Check out this link from the Edmonton Journal:
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/opinion/story.html?id=75dfadd4-cd08-4023-b5f2-42c4b73a2280
Why can't the majority of us spend 15 minutes every 4 years to vote? Yet we spend that 4 years complaining about the state of the government?
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Back from the Flamenco Tour
Winter in Spain. Not so bad after all! It was great to have the company of the ladies who joined the Sevilla Flamenco Tour - 2 weeks of flamenco class, live guitar accompaniment plus lots of time to enjoy relaxing in Sevilla. Tapas, glasses of vino tinto, arab baths, seeing all of the sights...
It was a busy time! Marinella, Zoe, Florence, Terri & Janice were studying dance. Kevin was also there studying cajon.
Marinella and I shared a flat, which was really nice as we went to many classes together (me running behind, catching up to get to class on time :-) We also had a chance to hang out every now and then - she introduced me to Amador the percussionist for Antonio Canales (with whom she's worked before). Through him we got the inside scoop on the flamenco world of fame! We also frequented La Tertulia - visiting with friends, listening to a celtic jam session (of all things in Sevilla!)
The other ladies shared an apartment around the corner, which was right in the heart of Sevilla. I tried to pop over for visits every now and then and every time the door opened, wafts of yummy cooking smells would come pouring out. Terri- I tried to make your baked yam slices and they just didn't turn out the same!! The ladies went for class every day, to barrio Macarena. Judging from what they told me - it seemed like they adored their teacher Leonor (and nobody complained about their curly haired guitarist Juan either :-)
They learned lots of new pasos - por Bulerias, por Guajiras (I found the stories of fans flying across the room particularly amusing) and they even had enough energy to add extra hours to the original course time. I don't know how they did it! PLUS they busied themselves exploring Sevilla...
We had a bunch of excursions. Some organized and led by me as part of the tour, and the rest of them the group organized on their own. We visited the Flamenco Museum, the Alhambra in Granada (one of the wonders of the ancient world and still an absolute marvel today), the Alcazar - palace of Sevilla, Giralda (world's largest Gothic cathedral), Triana (tradidional gypsy/flamenco neighbourhood of Sevilla), we had walking tours, a bus tour, a couple of the girls said the arab baths were the top highlight (must've been after a day of hard-core dancing :-), the ancient Roman site of Italica...and more!
Terri and Janice also added a few days onto their trip and I've been admiring Terri's beautiful photos of the area around Ronda, a famous archaeological cave site, the city of Cordoba, Tarifa - they really got around everywhere!
As for me, my time was spent in the usual way. Continuing to live my "other" life in Sevilla, hanging out with my friends, doing daily activities like shopping at the fruit and vegetable market. I performed at Arrayan & also rehearsed with another guitarist, with whom I am preparing some repertoire...and of course I continued my training (the most important reason for being all that way across the Atlantic), studying with Isabel Bayon, Manuel Betanzos, Carmen Ledesma and one very interesting class with La Farruca herself!
It was a particular whirlwind of a time - although I tried to live as I normally do, it was a bit busier with the constant changing of flats, friends visiting and new arrivals for the tour. But also a lot of fun! Dynamic, vibrant, intensely living and enjoying life, letting flamenco absorb into your very being. That is what the word Sevilla REALLY means!
Oh, the shows!! We saw plenty of them, larger venues, smaller tablaos, one interview with Estrella Morente who is a true star...from Pastora Galvan dancing to Rafaela Carrasco, it couldn't get any better!
Of course, we are all happy to be back breathing clean air (not smoke) and walking where parks are truly wilderness, not manicured urban retreats...and thank goodness there is flamenco here too! There is a line-up of flamenco shows almost every week in April...
Sevilla Flamenco Tour participants - please add comments to this blog and let others know about your favourite experiences during your time there!!
It was a busy time! Marinella, Zoe, Florence, Terri & Janice were studying dance. Kevin was also there studying cajon.
Marinella and I shared a flat, which was really nice as we went to many classes together (me running behind, catching up to get to class on time :-) We also had a chance to hang out every now and then - she introduced me to Amador the percussionist for Antonio Canales (with whom she's worked before). Through him we got the inside scoop on the flamenco world of fame! We also frequented La Tertulia - visiting with friends, listening to a celtic jam session (of all things in Sevilla!)
The other ladies shared an apartment around the corner, which was right in the heart of Sevilla. I tried to pop over for visits every now and then and every time the door opened, wafts of yummy cooking smells would come pouring out. Terri- I tried to make your baked yam slices and they just didn't turn out the same!! The ladies went for class every day, to barrio Macarena. Judging from what they told me - it seemed like they adored their teacher Leonor (and nobody complained about their curly haired guitarist Juan either :-)
They learned lots of new pasos - por Bulerias, por Guajiras (I found the stories of fans flying across the room particularly amusing) and they even had enough energy to add extra hours to the original course time. I don't know how they did it! PLUS they busied themselves exploring Sevilla...
