August 30 & 31 2013

Screen Capture 24 Preludes Dancer: Camille McPherson

Daily Stuff: It's hot. Yesterday, taught company class again. Gave a lot of small corrections. It is nice when you have a responsive class.

Did the zoo in the heat. For those who don't know me, I don't really change the way I dress according to the season. Comes from growing up in Southern California. So I was in my navy blue sweats in the high heat of midday. Oh well, at least it made me feel as if I was working out. The bears were all in their swimming pools again. The reptiles all seemed friskier. I guess they like the heat, being coldblooded and all.

Will be catching up on house upkeep today. The neglected garden and such.

August 29 2013

Screen Capture 24 Preludes Dancer: Camille McPherson

Daily Stuff: Had a nice meeting regarding our new SDB webpage. It is going to be a lot easier to make changes to and keep current.

Then horror of horrors, my computer at work froze up. Turns out my hard drive is failing. So had to take it in to the Apple Store. And then to an Apple specialist. Hopefully they will be able to retrieve some data before they replace the hard drive. It will take about a week. So I'll be on the laptop for a while.

Picked up payroll and dropped off some deliverables to the Commission for Arts and Culture.

Anyway, made it to the Zoo in the evening and and it grounded me. It's nice to have the daily regimen. Hot though. The animals were all taking advantage of their pools. 

August 28 2013

Screen Capture 24 Preludes Dancer: Camille McPherson. Although most of the variations are in simple black and white costumes, I wanted to do a couple of variations with tutus. We still kept it simple though.

Daily Stuff: Company class this morning. Had more boys than girls, so that was a fun novelty :)

Regula admin stuff. Spoke to some artists to solidify the Fall program. We had to drop a venue for Nutcracker. Scheduling mix-up. It was a good thing that the brochure hadn't gone to print yet.

The zoo was nice today. Not many people, so I had it all to myself most of the time I was walking. 

August 27 2013

Screen Capture 24 Preludes Dancer: Camille McPherson

Daily Stuff: Put out the latest Prelude (Above) and weekly e-mail blast.  More office work.
Set up some meetings for later in the week.

Did my zoo walk again. Sat with the Okapi for a while. While I was there, admiring its beautiful coloring, a man came by with his teenage daughters. One of them kept commenting on how "ugly" it was. Ah well.

I spent the evening with friends, bidding goodbye to summer. Everyone had a chance to tell their summer exploits and it ended with a spectacular Powerpoint show of a 5 week trip to Europe. Well, that and Strawberry Shortcake :)

August 26 2013

Isadora Duncan at the Parthenon. The reason will be made clear soon.

Today, the San Diego Foundation hosted a convening of members of the San Diego Dance community. It was open to all interested parties.

A presentation was made of a survey that had been sent out in 2012. It was not particularly scientific, as it was just tying to get a general feel. And the general feel was that there were a lot of local dance professionals who were creating work for little or no money. But this is not new in the world of art.

The main point of the evening was to get the community talking to itself. So there were break out sessions into smaller groups, where we got to imagine idealized outcomes.

Afterwards, it fell to me to lead the call to action. I wasn't aware that I was going to do this, and I hate public speaking, but I got on a bit of a roll.

The most important thing was that the community make a commitment to continue a dialogue with itself. And we did set up a frame work to do so.

I did have one moment of grandstanding though. Many of the younger artists had mentioned a lack of mentoring opportunities or help with basic grant writing or admin skills and that they wished that there was some sort of service organization to help them with this. To which I replied that as director of the San Diego Ballet for 20 some odd years, I had not once received a call from a young artist asking me for advice. They need to start the dialogue. No one will do it for them. And it can be as easy as picking up the phone.

Afterwards had some nice chats with various young (and not so young) artists, including a young lady who teaches aesthetic barefoot dance in the manner of Isadora Duncan. Hence the image. Oh and she did get a kick over my use of the term "aesthetic barefoot dance." :)

August 25 2013

Screen Capture 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev

Daily Stuff: Closing night of In The Heights at the Rep. Great cast. Great performance. Best wishes to all involved.

August 24 2013

Screen Capture 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev

Daily Stuff: My day was on hold because a friend's friends husband was having some critical health issues. Wanted to make sure I was available if needed. Luckily, the operation he was having was a success.

So afterwards walked the zoo and then went out to hear Sue Palmer at a club called 89 Bottles. She was playing as part of a show called Dirty Blues. Risque blues songs. Seeing as my history with Candye Kane, I felt right at home. It was a nice show. Sue was brilliant. Really an artist. The show was sold out. Good for them. There were two shows. This was the 2nd and they had some swing dancers taking the floor in front of the band. Some people weren't crazy about the dancers, but I kinda enjoyed them. I love seeing serious amateurs enjoying themselves so much. Especially when it is something like swing dancing, where you need to be creating a relationship with your partner.

