NEWSLETTER: shake it shake it shake it shake it baby, twist it

ALOHA!
Wow, so the University of California just took a massive financial hit. I am confused as to how slashing workers pay 4 - 10% for one year through a weirdly structured furlough plan is going to save anything since the State of California continues to also not pay any of the rest of its obligation to the University, but hey, maybe that's just me. Right now, this morning, the Repair California folks are meeting and Antonio is giving the welcome. I had hoped to actually be involved and be there, but their phone call for action came yesterday at 11 am and when I returned the call, it went straight to voice mail. I do not feel so bad about my procrastination now. But in all of this, there is a rather sparkly silver lining. For the last several decades the UC and the State of California have been able to determine what was knowledge worthy of knowing and more importantly how & when that knowledge would be distributed. Not so anymore. Any arts education entrepreneurs out there? This is YOUR moment. There is absolutely no way that the educational system K - 12 and into Community College and University can sustain these cuts. Programs and departments will be disappearing in a few weeks and the time to degree will significantly increase, the K-12 experience has been gutted: it is time to create a new path to knowledge, new definitions for "education." And from my point of view, not just the "ed. specialists" should have a hand in this. The parents, even of the college folks (cause, boy are they too coddled to handle college these days) should be part of the teaching team. No more backseat teaching! No more automobile metaphors! We're going for low-carbon emission theoretical and practically implemented models! While the education thing crumbles down around our feet, let's take note of the pieces that can be recycled and/or repurposed responsibly. Swim in the elegance that is life and you'll find that you have more than enough to share, create with, and give.



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, act up--you can move mountains, now make it beautiful.


BLOWING BACK DA FRO right this very minute, aside from the big meeting at USC for the planning of the Constitutional Convention is the Big Parade! Yes, some pretty crafty art that is a mapping project, endurance test, and meet your neighbors cause you might need their help kinda thing. They pushed off about three hours ago in China Town. You can follow their updates via twitter. Go to their blog page to get the links for the parade route, how to meet up with them, to follow the Twitter Feed. If you use Twitter, you can follow them directly @bigparadela. I am likely going to join them tomorrow, though I would love to walk through Echo Park today, gotta see what I can learn from the gathering downtown.



TONIGHT
UNKNOWN THEATRE
1110 Seward Street Los Angeles, CA 90038; (323) 466-7781, map
Born Dance Company
July 16 - July 26: Thursdays - Saturdays 8 PM, Sundays 6 PM; $18 tix on line, $25 at the door
Quite the collection of dancer-choreographers on this show! Won Sun Choi, an intriguing mover between traditional and contemporary Korean dance, artistic director of this new venture, has layered an evening with a slew of visiting performers from Seoul and new dancers from Southern California. Sue Roginski, a collaborating choreographer will be on hand with "Sandoval's Story," which she showed in progress at Anatomy Riot #31. It was really intriguing since it involves the audience learning the gestures live while doing them. You will not be disappointed. And what a great place to see them altogether! Go check it out!!! (Unknown's website appears to be having trouble right now)


1830 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026
Sunday, July 19th; Doors 8:30 PM, Screening 9 PM $5
1830 Collective presents a mini-Freewaves type of event on their roof in Echo Park! Freewaves is this awesome video festival that places work in the most unlikely places including security monitors, diner TVs and laundromats. Director/curator Anne Bray will be on hand to talk about the work showcased in this event, Civic Statues Unfrozen for One Hour: Clothed Women and Unarmed Men. Run time is 55 minutes and this is a two-channel installation piece of recent international short films. I LOVE the 1830 folks. They have a very quirky vision and they are committed to making it happen. Go check this.
other events from 1830:
Dinner: A raw vegan gourmet Thai dinner under stars and moonlight
Chefs Stephen Hauptfuhr (MOOI) and Bryan Au (Raw in Ten)
Saturday, 25 July 2009, Doors 8pm, Dinner 8:30pm $25
RSVP required info@eighteen-thirty.com

PADDLE BOAT HOUSE ECHO PARK LAKE
1714 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles

826LA Paddle Boat Regatta
Saturday, July 25, NOON; donations being accepted NOW
All things Echo Park today?! I guess so, cause this event is gonna be a lot of fun for a great cause. Even though the city has cut the boat House at the Echo Park Lake (yup that's right, no paddle boats) this event was allowed to happen this weekend. I am not sure but I think the Big Parade was scheduled to get in there and boat across but were denied access since I guess there is only so much OT the City Parks & Recs can carry right now (LAKERS!). Anyway, donate some cash even if you can't go. 826LA needs it ASAP. Any amount accepted. This is a wonderful program with sites around the city. My son loves them.



REDCAT
631 W 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
NOW Festival
July 23–August 8, 2009, Thur–Sat | 8:30 PM; call box office for $35 festival pass or purchase single nights online
Ayana Hampton y'all...with Sheetal Ghandi on the first program. Damn, George Lugg! You tryin' to hurt somebody?! And then closin out the whole thing with the dance Ninja herself, Meg Wolfe? Get that bar stocked, George. get the bar stocked. BLOWOUT COMB, prolly need to bring your own grease...


FESTIVALS
GRAND PERFORMANCES, 350 S Grand Ave, LA, map
Grand Performances is in full swing now. I saw Buika last week and thought I would absolutely not mind dying right there, listening to that voice and that amazing pianist. Last night was certainly a big blast for those in attendance and tonight ALBITA will hurt your hips, direct form Cuba, so you better get there early if you know what is good for you.
Coming up that you don't want to miss:
Jul 25 8:00 PM: Curumin with Money Mark & Novalima, sweeeeet! Nice balançando Brazilian grooves, Curumin will be lovely. Great dancing night.
Jul 31 8 PM Lo Còr de la Plana and Fish Tank Ensemble--OMG! The bass player of Fishtank is HOT. I had to say that. And the music is just ridiculous. I have a weak spot for Gypsy music and that thing with the saw has to be seen to believe. Bring your dancing shoes and tamborines. The other group...hmmmm. Not quite feeling it, but the fountain has a way of bringing out the best in a group. here's hopin'.
Aug 15 8 PM Zap Mama!!! Yes, there was a cancellation in the program , so geez, Zap Mama was gracious enough to fill in. WHAAAAT?! Early, get there VERY early.




