A Fork in the Road

The new quarter is quickly approaching and I really need to get all my ducks in a row. I am gradually loading up my plate and I am wonder if I am taking on too much. I have a light course load in the fall which will allow me to teach a new class (DRA 141: Fundamentals of Movement) and work on both my thesis and my Dada Cabaret. And speaking of which, I have decided to have a dedicated Dada blog to allow everyone to keep up and chronicle this exciting project. Feel free to check it out and once we have our first meeting at the end of September there will be additional bloggers sharing their experiences and views of the journey.

So, now how can I keep moving on my passion for Arts Education and finding a job.

Oooh, one step at a time.

Deep breath.

Group Dynamics

Over the past few days I have been in quite a few gatherings of people. It's pretty amazing how differently groups interact and how I as an individual react in a group.

On Friday I went with Christine to this social group in Sac. It was called the Red Balloon Club and Christine saw it on - you guessed it - craigslist. Okay, maybe you shouldn't have guessed it, but if you knew her, you may know about her obsession of reading the craigslist personals. Anyway, within the personals was an ad for this group. Apparently, there was quite a criteria list to join - including being physically active and liberal, but it's not necessarily a singles thing, but it allows like minded people to get together and have some conversation.

This is something that I would NEVER do by myself. And I mean never. In fact when we arrived at the Cafe Bernardo at Capitol and 28th, I saw the red balloons in the patio and looked at Christine as if to say, "um, we are not really going to join those people, right?" But alas, she is much more adventurous than I and she just approached the 5 people at the table and said, "hey, I'm Christine." I don't think the organizer guy, Dar was happy that she brought a friend, because apparently that ruins the group dynamic. But for the most part we did converse as a group. At the start I had a dialogue with the weird chick next to me about musical theatre and Christine spoke to Dar about how he puts these gatherings together. There seemed to be an interesting conversation about Italy going on across the table, but I didn't want to rude and end my conversation quite yet. Since Christine and I were new our conversation became who we were and where we were from. Dar was not happy with that, so he jumped in and steered us to talk about religion and philosophy. In fact, I noticed that he was unhappy and anxious most of the evening. Around 10, Christine and I finally headed back to her place. One of the cooler girls whispered if we would return as we were saying our goodbyes. It's certainly out of the ordinary, but I certainly would have done it.

The night before, on Thursday, I got together with a Six Degree group of friends at a beautiful bar/restaurant in Sac. I worked with Rachel last year at the State Fair and she invited Gina, a teacher she works with in Davis. I just happened to meet Gina at Christine's house. Then Rachel invited her friends Graham and Mario. And since Tim knows these guys, too he joined us this time around. And Christine called me as I was in the causeway, so I invited her too. The alcohol was flowing that night and I spent more money than usual out. Since I subbed for Kerry Mehling's classes and she paid me what she makes rather than what I make, I got a big fat check for $600 that afternoon. So, buying the first round was not a big deal. We got loud and crazy and I saw Christine sitting there unamused. It just made me think about how groups operate. It may have been just the booze talking, but I certainly felt more comfortable around people I know and this group in particular I can let my hair down and be completely silly.

This also makes me think about my 2 hip hop classes and how different they are. The first is much more reserved in their movements, but more outspoken with there opinions and suggestions. The second is just the opposite. In fact, I have a few really great dancers in that second class and they push the others to be better. It certainly makes my job a lot easier.

And now that I switched from being an Introvert to being Extrovert in one of the Meyers-Briggs type tests on Facebook, I have to get out of my little apartment and out into the group.

A Little Rockstar

So last night I partied like a rock star in Sacramento. I met Rachel, Graham, Tim, Mario, Gina and Christine at Mason's and we had overpriced cocktails and food and horrendous service. We then moved to the bar at The Residence in across the street since they were having drink specials. We then got hungry and headed to Chicago Fire, but alas they were closed, so we went to Level Up the little bar upstairs of Thai Basil. After drinking a Lemon Drop martini, 2 Shock Tops, a Cosmo and a Kamikaze, I sang happy birthday with this group of gay guys at the next table and then I asked our server to get us pieces of cake from that same table. I do remember dancing on a chair and having this drunk guy say he would kiss my ass right before he was apprehended my the police. The final straw was ordering a Long Island Iced Tea for the table that we passed around as we finished our pieces of delicious ice cream cake. I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard and so long.

I would like to say that I celebrated the end of a difficult week and the fact that I got over my insecurities in teaching, Yesterday in my hip hop classes, I gave the midterm and started my students on their poetry assignments. Everyone was done with the exam in 30 minutes, but my first class when asked said the test was easy (Nancy said "Scarily easy"), but my second class came back a chorus of "hard"s. Brandon, who was the last to finish said something about it being unreasonably hard. I was floored.

I did love that in both classes there was conversation flowing about the who, what and where of hip hop before I gave the exam. It was like a series of scholars. I am sure it was just the cramming talking, but hopefully they will remember some of this stuff later on.

So, I open it to you. Here's the exam minus the matching dance terminology section. Have fun!

