I just got back from New York where I had the pleasure of sharing a spoken word piece from a chorepoem first presented ten years ago. I did as much at
a salon co-hosted by Lacy James, the musician whose music is heard on this documentary and choreographer-dancer Marie-Christine Giordano. There, I met some incredible artists, among them members of Awaken Dance Theatre, Alexis Robbins and musician Marta Hernandez. The Swiss Consulate donated wine.
This recent visit to New York made me think of earlier moments in this city, which I called home early this century, but also the moments when footage was gathered for this documentary. Among that footage was this image of Flatiron building, which is near my old neighborhood. Years after we shot this footage, I lived in a women's residence in Gramercy Park. I passed by this iconic triangular building quite often. This past Saturday, I ate pancakes with my niece, who is pictured below with me and Lacy, and her two kids, near it. Life comes full circle again and again. Stay tuned for the film's premiere date. I've received some emails regarding it. It will be shown publicly in the next few months. I'll open my own bottle of that Swiss wine, which arrived via FedEx yesterday, to celebrate.
For now, I'll remember this rich visit, which included seeing Steve Turre and James Carter's tribute to Rahsaan Roland Kirk at the Iridium, the amazing Hamilton musical on Broadway (I told students in my US to 1865 class yesterday that the Constitution suddenly feels like a breathing document that you can touch. It has that much power. The musical reminded me of this) and the New York City Marathon (I cheered for people I knew and didn't know and was reminded, as I told students in my "
The Nineteenth Century City" class yesterday, about the power of our "common humanity." I suggested the university shut down for a day and half of us run while the rest cheers and then vice versa. For a few hours, we can see that we're all on the same team no matter our differences!
I just got back from New York where I had the pleasure of sharing a spoken word piece from a chorepoem first presented ten years ago. I did as much at a salon co-hosted by Lacy James, the musician whose music is heard on this documentary and choreographer-dancer Marie-Christine Giordano. There, I met some incredible artists, among them members of Awaken Dance Theatre, Alexis Robbins and musician Marta Hernandez. The Swiss Consulate donated wine.
This recent visit to New York made me think of earlier moments in this city, which I called home early this century, but also the moments when footage was gathered for this documentary. Among that footage was this image of Flatiron building, which is near my old neighborhood. Years after we shot this footage, I lived in a women's residence in Gramercy Park. I passed by this iconic triangular building quite often. This past Saturday, I ate pancakes with my niece, who is pictured below with me and Lacy, and her two kids, near it. Life comes full circle again and again. Stay tuned for the film's premiere date. I've received some emails regarding it. It will be shown publicly in the next few months. I'll open my own bottle of that Swiss wine, which arrived via FedEx yesterday, to celebrate.
For now, I'll remember this rich visit, which included seeing Steve Turre and James Carter's tribute to Rahsaan Roland Kirk at the Iridium, the amazing Hamilton musical on Broadway (I told students in my US to 1865 class yesterday that the Constitution suddenly feels like a breathing document that you can touch. It has that much power. The musical reminded me of this) and the New York City Marathon (I cheered for people I knew and didn't know and was reminded, as I told students in my "The Nineteenth Century City" class yesterday, about the power of our "common humanity." I suggested the university shut down for a day and half of us run while the rest cheers and then vice versa. For a few hours, we can see that we're all on the same team no matter our differences!