ONGOING CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Hana van der Kolk has a new class up at the Open Space! 10:30am-12:30pm and Mondays - July 20, Thursdays - July 16th, 23rd, and 30thth, and 27th 7:30-9:30pm; $10/class; 209 S. Garey St. 90012 (2nd floor). Why don't you check out Hassan's page and see what all is crackin there. He has reduced rental rates for this month only (who knows, maybe a slot is waiting for you) and Po One has been giving class there, too.

Right now in Oakland, Muisi Malonga is gearing up to take the peoples out to the woods for 10 days of dance, music, sun and Kongo Arts next weekend. First, she wants you all to stop by for the "warm up" all weekend long at the Malonga Casquelourde Center for the Arts. Go get that 'fro picked all the way out, with some afrosheen gloss spritzer to finish it out. map


LOVELY!
I'm gonna stop here. I am obviously still not downtown for this meeting, likely because it will just make me sad. As part of my investigations into what to do to help keep my babies outta jail this summer (that's right, once you have one child, you get to claim all of them in the whole wide world as yours, check your contracts and memos) since there is no summer school, I have been going around town looking into what already exists and thinking of ways to let folks know about it, support it and participate in it. Museums, performance centers, dance companies, presenters...again, I was reminded about the numbers, those pesky digits from the 2000 census and really became concerned about 2010 numbers as well as an unnecessary split in civic consciousness: city vs. community. While we are refocusing our minds to celebrate the new beginning being handed us by the demise of our educational systems, we better plan a way to break apart this dichotomy. I am getting the sense that these two words are racial codes AND class codes, and that ain't good. City folks are generally white and affluent, or white-identified and affluent and have very little need for city services. Community members work hard for their money, may in fact earn more than $75K a year, but are concerned with and need services to supplement their income and lifestyle; often these are people of color and "white hipsters" who just cannot understand why anyone would waste money as easily as the City does on improvements that don't help the communities. Not good. As I sit with this thought, I invite you all to begin writing letters telling the city administrators exactly what you would like your money to support/improve/eradicate. For instance, I get sick every time I see a new speed bump go up. The issue is fast, accessible, pervasive public transportation; people would not tear through neighborhoods in a huff if the main arteries were not so clogged. Or spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to artically market the city with those lamp post banners when 500+ childern could have a blast in an innovative arts-based summer exploration. Get the idea? Let's start slinging that ink, making those plans and taking the necessary steps to shake the dust out of this rug we call civic pride so we can once again admire its lovely pattern.

in love,
-Anna

NEWSLETTER: party like it's 2009!

Hallo!

I feel like I should say it again, so I will, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Yes, the divorce is final and the new wedding plans have finally been finalized (whew did they drag it out or what) so we should get together and sing and dance and act like natural fools! We did it! Now, time to get on-line and keep doing it. A significant part of the Obama effort is hearing out the populace, actually having the government be by the people, for the people and of the people. If you don't make time to interact, do not be surprised when odd-ball policies start gaining momentum. Life in the Big City can be all scrabble and scrape, with little time to reflect and initiate. We have to let that go and realize that we can make time to govern ourselves, otherwise how else will the arts get an agenda? When will classroom innovations for the few become the new standard for all? How else will that little strip of green space turn into an oasis of good eatin? When and how will wars get ended if you don't stop, write in, collaborate with your neighbor, help out at the local school or library? Who will heal Gaza? Obama the magical negro cannot take away the pains instantaneously, but he can inspire us to do it ourselves! Isn't that how it works in the movie anyway, except maybe this time he will get credit as he goes along instead of after he's 80. Uh, yeah. Signed sealed delivered, he's ours and we're his. Don't forget that.


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 is possibility! Oh my goodness. Or should I say, the harvest of possibility? This week UCLA struts and crows about its bountiful harvest and UCI follows next month. But right now, daring dance theater, traditional hijinx and uncommon performance spaces show just how busy folks have been making a way when there appeared to be none! Let's eat! Metaphorically speaking...harvest, reap, thresh, yeah....



TONIGHT
WORLD ARTS & CULTURE, UCLA
Gloria Kaufman Dance Theater
Anyone Home Reunion Tour
January 16 & 17th; $10/$8 show, $9 parking in Lot 4 (car pool or bus in)
Eighteen alumni from a span of 34 years descend upon Kaufman Hall to show the young'uns how its done. This is a fantastically cheap show given the bill. Choreographers include: Linda Gold, I Made Bandem, Li Chiao-Ping, Banafsheh Sayad, Tamica Washington-Miller, Jackie Lopez and Amrapali Ambegaokar. Linda Yudin will present part of her glorious company, Viver Brasil. There is also an exhibit with the remaining artist presenting their work. All this for $10?!



UNKNOWN THEATER
1110 Seward Street @ Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA
Rupture: An Evening of Dance Theatre
Thursday January 16 - Sunday 18th, 8 PM/Sunday 6 PM; $18 advance/ $25 @ door
LA Weekly said you better get your backside up and out of the house to see this show. Nuff said. Final Weekend.



TRACK 16 GALLERY
2525 Michigan Ave, Bldg C-1, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Crocheting with Plastic bags: A workshop A presented by IFF
Saturday, January 17th 2- 4 PM
Now, this is truly something to participate in. I know you've got that stash of plastic bags that you keep forgetting to recycle in front of the grocery store. Here's your chance to divert it from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and look stylish at the same time. The workshop is followed by a lecture by none other than Captain Charles Moore, the dude who went out into the Pacific Ocean and came back to tell us that a patch of plastic trash the size of Texas was about to jack up our surf and turf buffet plans. Not to be missed.


UC RIVERSIDE, UNIVERSITY THEATER, directions
Off Campus Drive by the intersection of Canyon Crest Drive and MLK BLVD
Wonderboy, Joe Goode Dance Group
Wednesday, January 21st, 8 PM; $35/$17
Come out on a Wednesday evening--traffic not too bad--to see one of America's most highly awarded living dancers choreograph live bodies and a puppet. Yeah, shocked me too, but Joe Goode was named a United States Artists Fellow for 2008, one of only five national dance artists so honored. Wonderboy has already made itself known as a must-see piece of artistry and revelation. I"m just going to see the puppet dance though.