Had some time before, so took a stroll and dropped in to a gallery called Casa Artelexia in Little Italy. All sort of mexican stuff. There was a great DJ playing and some pretty cool furnitue.

August 23 2013

Screen Capture 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev

Daily Stuff: Finally, woke up this morning and didn't feel congested and sniffly. Taught my company class. Added a fun releve fouette penche to a combination. And a horrible promenade in ecarte to an adagio that I rather liked.

Good hard work all around.

Then had a long planning meeting with Matt and Robin that was fruitful. Sent the brochure off to get printed as well.

It was cut a little short when I got some disturbing health news from a friend and had to zoom to the emergency room. Things seem to have worked out. but I wasn't able to walk the zoo today.

I did hook up with Candye tonight. We went to watch Sue Palmer play at Croce's. Candye is off on tour next week. She doesn't know how to slow down.

On the way I stopped by In The Heights. Saw the opening number. The ensemble was exemplary tonight.

August 22 2013

Screen Capture 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev

Daily Stuff: Taught company class again. We repeated many of yesterday's exercises. I like to give the dancers at least two "bites at the apple." One more class tomorrow before the weekend.

Worked on an ad and postcard for the fall show. Finished them up, so thats a load off. Then worked on getting permission to remount a piece form a composer's estate.

Did an early walk at the zoo, so I could catch In The Heights tonight. A friend was coming down from L.A. The hippo was doing her graceful glide underwater today.

Got to the show and it turned out many of my pals were there tonight. So it was a good thing I dropped by. Everyone was very complimentary. Three more days and then it is over.

August 21 2013

Screen Capture 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev

Daily Stuff: Taught company class this morning, A nice group. We were in the downstairs studio, which gets a little morning sun, so it had a bit of a sauna feel. Gave a couple of tricky combinations and a step that I just saw Melissa Hayden do in an archival recording of Western Symphony.

Had a good mtg. regarding a possible project. Might go to NYC at the top of 2014 for a week.

SUDS has another week and a half. In The Heights closes this weekend.

August 20 2013

Screen Capture 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev

Daily Stuff: Slept horribly last night. The mugginess is messing with my sinuses. Had to wake up early this morning to go to a meeting about arts in the schools. It's a new initiative Arts Empower San Diego. Nice to see all the "regulars."

Then met with the principal at Florence Elementary School and the Assistance League of San Diego and got the schedule all squared away for the after school program. We start the second week of September.

Came to the office and worked a bit.

Zoo walk was quick and pretty uneventful today :)

August 19 2013

Screen Capture 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev. I had fun with this solo. The steps are actually variations on the male solo from Les Sylphides. Since that is set to Chopin music as well... and was choreographed by Fokine... and Max is Russian... I decided to have some fun with it.

Daily Stuff: The school is closed for two weeks, so I can come in and get some stuff done without hearing the pitter patter of little feet.

Got the latest Prelude up and the e-mail blast.

Would have done more but sinuses are acting up.

Went to the zoo a bit later today. Much cooler but the aviaries were closed, so I walked the stairs instead. The rhino was in his pool twitching his ears and, miracles of miracles, a koala was actually moving around and walking instead of just being a lovable lump of fur.

August 18 2013

Screen Capture 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev

Daily Stuff: Dad's B-day today. Took him and Mom and Karen to Davanti Enoteca in Little Italy. Dad loves the meat and cheese platter and the small serving sizes. had to convince Mom to try the Octopus. She has been wanting to get it the last three times we have one.

I was however a little upset at the server. Usually they just let you order a bit and then more. This young lady was a bit insistent that we order everything at once. I told her fine but that we still wanted it in stages. Of course, it all came out at the same time. :( So too much food on the table.

Didn't get a chance to do my zoo walk because of the festivities, but did go down the San Salvador Building project.

And more importantly, DID stay on my diet.

One more week to see In The Heights. Two for SUDS. If you are in town, don't miss them!

August 17 2013

Screen Capture 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev

Daily Stuff: Had a nice male dancer audition for the company today. Tall.
Since the school is closed next week, I got requests from the dancers to teach class. So I'll be teaching a bit next week.

Went to the zoo earlier in the afternoon than usual. A bit too many people. Had to zig zag around a lot of strollers. The rattlesnakes in the Elephant Odyssey area were very active today. They have a slightly creepy enclosure, as the glass goes all the way to the floor. So you can stand right next to them. It is a different feeling than the old exhibit where they were at about waist level. It shouldn't be unsettling, but it is. Especially when you see small children sitting right next to them.

