5.29.2009
he's cast a spell over me
for the next six weeks, we'll be making the weekly trek to marin for a progress check up and a new cast. after our first check up, todd dropped me off at work and brought alphie home where they were merrily greeted by several of our female neighbors, who were psyched to see our little commie (their description, not ours!). next week, i'm requesting a less controversial color like green. or brown. or white.
5.27.2009
berry good
brooke's latest post reminded me of the crazy-ass strawberries we bought from a farm seller peddling $10 flats of massive fruit over on page street a few weeks ago. i've never seen street corner fruit sellers in our neighborhood before, and while the berries weren't the weekend farmer's market/organic type that i prefer, they were still quite tasty.
5.26.2009
move to the rear
seen this weekend at ross in daly citymuch to my chagrin, there was no matching "bo s" on the opposite wall. and separately, here i've been trying to motivate my rear with positive thinking and buns of steel videos (ok, one of those is true), and i could have just purchased an active (yet potentially irregular) bottom at a steep discount.
5.25.2009
in the army now
this morning, i vocally expressed amazement about my army hairs. sadly, this sounded much more intriguing than what i meant to comment on: my hairy arms.
5.21.2009
super kitty
i haven't posted in awhile because my cat fell out of our 4th story window. the details are quite sketchy, as i don't speak meow, rwow, werr, or coo, but a totally sweet and amazing neighbor found him the next day (i was literally in tears the previous 24 hours, so this was a huge relief), huddled under her flower planter/bench, drenched in urine, feces, and blood. after tons of veterinary care and orthopedic surgery, he's starting to heal, both emotionally and physically. but with everything happening, i just haven't had the head or the heart to post anything.but in the meantime, here's the link to my review of tina leblanc's farewell performance at sf ballet.
5.04.2009
SFB, Program 8, 4/28/2009
San Francisco Ballet
Program 8
April 28, 2009, 8PM
I’m always a little sad at the end of the ballet season. As an audience member, seeing dancers attack new roles, revisit old ones, and expand their performance range feels fulfilling in some strange and usual way. And each season tends to be different, with various dancers rising to the occasion. These intricate developments can’t be predicted, but they’re sort of like the chili you make on a cold and rainy day: dependent on the ingredients you have at the time, heating time, and a little bit of luck. With this in mind, I watched San Francisco Ballet’s final program of the season (not including Tina LeBlanc’s farewell performance next Saturday evening) with a satisfying hunger in my belly.
Jorma Elo’s “Double Evil,” which premiered last season as part of the New Works Festival, shone brightly here as the evening’s closer. The work features odd quirks such at the women‘s derrieres pushed out behind their abnormally slanted tutus as they frequently stared ahead at the floor instead of up at their partners or the audience, but the slinky and peculiar movement using jagged arms, unexpected lifts, and what might be considered awkward yet incredibly inventive, almost nerdy choreography all came together in a whirlwind 27 minutes. The music flips back and forth between the quieter music of Phillip Glass and motivating percussion of Vladimir Martinov, and as it did, the eight dancers propelled themselves forward, using large bouts of momentum to continuously push ahead while still looking beautifully pretty. All of the dancers performed well, but especially Elana Altman and Pierre-François Vilanoba, who twinkled in the opening duet; in addition, she continues to amaze me with her various strengths and movement diversity. “Double Evil” may not have made a huge dent in the grand scheme of ballet, but Elo’s unique movement style and structure are both entertaining and imaginative nonetheless.
For more, go here.
Program 8
April 28, 2009, 8PM
I’m always a little sad at the end of the ballet season. As an audience member, seeing dancers attack new roles, revisit old ones, and expand their performance range feels fulfilling in some strange and usual way. And each season tends to be different, with various dancers rising to the occasion. These intricate developments can’t be predicted, but they’re sort of like the chili you make on a cold and rainy day: dependent on the ingredients you have at the time, heating time, and a little bit of luck. With this in mind, I watched San Francisco Ballet’s final program of the season (not including Tina LeBlanc’s farewell performance next Saturday evening) with a satisfying hunger in my belly.
Jorma Elo’s “Double Evil,” which premiered last season as part of the New Works Festival, shone brightly here as the evening’s closer. The work features odd quirks such at the women‘s derrieres pushed out behind their abnormally slanted tutus as they frequently stared ahead at the floor instead of up at their partners or the audience, but the slinky and peculiar movement using jagged arms, unexpected lifts, and what might be considered awkward yet incredibly inventive, almost nerdy choreography all came together in a whirlwind 27 minutes. The music flips back and forth between the quieter music of Phillip Glass and motivating percussion of Vladimir Martinov, and as it did, the eight dancers propelled themselves forward, using large bouts of momentum to continuously push ahead while still looking beautifully pretty. All of the dancers performed well, but especially Elana Altman and Pierre-François Vilanoba, who twinkled in the opening duet; in addition, she continues to amaze me with her various strengths and movement diversity. “Double Evil” may not have made a huge dent in the grand scheme of ballet, but Elo’s unique movement style and structure are both entertaining and imaginative nonetheless.
For more, go here.
Sarah Van Patten and Garen Scribner in Elo's Double Evil.
© Erik Tomasson
© Erik Tomasson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)