Memorial Day!

Manassas, VA: "Memorial Day!"

Forecast: 86 degrees Fahrenheit, blue-sky sunny.

Expect: Lots of grilling (see photo, right).

In the past few weeks, I've traveled over 1500 miles throughout the southeast. In North Carolina, I drove to Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Winston-Salem; I visited Charleston, South Carolina, where I DJed at CHEX, and also Blacksburg, VA (VaTech). It was incredible to travel in the emerging warmth of summer smells and foliage, so sweet and specific to my grade-school years.

Now I'm back in Manassas. What does that mean? Good question. I've spent copious amounts of time on Craigslist lately, pining for the perfect job and a comfy apartment a little closer to DC. I'm starting job interviews this coming Tuesday, which is a step towards that goal.

I'm looking forward to CCB tomorrow, which is my general practice time with Bobby, and my chance to hang out with Kate. I feel fortunate to have them as friends in the vicinity, even if we do live in the polar opposite ends of the DC web.

Unfortunately I didn't get to go to either Camp Jitterbug or BIX, but I did enjoy dancing with David at Glen Echo last night. Tom Cunningham's Orchestra played well, even though the singers seemed a little off in comparison to the rest of the band. In fact, I've probably danced more this week than I have any other week here in DC. Jam Cellar this week was a lot of fun, in addition to small random bursts of dancing with friends. I'm excited about where my dancing is going, even if some nights are more on than others.... :)

--aba

Winston-Salem, NC

Winston-Salem, NC: "(Grand)Mother's Day"

I've been home for a few days now, after a short but lovely trip to Raleigh and Chapel Hill. For Mother's Day, my longest friend, Sara Klinepeter (first from left), organized a brunch for her family, me, and Granny. Her mother, my "Momma K, (pictured right) " is someone who I consider a surrogate mother in addition to Granny, and I was proud to be there with both of them.

While I was home, I went through some of my old journals (I have a score or two). I came upon this piece, written sometime in the winter of 2002. Although the poem wasn't originally describing my grandmother, I based it on my relationship to her struggle in raising me:




Untitled

My childhood shone into that straining back;
The purple dress sheathing,
Unflinchingly feeling
All Grandmother's body.

-APB 2002







A big thanks to Granny for the movie, dinner, and not giving up on me . :) Can you believe she raised a second family starting in 1996? Fifty years after she had her first child, she was raising two more, but this time, by herself.

-APB

Baltimore, MD

Baltimore, MD : "Somewhere....over the Beltway (Dreams come True)."

This past weekend, I was in Baltimore, MD teaching a lindy and balboa workshop with Bobby White (of Bobby and Kate). My involvement was sporadic and last minute, as I was substituting for Kate Hedin, who had a death in the family and needed to go home Atlanta. Dorry and Summer set up the event, which went very smoothly. Students were on time, classes ran on schedule, the venue was spacious, audio equipment easy to use, and we had a great time. I hope to be able to teach and dance in Baltimore again in the near future.

The most interesting thing about the workshop was the location. "The Creative Alliance" is in an old movie theater and is comprised of a large versatile gallery space and 8 lofts for residential artists. Bobby and I got a glimpse of one of the artist's residences, and it was pretty sweet.

From the Creative Alliance website:

"The Residency Program accommodates 8 resident artists or artist groups, one in each of the studios, for terms of one to three years. It is intended for emerging artists as well as mid-career artists whose goal is to reinvigorate their work in an intensive atmosphere. Artists are encouraged (but not required) to use the studios as their primary residence."

The dance following the workshop was in the CA's old movie theater, with Sac Au Lait, an energetic all-male dixieland band. Despite my burrito-stuffed stomach, I enjoyed dancing to "Dinah," "Sweet Sue," "Tiger Rag," and "Honeysuckle Rose." I DJed in between their three sets. The band tended towards either slow, medium slow, or super fast tempo songs. When we weren't too tired to stand up, Bobby and I managed to get a few Peabody dances in amongst Lindy and Bal.

After this weekend, I was exhausted, but happy to be able to dance so much with such a talented and hilarious lead. Thanks Bobby!

Yay dancing!
:) Aba