August 16 2013

Screen Capture 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev. Online now

Daily Stuff: Marketing meeting in the morning. Finished up the season brochure. I'll send it off to the printers by Monday at the latest. Firmed up a meeting with Florence Elementary School and the Assistance League for next week. Sent off some copy and photos to Young Audiences for our fall matinees,

Things seem to be charging along.

SUDS is still running. That's a shot from the Secret Agent Man number. Usually one of the cast's favorite sections because it is so silly.

Zoo walks continue. The rhino was kicking up dust. I decided to stop and stretch for a moment in one of the aviaries. It was pretty cool. I thought that I was just staring at greenery, and then things started to move. Like something out of some camouflage sci-fi movie. So birds that I hadn't realized I was staring right at came to life. A lot of them. And very large and brightly colored. Who knew scarlet and purple were colors that blended in so well in the jungle.

August 15 2013

Screen Capture 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev

Daily Stuff: Sent out an extra e-blast today. All about what I did during the summer. It had all the good SUDS and In The Heights reviews.  So a bit of blowing my own trumpet. Which I hardly ever do.

Did a bit more office work. Wrote a couple of thank you notes.

Keeping up with the zoo walks. Was much easier today. The uphill walk up Tiger River wasn't as horrible. Even jogged up a bit of it. The volunteers are beginning to remember my face. Today' animal all star had to be this odd Andean condor. He was standing at the front of is cave/nest looking like a fuzzy caveman. Not luke a bid at all. Very odd vibe.

August 14 20133

Screen Capture 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev

Daily Stuff: Grant writing. 'nuff said.

Nighttime Zoo again. The Desert Bighorn was even friskier today. He was butting hid horns against part of his enclosure. From the way it was rubbed down, he does it often. It was like something out of a nature program. And I have discovered that dusk seems to be a very frisky time for the Secretary Birds. One was way up in a tree,

Have also become very fond of my daily diet Kale salad. Who knew?

August 13 2013

Screen Capture of 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev

Daily Stuff: Sent out a few more funding requests. And put together a Director's Report for the SDB Board Mtg tonight.

Met a bit with Matt and Robin as well regarding marketing.

Walked at the Nighttime Zoo again. Today's star was the Desert Bighorn Sheep

Covering fo Bev tomorrow.

August 12 2013

Screen Capture of 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev

Daily Stuff: Got this week's Prelude up. I was having math anxiety as I knew there were 24 Preludes but I was only coming up with 23 videos. I had forgotten that Max had three solos instead of two. The one that went up today was a nice little folk dance.

Got the e-mail blast ready and scheduled for tomorrow.

Got some donor letters out.

Did my zoo walk in the evening. Since the Nighttime Zoo is up, I thought it might be a good change of pace, as opposed to the morning.The tapirs and okapi were very active and a gerenuk with large ears had me in its radar all along the way as I walked past its exhibit. Oh and the Secretary bird was nesting. A vey interesting stroll.

August 11 2013

Screen Capture of 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev

Daily Stuff: Day off. Which is good because tomorrow I have to start up the machine that is the San Diego Ballet again.

Also have gained too much weight, so starting tomorrow the diet starts along with a daily walk in the zoo. Writing it here so I can't go back.

August 9 & 10 2013

Screen Capture of 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev. Max's first solo was pretty simple. Just an exercise in turns.

Daily Stuff: Consolidating a couple of days.

Yesterday, worked on some marketing materials and sent them off. Then had a long meeting with Steve Gunderson on a project we are developing. And after I had put this whole script together, I erased it :(
So I had to go back and start from the top.

Today, I went in and worked on a season brochure. Pretty happy with the outcome, but it still has a little finessing.

Made it home in time to take the parents to IHOP. :)

August 7 & 8 2013

Screen Capture of 24 Preludes. Dancer: Maxim Tchernychev

Daily Stuff: Going up a little late. Had to deal with a flat tire yesterday :(
Kinda threw me off a bit. Luckily, the tire was flat as soon as I went out to the car. So I didn't have a blowout. Put some Fix-A-Flat in it and drove to the tire store. Since my tires were still under warranty, they fixed it for free.

So I was late in picking up Chelsy to go speak to students at CVH. I made it there in time to facilitate it though. It went will. She spoke about life in a big ballet company and showed her pointe show regimen.

Today, we did the same thing but down at the Middle School. It went equally well.

