NEWSLETTER: back that thing up

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! or as my son has been saying "NAPPY WHO HEAR?"

Okay, so I had such a good time in Mississippi with family I had not seen for years that I completely let slide my 100 things I would switch up. I also ate everything I saw, and so it was likely I was in a food coma when I was not laughing really hard with one of my brothers. But I did have the eye open and ear to the ground. In spite of my good time, and a general sense that folks were very happy to see each other, no matter who, there was not all that much "holiday cheer." Fewer lights, shorter lines in the grocery store. it seemed that folks opted instead for the right to trample greeters at Wal-Mart for flat screens rather than spend their money on extraneous stuff like food and electricity. Cheers! I kinda thought that maybe the restraint was not so much a monetary result as it was people were saving up to party hard at the Inauguration. I mean, HanukaChrisKwanza comes every year, but swearing in a black man to be president of the world, that's likely not gonna happen again for a while. Did you see that Russians are betting on the dissolution of the USA by 2010? Did you notice the intensification of crazed retrograde behavior? If you are ignoring the Gaza dilemma, you should not. This battle will be the thing that distracts and takes money away from initiatives we have going here in the US for a Department of Peace and a Minister of Arts. These are important ideas that need to happen to begin to spread this almost-forgotten thing called "good will." To ignore Gaza is to do so at your own artistic peril. You'll get no blame game out of me; no one has the right to shoot anyone, even when it seems like the most expedient option. On iPeace, a sister in Tel Aviv blogged about realizing with a Palestinian sister that neither one of them had any idea what they wanted to happen other than they did not want all the murder to continue. That's deep. In the absence of imagination the wrong thing can keep happening, over and over, just because we are used to it happening. We are used to the arts being ignored. We are used to peace getting called impossible. We are used to sitting quietly while our straight jacket gets buckled up nice and tight. We even smile and say thanks in our confusion. This is the year to step out of the fear, out of the "always like this," to let go of "forever and ever amen" and leap into "I don't know, let's see what happens if we get still and listen." Let go, back into Grace, and come out flying into possibilities: take action with love.


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


Jumping heart first into 2009, there is plenty BLOWIN' BACK DA 'FRO this week. Artists are on the move, alternative markets are burgeoning, and well, we'll all just have to work a little bit longer before retirement. Stop eating out so you can keep making it to these shows!


TONIGHT
UKNOWN THEATER
1110 Seward Street (cross street is Santa Monica Blvd.), LA
Rupture: An Evening of Dance Theatre
January 8-18, Thursdays - Saturdays @ 8 PM & Sundays @ 6 PM; $18 online, $25 @ door
Kingsley Irons takes to the stage in a few minutes with a crew of dancers ready to break open your head with her analysis of discipline and punishment. The fantastic production team of the Unknown awaits to make your night a memorable one. Go check this out. Parking lot located north of the theater on Lexington and Seward.


ELECTRIC LODGE
1416 Electric Ave, Venice, CA 90291
iDfest 2009: UK in LA
January 6 - 11 is the Workshop sign up here. January 10 @ 8:30 1st show; January 11 @ 4 pm, second show; $20 Gen, $15 Student / DRC, Friday Pay-What-You-Can UK in LA, well, almost. Venice is technically LA, but...Anyway, I am very excited that this festival is in my backyard. Shows every evening with a different bill each time, this festival of improvisation takes its theme seriously. Special guest artists Kirstie Simson, Caroline Waters and Simone Forti anchor the event.


HIGHWAYS
1651 18th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Street Cred 101
Saturday, January 10 & Sunday January 11th 8:30 PM; $15/$10
"Who you callin faggot!? I know how you like it when you at County!" Yes yes y'all Khalil Amani, S.A. asks: can a gay rapper earn his street credentials? This will likely be a RAW show, so if ya takin the kiddies to help them get an early start on loving everybody, be ready to answer LOTS of questions. With a roster of 7 hard hitting out rappers, the evening will burn in your memory for years to come. Stop H8TE. Brought to you in part by Outhiphop.com


USC FISHER MUSEUM OF ART

823 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007, map it

El Mexorcist 4:America's Most Wanted Inner Demon
Wednesday, January 28, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, FREE
El Mexorcista is BACK!! If you've never been excoriated, I mean exorcised by Guillermo Gomez Peña, tonight is the night. Hopefully it's gotten an update to included the antics of the shrub (Bush). Hosted by El Centro Chicano @ USC.