UC IRVINE CENTER FOR GLOBAL PEACE
UC Irvine Student Center, Doheny Beach Rooms B, C, D , directions
"Critical Investigations into Humanitarianism in Africa" A two day conference
Presented by The UC Irvine Center for Global Peace and Conflict Studies and UCLA James S. Coleman African Studies Center
January 16 - 17 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
I did pledge to increase knowledge of Africa on my Face Book page, so I am urging those of you so inclined to go and learn something about how to be of better service to the residents of the continent of Africa. I had a grad student from Indonesia who had quite a lot to say about the "pity factory of philanthropy" which I found extremely interesting. I anticipate that and other scathing assessment of uneven global aid efforts into the countries of Africa. The event is happening now and its Friday (yucky traffic) but tomorrow is still on its way. Co-sponsored by:
University of California Humanities Research Institute, UC Irvine Office of Research, International Center for Writing and Translation, Center for Ethnography, Interdisciplinary Center for the Scientific Study of Ethics and Morality, and Center for Research on International and Global Studies



later on


FIVE THIRTY THREE
533 S. Los Angeles St., 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA
Still Point: Harmony, Justin and Hana
Friday, January 23, 2009 & Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 8:30pm; $15 at the door, no reservations.
A choreographic analysis of a poem by TS Eliot, Four Quartets, Still Point will instead feature six solos that examine stillness. At first, cocky me imagined everyone standing still for 90 minutes, but the sparse industrial backdrop of the gallery space offers opportunities for the audience to think about how we engage noise whether we want to or not. From their web page: "Performers Justin Streichman and Harmony Bench were integral to the development of the work and join choreographer, Hana van der Kolk in the performance. Composer and violist Cassia Streb joins the cast, performing her original score." I have the feeling that this will be a magical and memorable night, the kind that creeps up on you while you think you are getting bored. More details to come once I shake them out of Harmony.


HIGHWAYS
1651 18th Street, (at the 18th Street Arts Center), Santa Monica, CA 90404
THEN, an evening of new dance works and works in progress
Friday & Saturday, January 30th & 31st, 2008; 8:30 PM, $20/ $15 DRC members & students
Curated by Carmela Hermann and Stephanie Nugent
An evening of new and in process choreography by Louie Cornejo, Keith Glassman, Terrence Luke Johnson, Stephanie Nugent & Kristen Smiarowski. Professional dancers are invited to come out and talk to other professional dancers about the act of making professional dance.


STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Roble Dance Studio, Stanford University, 375 Santa Teresa, Stanford, CA
Parijat Desai Dance Company
Saturday, January 31, 2009, 5:00PM, FREE
My favorite critical dance theory copy editor has a rather amazing dance company of her own. Parijat Desai presents Malaysia (excerpts), Listening #5, and Quiet/Fire (excerpts). She is at our alma mater in residence for this quarter, so check her out if you are up that way. You will not be disappointed. Also, if you need a badass copy editor, shoot her an e-mail! Performers: Desai, Aditi Dhruv, Penelope Kalloo and Riyo Mito.
info@parijatdesai.org, diversityarts@stanford.edu http://www.parijatdesai.org/


coming up:
check out a series of speakers I've assembled on the topic of "Dance as Civic Duty." Joe Goode kicks us off this Tuesday evening 4:10 in PE 102 at UCR. more info to come on my "professional" blog, The Gesture and The Citizen.




INAUGURAL BALLS
Yes yes y'all, party on after one of the single most defining moments in our country's history. There are is a link to the balls in DC, should you be on your way out there and there are a few in San Francisco and here in LA. LIkely you'll need to be so-called A-list for some of the LA ones, but I think that paradigm has shifted with the new administration. Who's more superstar than the O right now? Even Oprah had to give up that letter for Barry.

Washington D.C.
For DC only http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents/a/inauguralballs.htm
I think my favorite wild sounding party is the "Chant for Change" a kirtan party for all the yoginis out there hosted by our own Shiva Rhea...in DC no less!

San Franciso
My dear friend Aimee Allison and a bevy of other social activists in the bay Area are hosting "Inauguration West" at The Metreon, 4th & Mission Streets in San Franciso. This looks like THE party y'all. I had an invite, but have to come back for work...but I does got me a j o b ! http://inaugurationwest.com/

Face Book
If you are looking for a viewing party, it is likely that all those new-fangled video billboards will carry the thing live (just guessing, they did carry the returns when he won) and Face Book and CNN are hosting a virtual party, but you will be able to see the actual swearing in and festivities.

Los Angeles
It looks as if fabulous has gotten on the jet and gone off to DC. Since "el lay" is a city of players and performers, everyone will be back east workin' the floor, shakin' hands and grinnin', pretending like they didn't endorse Hilary Clinton early, often and dirty. But never fear, that "Everyone" meant "all the people who think they got juice but will soon discover that they don't" so come out to a parade in Silver Lake then a Bush beatdown in Echo Park and if you are still standing, head downtown for an actual Inaugural Ball, art scene stylee.

*FREE Inauguration Viewing Party at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, 7 AM, and get this FREE Parking
*19th, Double Happiness Parade Silverlake Reservoir Recreation Center - 1850 West Silver Lake Dr. - Los Angeles January 19 : 10:30 a.m. Celebrate MLK & Barack!
* 19th, Bush Bash: It's Over Remy's on Temple, 2126 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90026; 213-484-2884. January 19 : 7 p.m. - 1 a.m. FREE don't forget to bring a shoe to throw! http://bushbashla.com/press.html
*The Art of Change Inaugural Ball, 1038 S. Hill St. - Downtown, January 20 : 7 p.m. Hosted by the Mayan, this will be a musically edgy event, plenty of dancing and a recap video of the inaugural speech are promised. $10


Marcus Quiland-Nazazrio has to be hosting one somewhere. Come on, querido, don't hold out on me. Where's the happening party?