(4 Points each)

1. Which of the following is NOT a basic hip hop technique? ______
A. sharp isolations
B. getting low in the body
C. strong movement
D. tight rib cage

2. Which of the following is NOT true of “popping?” _______
A. It is a sharp, quick, staccato movement.
B. It is usually an isolation.
C. It is a slow and mellow movement.
D. Muscles tense to abruptly stop the movement.


3. Locking is by nature an improvisational dance, but also consists of a set of signature moves. (T/F) ______

4. Hip Hop dance should never show off your personal style. (T/F) ______

5. What is the difference between and a demi and grand plié?


History and Origins (4 pts. each) 60 POINTS TOTAL:

1. Hip-hop culture grew out of gang-dominated street culture. (T/F) ________

2. The Emcee/M.C. can be traced back to the African griots. (T/F) ________

3. Afrika Bambaata founded the Fabulous Five. (T/F) ________

4. Don Campbell created Def Jam Records. (T/F) ________

5. Isaac Hayes is the most “sampled” artist in hip hop music. (T/F) ________

6. Who created needle dropping? _______
A. Grand Wizard Theodore
B. Sha-Rock
C. Reggie Reg
D. DJ Baron


7. Which of the following is NOT a hip-hop forefather? ______
A. Jim Jazzy
B. DJ Kool Herc
C. Afrika Bambaata
D. Grandmaster Flash

8. The Hip Hop Theatre Festival was created by? ______
A. Queen Latifah
B. Russell Simmons
C. Danny Hoch
D. Lauryn Hill


9. DJ Kool Herc was responsible for all of these things EXCEPT _____
A. the “Merry Go Round”
B. coining the term “b-boy”
C. founding the Rock Steady Crew
D. introducing “the break” in the music


10. James Brown influenced hip hop with all EXCEPT: ______
A. his funky dance style
B. his percussive lyrics
C. his graffiti artistry
D. his rhythmic music

11. Which DJ created scratching? _______
A. Pistol
B. Grandmaster Flash
C. Fabel
D. Whipper Whip


(8 points each)

12. What are four similarities between capoeira and hip hop?


13. What are the four components of Hip Hop culture?

The Fear of Grades

So, I do chalk up this week to mediocre choreography and uninspiring music. I played the song from Qs class to this weeks combo and my first class just stood there and stared at me. Then Brandy said "do you have Get It, Shawty?" "Um, the Lloyd song? Sure." I put it on and commented that it would be too fast. But I was wrong. It worked well and they had more energy. This combo is a little tricky and has one spot that is just a little awkward. I tried to fix it and some of the stronger dancers have made it work, but most have not. In fact, I sometimes stumble there. But I decided to leave it alone and have them work through it.

In my second class, I was ready to put on Outkast's Rosa Parks since we used it yesterday, but first asked the class if it worked for them. There was an immediate shaking of heads "no." So, I threw on Get It Shawty and they liked it, too. I told them we have Brandy and Chanice in my first class to thank, however they still danced without any enthusiasm. So, I did the Christine Chen trick to having them pair up and dance for each other in 2 groups and give feedback, but I think that trick has lost it's value. It does get the class talking to each other, but the dancing was just blah. So FINALLY I gave them a little pep talk and said they MUST dance with some energy and if they want me to wave grades in front of their faces, I will FAIL anyone that doesn't look like their having fun. I put the music on and they started to GROOVE! I even said, I don't care if you are having a good time or not, but you'd better look like it. Andrew yelled "We ARE having a good time." So I yelled back, "then show me!!"

And they did.

The dance works, they were just being lazy. So, the pushing starts now.

And this petite white girl is TOTALLY ready! Tow, Tow, Bitches.

Wha, what?!

You are going to be surprised to hear this, but I did indeed get my butt off the couch last night, got dressed and went to watch Qs Intermediate Hp Hop class. Heck, I was even surprised. But I kicked myself the last time I had an opportunity to check in with him and I am at my stuck week. If you remember I went through the same woes at this time last session. I just have to get through it.

Watching his class last night, I realized that I am totally on track. He has class once a week and there were only 6 students in the class. Soooooo much more reasonable than my 2 classes FOUR days a week for 1:40 instead of an hour. His style is very clean and he really kept pushing them over and over again to the same piece of music. The choreography was created for Timbaland's Boardmeeting, and that's what got me thinking about using a specific piece of music more. I realized that I haven't done this with hip hop even though I always do it with theatre. Strange, huh?

After Qs class, I said hello to Baote who was in my first class last session and spoke with Q for about 20 minutes. He is trying to schedule a workshop this weekend and I offered to help him find space at UCD. It seems possible once I spoke to Robert in the department office this morning - and even more so since I am not heading up to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival so I could be there to open the doors. But when I got home from Wyatt's this evening there was no message on my phone. Oh well. It would have been nice to just dance and watch the four instructors teaching skills.

Rehearsal with Wyatt was good this evening. We worked out new material, but it was just the two of us. He wimped out and did not talk to Stephanie. So, about 5 minutes into our practice, she walks through the door - right after I asked what the scoop was. So, he put his guitar down and went inside from the backyard and apparently she was busy. She went into her room pretty quickly and stayed there. I felt hugely uncomfortable, but we worked out 3 more songs, I had 2 Buds and tried the Cinnabread Pizza from Woodstock's. Apparently we have a drummer and are on the search for a bassist.