We had a bunch of excursions. Some organized and led by me as part of the tour, and the rest of them the group organized on their own. We visited the Flamenco Museum, the Alhambra in Granada (one of the wonders of the ancient world and still an absolute marvel today), the Alcazar - palace of Sevilla, Giralda (world's largest Gothic cathedral), Triana (tradidional gypsy/flamenco neighbourhood of Sevilla), we had walking tours, a bus tour, a couple of the girls said the arab baths were the top highlight (must've been after a day of hard-core dancing :-), the ancient Roman site of Italica...and more!
Terri and Janice also added a few days onto their trip and I've been admiring Terri's beautiful photos of the area around Ronda, a famous archaeological cave site, the city of Cordoba, Tarifa - they really got around everywhere!
As for me, my time was spent in the usual way. Continuing to live my "other" life in Sevilla, hanging out with my friends, doing daily activities like shopping at the fruit and vegetable market. I performed at Arrayan & also rehearsed with another guitarist, with whom I am preparing some repertoire...and of course I continued my training (the most important reason for being all that way across the Atlantic), studying with Isabel Bayon, Manuel Betanzos, Carmen Ledesma and one very interesting class with La Farruca herself!
It was a particular whirlwind of a time - although I tried to live as I normally do, it was a bit busier with the constant changing of flats, friends visiting and new arrivals for the tour. But also a lot of fun! Dynamic, vibrant, intensely living and enjoying life, letting flamenco absorb into your very being. That is what the word Sevilla REALLY means!
Oh, the shows!! We saw plenty of them, larger venues, smaller tablaos, one interview with Estrella Morente who is a true star...from Pastora Galvan dancing to Rafaela Carrasco, it couldn't get any better!
Of course, we are all happy to be back breathing clean air (not smoke) and walking where parks are truly wilderness, not manicured urban retreats...and thank goodness there is flamenco here too! There is a line-up of flamenco shows almost every week in April...
Sevilla Flamenco Tour participants - please add comments to this blog and let others know about your favourite experiences during your time there!!
Monday, February 25, 2008
A Greener Election?
I'm back from Spain, again! Settling into life here, again! Enjoying the snow, again! :-) Just wrapped up a piece for Dance Explosions which was a wonderful opportunity to creatively explore working with contemporary movement, lighting design as well as see to the works of other choreographers. A very diverse and inspirational run!
My piece was titled "Shadows & Luminosity" - inspired by the moon (especially last week's eclipse). It was an exploration of internal expression, emotional response, the subconcious, femininity, contrasts - aspects that the moon represents in legends, astrology and many cultures. The choreography developed in shadows and shafts of light that both highlighted and obscured the body....as for the rest you'd have to see it!!
Now I am running around, dropping off flyers for the Alberta Greens. You would never believe how many thousands live in a single neighbourhood!! Finding out where the mailboxes are hiding is also an interesting challenge :-) The leader, George Read, is running in Calgary NW. As well I am supporting the campaign of Randy Weeks, who is the candidate for Calgary Bow. If you are thinking about voting green, find out more on:
www.albertagreens.ca
also, more about where to vote etc. on
www.elections.ab.ca
The Greens have a full platform that covers all relevant issues. They are environmentally sustainable, fiscally responsible AND socially progressive. Balanced and forward-thinking, I am so happy to find a party with such integrity that values grassroots involvement.
Whatever your party leanings are - don't vote blindly!! Do you know who your candidate is and what they stand for??
I'm going to be attending a candidate debate tomorrow & look forward to hearing the views from everyone (plus I have a few questions up my sleeve :-)
The provicial vote is on Monday, March 3rd....see you at the polls
My piece was titled "Shadows & Luminosity" - inspired by the moon (especially last week's eclipse). It was an exploration of internal expression, emotional response, the subconcious, femininity, contrasts - aspects that the moon represents in legends, astrology and many cultures. The choreography developed in shadows and shafts of light that both highlighted and obscured the body....as for the rest you'd have to see it!!
Now I am running around, dropping off flyers for the Alberta Greens. You would never believe how many thousands live in a single neighbourhood!! Finding out where the mailboxes are hiding is also an interesting challenge :-) The leader, George Read, is running in Calgary NW. As well I am supporting the campaign of Randy Weeks, who is the candidate for Calgary Bow. If you are thinking about voting green, find out more on:
www.albertagreens.ca
also, more about where to vote etc. on
www.elections.ab.ca
The Greens have a full platform that covers all relevant issues. They are environmentally sustainable, fiscally responsible AND socially progressive. Balanced and forward-thinking, I am so happy to find a party with such integrity that values grassroots involvement.
Whatever your party leanings are - don't vote blindly!! Do you know who your candidate is and what they stand for??
I'm going to be attending a candidate debate tomorrow & look forward to hearing the views from everyone (plus I have a few questions up my sleeve :-)
The provicial vote is on Monday, March 3rd....see you at the polls
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