ONGOING CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
International workshops have already been an announced for a number of styles! This is great, because you have enough time to join a credit union with good, stable liquidity, and stuff away $150/month towards the trip. Uh, oops. Make that $350 - $450/mo... hmmm a car note. Well they can repossess your car, but your muscle memories will be all yours, so get that account open and start saving up!

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Baker/Tarpanga Project takes you to one of their homes away from home for intensive traditional and contemporary dances of the Old Mali Empire. $2500, August 1 - 15th. Hosted by Napam Beogo/Center for Artisans and Visual Arts. $250 non-refundable deposit due by May 1, 2009
http://www.btdanceproject.com/content/view/13/29/lang,en/

Salvador, Bahia-Brasil with Linda Yudin/Viver Brasil. This is a trip that just keeps getting better, so every dollar is well spent. Now in its 12th year, the trip includes a stop in São Paulo at the Museum Afro on your way up to Africa West, aka Bahia. $3495, double occupancy, air travel included from LA, Miami, NYC (additional city leg is at your own expense) August 1 - 17, 2009. $400 registration fee. Pay over Paypal!
http://www.viverbrasil.com/HTML_2008/travel_programs.html

Caribbean Dance Cruise (Guinea style) with Youssef Koumbassa. August 16 - 23, 2009; $500 deposit was due on 12/08, so call to see if they are still accepting registrants. Total depends on room type, $1400 - $1700, all double occupancy. Airfare not included. Departure Port is Puerto Rico. http://westafricandance.com/




LOVELY!
This was an effort! Every week, I watch with horror as my in-box fills up with ...newsletters! Then I just have to laugh because I signed up for most of them and use them diligently to bring you a little bit of the word storm as a gentle rain. So keep 'em coming! But please begin to send them to afrologic@gmail.com. Time to get the tributaries into one river. Make sure you go out and party hard this week. Take off work! Declare it a holiday for 2 whole days. Wave and smile at people you don't know. Break out your T-shirts, make Obama Playlists for your MP3 player or phone. Sing out loud. Skip while you walk. Whistle while you pee in a public bathroom. Do little dances while you wait to cross the street. PARTY! Cause it is likely that before that man's hand gets off that bible, we will all need to figure out a new game plan for several old problems that won't go away (with a quickness as they say in the vernacular). Until Tuesday, dream of peace, ask for grace, give hugs and take action for love.

in love,
-Anna

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: full stop

A glorious good evening to you!

I should be in Roanoke right now. But I am home, in Venice, marveling at how the universe can make the tough decisions for you. In the midst of a grand mamma week-long scramble for childcare to cover a trip to a conference, I have been having lively conversations about art making, politics and making plans around all of it. Not to mention, I have been performing as well. My ass is right where it should be: preparing, playing and making reality out of dreams. I got word yesterday that flights were turned back, and many who tried to attend the conference could not. I would have been among them. This week we should give thanks for those odd obstacles, the ones that should not be there or are "never an issue," because these events/moments/laws are calling us to really be about what/who/when we are. One such obstacle is Prop 8. I will be at City Hall on Saturday, staking a claim for civil rights, joining in with a NATIONWIDE call to end the legislation of hate. This obstacle is choreographing some amazing netroots and grassroots power. But let's not forget, that such an amendment is really about false faces, about pretending to be about one thing when really feeling another. It is personal. Though boycotts appear to be vindictive, they are the correct response in the absence of dialogue. But truly, we should seize this "missed flight" as it were and get down to having those conversations that make us all uncomfortable. There is only so much an Obama can do, and if his administration picks thus far are any indication, there is only so much he is being allowed to do by his party. The battle to repeal Prop 8 is not about fighting "the power," this is about revealing your heart, choosing love and respecting yourself--even if you are not gay, especially if you are not. We are all being called to confront our beliefs that we hide from our "Others:" our words that we speak when "they" aren't around; actions we take mistakenly thinking we are protecting ourselves when we are just abusing someone else; our desire to avoid confrontation by foreclosing debate through inhumane rules, regulations, ordinances, laws, and propositions. We are the light and the change that we thought we had elected. We gots ta BE it at all times. So mobilize your smile and open your heart and stand for 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


BLOWIN BACK THE 'FRO this week are some items on the East Coast, Repeal Prop 8 Protest, and business as usual. Really. The fact that most of are behaving as if the dollar has not become a relic is blowin back my 'fro. This is a great time to be an artist and a fantastic time to watch what they come up with.


TONIGHT
VELASLAVASAY PANORAMA (at the Japan American Museum)
1122 W. 24th St. Los Angeles, CA 90007
Vaudeville Night
Friday, November 14, 2008; FREE
Some of the amazing local artists that you know and love will be on this bill or worked on the project: Scoli Acosta, John Fleck, Todd Gray, Harry Dodge and Stanya Kahn, and Michael Sakamoto. Curated by Kris Kuramitsu and Rita Gonzalez, produced by Meg Wolfe. And its all free! Hope you made your reservation because seating is limited. I will see you there!
reservations: events@panoramaonview.org
http://www.janm.org/django/exhibits/20years/programs/
www.panoramaonview.org


HIGHWAYS
1651 18th St, Santa Monica, CA
Farid Mercury
Friday, November 14th - Saturday 15th; 8:30- 10:30PM $20
This is a must see show as well. The set up is such a confabulation that I want to go just to witness this actor work this all out in under 2 hours. Don't miss this show.


UC RIVERSIDE, UNIVERSITY THEATRE
Friday, November 14th; 8:00, $34/$17
Urban Bush Women & Jant Bi perform The Scales of Memory
If you don't have tickets, this ship has sailed...but it's next port of call is UC San Diego, tomorrow.


"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!



