There is really no excuse – it does seem to take longer to get started up again when you’ve been away from the canvas and paint for a while. I’ve been spending most of my time on my revenue sites and recovering from the holidays-which was great and tons of fun.
This year, Blue Note Records begins it’s celebration of it’s 70 anniversary and reading about this got me back to thinking about jazz musicians.
During the holidays “Slumdog Millionaire” was given national distribution, which means that I finally got to see it. I, like many others, endured the lines to get into the multiplex but most people were there to see the new Clint Eastwood film, Gran Torino or the many other Hollywood Christmas releases. Slumdog is a special film and I hope more people get to see it. It certainly has all the 2009 award buzz. There is lots to like about this movie, from the colorful scenes, the use of subtitles and the way the story is told. It is a world, unfamiliar to me, trapped inside a love story that is both entertaining and beautiful. It explores some of the history of this part of the world which has dominated the news recently. Made me curious and thankful for my own blessing. This is a big screen movie so don’t wait until DVD.
In the last two weeks I’ve seen two productions of the Jungle Book performed by the Arizona Magic of Music & Dance. Both productions equally fabulous. What had these performances work is the four days at the Arizona Magic of Music and Dance Camp. Quoting Sue Grzybowski, Camp Volunteer Coordinator, in her thank you note to her volunteers.
As the curtain is about to come down on yet another AZ Magic of Music & Dance camp I can’t think but reminisce about the days that have past, and what a difference you have made. The laughter shrills squeaks, songs, smiles etc.; are great memories. Watching those in wheel chairs do gymnastics, dance, and act in ways which nobody could ever imagine.
It is the last part of her quote that was visible to me in the audience of both productions. The audience filled with family and friends began watching the performances as dutiful supportive observers and rapidly moved to Awe and Amazement, then on to laughter, cheers and claps and finally to tears. There was one man who could be heard emotionally saying “That’s my kid, that’s my kid”.
In seeing these performance I’ve been a witness to true transformation, both on the stage and in the audience. To learn more, to volunteer for next year’s event, to enroll your child or to donate please visit AZ Magic of Music & Dance
Title: African-Festival O8
Location: Arisona State University West Campus
Description: Celebrate African Music, Dance and Food.
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2008-10-18
End Time: 18:00
Last Summer I attended a performance of “Snow White” produced by Arizona Magic of Music and Dance a program for children and young adults with physical or mental disabilities — that prepares them in one week to stage a wonderful theater production that is written and choreographed just for them. This was an inspirational event. This weekend in Scottsdale they have partnered with Barnes & Noble to help raise funds for this year’s production of the Jungle Book.
SHOW UP ~ SHOP ~ SUPPORT
Saturday March 29th at 11:00am
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
(10500 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale Tel. 480-391-0048)
“Magical Possibilities for Youths with Disabilities”
SHOW UP: Free performance by the Arizona Magic of Music & Dance – please bring the entire family
SHOP: Barnes & Noble will give each person in attendance a charitable voucher.
This voucher will be valid at any valley location for the following 30 days.
SUPPORT: The proceeds from your purchasing from Barnes and Noble fund the barrier
free week-long camps
June 2 – 6 in Fountain Hills & June 9 – 13 in Phoenix
for children and young adults with physical and mental disabilities. In just one
week, they will stage The Jungle Book with the help of teen and adult volunteers.
We need your help. Please visit www.AZMagic.org to enroll a special needs
“actor” or to volunteer – but most of all, we need your donations. 100% of all
proceeds support these two fabulous productions.
Call 602-653-8702 or 602-326-4619 for more information.
Tax Deductible 501 – C-(3)
Just shop at Barnes & Noble for any books or gifts you
want in the next 30 days. Present the voucher at checkout
and Barnes & Noble will donate a portion of the
profits to the Arizona Magic of Music & Dance!
Well this is a different year. More then any other time in my life I am so aware of how much I need to stay focus and pay attention to everything. It’s the everything that is the problem and presents an impossibility. There is so much of everything. Solution, make your everything smaller and hope no one notices. 
October 20th, The Kawambe-Omowale African Drum & Dance Theatre, a Phoenix, Arizona-based performing arts company, celebrating more than 20 years in the Valley of the Sun!
Can some explain why we are bombarded with information that neither educates or propels our vision. We are served up the same old same oh stuff. We pay for things that are free and feel good about it. We love people who apologize, we adore them when they go to jail and we hate them when they get out. We feel we have made a contribution when a nobody (meaning nobody we know) wins A.I., cause we phoned in our vote (also not free).
Currently there are about 90 people running for President of the United States and all are asked beauty contest questions, and you can see their eyes search for the answer that Paris Hilton would give, cause that would certainly be the right answer.
If we need to be entertained, go to a play, see a good movie, go to a museum or a little league game but don’t watch the news, cause it’s not new or free.
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