After my lovely bike ride home, I FINALLY graded the history presentations for both classes and posted them online. I was very lenient and gave everyone in the 90-100 range. And of course, that leaves me back on the couch watching gymnastics.

What a day!

Need a Little Umpf!

I should probably have put two or three exclamation points at the end of the title. There's no other way to say it, but I need a little inspiration. I showed RIZE, the David LaChappelle film in both my classes today and talked about passion in the second class. It may be that my playlist in class is lackluster or perhaps the choreography is a little boring. But when I split the class in half and have both groups dance for the other, I ask the group watching to give the dancing half "a little love." The claps and woo-hoos are something to be desired.

The problem is I am not sure when I will have time to either find more music or pep up the choreography. Tomorrow and Wednesday are hell days. I sub Kerry's jazz class at 10, have my first hip hop at 12, sub Kerry's Intro to Contemporary Dance at 2 and then finish up with my second hip hop at 4. Kooky, huh? Luckily, I am showing videos in both of Kerry's classes for the entire class and this just happens to be video week for me, too. I usually dance for half and show the video for the other half. So, it's not so bad. Except I heard from Wyatt today and we are most likely rehearsing tomorrow and Wednesday, as well.

Today, I just subbed for Kerry's 2:10PM class and we watched documentaries on Isadora Duncan and Denishawn (Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn). I am sad to say that I was as intrigued to watch as I hope the students were. I truly lack a good background of dance history. As I cued up the second video, I surprised myself, however in leading a brief discussion on the differences between ballet and early modern. I really thought to myself "listen to how smart and well-spoken I am," as I saw some of the students nodding their heads to some of my responses. I then tried to get them out of the seats at the UClub and on to the floor to at least stretch out while we watched the second film. They just looked at me with blank looks. So I said "or not" and hit play on the VHS player.

I will try again tomorrow and will brainstorm about how to get the excitement back. Hmmm. It's 8:49...Q's class just started. Maybe I'll get off the couch and get dressed and ask him for some advice at the end of his class.

Or not.

Arm Chair Olympian

I have spent much time in the last week lying on the couch watching the Olympics. The games are exciting and it gives me something worthwhile to do in the evenings. Needless to say, I have not been cleaning. I have not been able to keep dishes in the sink because if I do I have ants.

And I'm not talking about a few. I'm talking swarm. Once I do the dishes they all but disappear. I will run by the Ace tomorrow and get some Tero gel, but it's forcing me at least clean the kitchen. In fact, due to my diminished underwear supply I also did laundry today. Wyatt, Barbara, Stephanie and her sister hosted a party today and their place is right down the street from The Wash Mill. It's a little more expensive than the place with that creepy Jon guy, but it allowed me to grab food and drink between wash and dry cycles.

Towards the end of my time at the party, we finally brought up the band. Wyatt's friend, Michael (?) said that his band was playing at Sophia's in October. And Wyatt said nothing. I thought it may be because he wanted to be respectful of Stephanie's feelings, however 10 minutes later, Wyatt said the we were working on a band together and mentioned Stephanie, as well. She was inside, but I kept quiet. When she came out Michael asked what each of us did in the band and she said she plays violin in another band and just sings in this one. Hmmm. I wonder if Wyatt will talk to her. He's just getting over strep throat, so he may speak to her or he may not.

And lastly, yesterday I voyaged solo into the city. I took Amtrak to Richmond again and transferred to BART and got off at Powell, just as I did with Tony a few weeks ago. This time I met up with Tony's family for dim sum at Hang Ah on Sacramento and had a lovely time. His mom and sister, plus his sisters skinny boyfriend were in from LA. I left them around 1:45PM and walked to Fort Mason to meet up with Suehyla and walk the Golden Gate Bridge. As I told her on our bus ride back to Fisherman's Wharf, I was going to be totally nonchalant about seeing her, but I did get all giddy. It was so nice to hang out with her. At first we could not find the entrance to the bridge, but after a long walk past Crissy Fields, we wound our way up the hill and onto the bridge. It was super cold and misty, so I added a sweater layer at the half-way point before we walked back on the bridge.

After a super rich cupcake in Ghiradelli Square, we hiked up Polk and crossed over to Larkin to meet Alexis at Olive for happy hour. I started to get a little worried about my journey home since I really didn't research so much, mostly because I didn't know where I'd wind up. But we left the bar after a couple of drinks, some calamari and artichoke pizza. Suehyla, Alexis and her friend Michael walked me to the Civic Center BART and in my tipsiness I got on the train going the WRONG way. I tried not to get nervous, but waited the 7 minutes for the correct train at the next stop. I made the transfer at MacArthur and there was a Richmond train ready and waiting. We pulled into Richmond at 8:30, in plenty of time to make the 8:42 Amtrak back to Davis. In fact, the train was late, so I grooved again on the platform to the random music I have on my ipod and waited with those around me.

Another great summer day.