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

NEWSLETTER: spin out

Peace & Love!

Well peoples...I just can't imagine why, oh why the flame throwers have been brought out, turned on high and aimed at our pockets. Actually, I could run a pretty interesting theory for you, but instead, I'll implore you to continue insisting for that 700 billion dollars to be spent on US, not on poorly managed businesses. "Yeah, but they voted," you say. Yes the senate did, but congress is still trying to figure themselves out. But as our outgoing president has shown us laws and agreements can be unsigned...If nothing else, you now know that there IS money for your child's school. There is money for the arts. There is money to stop the foreclosures. There is even money to pay down the deficit. No more excuses from the "leaders!" One of the great things that is happening is that we KNOW now: acting collectively and with great focus, we can make a change. So don't loose heart! I was listening to Howard Zinn today on the radio talking about FDR and how FDR came to be FDR. It was inspiring, because he is holding out for Obama to really become the change, not because he already knows how (heeellooo, nuclear lobby?!) but because we will lead him to his greatness. Yeah, there are forces at work to destabilize our new-found understanding of democracy, but there are more of us than them. And by applying that sense that we are all great, just in need of a bit of a boost from our "constituents" we can live the change, right now. Just look at what is happening in LA dance: the Times fired its reviewers, the performers got mad then organized and are making it happen. There's a shortage of venues: galleries, coffee shops, parking lots, yoga studios and parks are now hosting major performance events. It takes all of us rising to the occasion and taking turns at the helm to create and enjoy greatness. Yes We Can!


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 if last weekend did not run me deep enough into the ground, this weekend is PACKED with events that will likely be pivotal in your life if you go to any of them. How awesome is that? BLOWIN BACK DA FRO this week? The realization that art happens, no matter what. Check it out.



MILES MEMORIAL PLAYHOUSE
1130 Lincoln BLVD, Santa Monica; 310-998-8765
Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
October 3,4 @ 8PM; 5th @ 3 PM, FINAL WEEKEND
is just about a wrap. I'll be in da house on Saturday night. Also check out other events produced by Teada, they look interesting...

OC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, directions
Fall into Dance
October 2 & 3, 8 PM; $10 per program--i think...the server is down
Dang it! I had written this entire thing about this mini-festival, picked out folks I recommended, and then...I realized I was looking at last years web page! Well kiss me and call me peaches if they are not back with another fantastic line up, but did they not get the memo that they are supposed to tell me first?! SO I can't go, but some of you should, cause it looks fantabulous.
With works from Nacho Duato's Compañia Nacional de Danza, Trisha Brown Dance Company, Shen Wei Dance Arts, Keigwin + Company and more

*Also at OCPAC, Slow Dancing, the monumental videodance installation by David Michalek is running through October 11th. Hurry!


HIGHWAYS PERFORMANCE SPACE
18th Street & Olympic, Santa Monica, CA
San Soucci
October 3 & 4, 8:30 PM, $20/$15
Lights, Camera, Action, Post and ACTION! An evening of screendance merging with live performance that should delight and surprise you with amazing synaptic manipulation! I'll be there on Friday.


CAL ARTS, Lund Theater
24700 McBean Pkwy, Valencia, CA 91355
Second Annual Commuter Festival
Thursday October 2 & Friday 3, 8 PM FREE, reservations can be made at 661-291-3046
Whoa as me! The distance is too great to get from Highways to Cal Arts in a timely fashion, but if you are up for a drive to a great venue, please go check out the dance ninja herself, Meg Wolfe, rock the kiddies in the School of Dance with the help of my baby Joel Smith and co-conspirator, Liz Casebolt. Also on the bill: We welcome Lionel Popkin, Oni Dance directed by Maria Gillespie, Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company directed by Kate Hutter.


SHAKTI'S ELEMENTS
717 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401; 310-576-2008
Raga Lounge
Friday, October 3, 8 PM, donation
An open-mic style, laid back night. Give Tova a ring and get on the bill!


PHYLLIS STEIN GALLERY
207 W. 5th Street, Los Angeles
Performance Happy Hour
Saturday Oct. 4, 7 - 10 PM, FREE
I am itching to get down here and visit with Mecca Vazie Andrews. Where is my helicopter taxi?! If you aren't headed west, get downtown and avail yourself. With Movement, Movement and Sarah Paul Ocampo.


Missing something from last week? Check out the archives to your left. Wanna put in your two cents? Scroll down and write us somethin'!


THE MUSIC CENTER
135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012, directions
World City
Select Saturdays, 10 AM queue for 11 AM show; 11 AM queue for 12:30 show
WOW! A very interesting series for FREE, aimed especially at kids. Tickets paid for by the Keck Foundation. Get the kids downtown!
October 11, 2008 Los Llaneros and Ballet Folclórico do Brasil
November 8, 2008 Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble
January 17, 2009 Chen Kuai Le Puppet Theater
February 7, 2009 Diane Ferlatte and Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir
March 14, 2009 Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre and Életfa Hungarian Folk Ensemble
April 18, 2009 Le Vent du Nord and Circo Comedia
June 5-7, 2009 Vietnamese Water Puppets

Also, get your tix for the Nutcracker and Ailey! Coming up at the end of the month, Miami City Ballet.


