time to move

{thanks jendita for the intro!}

a counterpoint to the latest dismal world news

this fantastic choreographic joy was just sent to me ~ filmed at central station in antwerp. it's uplifting to see such happy connecting radiate through the station like wild-fire. i realize it's mostly staged but there are tons of people taken by surprise who join in too, in spite of themselves. this will put a spring in your step.....just see if you can resist it!

a little dose of tango inspiration

i am so excited by this incredible adorable fantastic male-duo tango performance that i had to share it with you right away . . . . click it, you won't be disappointed. i promise!




{thanks to ms.heartbreak-tango for the head's up}

dance up close in mill valley

oh i'm excited about this one! there's a very special dance performance coming soon that'll give you a rare opportunity to be up close & personal with some very incredible dancers. {printz dance project plus some other powerhouse performers!}
tickets are really affordable {sliding scale $5-$15} and the location is adorable....
just across the golden gate at roco dance & fitness in mill valley
may 8th at 8:30pm & may 9th at both 6:30pm & 8:30pm

printz dance project home season 2008

i'm coming out of the new mommy hibernation to help spread the word for a fantastic dance performance coming to fort mason's cowell theater in san francisco early november.....
several of my dearest friends are in it and i'm on the board of directors, so printz dance project is near and dear to my heart. it will certainly capture yours too, with this ecclectic, energetric, and moving show. special guests will be joining them this year, coming all the way from ireland. they'll be doing some of their own work as well as some collaborative pieces ~ a fusion of american modern dance & hip-hop with traditional irish step dancing. it's really an incredible dance company, filled with very talented performers and very easy to adore dance, so i hope you'll give yourself the treat to come out and see it.

a pregnant dancer

on being in the sfdc studios & performing again:

for the last month my tango teachers have been blessing european tango communities with their charm, beauty & skill. so with my extra free nights in the week i signed up for a fusion dance performance workshop {taught by the diva of delight, jenni}. in 4 weeks time, 20 dancers went from nothingness to a complete 7 minute piece that we got to perform before a live audience, twice. {this is all because jenni has vision and skill and perserverence, just so you know}. it was a challenging and fun experience to not only perform with a group again but to do it while in the middle of pregnancy. i got a bit frustrated that i couldn't jump as high or balance as long or get up off the floor as easily as my pre-baby-bump body, but for the most part i was really happy with the results. i even did a few partner lifts and had much better stamina than i expected. i was asked by several people if i should be doing all that while in my condition. i suppose the thought crossed my mind a little, but not long enough to stop me. i am a dancer. that is what i do ~ it's one of my greatest passions & joys. so why should i not continue it even if i am gestating? besides, i really think the little peach liked it too. the music, the movement, the positive energy i was flowing. so i'm glad i did it and am planning to continue dancing until i literally can't any more.
{that's me on the far left arching back, and in the photo on the right i'm the one almost in the middle of the clump of dancers pulling on that high leg while looking down at the ground}

on being back into the tango vida:

{gorgeous image by smooth}

with the performance workshop over and a week break for work & vegas reasons, now this week i've jumped right back into tango. and none too soon. ney & jennifer are back with more vitality than ever and even though i'm a bit bigger than last time they saw me, i still felt like a shining star in their capable tango hands. i've enjoyed happy reunions with my tango community friends ~ lots of belly rubs and comments like "wow you can still move that beautifully in 4 inch heels?". why yes, surprisingly, i can. sure the balance is a little off, but the strength and muscle memory is there ~ and i think my musical connection is stronger than ever. the senses are much more heightened during pregnancy, so perhaps that has something to do with it. i was worried that my embrace might be off, what with a little someone now very much between my partner and me, but that fear was unfounded. maybe for the leads to dance with me it feels kind of like how it feels for we followers when we dance with a man who has a big gut? it's not like you can't form a great embrace and walk with ease even if there is a bit more between you than with other partners. at any rate, tangoing again feels incredible, and i dare say there may be a new tango angel on the horizon ~ thank heaven's.