LACMA, directions
Wilshire, between Fairfax a& Curson
Machine Project
Saturday, November 15, 12 noon - 10 PM; $12/$8/FREE under 17
Echo Park-based gallery collective takes over Los Angeles County Museum of Art for the entire day! This is your post-protest destination. There are over 60 projects in the house, including in the elevators. The price for admission is the same as regular. TIP: if you go with kids, you get in free and so do the kids! Here's a lot more info on the day, including participating artists. Highly recommended that you take public transportation. Like FREEWAVES Festival last month, folks will talk about this for years to come. Be among them.


and out in NYC, cause I know some of y'all bicoastal and all

WILMER JENNINGS GALLERY @ KENKELEBA
214 East 2nd St, New York, NY 10009
SquareRoots: A Quilted Manifesto, a John Sims Project
Opening Reception, November 16th, 3 - 6 PM
If you are ANYWHERE within 100 miles of this gallery, you MUST go see this show. I'm thinkin of trying to get a plane ticket to head out and check this before it closes. A black mathartist who works with Amish quilters in Sarasota, Florida based on visualizations of Pi, John Sims' exhibit will be accompanied by his video doppleganger, Johannes-Curtis Scharwazenstein presenting "SquareRootPoetics." Mr. Sims has also concocted a sound installation (he wants to get you in just about every orifice on your head) "Pi Notes: Sonic Mathematics." He will be in NYC with the exhibit through Turkey Day. Artist talk on November 20th. Show closes on Feb 14, 2009. Next big project: linching the Confederate flag in Tampa, FL. NO, I'm not making this up. One to watch...


UNKNOWN THEATRE
1110 Seward Street, Los Angeles, CA
2009 Dance Series Benefit Party and Performance
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 8:00pm - 11:00 PM; $15 gen/$12 in advance; $20 CASH at the door
One of my fav places to hang out with the dance scene is having a party to launch its upcoming Dance Season! Go and mingle and support this years recipients of their seed grant: Heidi Duckler of Collage Dance Theatre; Kitty McNamee and Ryan Heffington of Hysterica Dance Company, Samantha Giron Dance Project, and Kingsley Irons. DJ, mini-performances, dancing, community.


DIAVOLO DANCE SPACE
616 Moulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90031.
California Touring Project
Friday and Saturday, November 21 – 22 at 8pm Sunday, November 23 at 6pm; $20/$16 in advance, cash at door
This evening promises a night of thought provoking choreography, texts et al. My colleague Susan Rose will have you on the edge of your seat as she pushes an entirely improvised duet. Take class with her when she's in the DANCEbox. Caseboldt & Smith, the evenings hosts, continue to show why attention to detail always pays off, in ways you least expect it. The bill is fleshed out with Cid Pearlman and Yolande Snaith. From the looks of the press release, you should come prepared to dance... GO SEE on Friday.



UCLA's GLORIA KAUFMAN DANCE THEATER, directions
120 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA
Sheetal Gandhi and Krenly Guzman in Concert
Friday and Saturday November 21st and 22nd, 2008; $15/$8 or call 310-825-2101
You just have to give thanks for the fantastic artists that come into LA via the World Arts & Culture Program. In fact, all the MFA programs in the area really sustain the dance community here. Caseboldt&SMith are UCR MFAs and hold it down. But this is the time of year I look forward to, when the MFA concerts @ WAC begin sprout all over the place. This double bill will delve into the contemporary reality of so-called traditional cultures. Two fantastic artists, breaking into their own kinestic banks and making off like bandits. GO SEE on Saturday.




ONGOING CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
A birdie told me that Rae Shaolin Blum is starting up her contemporary dance class on Jan 9th at the Dance Arts Academy! Dance mapping....

I also have word that a six week course called Rising Star is about to kick off here on the West Side. This project includes, yoga, meditation and dance as well as a look at your finances! Whaat?! Better not sleep, everything is choreography. And that's on the Real. Check out their web page, Rise2Manifest, and sign up.


i'ma call it...

LOVELY!
This edition is conference-style late, many apologies. I want to let you know how you can hook up with the repeal Prop 8 work. Here is a national, yes NATIONAL movement to not only address Prop 8 here, but the anti-gay laws that passed in Florida, Arizona, and Arkansas. The site is called jointheimpact.wetpaint.com, and is a clearing house for all planned actions. This is everyone's fight. Like I said last week, I want my Obamaforia free and clear. I want to be jumping up and down, having a good time, being moved deep in my soul without wanting to throw up from grief because only some of us are free now. Please join in and move this mountain. Now we know that we can do that. Right? How to move this one? Love love love. Can't just blame "unenlightened colored folks" for this one. If you were not personally having heart-felt conversations with people about Prop 8, you dropped the ball. So, now that we've got the blame thing out of the way, let's forgive ourselves for assuming that we all have the same puzzle-pieces that spell p r o g r e s s i v e when you put them together. We don't. Let's get busy with that necessary coalition building.

in love,
-Anna

NEWSLETTER: ride on a fantastic voyage

YES WE DID!
Greetings from Riverside, CA. I am out here at work for the UC Institute for Research in the Arts annual conference, State of the Arts. This year's theme is Demonstration. Last night Buck World 1 opened the proceedings. It was a moving and visceral reminder that now is the time to get to work on those depressing statistics that seem to swarm around poor Black men, or any one poor for that matter. While they got buck to a remix of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a Dream Speech," I kept hearing Obama's acceptance speech about getting to work swirling with the radio news reports about the spontaneous protest by gay rights activists in LA yesterday that I listened to for over an hour as I made my way out here. Demonstrations on this fantastic voyage. But we want to go for synergy and not collisions of consciousness. Time to talk this one out, get the church separated from the state once and for all, get the citizenry educated about EVERY ONE's civil rights, not just their own. Last night in the Sweeney Art Gallery my son stood puzzling over a sledge hammer in a glass box. "Mom, what's up with this hammer?" "'Art is a hammer,' Baker," I replied, "That's an old phrase meant to show how it smashes things up." I know it is time to get out the hammers: demolish, demonstrate, drive it on home.


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 is the realization that "Now is the Time!" No more excuses, time to get focused, learn some new communication skills and get to work making the country a safe place again. I can't think of anything more adept at doing "D, all of the above," than fantastic art. "People get ready, there's a train a'comin. You don't need no ticket, just get on board." Well, actually, you better get your tickets now for a lot of these shows!


TODAY
LIFE ARTS CENTER
University & Lime Avenues, Riverside, CA
Demonstration: UCIRA STATE OF THE ARTS ANNUAL CONFERENCE
There are several performances and papers lined up for today to get us started out here on the edge of the desert. Tonight there are several multimedia events happening, but tomorrow, Pat Payne takes to the streets in an art action at noon. Right after her, on campus, I become a digital deity, taking confessions from Bucknell while I dance in Pittsburgh. Great opportunity to network and find your new favorite hammer-wielder. If you can get out here and get a room, come check us out.

