Ailey-ites embrace their inner meshuggenah in “Minus 16” 1
Mar
8
2012
I’ve seen Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin’s “Minus 16,” in its various bits and pieces, components and rehashes, on Batsheva Dance Company (his home base), Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, and most recently on a gang of Cal Arts dance students. But what a wild trip, tonight in Costa Mesa, watching Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater try ...
Stephen Colbert placidoes Domingo
Mar
6
2012
The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c Placido Domingo www.colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive
“L.A. RAW” film night
I cannot wait for this film night at the much-praised “RAW” exhibit at Pasadena Museum of California Art. Three documentary films concerning three of California’s important visual artists will be screened in tandem to the exhibit. Hans Burkhardt Hans Burkhardt: The Artist’s World 1987, 37 min Jack Rutberg Fine Arts, Estate Films, Inc.An intimate portrait ...
Ailey rep line-up for O.C. lacks work by female choreographer
Mar
4
2012
On tap during the upcoming seven-performance roster of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Orange County: a juicy line-up of works by primarily American choreographers — we really like that and we include Ohad Naharin as an honorary American since his early career had a strong presence in New York. It’s spot-on that Robert Battle, ...
Aureole Restaurant honors 50th anniversary of Paul Taylor’s “Aureole” 2
Mar
2
2012
A NYC restaurant bearing the same name as Paul Taylor’s much loved white ballet, set to the music of Handel, honors the work and its choreographer. Here’s their specially “Taylor-ed” menu. In Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Paul Taylor’s Masterpiece “Aureole” First Course FLUKE CRUDO QUINTET MANDARIN, GRAPEFRUIT, CHIVES, ORMARKET GREENS CHAOS BEETS, RADISHES, ...
Meet Misha and Michel, winners of the Vilcek Prize 2
Feb
29
2012
Wonderful news from the New York-based Vilcek Foundation, the non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of immigrant contributions to the American arts and sciences. The 2012 Vilcek Prizes in dance honor immigrant dance artists who have made significant contributions to the field in America. The Latvia-born Russian national, now a great American, Mikhail Baryshnikov, nabs ...
Remembering Marilyn
Feb
29
2012
A sad memorial looms this year, the 50th anniversary of the tragic death of Marilyn Monroe, who died of an overdose to barbiturates in August 1962. I recently enjoyed two well made documentaries about Monroe. The Legend of Marilyn Monroe 1966, 16 format, b/w, 53 min, dir Terry Sanders Cast: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lee ...
Ahmad Jamal, child pianist, photographed by “Teenie” Harris
He’s propped up on a trumpet case! It’s the young Ahmad Jamal (born Frederick Russell ‘Fritz’ Jones), a Pittsburgh native whose photo by renegade photog, Charles “Teenie” Harris, is featured in an exhibit at the city’s Carnegie Museum of Art. Jamal’s is only one of 80,000 photographs Harris snapped of daily African-American life in the ...
A masterpiece of dance on film: Jack Cole’s “Happy Ending”
The dance sequence below, choreographed by the great Jack Cole (he dances in it as well) closes Twentieth Century Fox’s “On the Riviera” (1951). Every element of “Happy Ending” rings true. Not a single step is wrong or jarring; on the contrary, all is balanced and golden and smart and right. It’s evidence of Cole’s ...
Meeting Art Laboe, L.A.’s pioneering rock ‘n roll deejay
We enjoyed meeting the amazing Los Angeles radio legend, Art Laboe, Wednesday night at the Grammy Museum downtown. Laboe’s a pioneer in many ways — issuing the first-ever record compilations and coining the expression “Oldies But Goodies.” The deejay is very much alive and kicking; though in his eighties, he was in great shape cruising ...