Tag Archives: dance

Mar19

I don’t do well with snakes and I can’t dance. – Robin Williams

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i went to this show last night, at our beautifully restored fisher theater, expecting to see a bit of fast-tapping irish dancing. it was created by the producers of riverdance, so i had a certain mind set going in, and was very happy to find it was so much more. the director/creator spoke at the beginning, and talked about how he had worked for three years to assemble this amazing ensemble of dancers and musicians from all around the world, (australia, spain, ireland, england, u.s.a, canada, mexico, and italy), to create this work of performance art.

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 while there was incredible irish dancing, there was also so much more.

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each musician played at least 2 instruments and at times got out on the floor to interact with the dancers.

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it was a fascinating blend of afro-cuban, spanish, irish, flamenco, latin, modern and street and classical dance,

all bathed in color and images and music.

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at times it was strong and high energy, and then slow and powerfully beautiful.

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it was a lovely performance in every way. and i was newly inspired with each dance.

I love tango, and I used to dance when I was young. Pope Francis

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image credits: broadway in detroit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mar13

sharing the night with the pink ballerinas

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even the flamingos came out at night to play – dominican republic

 

“We are not going to change the whole world, but we can change ourselves and feel free as birds.  We can be serene even in the midst of calamities and, by our serenity, make others more tranquil.  Serenity is contagious.  If we smile at someone, he or she will smile back.  And a smile costs nothing.  We should plague everyone with joy.  If we are to die in a minute, why not die happily, laughing?” 

Swami Satchidananda

 

Jan4

when a logical brainiac drives an emotional imaginator

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baby b – “ we’re going on “bacation” in our car, we’re going to the beach!”

baby j – “I’m a mermaid!”

baby b – “you can’t be a mermaid we’re in the car!” 

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If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution – Emma Goldman

 

Dec4

as it is written

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even now, at not yet age 2, it is easy to see that baby j is born to be a lover and not a fighter

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Every dance is a kind of fever chart, a graph of the heart.

Martha Graham

 

 

 

 

Apr14

get up off your nia-s!

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What is Nia?

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Nia is a sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts. It empowers people of all shapes and sizes by connecting the body, mind, emotions and spirit. Classes are taken barefoot to soul-stirring music in more than 45 countries.  

talked my daughter into taking this class with me. assured her it would be great, low-key, fun, we would just blend in, (i have a history of having stamina, enthusiasm and strength, though not a lick of coordination, and she detests being the center of attention), and i stressed that it would be a relaxing, bonding experience for us, all while getting in great shape. 

the class started out slow, with a challenging set of movements and stretches and new-agey music, then i heard someone talking about the ‘good auras’ they were seeing and chakras all around, and it was on!  there were all sorts of interpretive dance moves and exercises happening – people twirling, gliding, karate-chopping, leaping. my daughter glanced over at me, we both were smiling, though she had the look of ‘really, what next, are you kidding?’ on her face. i believe i may have seen an eye-roll as well. 

at this point, i’m going to go out on a limb and guess that it all took a final bad turn for her when our trainer announced that we would ‘each act out our day with a dance,’ and she had chosen my daughter to go first and to solo. i felt the glare, a bit more intense than kryptonite, coming towards me, and i did my best to avoid any eye-contact. soon after, she blurted out, ‘how am i supposed to do this?! i have had a hell on earth day, i’m in the construction business – dealing with historical commissions, zoning boards, sub-contractors, neighborhood councils, city council, requests for bribes, and an incompetent supplier!?’ 

she did a little twirl, the trainer and the rest of the class clapped for her, and that was the last move of our nia experience together. i believe some people’s chakras may have been thrown off a bit.