NEWSLETTER: hit and run

Right now I am writing to you from the passenger side of a car between Hacienda Heights and Los Angeles. This past week has been a wild ride and a bit of a blur. Did I not say that Obama was gonna have some trouble getting his cabinet confirmed? I'm still waiting for the exodus of Rahm Emmanuel, simply because there is no way that all these tax-evading folks cleared without it being the case that he did not perceive it as being a problem. Ahem. So Obama has taken a few hits, mostly cause he is not surrounded with that shield of love that got him elected. Now that he's in office folks are kinda hangin' back and waiting for the miracle. Hello people. Now is not the time to stop wishing on a star. Focused group visualization has served us well so far, why stop now? Where are all those song writers and choreographers now? We need some "Obama Work That Confirmation" songs and maybe an Obama Hustle world record shattering gathering in the streets. Something. With the massive layoffs that have happened in the last few weeks and the news media pretending to dribble every agonizing detail your way, it's no wonder that folks are not dancing in the streets and making records with Garage Band. However, now is not the time to stop. We have not had enough. So I am putting up some playlists over on Afrologica, not to avoid the economic meltdown, but to focus your energy and vision, so that you may reach the sublime, find that unsuspecting sweet spot. California is bankrupt. National banks are hoarding bailout money. Art institutions of the bloated elitist type are going the way of the Dodo. Newspapers that have spent years ignoring local issues in favor of the bottom line are crumbling. Fill in the blanks! Localism with an eye for the global is where it's at right now. PUT ON YOUR RED SHOES AND DANCE THE BLUES.


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, aside from my students having no idea that their education is threatened by economic collapse (no really) is a dance in a highrise, black dance at Irvine, Afrosheen Appreciation Month (not really, I just made that up) and a slew of dance workshops.


KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE
9820 Washington Blvd, Culver City
Got Gentrification? by Danny Hoch
Jan 21 - Feb 22; Tuesday - Friday 8 PM; Saturdays 2 & 8 PM; Sundays 6:30 PM. Price varies according to seat selection...
OBIE Award-winning solo artist Danny Hoch returns to Center Theatre Group with his riveting new work, TAKING OVER, a show that we all know too well, and can't seem to stop living in. Set in his 'hood of Williamsburg, if you just change the accents on a few of the characters, names of streets, back ground beats, you would sear that you were just about ANYWHERE in Venice, Echo Park Silverlake, Downtown LA, Leimert Park, Grand Lake district in Oakland...ANYWHERE. SO, um, he has hit an appropriate nerve, just in time for white folks and upwardly mobile folks of color to rethink what exactly are they looking for in a good ethnically mixed neighborhood...


SELF HELP GRAPHICS
3802 Cesar E. Chavez Ave., 90063
Handmade Love Just For You
Saturday, February 7th, 12 - 5 PM
If you were missing Pat Payne and her inimitable antics, she is back, working her badass intersectional self to death just for you. Go get your lovejones quenched with her "Unauthorized Use" line of custom housewares and delicious erotic chocolates by Reina Prado. Poets, love potions-wielding curandeiras, and some musica round out the mix. A delightful evening for those of you done with leaving your love life to chance...


JULIAN DIXON LIBRARY
4975 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA
We Tell Stories presents, "The Spirit of Black Folklore"
This 45-minute performance includes three folktales to celebrate Black History Month. Geez, I almost forgot it was Black Artist Employment Month! If you have little ones, go check this crew out. In the meantime, don't forget to put up your personal shrine to all things Black and Proud this month.


CALIFORNIA AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM
600 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles CA 90037
Black History Month Events, general
As it is THE MONTH for this venue, there is a lot going on, so please go check out their website. The Black Motorcycle Culture exhibit is still up and so bizarre, that you just have to see it. If you are into bikes, then you don't want to miss this very rare exhibit. Also of interest is a 4-weekend long workshop called "African-Americans, Naturally." While you will not get to learn how to get your hair to kink up and love it, you will learn how to make art with natural and found objects. The theme this month is Earth. Every Saturday in February, twice a day, 12:00-1:30 PM and again at 2:00- 3:30 PM with master artist Angela Briggs. Call 213-744-2024 to make reservations ASAP. Stand by for MANY fantastic programs coming at the end of BAEM, and several right at the top of March....like "Quiet as Kept" Written and directed by Ulysses Jenkins with the participation of Afronauts from across the city (including Bettye Saar and Viver Brasil). February 27th, 7 - 10 PM. Reservations required, suggested donation of $5 - $10, free for members. 213-744-7678. This is a special performance, so it is NOT listed on the website. But don't let that stop you.