REDCAT, directions
Friday & Saturday, November 7 & 8; 8:30 PM; ticket prices vary per day
Jordi Cortés and Damián Muñoz: Ölelés
Co-presented with FITLA (Int'l Latino Theatre Festival of LA), Ölelés is a dance adaptation of a 1942 novel, Embers, that tries to figure out how two men fall out and try to put their friendship back together again 40 years later. The dancing should be riveting.




HERRICK INTERFAITH CHAPEL
Occidental College,1600 Campus Road,Los Angeles, CA 90041
N'Ap Kenbe/We're Holding on: Hope in the Eye of the Hurricane
Saturday, November 8, 8 PM $10
Marshall Dance Company and the Occidental College Department of Critical Theory and Social Justice present an evening of performances to benefit Haitians affected by hurricanes Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike with Special Guests, Troupe Jaka, straight from Haiti. Here is a great opportunity to get "glocalized": take action locally to bring change globally.


JAMES ARMSTRONG THEATRE, directions
3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance, CA
SOLA 2008
Saturday, November 2008, 8 PM; $18/$16
Regina Kleinjoski has put together an inspiring evening of dance for this annual festival. This festival pairs young dancers with established choreographers. This year, there is a distinct emphasis on technology and meaning. Regina Kleinjoski set "Captured" on dancers from CSLB; Lorin Johnson & So. Cal Ballet Lab present "Study for Common Ground;" Chad Michael Hall presents "Doublespeak" on dancers from Loyola Marymount; Caryn heilman, Karen Safrit & Chris Liu set works on highly accomplished high school performers. Sounds like a good way to fish for dancers...


THE OPEN SPACE
209 S. Garey Street, 2nd floor, LA, CA 90012
Anatomy Riot #28, guest curator: d. Sabela Grimes
Monday, November 10th, 8pm; $10 suggested donation at the door, no reservations.
This installment of Anatomy Riot will be likely riotuous. With d. Sabela at the helm and the recent Obama win, participants in this night of the cipher will rock the bells, drop science, raise da roof, take it all the way out, and free your mind so your ass will follow. Low tech as always but high spirit, Anatomy Riot has hosted over 200 artists since its inception, helping to incubate new projects and audiences through the simple vision of the dance ninja, Meg Wolfe. Come and get you some this Monday.


(right now i am hearing an inspirational report about a free, degreeless program of study that centers art research and economic practices together. this woman is talking about informal exchanges,bartering or even a black market for studio art making, peddling consecration, can we become "hawkers of pedagogy" in our art practice? i'll take this up through viscera. alternative economies are becoming crucial as "disposable cash" becomes the oxymoron that it is.)

"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!



LOST SOULS GALLERY
124 W. 4th Street, Los Angeles (cross street is Main)
Styles Upon Styles, opening night fundraiser
Thursday, November 13, 2008; 6:00pm - 10:00pm
The proceeds from this slamma jamma will benefit Break The Cycle, a non-profit that helps people suffering with domestic violence. Alfie Numeric is a Face Book buddy of mine and she is just wild-ass crazee fresh (that was old school for "scintillating"). Come on out and share your change to bring that mystic change into formal reality. Get your party on, too!
New art work by: Alfie "Numeric" Ebojo, Gina Doran,Tawni Marie Lucero, Mia C. Villanueva
music maestra: DJ Lady Sha


THE VELASLAVASAY PANORAMA
1122 West 24th Street (at Hoover), Los Angeles, CA 90007
Vaudeville Night
Friday, Nov. 14th, 8 PM FREE!
reservations: events@panoramaonview.org
A night of performances and videos by a selection of California Community Foundation fellowship recipients, in conjunction with the "20 Years Ago Today" exhibition (currently on view at the Japanese American National Museum). Curated by Rita Gonzalez and Kris Kuramitsu, this event will take place at the Velaslavasay Panorama, a charming historic theater. Performances, video works, etc by John Fleck, Stanya Kahn, Michael Sakamoto and more. MUST GO.
http://www.janm.org/django/exhibits/20years/programs/
www.panoramaonview.org


UNIVERSITY THEATRE
UC Riverside, Riverside CA 92521
The Scales of Memory/Les écailles de la mémoire, Urban Bushwomen + Jant Bi
Friday, November 14, 8:00 PM: $34 gen/$32 fac & staff/$17 students
Iconic mono-gendered companies team up to create a night of explosive dance that travels through memories of Senegal and the Deep South in the US. if you like your dancing fierce, you MUST go to this, but tickets are likely just about gone. Call, don't book on-line at this point. I tried people, I really did, to bring you a master class, but because they are on a tight touring schedule, I was unable to get them to teach. They head down to San Diego same night, so if you miss this one, look for their dates down there, 15th & 16th.


HIGHWAYS
1651 18th St, Santa Monica, CA
Farid Mercury
Friday & Saturday November 14 & 15, 8:30 - 10:30; $20
And mentioning glocalizing forces...Robert Farid Karimi's one-man show shall take you through a world-win tour of what we call in academia "the extremities of power." At once a tribute to gay rock god Freddy Mercury, a face down of the shame of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, Patriot Act and Iran-Iraq War, and a search for a wrestling champion, Farid Mercury promises to provide a gut busting experience of the New Global South. Take notes. Cause it will be on the post-Market economy final exam. This is a must go. Hit it on Saturday so you can make it to the Free Vaudville night on Friday. I will be performing in Roanoke, VA, alas...


UNKNOWN THEATRE
1110 Seward Street, Los Angeles, CA
2009 Dance Series Benefit Party and Performance
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 8:00pm - 11:00 PM; $15 gen/$12 in advance; $20 CASH at the door
One of my fav places to hang out with the dance scene is having a party to launch its upcoming Dance Season! Go and mingle and support this years recipients of their seed grant: Heidi Duckler of Collage Dance Theatre; Kitty McNamee and Ryan Heffington of Hysterica Dance Company, Samantha Giron Dance Project, and Kingsley Irons. DJ, mini-performances, dancing, community.


coming up: sheetal ghandi & krenly guzman at ucla and the california touring project at diavolo...




