From my friend Beverly who heads the National Hand Dance Association: The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities 2011 Dance DC Festival THE NATIONAL HAND DANCE ASSOCIATION (NHDA) presents “Hand Dance: From Classic to Contemporary” Saturday, July 23, 2011 2:00 p.m – 4:00 p.m. The National Portrait Gallery (indoor Atrium) 750 9th Street, NW [...]
Too much, too much. June must be the final push on the event scene before people begin dispersing to the vacation scene. Again, just scratching the surface: ITVS COMMUNITY CINEMA PRESENTS – “TWO SPIRITS” June 5 at 3 PM (Washington DC Jewish Community Center) June 12 at 5 PM (Busboys and Poets) FREE – For [...]
Friday night’s “Thriller On H Street” party presented by the Joy of Motion Dance Center + Atlas Studio + H Street Main Street + Auto Zone (for use of the parking lot for the final performance) minus the lights. First there was the 2-hour dance pre-performance rehearsal. Have to say, the room was getting pretty [...]
I used to be really into Halloween to the point of planning my costume well in advance. That meant taking out the sewing machine and actually making something to wear. Maybe because in those days I had somewhere to go and show off. This may be hard to believe, but Halloween has always been a [...]
SYMPOSIUM: Cuba in the World: Literature, Politics, Performance Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting Ariel Fernandez at the Future of Music Policy Summit. Ariel’s working on a new documentary “Hip-Hop in Cuba: a Revolution Within the Revolution.” He sent me an email to let me know that he’s in DC this week [...]
An opportunity to see the artistic process that was Michael Jackson — how he worked, the vision in putting together a major show? I’ll take that over a “Behind the Music” or “A&E” biography anytime. I suppose THIS IS IT is intended to be a posthumous last dance for MJ? “Or Is It?” might be [...]
DC has a weird relationship with its artists. It balances on amusement and indifference. You’re considered not-good-enough for the big time if you stay; forgotten as home town talent if you leave. Even our own Mayor Fenty was getting kudos for scoring Chicago’s Kanye West during the inaugural festivities; not for hometown or even home-born [...]
Note: This is my 200th post. Just thought I’d share that. HEALTH CARE REFORM ON THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION’S WATCH See where the Obama administration is going with health care reform; submit your stories; read the reports. The healthreform.gov site is user friendly. President Obama will appear in Green Bay, Wisconsin today to discuss health care [...]
Arts Beat – New York Times What effect is the economy having on your life and work as an artist, writer, actor, or musician? Tell us your story by commenting below or by e-mailing us at artsbeat@nytimes.com. The responses come from beyond the burroughs. Some artists say the downturn may be good for art in [...]
No this isn’t the Obama campaign’s weekly staff meeting. This clip from the 1961 film version of the musical West Side Story was what we used to say was the Jets at their best. ["America" was the Sharks at their best.] I also think the message is quite appropriate for the moment. And NO I’m [...]