THE GETTY CENTER
1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles CA 900449
Collecting African American Art in the 21st Century
Project for the Study of Collecting and Provenance Annual Lecture (PSCP)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009;4:00–5:15 p.m., Reception to follow, FREE
Museum Lecture Hall, The Getty Center
Keeping in theme with black history and art, this is arguably THE year to be a black visual artist, or at least an artist really good at making a likeness of Obama. To help you get your collector on, GRI is bringing in Alvia J. Wardlaw, Art Historian and curator @ The University Museum , Texas Southern. I want to see how she explains the plethora of post-black artists working in experimental and multimedia as "African American." That should be interesting given that she plans to put them in the tradition of historically black colleges and businesses. Where would she place a John Sims? a Damali Ayo? a Navin Norling? a Pat Payne? a William Pope.L? or Mendi+ Keith Obadike? Go and find out. Reservations are required.



okay, here's a question: if you are black, have you ever been wished a "Happy Black History Month?" If you are not, do you ever wonder if you should wish a "Happy Black History month" or have you? I just want to know. Cause as you know, we now have an unofficial Black President's Day. Check the archives if you are missing something from last week. Go vote on this and other topics at Afrologica.


7+Fig
735 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, 90017
A Material World, Collage Dance Theater w/ Heidi Duckler
January - February Open Rehearsals ALL FREE
Art Walk, Feb 12, 5- 9 PM FREE
A Material World Show, Feb 18th 12:30 PM and again@ 5:30 PM FREE, no reservations
MUST GO! They've been at this all January, and I swear I have had it on my mind to let you know about this project, but each week, I just space after finding too much else. So here it is. The open rehearsals are coming to an end, but the show is not until next week. And it is free! What interests me about this show, and this company period is the potential to use their working style as a template for transformation, for working in wild locations with tangible results for "retrofitting" "repurposing" not just space/sites/locales, but ideas, ordinances, economies. Meet me there next Thursday. I'll be fresh off the freeway and looking for a revelation.


reminders:
18th Street Art Open Studios is tomorrow-Saturday--but it may be rained out...
IRVINE BARCLAY THEATRE, 4199 Campus Dr # 680, Irvine, CA, Dance Visions, A celebration of Donald McKayle, Thu Feb 5 8pm – Sun Feb 8 6pm; $16 gen/ $14 seniors & UCI staff & faculty/ $9 UCI students & children
MACHINE PROJECT tree give away Sunday Feb 8th
ANATOMY RIOT #30 @ The Open Space
look in the archive for last weeks recommendations...

coming up:
-blue13 Dance Company, "Bollywood Delicious" [WORLD PREMIERE!] at Highways Feb 13th - 15th get your tickets now!
-decaDance, Grad Concert at UCR Dance dept--will be hilarious! Feb 20th - 22nd tix
-The W. Kamau Bell Curve: Ending Racism in About an Hour comes to LA, Comedy Central Stage, 323-960-5519. Dude told the first Obama joke EVER in 2005! Call to reserve.




ONGOING CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Get your carpools together and check out these local dance workshops!
Brazilian Dance and Drum Workshop, Center for Worldance, 230 West Main Street, Alhambra CA Feb 7th & 8th, 1 - 10 PM $25 each or $45 for 2 classes. Laila Abdulla from Viver Brasil is not to be missed. HOT!

Afro-Cuban Dance Workshop in San Diego, Stage 7 School of Dance, 3980 30th Street, San Diego, CA Friday February 6 @ 7:30 - 9:30 PM; $20 with Freila Merencio & Juan Carlos Blanco, formerly lead soloists with Raices Profundas in Havana.
and then...they get on the road and come up here to us! Saturday February 7 @ 5:00- 6:30 PM for Yoruba and Congo; then 6:30 - 8:00PM for Arara & Franco-Haitian. Studio No.1 2037 Granville Ave, Los Angeles CA, $20 for one $35 for both. THIS IS REAL DEAL ACTION. Make it if you can. Ladies, bring your big white skirt.