ONGOING CLASSES
It would be great to get updates from folks if your class has moved or your studio has closed. I did get word via Face Book that a new studio has opened! Congrats to the brave Yossi Conde! Her epononymous studio is located at 1734 SOUTH VERMONT AVENUE and you can enjoy a free salsa class this Sunday, 11 JAN from 10 - 11 AM. Shake that thang!

DANCEBank is ON with Mira Kingsley as instructor Saturdays 11am-1pm, January 10, 17, 24 $12

Rae S. Blum is now at Dance Arts Academy on Thursdays 7:30 - 9:30! Offered by Donation, so go get lifted.

A good number of the Viver Brasil Crew is in Bahia getting their learn on, but while they are away, you can expect guest teachers in the Tuesday night class at Dance Arts.

All on the dance map!


ACTION
This just in from Chicago...

Quincy Jones has started a petition to ask President-Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts. While many other countries have had Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never created such a position. We in the arts need this and the country needs the arts--now more than ever. Please take a moment to sign this important petition and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues.
http://www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html


LOVELY!
They say the New Year is all about out with the old and in with the new, but apparently the Blogjo did not get the memo and decided that divide and conquer race politics were still a good game plan. Why Mr. Burris thought he should accept the opportunity to become a black senator from Illinois from a corrupt, embattled governor is beyond me, but he did. Though we all count ourselves among the unlucky for the atrocity that is Gaza, Mr. Burris considers himself lucky for the cover. 2009 is all about implementation of the shifts we put into motion in 2008. Since that is the theme (cause I said so), it goes without saying that we have a year of work ahead of us, especially since not everyone wanted to come along on this fantastic voyage or they did, but did not realize how much old behavior that used to work, will no longer serve them. Scrape that gum off your soul and you'll discover a higher bounce. Looking forward to making anew world with you in 2009. Thanks for reading!

in love,
-Anna

NEWSLETTER: engage your core

Hi there (with a big hug)!

Kiddies are back in school and the beach is once again returning to the creatures that live there year round--marine, plant and human. In six days, scientists buried deep beneath CERN will turn on a machine to help them see beneath the Mother's Veil, or more commonly known as Dark Matter. The Republican Party is wrapping up its convention and the Democrats exploded from Denver last week feverish to get back into the White House. Hurricanes return to the same location like they were on an exact time table while old Cold War rivalries do the same. Fall. And recover. Finding the subtle shift in our core to keep the whole thing upright and perambulating. This seasonal change will have all the intrigue and excitement of a great spy movie, so stay tuned till the credits for the big surprise.

Closer to home, we enter the season of Grand Visitors, but don't let those season ticket holders fool you: there is plenty to see locally and I hope to keep bringing you info at least info on the bit I know. I had a fantastic time going to shows and events this summer and look forward to doing the same this fall. If you have pieces that work the skirt in particular, let me know, as I am teaching a course on the skirt and looking for people to match my students with! Onwards...


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. New reviews are up! Go check 'em out and get into the conversation.


BLOWIN' BACK DA FRO' this week is the official start of Fall in underground LA: ANATOMY RIOT, the wrap of a GREAT summer dance series at the Ford, and a new find.

FORD AMPHITHEATER
2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood CA 90068
Friday, 8:30 PM; $32/$5
Sans Detour
Catch Me Bird and Baker & Tarpanga Dance Project team up to bring you an evening of dance rarely presented on one bill: aerialist work and African experimental dance. This dance series at the Ford has been simply inspiring. Grab your fiends and get their early to have a couple of bottles of vino before you head in to be , well, inspired. One more brilliant show to go after this one. Car pooling highly recommended.


THE ELECTRIC LODGE
1416 Electric Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Intersection Dance Project presents Interfacings
Friday, September 5th, 8:00 PM; $25
This appeared to be an open jam at first glance, but I think that it is an actual dance event with collaborators coming in from all over. From their Face Book listing:
"Intersection Dance Project seeks to bring artists of all disciplines together for the collaboration and the production of dance. The Southern California premier will unite dancers and musicians from cities across the country including Seattle, Chicago, New York, the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Among them the intersection Dance Ensemble, Penny Hutchinson, Double Vision, Alexandria Yalj, Dena Bermann, Eathwalk Dance Company and Jennifer Bondy. Collaborations are artistic, energetic and intellectual in order to promote the common vision among dance in the art world." Tickets are available on-line. Alexandria Yalj has recently been working hard to make the LA Dance scene memorable. If you are looking for something much smaller and visceral for Friday, this would be worth checking out. But I'm gonna have to check out the people dancing on ropes. It looks as if this might go on for a while, so...who knows, I'll likely pop up at the end since it's in my neighborhood.