{my dear friend seth & i dancing at a wedding}

{all photos of me dancing taken by jendita}

he is the one

his style is captivating and i look forward to enjoying his seduction of america on the dance floor for many weeks to come. he makes me want to get back into top dancer shape & rock the dance floor again immediately. with him. juvenile crush, much? yes. but it's so fun to be smitten, so please enjoy mark kanemura right along with me:

wade robson rocks my world

ok, so it's confession time..... i'm sure it will come as no surprise to you that i watch so you think you can dance. but the truth is i am fully and without shame addicted to this show. it is the only "reality tv" {or any primetime tv for that matter} that i am in to ~ and by "in to", i mean i must watch every episode and rewind almost every dance at least once to see again. except for wade robson's choreography ~ that i re-watch at least 5 times. and usually i only stop because i have to, and then i re-watch it the next day thanks to youtube.
why? you might be wondering.....oh my, more confession time....
his choreography is twisted, sexy, wild, complex, intense ~ and that feeds my alter-ego {the one i confessed about a long time ago who secretly wishes she was a killer spy ninja girl like uma thurman in kill bill} with the most delicious eye-candy feast.
because i like you all so much i want to share some of wade's work with you. if you watch sytycd you probably recognize his work, but if not you're in for a huge smack up side the head of super hip, super sick, super creative, super amazing choreographic vision ever to be given to stage. {yes wade rocks me that much} there's a ton to be seen on youtube, so i'll just keep it to two clips:


{this is a reel from his website ~ a nice mix of some of his most recent work}


{this is last week's group piece by robson ~ ignore the lame camera angles & cuts, and pretend nigel isn't involved and this is one helluva group performance}



{bummer about the poor video quality, but hopefully you get the feel for what i'm raving about}

invitation: milonga en el museo

would you be so kind as to join me in a celebration of argentine tango dance and music at the de young museum in san francisco's golden gate park. . . .
friday evening, june 27, 6:30 pm
hosted by terence clarke and beatrice bowles
admission to the milonga: free

come dance with me

ok fine folks, i told you it was coming ~ and now it's officially here. studio tango vida, the newest and easily most gorgeous tango studio in san francisco has opened its doors for your dancing pleasure. ney melo and jennifer bratt are the proud owners and they are offering classes every day {except sunday} for beginners thru advanced tangueros and even some special lady's technique classes.

they are also selling comme il faut's for the ladies and a custom-made men's tango shoe from italy that they became rep's for after their last trip to italia. the photo just above is ney showing off his amazon-green alligator shoes {that just so happen to match the wall paint color} from the men's line along with his new rug from argentina {he's *very* proud of both!}.

i took two classes last night & will be taking another two tonight. so now i can give you the official report that the fresh, hip space is a delight to be in! the brand new bamboo floors are fabulous for dancing ~ i don't think my pivots & ochos ever felt better. the accoustics are great ~ it's not a huge studio but just roomy enough, and di sarli sounds perfectly enchanting within. it was a warm night, so they kept the front door open to let in the breeze and many passersby stopped to take a look. i'm sure the sights & sounds were just too much to keep from stopping to take some of it in.

after the last dance everyone agreed it was a blessing to be there. also, ney & jennifer shared champagne left after their opening party on sunday, so that certainly helped with the blissful vibes. but, believe me, you won't need bubbly to come alive on this dance floor.

so if you're in the bay area please make a point to stop in for a class soon {ney & jennifer are here for the month of may but they're off to tour in europe for the month of june}

and if you're not in the bay area, now you have an even greater reason to come visit {hint hint, wink wink, mr.you-know-who}

weightless incredibleness

swedish designer & artist extraordinaire, erika janunger has become an instant idol of mine. she has created a short film showing her myriad of talents ~ she choreographed it, created all the lighting & interior design elements for it, and she wrote & sings the song that is the soundtrack for it. talk about multi-talented!
a combo of dance and interior design, this short film was janunger’s masters project and is her exploration of the intersection of architecture, choreography, and music. this film goes beyond the bounds of any tilting set eye-trickery you've seen before ~ this weightlessness is part of these girls’ reality. counter to any of the usual fantasies of the freedom of flight, the dancers seem paradoxically weighted down by their weightlessness. when brilliant dancers, malin stattin and tuva lundkvist, gaze into your eyes it becomes clear this isn’t a state of being they’ve chosen for themselves.



but, wait! there's more ~ in fact the more you explore erika's work, the more it seems there’s nothing she can’t do. holding a masters in interior architecture and furniture design from the college of art, craft, and design in stockholm, janunger clearly is a very multi-talented lady. her drive to explore the art of how people interact with her creations really sets her apart ~ as her statement on her website makes quite obvious:
“creating architecture and design, is like making music. By using three dimensions - three notes, you make a chord. by using many chords, shapes and spaces - you can create an entire world… i want to understand how all that works, i want to create surroundings and objects based upon peoples lives and feelings. i want to create worlds, i want to play god.”

