Tag: Election ’08

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Ailey Ascending

 

Am getting very excited about Alvin Ailey’s upcoming season at City Center (which is good because I’ve been a bit depressed lately about ABT‘s departure…)

As part of Ailey’s 50th Anniversary celebration, there’s a new book out of photos of the dancers by one of my favorite dance photographers, Andrew Eccles. Eccles just seems to capture the body, both at rest and in motion, like no one else. His images are so glorifying, somehow simultaneously heroizing and humanizing.

A selection of those photos will be shown at the June Kelly Gallery beginning this Friday, November 14th, through December 9th.

 

I just happened to be at the Ailey studios tonight for a performance by SenseDance (which was very good — will review shortly) in the basement theater, and saw this sweet photo upstairs in the lobby of artistic director Judith Jamison with Michelle Obama and the two first daughters. My friend, Dea, who accompanied me and who takes lessons at the studio, said the day after the election the place was loaded with festive flowers and balloons and posters congratulating America.

 

Next to it was the updated poster of Ailey dancer headshots. Several new faces, including Yannick LeBrun (making the move from the studio company to “Ailey proper” — yes!) third row from bottom, all the way to the left.

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Because This is a "Teachable Moment" in History…

…I am revealing that, at least according to the top test in the first link listed in this OpEd piece, I supposedly have a slight unconscious preference for white people but a strong unconscious preference for Barack Obama.

Of course I knew the latter assessment, but am angry at myself for the former, especially given that I practiced law as an appellate public defender in NYC representing almost all non-whites for many years. But according to the test-makers, most people, of all races and ethnicities, come up with that result. Yet, seeing as how Obama won by a pretty strong margin, there have to be a good many people who receive the same evaluation I did. Hmmmm. It looks like people were able to look past race for the election, although race is still an issue in the way people process information and view their surroundings.

Anyway, these tests are very interesting and they’re worth taking (you have to be aware of your unconscious thoughts in order to overcome them, no?). They’re made by Harvard and University of Chicago. The Chicago one is a bit creepy and speaks to the Sean Bell and Amadou Diallo cases. I think I was fair, but quite slow in my reactions… Anyway, take the tests!

By the way, yes, I know this is a dance / arts blog, which you’d never know by looking at the “recent entries” side bar. I will return to writing about dance this week (and get up to date on some posts — there are several things I’ve seen that I haven’t written about yet) 🙂 This is just such a momentous time and it’s impossible not to reflect on it. (Thanks to Eva for the link to the OpEd piece.)

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Harlem on Election Night

Wow, look at the streets of Harlem two nights ago. The Lower East Side was nothing like this, though there was a great deal of honking and small groups of people pumping their fists in the air and cheering as they passed you on the street. And people who didn’t know each other hugged in the subways. Which of course is not exactly how New York is often perceived. But looks like Harlem had a regular street party!

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More cheering

More cheering

Originally uploaded by swan lake samba girl via mobile.


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In the subway stations, and on the train everyone is wearing these little bashful smiles like they can’t hold it in. I’ve never seen the city quite like this.

Although, sad thing, but as I got home to my neighborhood and saw several people asleep on the street, bundled up in building alcoves, it was a sobering reminder of how much he has to deal with now. Then, a homeless man asked me for money — seemed not to have even seen the election, or known there was one.