“Iceland may have more musicians per capita than any country in the world. This nation of two hundred and ninety thousand people—roughly the same population as Cincinnati—has ninety music schools, about four hundred choirs, four hundred orchestras and marching bands, and some vast, unknown number of rock bands, jazz combos, and d.j.s. Before Björk ascended to world fame, in the early nineties, it never occurred to many outsiders that such a small country could have such an active music scene.”
Tag: 08.15.04
A New Place For Choreographers
The first-ever National Choreographers Institute was recently held in Southern California. It featured four choreographers – Peter Pucci, James Sewell, Ann Marie DeAngelo and Lynne Taylor-Corbett…
Gotta (Commercially) Dance!
“Dancers are used to sell products and entertain visitors in a startling number of ways. There is work performing and choreographing on cruise ships, at theme parks, with live pop music acts, and for television, film and music videos. There’s even the more obscure world of “industrials” – conventions and conferences at which dance routines are used to market everything from computers to shoes. This is the world of commercial dance, which is generally distinct from the modern dance and ballet performances in a traditional theater space, known as “concert dance.” While plenty of little girls dream of becoming a prima ballerina, many others dream of being a Laker Girl. For a commercial dancer, the emphasis isn’t so much on the art of dance – it’s on the fun of it all.”
NJ Symphony To Investigate Instrument Purchase
After much controversy, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra has decided to “formally review its $17 million purchase of rare violins and other stringed instruments from philanthropist Herbert Axelrod last year, following revelations that some of the instruments are probably not authentic.”
Manly Men’s Reading Club Wins Reading Prize
A British reading club known as the Racketeers has been named “as recipients of the Penguin/Orange Reading Group Prize, awarded each year to the group who ‘demonstrate the most imaginative and diverse reading’ in Britain. The only all-male group among 700 entrants, their submission was entitled ‘Real Ale, Real Books, Real Men?’ and set out their mission: ‘The pub atmosphere is an integral part of our ethos. We like the noise, we like the beer, we like the idea of talking about literature in these surroundings. Other drinkers frequently express an interest in our discussions and sometimes get involved’.”
A Coconut Plan
Miami’s Coconut Grove Theatre hosted the first American production of Waiting for Godot. Now it looks like some major changes may come to the historic building. “In recent years, the operative plan was to renovate the existing building and add a third theater and a parking garage. Then came a newer scheme suggested tearing down all but the façade and building anew. Now there are other options that have enormous implications for history and preservation and the community at large.”
South Florida’s Renegade Radio
In south Florida, pirate radio – unregulated stations – have become popular, especially in ethnic communities. “Renegade radio operators have become successful through personal relationships with immigrant small-business owners and concert promoters. ‘The Haitian population has a lot of small business. Their ad budgets are not as large as those of corporations. Corporations will not be attracted to the underground stations.”
Backstage O’Neill
The O’Neill Theatre Center has had a tumultuous year. “This summer’s off-stage labor is as riveting as what was happening in the center’s amphitheater. And last year’s backstage drama was also quite a show.”
The Politics Of Frogs
“A funny thing or two has happened to the original Frogs on its way to the present [at New York’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre]. It has grown increasingly politicized. The creatures who give the play its title have evolved from a simple chorus of amphibians that serenades Dionysus on his disquieting ferryboat ride into today’s know nothing, say nothing, do nothing populace, lulled by leaders of dubious qualifications to okay “a war we shouldn’t even be in.” The present version seems to fancy itself something of a left-leaning rabble-rouser, destined not to tour to the Red States. At the same time, the latter-day Frogs has become more theatrically ingenuous.”
Outside The System – Guerrilla Art
The guerrilla art movement is all about creating art – movies, music, visual, publishing – outside the established channels of production. “Two forms in particular seem perfectly suited to the guerrilla ideal. In the activities of admirably resourceful musicians and film-makers, one sees the same broad approach: the skilful use of technology (the internet, mobile phones, digital video), along with a desire to slip free of the schedules of studios and record labels.”