Montreal choices

Our trip started by moving my mother-in-law back to her assisted apartment in Boston. By the evening in Montreal, so we weren't trying to go anywhere, and our son made dinner.
Thursday, "Ballroom Blitz" 15 piece Swing band was playing at St. Paul's Pub in the old city, "Vieux Montreal", narrow cobblestone streets by the port. We found an excellent restaurant with old world service, so we got to the pub at 11:00. Terrific Lindy Hop dancers were the show in front of the band, but they had room for a couple of East Coast swing dancers over by the side. The band quit at 12:00.
Friday, La Tohu, the circus school in the north of the city, driving distance, had a Salsa band and Fiesta free from 8 to 11. Dave took us to an Indian restaurant in the cheap part of town and came along for the party. As we arrived at 9:15, the band was closing up. I thought another band would come on or they would come back, but for the first time ever, a Salsa band was early. Dancers continued with some very nice recorded music. A few good dancers and a bunch of non-dancers enjoying the music, but not the huge crowd we had experienced at a salsa party downtown a few years ago.
I miss Do Re Mi.

Providence Federation of Musicians

At Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, finally a Tuesday when I could go!
So last week I made all my arrangements, including the husband, and off we went.
God, that place is hard to find, especially when the husband wants to use the (stupid, cheap)GPS.
Almost no singles, though I did see Randy and Kathy, and Duda (what's his first name?) and partner. Joe hates the crowds of little old bad dancing couples, though I think they're kind of cute. One of the bands had singers who weren't able to stay on key. The other three bands were better, but tow of them only got the lobby
I still love that Rhodes on the P. The floor was fabulously fast so my turns were great. He was less pleased with the slipperiness. We went up into the balcony for another view of the dancers. At one point, Joe disappeared, and a Mambo came on while the guy who looked Cuban was unpartnered, so I got to follow another style.

Montreal

Going to visit our son David in the other country. Do Re Mi closed and all I see are specialty clubs for dancing - West Coast Swing, Salsa. A free Latin festival at La Tohu, the circus school, on Friday night could be completely crowded, but we'll see.
Anyway, I'm gone all week.

Great Show

If you like modern dance, the Choreography Project was great fun. I had never heard of Butoh, a 50s Japanese school of movement, so there was an education - not my favorite pieces, but both were short enough.
Studio 868 out of Chatham collaborates with Cape Cod Dance Center and has some college dance majors there for the summer. I loved "Moon and Stars" choreographed by a young man to the music I immediately bought this morning, "Christofori's Dream". That studio also contributed an elaborate "Toast" with charming rolling benches and rolling table for a dance transcription of a family feast. They had videotaped the evening and groupings changed with the rhythms of actual interactions, edited of course, down to about ten minutes.
Eveline's modern dance class must be great fun. "Ruby" allowed seven women, dressed in black, structured improvisation with as much drama as they pleased. Her ballet class danced to hip-hop music.

Choreography project

Tonight, at the Cape Cod Dance Center, local dancers are getting together to present a free performance at 7 PM, the Choreography Project. Modern dance is a favorite of mine, unlike ballet. Maybe I should rename my blog...

Elbows

I am very happy to be including the elbows in the dance frame from the very first lesson. People look better right away. I think it puts them on alert so they don't slouch as much. The Stars of Bourne especially have to look good. The one lady could have gone to Dance and Stretch, but instead I had to be very firm with her in class. Posture is crucial!

Bunny Pop video

News Flash

Going for the Labor Day First Saturday after all - by popular request.
Several groups of dancers are ready for the practice time, including the Bourne Dancing With The Stars group who will perform September 19.

Lauren's In

Like they say, "They're all winners in the top ten," and all seem to have contracts to tour with the SYTYCD show, but Lauren got the prize money. No tiara, though she would have looked good in one. I wonder if she will now sleep for a couple of days. She reminds me of our granddaughter Sloane, so gorgeous, busy and full of pep. Sloane needs her sleep, though she will try to go on and on forever.
A good finale.

Physiology book

Ms. Todd maintains that "even in the best human machine, only 15 per cent of the total energy is available for conscious purposes; 85 per cent is used in the vegetative processes - heart action and so on. Any impairment would require new energy, and the only source to draw upon is the 15 per cent."

And in other news, the "Bunny Pop" is the new favorite on the two-year-old circuit. My iPod calls it the Bunny Hop, but Sloane knows best. Get a video, Gramma Boppie!

The Thinking Body

by Mabel E. Todd
A text from 1937, this is still a book to read to understand yourself in terms of your body. 73 years later, I hope she is now wrong when she says, "Many of us still feel a squeamish distaste when bone and muscle are mentioned. Confidently ignorant of what goes on under our skin, we go about our daily doings absolutely dependent on what lies within, but with no more interest in it than a dog has in his anatomy."

SYTYCD

The episode is recorded because we missed the first half. Now let's see if Ali and I watch it. Maybe, since Sloane likes to hang out in the Rec Room. Prediction: Adechike goes. Was that why he cried?

Bourne Dancing With the Stars (BDWTS)

Tonight is the first lesson for the Bourne Stars, organized by the Friends of the Bourne Public Library. Their dance competition will be September 19, a fundraiser at the Coonamesset Inn. They don't even know it's National Ballroom Dance Week!

Cape Cod Mall Food Court

I just heard about the plans for super screens at the Cape Cod Mall food court. Apparently they are including texting which I don't know how it will work. Undoubtedly there will be more intrusive advertising.
And our beautiful Ballroom Dance Week Celebration is out again!