DANCEbank Winter/Spring session, Saturdays 11am-1pm, $12
Feb 7, 14th - Hana van der Kolk ; Feb 21, 28, March 7 - Rae Shao-Lan Blum; March 14 - Eva Aymami @ Metabolic Studio / Farmlab 1745 North Spring Street, #4 LA, CA 90012



GIGS
Urban Bushwomen have a search on for an executive director. Here's the link to the job description! http://www.urbanbushwomen.org/downloads/Executive_Search.pdf

"Walla!" an MFA thesis exhibition opening at USC
8-10 Actors (NO ACTING EXPERIENCE NECESSARY just enthusiasm) needed for "Walla!" MFA thesis exhibition opening at the USC Roski School
of Fine Art (located at South Flower & 30th Street, a few blocks from main campus).
Auditions will be held Saturday, February 7th from 4-6 pm at the USC Roski School of Fine Art (located at 3001 South Flower & 30th Street, just a few blocks from main campus). Please RSVP by Friday, February 6th if you are interested : 503-853-1374 / emast@usc.edu a looping theatrical play to be performed (over and over) in the gallery space for one night only. The play involves two to three live musicians, five characters + eight to ten actors who play (very reactionary) live audience members/opening goers during the three hour duration of the play (think John Cassavetes, "Opening Night"). I think this is paid with footage for your reel, no cash.




ACTION
Start a local currency. Really. Get busy. Convince your credit union and a handful of local businesses. If nothing else, start with $15 as the base unit to equal one hour value, and print up cupons to exchange within your small community of artmakers, providers, vendors, set designers, etc...This does work. Check it out. Two distinct models:
Berkshares
Ithaca Hours
I want to start Dogtown Dollars. Who can help? Who knows of a local credit union that may have interest? Venice was hammered by the mergers of banks.
Also, here is a thorough website all about the process of creating a local currency:
E.F. Schumacher Society




LOVELY!
So I was listening to Obama give a speech to his Democratic buddies at their convention, and I was deeply amused. And then not. This economic stimulus package is weird. It does not seem to reflect the hope that billions of people world wide held for the big change bound to come upon his election. The reason for that: it was written while he was still campaigning, while elected "officials" were still holding out for the great big band aid fix. Quite frankly, it freaked me out when he said "creating thousands of new jobs, all in the private sector" like that was a good idea. The way this package is structured, we will continue to be held hostage by failing industries and corporations.News reports out of London confirmed that bankers there, too, were scurrying to pay out bonuses with their corporate stimulus check before the oversight rules kicked in!? The other mind boggling, but not surprising, chunk of weirdness in the package are provisions that will increase nuclear power industry and "clean coal." Obama likes these. He said that several times during the campaign. Most folks, especially those who live near this crap, can't stand'em. SO...phone and write, have neighborhood meetings, tape them puppies and throw them up on YouTube, FaceBook and any other site you can think of. I don't know about you, but when they said "create thousands of jobs to get America back to work," I really did think a second-coming of The New Deal was nigh. I mean, I damn near had t-shirts designed for the 21st Century WPA project. Private sector?! So please come and visit Afrologica and sign up so we can come up with a fantastic viral protest as well as some critical things we can do right now to create possibilities for "glocal" economic stability. I'm thinking we all post videos with the same title and then send out a press release. Enough is enough. Our economy is gone as we know it. It's time for the elected folks to have some vision and audacity and help us create one that will function for longer than 10 years at a time. People-centered, full of love and creativity.

in love,
-Anna

NEWSLETTER: "brake"dancing

How do?

Sometimes, I feel like a fish out of water, flopping on a very unforgiving surface, seeking fluidity. Right about now, I'm guessing that we are each having that sensation, off and on, as this month seems to drag us to the Fall. I mean a literal physical fall. Old ideas, old systems, markets, relationships, industries, art practices, social networks... just one BOOM after the other. Flop flop flop. As Sponge Bob says, "Air is not good, Patrick! Air is not good!" But hold on, yes it is says our inner contact improviser. It's all about displacement, a shifting that reveals how the body is staying aloft. I can mix me some metaphors! Yes, there has been a man behind a curtain, actually several of them. And they all thought that they were the Wiz. We know we did not elect ourselves a Wiz and when we sit down and go to our quiet places to find balance, we ain't lookin for no Wiz neither. Rather than go all tense, flopping around between one fiscal revelation and the next, let's just get in our center and find how we have to position our feet to hold our ground and be in our truth: we would rather spend 700 billion dollars for food, art making/production/touring, housing, education, 2 years paid home leave for each new mom, senior services, longer library hours, health care, green retrofits, improving our food supply by removing pesticides and unwanted genetically altered crops, having international cultural exchanges, paying off every one's credit card debt and shutting down the evil ones, buying back foreclosed homes and giving them back to the owners, making sure every curb has wheel chair access, every intersection a crosswalk, and having a big party once a season just to say "we love us!" I think there would still be money left. Maybe we're not flopping after all. Maybe we are using our fins to scuttle over a ridge, to a fairer, clearer source of sustenance.


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.


As is customary in times like these, artists have jumped up and decided to take, make and break microphones, stages, platforms, and anthems. Lot's to see, do, experience, and co-create! BLOWIN BACK DA 'FRO this week are festivals that shake your assumptions, gatherings that make you the artist, and rituals that focus intent.

