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: arms wide open

Alafia,

This morning we were graced with an encounter with a pod of dolphins so close to shore that they had to dive every time the tide threatened to wash over the rocks. It was so soothing, and needed as our collective nerves have been frayed by this madness going on over in Georgia and Ossetia. If you're not in the know, as if there is no such thing as an Olympics going on, both Russia and Georgia have invaded Ossetia, making me think far too much of the beginnings of WW I. I don't write this newsletter to get THIS type of political action going--there is soooo much to do here in LA, let alone the rest of the US--but lately, these far away ventures feel very very close to home, as we often are called upon to fund both sides, one publicly and the other on the under. You know things are bad when China, I said China, is calling for a truce! Now that's deep, but likely more about not loosing this much needed media limelight to a bunch fools in the Baltic. In any event, we are so fortunate to be able to kick it with the dolphins and make and share our art with each other. I am wondering what concrete steps we can take, other than signing yet another on-line petition--which you should do if you feel so moved--but so often I hear, "peace begins at home," and I know in my bones that I am not always able to bring that frame of mind to my every day. How about you? How do you create peace?

Thanks to all who wrote back last week and I look forward to hearing from others! Still need some contestants for this Other Olympics...

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 THE FRO' after an entire day of no e-mail last week, I have decided that I will need to migrate the newsletter to a gmail account, just to make sure that I can get the puppy out to you! If you are forwarding on the newsletter, thank you! Please distribute widely so we can generate great audiences for our local artists! if you are a local artist or producer, tell your colleagues about the newsletter. We have to grow the networks that we need! This week, there is much homegrown action and several visitors to our poppin' scene! Get our there and show them what you're workin' with.

TONIGHT!
SANTA MONICA PIER
Toots and the Maytals TONIGHT! 7 - 10 PM
'Nuff said. get out there early because it is going to be a zoo!! if you've never been, you might want to bring paper bags and tea lights to mark and light your space on the beach. It is delicious!

ZANZIBAR
Katia Moraes live @ Afro Funké, doors open at 9 pm $10 cover
For those of you with no kids, you must chekc out this event! Katia keeps getting better and better, not a local, but has been in town for ten years now and really has her LA all the way on! Leave the pier and head on over to the show!

EAST SIDE LUV WINE BAR y QUESO
1835 East 1st St., LA, CA 90033; 323.262.7442
8 - 10 PM, Thursday August 14, 2008
LITEROTICANA CHICANA, una noche de luz, deseoy e lengua - a night of light, desire and language with Gloria Enedina Alvarez,Reina Prado, Corrie Greathouse, Rafael Alvarado, R. Funkahuatl G. and Abel Salas

Ms. Pat Payne says brang a fan and orda lotsa ice wata to cool yoself off! This is tonight. Scooth on over there and get your verbal freak on.

PHYLLIS STEIN ART
207 W. 5th Avenue at Spring
| Jesse Chapo and Eric Smail| @ "Downtown Art walk"
Thursday, August 14 at 7:00 - 10:00 PM
More things going on downtown! Sometimes I wish I could handle the air, I would move there to be closer to the great things going on there and in Silver Lake area, not to mention the cheaper rent! Oops, I must be dreaming. Get your walking shoes out, but start at Phyllis' place and check out the latest incarnation of the LA ARt scene.


CAL ARTS
Making Strange: Rooftop Sci-Fi at the Westin Bonaventure
Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites
404 South Figueroa, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Aug 14, 21, and 28, 2008
Thursdays at dusk

Screenings will be held on the Plaza Pool Deck, 4th floor.
Blankets and pillows are encouraged, as seating will be limited.
Street parking, or City National Garage (on Flower Street), $10 with validation.
Hotel valet, $25.
To celebrate the recent launch of Afterall 18, please join us for a three-week rooftop series of sci-fi inspired films and artists videos screened atop the landmark Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites in Downtown Los Angeles. All outdoor screenings are FREE and begin at dusk.

Thursday, August 14
Powers of Ten (Charles and Ray Eames, 1977, 9 min.)
Solyaris (Andrei Tarkovsky, 1972, 163 min.)

Thursday, August 21
Ascension of the Demonoids (George Kuchar, 1985, 46 min.)
Sins of the Fleshapoids (Mike Kuchar, 1965, 43 min.)

Thursday, August 28
Double Lunar Dogs (Joan Jonas, 1984, 24 min.)
Space is the Place (John Coney, 1974, 82 min.)
Just in time! Once the free shows in SaMo end, here is a film festival as quirky as its sponsor. I would say like no other, but those of you in the know have made it to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for the weekend film series on the vaults. So this is kinda tame!

then later this weekend...

HIGHWAYS
1651 18th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404
SWEAT! A New Summer Dance Festival; $20/$15
Aug 15 - 16th, 8:30 PM SPILL, SPLASH, and SPLENDOR
The second and final weekend of it's first dance festival in a long time begins tomorrow with a bevy of UCR MFA students and local artists! I am very excited to catch up with my peoples! Hope to see you there. New choreography by Alison Bory, Cynthia Lee, Rosie Trump and Sadie Weinberg, curated by Sue Roginski. Not just solos!


TORRANCE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, Studio One
3330 Civic Center Drive Torrance, CA 90503
Click here for directions
Open for Dance House, RKDC
Sunday, August 17th, 1 PM - 6 PM
Regina Klenjoski hosts an afternoon of classes and showings down in Long Beach!
She teaches a modern class at 1 - 2:30, then members of her company will show off a smidgen of a new piece and a full duet, "The Museum Project" For more info contact Raelle Dorfan at 310.292.7024 or raelle@rkdc.org

BALBOA PARK
Celebrate Dance Festival
Friday, August 22 at 6:00pm to Sunday August 24, 9:00 PM ( i cannot tell if it's a marathon or not)
Three days of dance of all forms and moves, here's to late summer kinetic events! Anyone wanna car pool? Split hotel?
The 12th annual Celebrate Dance Festival highlights 56 dance artists, organizations, and collectives in FREE performances and workshops over three days.

