"Vivaldi Tribute" (Patrick Rondat) Tina S cover

Here's one by Tina S, a young rock guitarist from France.

This video has over 13 million views and she's got over 890,000 subscribers.

#classicalmusic #rockmusic #rockguitar

Maira Kalman and the 'Pursuit of Happiness'

Woman with Face Net, 2000

I found Maira Kalman years ago when my stepmom sent me Maira's 'Pursuit of Happiness' blog, http://kalman.blogs.nytimes.com/.  My stepmom and I have backgrounds in dance theater and I got my bachelor's degree in theater and dance at the University of Hawaii in Manoa.  I also studied art and acrylic painting, music, and performed with the Governor of Guam's Youth Band, the University of Guam symphony, and 2 Hawaiian dance schools in Virginia - Halau Hula Mahina O Wakinekona DC and Halau Ho'omau I Ka Wai Ola O Hawai'i.

So naturally my interest was piqued when I discovered her collaboration with Mark Morris, one of my all-time favorite modern dance choreographers, and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, another fave.

You can sign up to follow and purchase Maira's artwork on her page, Maira Kalman, which provides visitors with up-to-date Kalman exhibition listings, over a dozen of her works, and exclusive articles.

In her biography Maira says, “People just live their lives, and that amazes me,” she explains. “They get up, put on their shoes, eat a bowl of cereal, endure wars. They go out and make sense of it everyday, and that's what I like to show.”

She transforms her impressions into pared-down vignettes full of lyricism and wit.

Take a look and let me know what you think...

Enjoy!

Full of Words - Axis Dance Company

The AXIS Dance Company is based on Oakland, California.  And when I lived in southern California, I desperately wanted to attend their classes and workshops.  Who knows, maybe even audition for the company... My one biggest regret seeing what I was missing.

These are excerpts from "Full of Words", choreographed by Marc Brew in 2011.

Choreography:  Marc Brew in collaboration with the dancers

Choreographic/Rehearsal Asst: Andrea Basile

Dancers:  Rodney Bell, Sonsherée Giles, Sebastian Grubb, Juliana Monin, Alice Sheppard

Original Score: Composed by Dan Wool, cello by Jessie Ivry and Theresa Wong

Costume Design: Sonsherée Giles

Lighting Design: Heather Basarab

Full of Words has been created as a series of physical conversations, encounters and interventions that reflect what it is to be human. 

To learn more about AXIS and how they change the face of Dance and Disability visit www.axisdance.org

AXIS on So You Think You Can Dance 2011

On June 30th, 2011 AXIS dance Company was featured on Fox Tv's "So You Think You Can Dance?" AXIS dancers Sonsheree Giles and Rodney Bell performed an excerpt from "to color me different" choreographed by Alex Ketley.

The Steep Canyon Rangers Album - Lovin' Pretty Women

Sleepy Man: By My Side

Yep, I said I'd do it, and here it is...The Sleepy Man Banjo Boys...

My favorite is Track #2, Man in Your Corner.  The older boys wrote this song dedicated to their youngest brother who has epilepsy... Enjoy!

AXIS Dance Company

Divide from Guest Artistic Director Marc Brew, draws inspiration from visual artist Carl Andre's designs working in minimalism: Spill, 8 cuts and Copper Ribbon. Divide is an abstract work exploring the divide in human interaction in movement, space and time. This is Brew's first full piece with the company in his role of Guest Artistic Director. The UK-based choreographer first worked with AXIS in 2011 when the company enjoyed a huge success with his Full of Words, which went on to become a favorite on the company's tours.

Axis Dance Company is devoted to changing to the face of Dance and Disability- challenging the idea of what, and who, dancers are.

Concept & Direction: Marc Brew

Choreography: Marc Brew in collaboration with the dancers

Rehearsal Assistant: Juliana Monin

Dancers: Joel Brown, Sonsherée Giles, Sebastian Grubb, Juliana Monin

Original Score: Caroline Penwarden

Costume Design: Keriann Egeland

Lighting Design: Allen Willner

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers - Live in Duluth, Minnesota

The quality of this live video isn't the greatest, but I've been inspired by Steve Martin's banjo playing and his love of bluegrass music.  I'm planning to add a few of his award winning albums to my collection.

Clawhammer Medley - Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers

Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers sing "Pretty Little One" on the Prairie Home Companion December 10, 2016 broadcast.

Steve Martin and bluegrass...what's not to love?