by Bob Martin | Sep 28, 2007 | Culture, Exhibits, Learning, Live Performance
Last weekend we traveled to Vegas for a wedding and was surprised that most the people I saw looked nothing like the commercials.
What happens here, stays here.
They took it with them and I was disappointed. There were the young guys with two beers in their hands, drawing as much attention to themselves as possible, screaming obscenities to no one in particular. Some kind of contest, I think, on who could be the most immature in looks and action.
Then there were our seasoned citizens, with the sandals and black socks, with bellies that looked like one to many buffet hidden under an ill fitting tee shirt, with a stretched Go Diamondbacks across the front. Eyes glazed over from sitting in front of the slot machines and happy because their loss of hearing had made the casino’s bells that continually ring, bearable.
Brothers of the Bleary Eyes
I strutted around scornful and feeling sorry for these less then attractive people until confronted by a mirror, a very big mirror. I was one of them. From that point on people smiled at me, an acknowledgment, we all belong to the same fraternity. We were Brothers and Sisters, and no matter how hard I tried pulling in my stomach, there was no going back and nothing for me leave in Vegas.
by Bob Martin | Sep 5, 2007 | Creativity, Live Performance
Barton Silvermen/The New York Times
This was a Show. There were these wonderful sounds coming from Andy Roddick. Heavy breathing, footsteps and tennis balls traveling through the air at 140 miles per hour. But like James Bond, the original 007, Roger Federer in his tuxedo tennis outfit was unfazed. He is a work of art.
by Sandy | Jul 13, 2007 | Blogroll, Culture, Live Performance
The National Black Arts Festival (NBAF), a non-profit cultural institution based in Atlanta, Georgia, celebrates the contributions of people of African descent and their impact on world cultures. Scheduled to appear are artists such as singer Roberta Flack, pictured above, actor and activist Danny Glover, and playwright Lori Parks.
The NBAF celebrates the arts in three ways – education, year-round programs, and their annual festival in July.
http://www.nbaf.org/index.cfm
by Sandy | May 21, 2007 | Blogroll, Live Performance
While channel surfing, I heard music that I recognized. Even though my familiarity with classical music is a bit more extensive than what I picked up from Walt Disney’s “Fantasia” and the William Tell Overture (Who was that Masked Man?), I was still surprised that I knew immediately what it was and stopped to listen and then watch. Drama! Everyone was just so impassioned as they attacked this compelling piece. It was the BBC Orchestra with Giandrea Noseda conducting the Dmitry Shostakovich 5th Symphony in D minor. The composer wrote it in 1937 after being denounced and persecuted by Stalin and the communist party for being too frivolous and liberal.
Both the conductor and his orchestra performed as if they were in the midst of all the tension – watching friends and family “disappear”, not knowing when it would be their turn to be dragged off to the Peter and Paul Fortress.
Seeming to relive all the drama, Noseda, dressed all in black, led with such intensity, no fluffy white handkerchief for him like Leonard Bernstein, or Louis Armstrong, he refused to wipe the moisture from his brow. Between movements, he would slowly bend from the waist, 45 degrees, and let the sweat drip from his nose onto the podium. He would take a few breaths, (you could see him refocusing) raise himself upright, pick up his baton and rally his comrades – 1st violinist and the rest of the orchestra – on to the final movement building to a triumphant finale. Wow.
(btw – masked man reference -“The Lone Ranger” -popular 50’s TV show, always had the best background music as he and Tonto chased the bad guys.)
by Bob Martin | May 1, 2007 | Art, Dance, Education, Events, Live Performance
Arizona Magic of Music & Dance Camp is a unique program for children and young adults with physical and mental disabilities – that – in just one week prepares them to stage a wonderful theater production written and choreographed especially for them. This program is brought to Arizona by ZETA21 International Leadership Foundation, in partnership with Challenge Aspen.
A Unique Program for Children and Young Adults with Physical and Mental Disabilities
In recent years, Challenge Aspen Music & Dance has performed Peter Pan, Snow White and the Seventeen Dwarfs and Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Learn more about this event at AZMagic
by Bob Martin | Mar 2, 2007 | Dance, Live Performance
This is a great idea. New York is being transformed in many different ways. This spot open last month and looks to be a part of a movement to re-define Harlem