In the evening, we all went to see In The Heights. The show is holding up well. They all had an early morning tv call, so were a little tired. But they didn't show it.

August 6 2013

Screen capture of 24 Preludes. Dancers: Noriko Zarogoza & Chris Jovillar

Daily Stuff: Uploaded a new Prelude and sent out a new e-mail blast.

Very nice morning meeting regarding marketing for the upcoming season and new website design.  Nice dinner with the parents, Karen and Chelsy at Beverly's home. WIth a nice surprise visit from Sonja Jaime (a colleague from the CVH SCPA). Chelsy will be speaking and teaching there tomorrow and I am going to drive her down.

Three more raves for In The Heights...

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2013/aug/06/theater-heights-san-diego-repertory-theatre/

http://sdgln.com/entertainment/2013/08/06/theater-review-heights-san-diego-rep

http://www.examiner.com/review/rep-s-the-heights-an-energy-blast-that-lasts-two-plus-hours

August 5 2013

Screen capture of 24 Preludes. Dancers: Noriko Zarogoza & Chris Jovillar. I'm fond of this little balance. :)

Daily Stuff: Morning meeting with our Director of Communications (Matt). Very fruitful. Discussed a variety of things with him and Robin.

Then zipped off to get some people into the San Diego Zoo and back for another meeting with John Highkin of Young Audiences. Trying to come up with ideas to underwrite a joint program.

Karen's daughter Chelsy flew in for the week. She is on break from National Ballet of Canada. So I will be a bit of a chauffeur this week.

Two great reviews for in The Heights

http://www.stagescenela.com/2013/08/in-the-heights-3/

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/aug/05/sd-rep-in-the-heights-review/

August 4 2013

In The Heights at the San Diego Rep. Photo: Daren Scott

Daily Stuff: In The Heights opened tonight! Huzzah! Thanks to a wonderful, dedicated cast and design teams. Special thanks to my great ensemble (who always give 110 percent), to Sean Fanning (and his awesome scenic design), to Jai Rodriguez (who understands what it means to be the leading man of such a huge project) and to Sam, (who didn't look at me funny when I said that I wanted the cast to dance in the audience through out the show).

August 3 2013

Screen capture of 24 Preludes. Dancers: Noriko Zarogoza & Chris Jovillar

Daily Stuff: Ah the drama of drama. Final In The Heights preview today and we had to have the understudy for the leading lady go on.

We had a little notice yesterday that one of our principles might be late getting to the show today, so we put her understudy on standby. But then today with just a few hours before the show, we got word that she was not going to be able to do the show tonight.

Luckily her understudy had taken her job seriously and was prepared. The "official" understudy rehearsals don't occur until next week.

What saved us was that all of the female lead tracks are pretty isolated, so she didn't have to do too much interaction with the whole company. The hardest sequence was the Club, but Spencer was able to just be a strong "lead" and get her through it. And Jai (the male lead) is a rock.

Apart from that... we took another look at the last duet between the two other leads (Benny and Nina) and we returned some of the urgency and discovery that had been missing.

Tomorrow is opening!

August 2 2013

Screen capture of 24 Preludes. Dancers: Noriko Zarogoza & Chris Jovillar

Daily Stuff: Got an ad off to Performances Magazine this morning for the ballet's 2013/14 season. Then off to In The Heights. Not much for me to do. The numbers look pretty good. We had a sold out house today and they were VERY vocal.

One more preview and then we open.

August 1 2013

Screen capture of 24 Preludes. Dancers: Noriko Zarogoza & Chris Jovillar

Daily Stuff: Went into the SDB office in the AM to send off some faxes and do a little bit of office work. Have an ad that is due tomorrow.

Then went to In the Heights rehearsal. Reviewed the bows and had a little project for the cast. Since there is graffiti all over the set, I made a suggestion that the students be allowed to add their own tags to the walls. And the Powers That Be went for it. So we had a little art session to start the day.

After the afternoon rehearsal, I had a meeting regarding a possible project for the upcoming year. That was productive and answered some questions as well as giving us a clear strategy to move forward.

Then I had to pinch hit at a Theatre Talkback. Our lead was scheduled to speak with patrons before the performance tonight, but the event interfered with a pre-show Fight Call. A Fight Call is a safety rehearsal that is held in shows that have intricate stage combat. Anyhow, he had to leave early and Sam (the director) asked me if I would be willing to jump in and field questions as well. Of course, I said "Sure."

It was fine. Nicest part was finding out that we had a large group of high school students who were going to be doing the piece next year. They were there to learn. As were their instructors.

Also spoke to a nice couple who work with dancers in wheelchairs. I took their card and will try to contact them next week.