{“workshop in the woods” where erika lit up a forest near gothtenburg, sweden}

printz dance project & paco gomez dancers share a home

firey combinations of thoughtful beautiful choreography will collide at dance mission theater! a rare opportunity to see two of san francisco's most dynamic fusion dance companies performing together on one stage, for three nights only: may 9 & 10 at 8:00pm, may 11 at 7:00pm, $20 general, $16 students & seniors.
and there is a reception to follow friday night's show so you can meet the dancers & choreographers!

no one turned away for lack of funds {being on the board has its perks} so please email me if you wanna go but find the ticket prices too steep.

hope to see all my local blogging buddies there!

kohler's new articulating motion

kohler's new karbon articulating faucet demanded attention at this year's kitchen and bath industry show {kbis} not only with its unique styling and functionality but also with the entertainment hired to enhance the hype: every hour a dance troupe performed with themes relating to water, innovation and fluid movement. so you knwo i jumped all over posting about this ~ anything that combines dance with design is perfect for studio wellspring!


with its clean, crisp lines, the karbon articulating faucet introduces a new geometry of versatile functionality to the kitchen. intelligently engineered to hold any pose for hands-free operation, karbon allows you to streamline your work surfaces and workflow. you can extend the faucet fully to fill large pots, lower it into the sink for food preparation and cleanup, fold it compactly out of the way when not in use, or position it anywhere in between.

{info and photos found on apartment therapy & kohler websites}

sfb: program 6

on saturday night i had the pleasure of an evening at the san francisco ballet with ms.tangobaby. after a delicious meal at a new-to-us restaurant called sauce {the lobster & crab sliders were amazing!}, we were enthralled & delighted by the last program of the '08 season. this program's theme was an international salute ~ the delicate battle from the national ballet of canada, duo concertant from nyc ballet {choreographed by balanchine}, and altro canto from les ballets de monte-carlo. tangobaby took a few photos of the theater which she kindly let me share with you here, and i found a few photos taken by erik tomasson of two of the performances to share as well.

a delicate battle has a continual snow falling onstage, and gorgeous combinations of dancers in white leotards, female dancers in taffeta formal gowns and male dancers in black business suits. the choreography was inventive & engaging. i adore snow so this piece was very enjoyable to watch.

but the astounding accomplishment of altro canto made all ballets i've seen so far, ever, pale in comparison. set to pre-baroque music mostly composed by monteverdi {a composer i studied & learned to appreciate while in italy}, the stage was lit by candles hanging from the ceiling in various numbers & locations depending on the scene. the partnering was absolutely incredible. words really cannot do this ballet justice so i hope these few photos and the video clip will give you an adequate glimpse into pure dance genius.

surprisingly, i found a very edited version of this ballet on youtube, but the person who made the video clip had really poor taste and dubbed some horrible techno music over the top. so if you watch {and the choreography is well worth it} be sure to turn off your volume first. ;o)

as you might expect, i was a very happy and attentive fan {captured by tangobaby}:

studio tango vida

pssst.....

new word on the tango street is,

ney melo & jennifer bratt are opening their own tango studio right here in san francisco!

may 2008, make plans to head on up to pacific & taylor to experience traditional argentine tango with two of america's best tangueros at studio tango vida!

lead with your heart

for my dear tangobaby {and all other interested parties} i'd like to share the summary of lessons learned last night. jennifer bratt is in town so she added her beauty & charm to ney's class, always a nice bonus.