THE OPEN SPACE
209 S, Garey ST, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Anatomy Riot #27 with guest curator Samantha Giron
Monday, October 13, 8 PM, $10 suggested donation
Looking for a GREAT night of risks and comraderie? Get some friends together and go to Hassan's house. On the bill:Dance Good Damn it!, Samantha Giron dance project, Ryan Heffington, Marcus Kuiland-Nazario,Nina McNeely, Alexandria Yalj, Serene Zloof


CAL STATE LONG BEACH/Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theater
6200 Atherton ST, Long Beach CA
Not About Iraq, choreography by Vic Marks
Thursday October 16 & Friday 17th, 8 PM; $25/$20
"Can dance be a force for social change? A visceral, exhilarating dance to engage our hearts and minds, Not About Iraq looks at citizenship as it explores how dance speaks about our experience. Through a set of poetics only accessible through dance, internationally acclaimed choreographer Victoria Marks questions the place of the body in matters of courage and valor, knowledge and responsibility." If you missed this last year, here's your second chance! For tickets, call 562-985-7000.


THE RED MERMADE
2814 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Asphalt Sea
Saturday, October 18th, 8 PM; $10--bring extra money for art & food purchases
A night of performance lurking, motel crashing and *quality* hanging with some of the edgiest performance artists in the city. I am curating and hosting with the lovely Ms. Pat Payne, together, we are VISCERA (!) and hoping to make your guts hurt from all the laughing and sudden surprises. Our invited guests are bringing surprise characters, jammin solo music and stunning dance, all adapted as site specific pieces & projections for dry docked boat, front porch, parking lot, alley and stairwell.
Pat Payne, d. Sabela Grimes, Ayana Hampton, Maia, Pete Lee, Derrick Maddox, Gregory Barnett, Anna B. Scott, Cari Ann Shim Sham + surprise special guests! $10 gets you all o' dis...


DIAVOLO DANCE SPACE
616 Moulton, Los Angeles; (tel) 800-838-3006
Peep Hole|People presented by LA Contemporary Dance
Friday October 17th - Sunday 26th; 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays; 5PM on Sundays, $25/$20/$15
All right. I will manage to get to this because it is time to see the company with my own eyes. They are about to take the stage right now at Cal Arts...alas. Tickets are already on sale.


REDCAT
631 W. 2nd ST, Los Angeles, directions
The Studio
Sunday October 19 & Monday Oct 20, 8:30 PM; $15/$12/$8
An underground favorite and, dare I say, staple, is back with a new installment. A great showcase for local favs and groups on the rise, The Studio is money well spent. On the bill: Ana María Alvarez, Nao Bustamante, Josslyn Luckett, Miwa Matreyek, Needtheater Company, Sarah Paul Ocampo, Poor Dog Goup, Wu Ingrid Tsang, and Kristina Wong. Tickets are on sale now.



ONGOING CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
The African Dance Workshop is here! Debbie Allen Dance Academy hosts one hot weekend of dance. The server is not responding right now--I think everyone is trying to get their advance tickets and program--but check back and see if you can get in there and get your package.
Changes in the ongoing class map can be accessed here. Make sure you check out The Open Space's website for their fall schedule of classes. Don't forget Kinky Stretch with Gregory Barnett starts 10/09.

Viver Brasil is hosting the living monument, Dona Cici. Please do yourself a favor and get to their Tuesday 8 PM class at The Dance Arts Academy. Learning the story inside the dance is priceless and RARE. Dona Cici is a true treasure. Classes are also enlivened by the drumming, I said drumming, of Iya Mainha, also in town!! $15 a class.

In San Francisco at the Aceituno Arts Cooperative, 2141 MIssion Street, STE 200, JORGE ALABE will offer an orixá movement class. Jorge Alabe is a powerful drummer and keeper of rhythms. Class is Saturday Oct 4; 3:30- 5:00 PM for $15.

DANCEbank is back! Revamped schedule, new location, new day: Saturdays 11am-1pm unless otherwise noted at Farmlab/Under Spring
October 11, 18, 25 - Rebecca Alson-Milkman
November 1, 8, 15 - Neil Greenberg (11am-1:30pm)
December 6, 13, 20 - Simone Forti (10:30am-12:30)
January 10, 17, 24 - Mira Kingsley
Jan 31, Feb 7, 14 - Susan Rose
Feb 21, 28, March 7 - Rae Shaolan Blum



whew!

LOVELY!
I've been listening to the VP debate and nearly getting sick to my stomach. Yikes! At least the questions are better than the Presidential debate, but good grief. I'm so glad that I have the chance to go see some invigorating, politically astute art making this weekend. Make a trip out to a show, or two or three, and talk to the person in the seat next to you. Learn something, share something, plan something! Be that greatness that we all need. Hop to it.

in love,
-Anna