OPENING TODAY
CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
Black Chrome
September 25th 6-9 pm Opening Reception
Black people and motorcycles get a night of contemplation this evening. Choppers, drag bikes and side burns with lollipop afros abound this evening as this strip of the black underground gets some play. Stop by and greet new curator, Michele Elizabeth Lee. She is fabulous and an artist in her own right.


FORD AMPHITHEATRE, map
This place is AWESOME. Three events to just make you say, "Hey, give these folks reign over the budget crisis! They can stretch a dollar!"
Pacha Massive & Federico Aubele
Friday, September 26, 8 PM, tickets $30/20 and $12 for kids
might be sold out since KCRW is co-sponsor. Follow the link to more info and links to their music.
Fiesta Mexicana VI
Saturday, September 27, 2008, 7 PM; tickets $48/40, no discounts for kids
I happen to be teaching a course on the skirt and can't seem to find any articles on these incredible costumes. Can anybody help? Meanwhile, we'll just have to go to this annual extravanganza.
JUiCE HIP HOP FESTIVAL
Saturday Oct 4, 2008, 8 PM; tickets $25/$5 for kids and students
Hip Hop collegiate competition dance hits the main stage. I'll have some new cash by then, so maybe I'll go. Lots of tricks, stunts and synchronism, so if you old skool, you won't be feelin this at all. However, if you get moved watching the culture undulate like a shimmering river serpent, bumpin up against banks that you thought it could not possibly reach, then you MUST check this show out. one night only featuring Antics Performance, The Get Down Dolls, Lux Aeterna, Outer Circle and guests. Buy now! it will be packed with their crews who can all get in for $5...


18th STREET ARTS COMPLEX
1639 18th St., Santa Monica, CA 90404 | Phone 310.453.3711
ArtNight
Saturday September 27th, 6 - 9 PM; FREE
I will be here celebrating my birthday! September 30th, if you anna know. Yes, I should likely go to the Viva Mexico, but crazy artists are MY people! This evening is absolutely full of amazing and challenging work in various media, so check it out. Who knows where you can park though?

24th ANNUAL ABBOT KINNEY FESTIVAL
Abbot Kinney between Main and Venice
Sunday, September 28th, 10 AM - 6:30 PM; FREE, but food will cost a lot...
Yikes! Every year this is bigger. And I have to say, better. This year is no different with the festival going green, and they ain't just greenwashin either. There will be a bicycle valet station, instruction on how to make simple meaningful changes around your home to make your carbon footprint smaller, and a gourmet green chef station (although we could do without the "gourmet" part). 3 stages of music, one with Chris Pierce, lovely lovely music. Lots for the kids to do, and great crafts to take home. I live VERY close, so if you are coming, drop me a line. TAKE THE BUS, #33 or 333 up Venice. You will thank me later.


GRAND AVENUE FESTIVAL
Between Temple and Fifth Street
Sunday September 28th, 11 AM - 5 PM
If I did not live on the opposite side of the universe, I would be here. This festival takes up several square blocks in downtown LA, offering not just stages with music, but street performances, open galleries and music hall and several do-it-yourself art stations. To get into the Disney Hall and other venues (REDCAT, MOCHA, Colburn School, Music Center, Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theatre, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion) you will need a ticket, but they are free on a first come, first served basis, so arrive early! Of special interest @ 2 & 3:30 in the Walt Disney Concert Hall, daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra will play. This is a HUGE festival; wear your walking shoes. And please, take the bus or subway to the event.


Please check out the picks for the Sacred Music Festival, String Theory and ANATTA. You can also go to their website to see what they are pushing.

And as if there is not enough happening on Sunday...
SANTA MONICA BEACH @ THE END OF OCEAN PARK BLVD
Honoring the Sea: Closing Ceremony for The Festival of Sacred Music
3 PM - Sundown (6:41PM), FREE
Three HUNDRED artists will descend upon the beach with their admirers and friends to say good bye to the wondrous Festival of Sacred Music, but they will do it by providing an awakening of the spirit. If you feel called to help heal the waters--in the ocean but also encased within your skin--please come down to the beach after a bit of festival frolicking. I will be there with Viver Brasil and Swing Brasil, lifting up the vibration of Yemanjá, the Candomblé goddess of motherhood, peace & the sea. If you love all things Brazilian, please wear white and come to our tent to chill with us. You will not be able to make the presentation, but we would love people holding the space. Bring white flowers to say thank you to Big Momma. Many other traditions will be there as well, including DAFRA and the Agape International Choir and the First Nation.