ney has been teaching us fancy milonga rhythm steps for the last couple weeks and last night was the most advanced & intense so far. we learned not only 3-beat but also 5- and 7- beat versions of some fast & fun footwork. however, far and away the most valuable lesson from the night came when ney & jennifer were talking to us about the proper embrace. this is a frequent topic in ney's class, but last night's discussion took it further than usual. he spoke about placements of hands, heads, torsos ~ the wheres and whys. did you know the lady is like a fishbowl between the man's palms? he must keep it steady & balanced, lead clearly with all of his hand, lift & lower as needed but never tip it over. and did you know the lady must lead too? but in a different way altogether. we must lead with our hearts! as ney was describing how the man should present his rib cage & lead with his chest more {he even showed examples of leading the complicated milonga steps without using his hands at all} jennifer chimed in to say, actually for the ladies we should be leading with our hearts ~ present our hearts to the lead and keep them out there no matter what comes. if we always return to this our dance will be elevated.

how beautiful is that?

speaking of beauty, all these gorgeous tango photos are from alex.tango.fuego.

he has a website, a blog, and a flickr account. he's talented, he's cute and he's charming. and head's up ladies ~ he's single.

also ~ as long as i'm blogging about tango, i must say i am just entirely too giddy about going to seattle this weekend for tango workshops with ney & jennifer, to meet the seattle tango community at milongas, and to see old friends {and meet new baby james!}. i'll also get to be tour guide to tangobaby since she's never been ~ i can't wait to swoon her with all the lovelies seattle has to offer.

long live leading with our hearts!

milonga me happy

{el valenciano}

last night in my tango class we learned some fancy steps to milonga {the speed version of tango}.
wait, let me back up a moment to exclaim blissfully that my teacher ney is back. oh yes, ney is back! his passion and kindness and teaching brilliance we sorely missed the last month, and it felt so great to get his big hugs & hear his classic "si o no?!?" and "ciao papi!". after class, the energy was running high and almost everyone went to el valenciano for a night that felt like a joyous reunion. at least to me. i haven't been there in a month and it felt great to see so many familiar faces and dance so many tandas. it seemed like everyone else felt the same way too. lots of contented smiles on the dance floor. i danced two full tandas of milonga for the first time and i must say, i didn't know i had it in me. it felt so incredible! i even got compliments from several leaders on my improved fluidity and strength. wow. really? is that what a month off does? at any rate it had me soaring and if it weren't for my feet killing me i could have done it until dawn. here is a delightful rendition of milonga ~ no, this isn't quite my skill level {yet. ha!} but it's certainly something to get inspired by and put an extra spring in your chilly january morning step. happy wednesday!

jumpin jive

last night the lovely tangobaby & her beau treated me to viewing some of the most amazing dance clips ever filmed in history on their 10' movie screen home theater system ~ the audition performance of rudolf nureyev that gave him an open ride into both the bolshoi & the kirov ballet companies, bo jangles' soft shoe brilliance and the nicholas brothers in one of their most famous performances in stormy weather. it's valuable to know before watching the clip below that many performance greats such as mikhail baryshnikov, fred astaire, gregory hines, michael & janet jackson consider the nicholas brothers the greatest dancers/performers in history. it's widely agreed that if their biography was ever filmed, their dance numbers would have to be computer generated because no one could duplicate them.

here they are with cab calloway in this incredible performance in the 1943 movie stormy weather:

btw ~ neither of them have any formal dance training ~ they learned their skills by growing up around vaudeville

balancing act

these cirque du soliel performers {in lisbon's show "delirium"} perfectly depict an analogy to my life right now. can you relate too?

also, who is planning to see san francisco's kooza {it just opened on the 16th}? the description alone had me ready to buy tickets as soon as my pay check hit the bank:

"between strength and fragility, laughter and smiles, turmoil and harmony, KOOZA explores themes of fear, identity, recognition and power. the show is set in an electrifying and exotic visual world full of surprises, thrills, chills, audacity and total involvement."

but getting to see photos of their rehearsals on the official kooza site sealed the deal!

t.g.i.f! hope you have a most fabulously balanced weekend.

irish-sf dance collaboration

printz dance project is in the chronicle today ~ click on image to read the article:

pdp and siamsa tire have an informal showing this weekend of the collaborative choreography of irish traditional dance and american jazz, modern & hip-hop dances.

nov 30th & dec 1st at 8:00pm

the garage ~ 975 howard street

for tickets: 415.885.4006

{photos from rehearsals ~ all taken by jenni. and there are a couple sweet little video clips of their rehearsals together at her blog}