ECHOPLEX
1154 Glendale BLVD
Bootie: La's Monthly Mashup Bootleg Party
Sept 6, 9 PM - 2 AM; $10, 21 and over ONLY
Why list? I want you to arrive for the midnight stage mayhem of R.A.I.D. aka Random Acts of Irreverent Dance. Check out their MySpace Page, and learn how to Command the Dance!

THE OPEN SPACE
209 S. Garey St., Los Angeles Ca 90012
ANATOMY RIOT #26
Monday, Sept 8, 8 PM; $10 suggested donation
Meg Wolfe & Show Box bring you another fantastic, mind-bending segment in this DIY performance adventure. I'm on the bill this evening as is Ms. Wolfe herself so come on out and watch us dance smarter, not harder, LOL (that was an age euphemism in case you didn't catch it). Also on the bill, several excellent dance deployers and movement machinationists (i just made that word up, quote me): Melina Bielefelt, Won-sun Choi, Sarah Leddy, Hannah Schwadron, Anna B. Scott, Rosie Trump, and Meg Wolfe. I'm presenting a Work in Progress: Stream. Looking forward to seeing you!



UCLA ACKERMAN GRAND BALLROOM
308 Westwood PLaza, LA
Celebration of Life: A Fundraise for Esalen Institute
Sunday, September 7, 2008, 6- 10 PM
$25 suggested donation, more if you've got it like that and feel it that way
If you've ever been to a 5 Rhythms class, you know that this event is likely going to lift you right off the ground. Come out and help steady a place of respite for many of us soul-workers. Donna De Lory. Eyedentity, Suzanne Teng &gilbert Levy,Bob Bayobey Wisdom, Christo Pellani, Bolonatha & Russell Feingold, and Caroline Harvey. This is an open dance jam of sorts. Come and be moved.

Looking for something mentioned last week? Click over on the left for the archives.



LOUNGE @ REDCAT
631 W. 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
itch # 8: PORNOCRACY Launch Party
Tuesday, September 16, 6 - 9 PM; readings begin at 7 PM
I will be reading a selection from my piece in itch #7, and there will be many other folks doing the same thing from their entries over the last two years. It should be a blast. I hope to see you there. And please, subscribe already!


And what else? Your inboxes and mailboxes are likely littered with mailings about the companies coming to town. As we get closer, I'll post up, but a lot of those tickets are l o n g gone. But you never know!

Stay tuned for a special edition of AFROLOGICS to make sense of the upcoming Festival of Sacred Music, opening on Sept. 12th at UCLA....



ONGOING CLASSES & SPECIAL WORKSHOPS
+There's an upcoming workshop based in Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed work led by Hector Aristizibal on Sept. 27 - 28. The price is $200, and any money the organizers make above their costs will be donated to Sojurn, a safe house for victims of domestic abuse. Call Fred Kahane at 310-396-1325 for further info, and also make checks out to him. $50 saves your spot. Mail to 1122 Marco PL, Venice CA 90291. If you have been looking for a way to push your art making passion into the possibilities of wider social engagement, this will be a significant experience for you.

+SOMA Fest LA is back again! Sept. 16 - 21 at the 18th ST. Art Complex in Santa Monica. The schedule has been announced so you should make your way over to their website to peruse the offerings and buy your packages now.

+Mama Camara has asked me to tell you to hold the following dates for the Debbie Allen Dance Academy African Dance Conference: October 1- 5, 2008. There will be an on-line registration process as well as an updates page. So save the date!

The Class Map is getting rather interesting! Viver Brasil is BACK! And they are bringing the heat of Bahia with them for the upcoming Sacred Music Festival. I will need to do a supplemental for that, but until then, head over to their regular classes because some FANTASTIC visitors are coming into town for the Dance Arts Academy Tuesday night offerings. Don't miss it!!!!

Now, go check out that dance map and find your new favorite thing to do! "I command you!" That's what my daughter says. She just turned 3. Help.



GIG FOR YOU
This comes via Face Book, so if you are interested look for Emma Kayee on there:
"I'm looking for about 20 jazz or street dancers to take part in a TV show we are making for a major UK channel. The show is a celebration of the TV show and film 'Fame'. We are going to be filming in L.A on the 19th September in and around a dance studio in Hollywood." She did not mention pay, but it is likely not union, so if you know folks, let them know. Get on Face Book!!


LOVELY!
I cannot lie: I am very hungry right now, and it is impairing my writing skills! There is much to say about any number of things, but I'll leave you with a kiss on the forehead and a pat on the shoulder, with a deep look in the eyes, full of gratitude. As always, it is so wonderful to share this with you!.

in Love,
-Anna