ONGOING CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
hmmmmmm. I must away back to the conference! Not to mention that I need to run my show for tomorrow afternoon. So remember that DANCEbox courses with Neil Greenberg are half done and meet on Saturdays @ Farm Lab Under Spring. The Haitian Show at Occidental is preceded by an afternoon of workshops. F I E L D with Rae Shaolin Blum is wrapping up and Oguri is launching, also at the Farm Lab, Nov. 7th & 8th. Dance mapping....



LOVELY!
Before I came back to the room to send this off, I heard another talk about the impact of the "creative market" on the environment and Global South. We've got to close our production cycles! The statistics were staggering, but they got me thinking about the fact that very very soon, we will all need to think much more creatively about how we "get the word out" not just about performances, but even fundraisers, or newsletters. "Reduce reuse recycle" is not an option but your new mantra. Just as "Civil rights for all" is your other one. Prop 8 was/is a mistake with the possibility to become an infestation. Rather than sit back and watch the battle drain the state of much needed resources, get active with micro-investment: have a conversation with someone you know voted for it. Try to understand their position while making your own. And when it feels like it is going no where, remind them of the great joy we have in this country because we keep church and state separate. Let them marinate on that. Make this effort with 10 people. Let us know how it goes. We cannot Be the Change, love the O, and let hate get written into our state constitution. I want to enjoy my Obamaforia to the fullest, which means I have to work very hard to repeal Prop 8. Love is boundless and does not discriminate; true creativity makes no trash; true change leaves no one behind.

in love,
-Anna

NEWSLETTER: feet shoulder width apart

HELLO!!!!!!

WOW and YIKES! This weekend is PACKED with much to do in anticipation of the Labor Day weekend, when everyone normally gets out of town one last time before school starts, but it is likely with the price of gas and general "waiting for the other shoe to drop" body stiffening that many many people will still be in town, looking for something cheap to do. But other than that,in case you missed it, Jamaican runners just tore a hole in the space-time continuum. If you felt wobbly the other day it was because Usain Bolt created a time warp with his incredible finish in the 200 meter dash. But this was overshadowed by pundits wanting to call him a nigger for having the audacity to have won the 100 meter race, AND setting a world record last week, while not even running full out. How dare he! The word that has been used is "showboating." As Mr. Bolt said, "I just came to win, not set another record." Meaning, "I knew that could be done, but strutting back on yard with gold swing from me neck, tis ahnother story, nah?" And Ms. Melanie Walker squashed it in the 400 meter hurdles, effectively making the US Team rethink its diet. Okay, so prepare for two weekends of crowds, some road trips to nearby places, and continual skirmishes in Ossetia and now, Zimbabwe.

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.


I had some beautiful and heartfelt responses to last week's post: mil gracias! I needed that. If you ever want to share, feel free to post up a comment on the newsletter archive, or join me at Afrologica. I would esp. like feedback on my long-winded reviews;->. BLOWIN BACK DA 'FRO this week is the imminent launch of the Large Hadron Collider in CERN, because I'm a geek like that, but also flings in the park, season finales, and Fall time machinations. Get ready!



UNKNOWN THEATER
1110 Seward Street, Los ANgeles, CA
Fables du Theatre
August 15 - September 27th; Thurs-Sat @ 8 PM; Sunday @ 6 PM; $18 advance on-line purchase; $25 at the door.
Wow and wow. They have had a spectacular dance season and now the bring the whole thing to a close with a critically acclaimed evening of intrigue, circus, and sex. The show will run for a bit, but don't sleep on the tickets! It is a small house.

GRAND PERFORMANCES
California PLaza, 300 -350 Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA
daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra
Saturday August 23rd, 8 PM
This Saturday will be an absolute blast! Gotta get there early so you can be ready for the 60 piece orchestra, hip hop stylee!! Yeah, SIXTY. Lawdy! Free as always, but parking shall be a bit of a nightmare since the KCRW crew will be in da house.Get there early enough not to pop a vein, or late enough--yes reverse LA logic: get there after intermission and there will be spaces left by those trying to beat the exit traffic.


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
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, but YOU MUST, I REPEAT MUST get out to see "Space is the Place" next Thursday. Sun Ra. Sun Ra, people.
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 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.)


BALBOA PARK
Celebrate Dance Festival
Friday, August 22 at 6:00 PM - 10 PM; Saturday August 23 11:30 AM - 10 PM; Sunday August 24,Noon- 9:00 PM
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.
Peter Kalivas, UCR MFA candidate and longtime mover on the scene is bringing his company PGK Company on Saturday 8 PM. Other hot groups? Axxiom and The Garage, both on late Sunday. There are lots of Belly Dancing and HIp Hop crews, so you can shake that money maker interculturally!
For directions, complete list of presenting artists, and performance schedule please visit: http://www.eveoke.org/cdf.htm
This is one full plate, baby.

PHYLLIS STEIN ART
207 West 5th ST., Los Angeles CA
Sara Paul Ocampo & Mecca Andrews perform
Saturday 4 - 6, free and tea will be served. Support a gallery that supports you!

MALIBU BLUFF'S PARK
Safety Harbour Kids Orphans and Homeless Children Benefit
Sunday, August 24 at 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Alexandria Yalje, po-mo dancer about town, invites you to see her own work as a choreographer while helping out a great cause. There are rumors of an after party at her place, but you'll have to ask her nicely via Facebook for the details...


