to LA at the end of this year, live, but this film is supposed to be incredible. But no worries! There are several other So. Cal showings, but make your plans with a quickness! Just because the LA Times did not advertise this does not mean the Examiner dropped the ball. Thanks to Selimah for the tip! BLOWOUT COMB!
REDCAT
631 West Second Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
The A.W.A.R.D. Show!
January 13 - 17, all shows at 8:30 except Sunday the 17th at 7 pm, different program each night; $18, no festival package.
Well, it is finally here, and of course, there are some tough choices to be made for some of us with many fingers in lots of different flavored pies. Geez, my gurls are on night one and three, but all the evenings offer something worth your while. The dance Ninja, Meg Wolf, is on night 3. BLOWOUT COMB!
check back for some updates...
ONGOING CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Well, I am still looking for more folks to respond to my questionnaire--even if you KNOW that I know about your class. I am up to something BIG, hehehe! This week two new West side classes launch and I have a spotlight.
Crenshaw Yoga & Dance, 5426 Crenshaw Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90043-2408 great studio, chill vibe, and an awesome place to have a dance-centered event! I've been here once before for just such an occasion and finally got a chance to take a class, my feature. BABACAR N'Daiye. Sundays 3 - 4:30 PM, $15, live percussion. There is finally a seriously profesisonal level West African dance class in LA. For those of us who are older and former company members of Les Ballets African inspired companies, we mostly have been dancing for the fun of it, challenging ourselves to keep the choreographies alive in our muscles. Well, now there is a teacher able to challenge us with new choreography, too. This is NOT a beginner's class. Babacar is rhythmically challenging, even for those who know the repertoire. His funk works your junk. I highly recommend you arrive early and loosen your neck and shoulders on your own.
Burlesque Ballet, MECCA Vazie is back! And this time her inimitable class is down in Crenshaw. Check out this Collage Dance member's work. She's fierce. I am not sure if she is still runnning movement movement, but make sure you get a chance to see her perform: exquisite.
Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Avenue, CA 90291-3734 has just added Economic Dance Relief, a workshop with ALEXANDRIA Yalj, another new class for the dance professional! January 15th, 2:30 - 4:30 PM. This one is for the hardcore modern dancers who are looking to be ready for the next pick-up company gig. Working through Limon, Horton, Cunningham, Graham, and Simonson techniques, Yalj has created an energetic style that will get you up, out and ready to book. Only $12.
Ongoing at the Lodge, DANI Lund gives a wild samba funk class to live arkestra (I'm not kidding) Wednesdays, 7:30 PM, $15. KIMBERLY Miguel Mullen gives her oriccha-inspired Afro-Caribe class on Saturdays at 10:30 AM, $20. Sundays, VITA Vierra brings the axê of Afro-Brazilian drum and dance at 12:30 PM, $15.
InFocus Wellness Institute, 717 Broadway in Santa Monica, CA, just announced LUNGUSU Malonga from Fua dia Congo is in town!!! CONGO IN DA HOUSE! Okay y'all, you must come. get your samba on with Vita, then roll on over and work dem hips some mo! Gusi is second generation fierceness, her father, Malonga, being one of my dance masters. This is HOT! Sunday January 16th @ 3 - 4:30 PM. Call 310-576-2008 to register, cost is $30.
Also at the Institute, Friday nights 7:30 PM, PATRICK Senvosu & ANNA B Scott (that's me) give a wicked Congo class, one hour of hip grooves, smiles and sweat, by donation.
My Soular System Senegalese class continues at Studio Moon in Venice, 1327 1/2 Abbot Kinney, Mondays, 7 PM. The studio door is on the parking lot in back, off Electric Avenue, next to Intelligentsia. Here's my flyer, spread the word and come and dance!
Other spots to check out: Universal Dance Studios, where the maestra throws down a killer Cuban class; Dance Arts Academy, where Bahia and Sabar live and Your Neighborhood Dance Studio, where experimental West African dance thrives. More to come on that one ;->
Please please answer the questionnaire! I am looking for drum and dance classes, no matter the tradition. We have some responses, but need several more to augment the daily feature, yes DAILY!
LOVELY!
So, as I said, I am choosing good. We can get wallow in the muck of political grandstanding and environmental ignorance, or we can accept responsibility and begin to make the necessary changes to have the life we want to live and love. LOVE. LOVE! LOVE! Yes, send your vibes (and letters to your reps) out to end gun violence in the US and the world. Get inspired, not mired. Be the love y'all. See you on the dance floor.
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