Looking for something mentioned last week? Check the archives.


HIGHWAYS
1651 18th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema
Friday October 3rd & Saturday October 4th 8 PM @ 8:30
This looks like a blow out of an evening! If you love dance films, screen dance, and projections WITH live performance, can't miss this. Since no place seems to be listing the names and Cari Ann Shim SHam sent them to me, here goes. I hope you get as excited as I was!
Maria Gillespie, Kristy Tully, Cari Ann Shim Sham, Kyle Ruddick, Christine Suarez, Mary Kite, Caren McCaleb, Mariel Louise Mc Ewan, Jia Jia Wu, Dani Beauchamp, David Rousseve, Roberta Shaw, Kim Olson, Michelle Ellsworth, Hamel Bloom, Nicole Seiler, Gideon Obarzanek, Edwina Throsby, Jessica Damon, Carrie Noel, Rachael Lincoln, Robert Prowse, Andrea Pass, Ana Baer

DIAVOLO DANCE SPACE
616 Moulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA
Peep Hole|People by LACDC
Friday October 17th-18th, 8 PM, 19th @ 5 PM; 24th, 25th @ 8 PM, 26th @ 5 pm
An evening of repertory work and new choreographies. I'll have more as we get closer.

THE RED MERMADE
2814 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Asphalt Sea
Saturday, October 18th 8 PM to midnight-ish
VISCERA presents a night of performance lurking, motel crashing and urban partying. Our invited guests are preparing site specific pieces for dry docked boat, parking lot, alley and stairwell. You won't want to miss our Granny Off. Save the date and some money to put in our hat. More details to follow...


WONG FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST continues and is a HIT! Don't miss it. Get tickets here.


ONGOING CLASSES AND SPECIAL WORKSHOPS
Well, I need to put Diavolo on the class map for AFROLOGICS. But don't miss out on Meg Wolfe's map of ALL studio spaces in the city. She put that together herself and now finally has some interns rockin the casbah with her.

RIGHT NOW: LA Contemporary Dance Company has a master class at Diavalo until 9 PM featuring Paulo Alcedo, a former student of the inimitable Rosangela Silvestre.

Also, Hannah Vander Kolk offers Hippy Hip Hop for everyone right now at the Open Space, 7 - 9 PM

On Sunday Sept. 28th from Noon - 2 PM, LADC hosts Mecca Vazie Andrews as guest instructor at Diavolo

Then just limp on over to the Open Space for Liquid Pop Open Dance Jam led by Alexandra Yalje. This edition is offered by Bulletyme while Ms. Yalje performs in NYC! 2:30 - 4 PM, $11 You will get your sweat on

Kinky Stretch with Gregory Barnett, described as "an all-level performance/movement class based in conviction and universal acceptance (rather than traditional techniques or years of practice). It should be fun, if you're willing to commit yourself to the understanding that when it comes down to it we're all gods and idiots simultaneously." begins 7:30 - 9 PM, THURSDAYS, The Open Space beginning OCT 9th. $10

DADA's African Dance Conference is nearly upon us. Get your tickets on-line. October 1st - 5th, it jumps off!

There's a big Haitian event with workshop coming to Occidental College in November, courtesy of Elizabeth Chin! Save the first week of November for some hot, contemporary Haitian dance. Concert on the 7th. more details to come.


LOVELY!
Well, it's earlier than last week. Improvement! Other than boosting local artists (and myself occasionally) I have not run any ads in this newsletter. I did want to mention not a product, or event, or restaurant, but, a process. Not one of those cult-inducing ones either, so don't worry. So you've tried, tried, and tried again, and things are not moving/changing/clarifying the way you want: stop and check in with your mini-false-mantras. You know, "i'm so broke," or "i can't stand that, " or "i just don't have time," or "i'm just not ever gonna get any better than this, " or... Yes, right now, we are kinda in a group false mantra that seems to switch up on us everyday, "Obama can never win because he's black, " or "i don't understand what's going on on Wall Street, " or "Sara Pallin is ___" Where attention goes energy flows and if you'd like to develop skills to harness your inner power and drive your attention towards the world you want, check out Huna with Kala. I have to say, I'm not a fan of how the website looks, and sometimes, her voice can get to me, but the work is really great and she is living it with great love. I've done it, and I was VERY pleased with the results. Here is a link to tonight's free session, so you can learn one of the skill sets! And no, it's not about materialism. It's about being the change in a focused and loving way. And that's something we all need of each other right now.

Don't forget: make a monthly donation to your favorite arts organization and/or public school. Every little bit helps.

in love,
-Anna