THE OPEN SPACE
209 S. Garey St., Los Angeles Ca 90012
It's a Jam y'all! Come party, network, and have a great time.
Who: YOU Are OFFICIALY INVITED to the Pre-Weekend Kick Off! :)
When: THIS Friday August 22nd
What: Stuntman & One Step Ahead bring you:
Where: The Open Space!!!
WHY: This will be a meet and greet party vibe for all. Cyphers included.
Spinnin Hip Hop, Funk, Breaks & a lot of fun chillin & DANCIN!
$5 till 10pm $10 after early arrival is suggested
Giveaways by SUS clothing
DJ's: DJ Wobbles
Frankie Flave
more TBA
PLEASE PASS THE WORD AROUND!!!!! :)


ECHO PARK
Black Cloud Scientist League/ Machine Project
Geeky performance ARt that you help to make AND that politicizes you. I'm in heaven. First you get a PuffTron (don't have one? be among the first 12 with $85 in your hand to make it yourself), then you watch the messages it sends you about the air quality where it is stationed, next you make a pollution map (but you do that on August 30th), then you get amazed, angry and sad, then active (in that order), and finally you wind up the day at 8 PM with a gelato while you hear from the League members themselves, which includes UC Berkeley folks and Manual Arts High School students. Yup. You don't want to miss this one.
1) a DIY air quality sensor building workshop this Saturday August 23rd from 12-5pm. Limited to 12 students,
2) A research presentation at 8pm this Saturday the 23rd by the Black Cloud Citizen Scientist League
3) A community air pollution mapping event next Saturday August 30th that requires your participation! Details to be given at the presentation on the 23rd.

FORD AMPHITHEATER
2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, CA 90068
There is a Bollywood pajama party being thrown by blu13 on August 23rd at 10 am ($5) then again at 8:30 PM($35/28). There. I mentioned it.
The Ford has had great success with children matinees and now have artists appearing in that 10 AM Saturday slot who don't necessarily perform again. August 30th DAFRA West African Drum and Dance holds down one such event. Kids are free, adults $5, but you must make reservations.


AFRICAN DANCE CAMPS AND SUMMER INTENSIVES
...they collide!! Only in LA of course. Olivier Tarpanga is teaching in the DANCEBank Sumer intensive at the Open Space, Saturday August 23rd, 11 Am - 2 PM; then again on Sunday August 24th 5 - 8 PM. $40 for both days or $25 for either one. Movement will combine dance mostly from Burkina Faso with postmodern considerations to live traditional drumming. Hot stuff and a great preview for his upcoming show at the Ford. Gotta gotta gotta, get yoself there!
Taisha Pagget, co-founder of ITCH will teach the following Tuesday/Thursday, focusing on "the big body (your extremities)" and its relationship to the "little body (your torso)". August 26th & 28th.



ONGOING CLASSES
Check out the map; I've added a few and know I am missing a lot. Let me know about your class!
What you are missing by not following the link: an immersive interactive map with not only my tidbits about the classes offered at each spot, but also directions with live traffic cams as well as info about nearby services/businesses like ATM, coffee and gas. I bet you wish you had some Google stock in your portfolio right about now.

I only got one response for a potluck/dance class this weekend. SO maybe next weekend? I'll also blast on FaceBook.



UPCOMING
SOMAFEST is back! Sept 16th - 21st. Early Registration is now open: $325 for the full thing now, $350 after September 8th. This thing sells out. Get in on it NOW. I"ll have more on this as we approach.

Baker/Tarpanga and Catch Me Bird at the Ford Theater, Sept. 5th, 8:30 PM. I'll have more to say next week, but help them relax by buying your tickets in advance! 1200 seats!!!

Celebration of Life: A fundraiser for Esalen Institute. The recent fires came close to burning this treasure down, but instead, it cause financial chaos by forcing them to cancel most of their summer courses. Come to the rescue on Sept. 7th at UCLA Ackerman Grand Ballroom. More details soon enough.

2009 CHIME guidelines and Application are now live on-line. Download and get that application into the Marget Jenkins company by Oct. 1, 2008 to work with a master down here. All of you wondering about distilling your style into a thought provoking evening and a great class: I nominate Susan Rose as your future mentor...



LOVELY!
I was dragging just a bit this morning, but nothing a little samba and salsa around the house couldn't fix! I was listening to the Blackeyed Peas and then began to think about John Lennon and a recent talk I went to where the speaker said those of us invested financially in the markets through retirement programs are literally co-creators of this world and if we don't like it, just move our money. Imagine if...everyone knew where not only their money was, but where was the love and made dances about it. Continue to dance, even when it feels like the last possible thing you should be doing!

in love,
-Anna

NEWSLETTER: zippity do dah day

ALAFIA!!! Ola!!! Hello and how do?

Bless that ocean, will ya? Not too hot, just enough breeze coming on shore, beautiful waves. This is why we lived so jammed packed out here on the West Side. But we often miss the adventure and thoroughly jagged edges of art in the City. So here's to the time disruption torn map known as "El Lay." This weekend there is no class as I get ready to hit the road and embark on a series of local projects. AFROLOGICS West African Dance Class will return, but in a different location and time.


Afrologic. Afrological. Afrologica. How big is your '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.


BLOWIN' BACK THE FRO
My goodness, there is a A LOT happening in these next 73 hours, so this edition of the newsletter will feel more like a dispatch, cause I'm tryin' to get one of the events tonight, so that I can make the rest over the weekend!

OPENING TONIGHT:
Task FORCE
11 Missing Days


Actually TaskForce has been dancing on/in water for a few days now, but they go on tonight in San Pedro. Last night they were at the OPEN SPACE. They continue through the weekend.

Meg Wolfe's "11 Missing Days" starts its first weekend at the Unknown Theatre. I think you can still book tickets right now to get the $18 price. It is $25 at the door.

THE BIG BLOW OUT COMB
Viver Brasil takes the stage on Saturday, July 5th at 8:30 PM. There are still tickets. So get some asap. I'll be there. Shall we meet?

So my recommendations:

STEPHAN KOPLOWITZ: TASKFORCE tonight
11 Missing Days on Friday
"Omi Odara/The Gift on the Water" Viver Brasil on Saturday
TASK FORCE Sunday Afternoon
11 Missing Days Sunday night

There is still the Hawai'ian Fourth of July right now at the Santa Monica Pier. It is free. They are planning on breaking a world Hula record. Show is underway.

You can do this!

UPCOMING:
July 11th on Wilshire BLVD, there will be watermelons...
July 12th at the NEST, Pat Payne hosts a salon, myspace.com/spunkyxipe


OKAY my dears, I must away. I've just been told that I must go take a master dance class, so no Task Force for me tonight.

There will be a dispatch with further show info...there are so many splendid things happening for children and families this weekend, too!

Look to the Dark for all the light you need...

in love,
-Anna