Friday, August 22 ~ 6pm to 10pm
Saturday, August 23 ~ 11:30am to 10pm
Sunday, August 24 ~ 12pm to 9pm

For directions, complete list of presenting artists, and performance schedule please visit: http://www.eveoke.org/cdf.htm


Looking for something that was mentioned last week? Check the archive to your left.



QUIRKY THINGS LOOKING 4 YOUR PARTICIPATION
I could probably come up with a new title for this, but these are not job openings, and not necessarily classes as you know them, so please read on and participate!

VOCAL TRAINING FOR ACTORS WHO WANT TO SING
AND FOR SINGERS WHO WANT TO SING BETTER BY MAIA
MONDAYS, 7 - 8:30PM BEGINNING AUGUST 25, 2008
Lucy Florence Coffeehouse & Cultural Center
3351 W. 43 Street, Los Angeles, CA 90008
(IN THE 2 ND FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM)
$60 per 4 classes or $20 per class (Advance payment preferred. Does not include materials).
This course is designed to build confidence in ones singing voice, help develop and strengthen the voice in general for actors/dancers; and to introduce singers to the world of music from a theoretical perspective. The classes include scale study (ear training), breath control and phrasing, basic music theory, chorale singing and song interpretation. Classes last for 1 and half hours per session. Maia is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and actor.
To pre-register contact MAIA (maxecalif@hotmail.com) or just show up at the first class.


YOUR UNFINISHED SWEATER CAN BE FAMOUS
Help Kristina Wong Expand the Set of "Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" By Donating Your Unfinished Knitting Projects
Your unfinished sweater, 5 inch scarf, or one-sided poncho can be famous for 15 minutes or more if you donate it to Kristina Wong's set of "Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Don't be ashamed you never finished what you started. Donate now and feel good for letting your abandoned project transform into a live piece of art. All donators will receive "set construction" credit in the program wherever this show tours.
Sweaters accepted between Friday, August 15, 2008 at 8:00AM and Monday, September 14, 2008
Please MAIL your unfinished knitting piece to:
Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
C/O Kristina Wong
PO Box 251664
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Instructions:
1) We love yarn and knitting projects that come in any color OTHER than black and white.
2) Remove your needle or hook from the piece. If possible run some waste yarn through the loops. No need to bind off. I'd prefer if it wasn't!
3) Write a note describing yourself, why you knit, and what the project was supposed to be and why it never came to be.
The show will open in September! Look for, hopefully, a preview review before then.

AFRICAN DANCE CAMPS & SUMMER INTENSIVES
My goodness! Sabar anyone? Not quite a festival, but Aziz Faye turns his class over to Pape N'Daiye this Sunday, Aug 17th @ 1:30 at the Dance Arts Academy, $15 at the door. This one will be very intense!

Early registration ends tomorrow, Aug 15th, for the Magbana Drum and Dance Retreat in Upstate New York. With the recent airfare slashing announced by almost all carriers, you should really consider venturing out to the land of apples, waterfalls, and foliage.


DanceBANK Summer intensive is simmering at the Open Space:
Sara Wookey
11am-2pm. Saturday, August 16th (one day only) / $20

Rebecca Alson-Milkman
11am-1pm. Tuesday & Thursday, August 19th & 21st / $12

Hana van der Kolk
7pm - 9pm. Thursday, August 21st / $12

These classes will be held at
The OPEN Space
209 S. Garey Street, 2nd floor
LA, CA 90012
- at 2nd St., 3 blocks east of Alameda off 2nd St.

drop-ins welcome!


ONGOING CLASSES
Shelby Williams is back at the Dancer's Studio and Viver Brasil is still splashing up a tsunami at Dance Arts Academy and the Dance Garden. Sarita's class in the park looks lovely (i went and had peek). And I just got word of a new class that looks fabuloso!

Liquid Pop w/ Alexandria Yalj
Sunday, August 17, 2008; 2:30pm - 5:30pm, by donation!
The Open Space, 209 S. Garey Street, Los Angeles, CA

Also, I've mentioned that I will begin to list and venture into spiritdancing or prayerdance "classes" and so I wanted announce Jo Cobbit's series of classes!
Devotion on Wednesdays
Live music with:
This week: Temple Bhajan Band
August 20th: Raven
August 27th: Nadine Risha & Band
September 3: Andrew Behla
September 10: Vic Hennegan
Blankenship Ballet Studio; 132 Brooks Ave
Venice CA 90291 7:30-9:30 $15
info link
These classes are more facilitated than taught, so they can be irritating for the trained dancer on the first go 'round, but after that, it's a great place to rediscover why you keep at it. For the non-dancer, these are loving open spaces to just seek movement. There's also a FANTASTIC Sunday class that I beleive is on hiatus while the teaching duo is at Esalen. More info as I have it.
All of these classes, plus some I have not mentioned are here, on the dance map!

Quick poll: would you come out to a donation based African dance class in Ozone Park (it's on the map) on August 27 at 10 AM or at 6 PM? I am itching to see you all! We could potluck picnic afterwards. Let me know ASAP.


LOVELY!
There is so much vital, healing energy literally hovering in the air. In the coming week, drop in and tap into this and magnify it! Send it out to your loved ones and to places in the world where other humans have forgotten that this exists for them as well. Open your arms as wide as possible so that your heart can lift us all.

in love,
-Anna