Come and see "Cinderella" as told by Tree of Wonder puppeteers at 11am on Saturday, Sept 28, 2023

We have seen Disney's Cinderella movie, various ballet versions of Cinderella, and now see "Cinderella" as told and performed by two Russian puppeteers in English.

Calling their company "Tree of Wonder," they retell classic stories with their own style and Russian-style puppets.  From their website, they write:

"All our performances are equally based as much on the well known and loved original fairy tails as on the new and original imagination stories written especially for the Tree of Wonder.  We love telling original stories and we love to combine several stories into one exciting and unpredictable tale.  No matter which fairy tale we perform we always strive to create beautifully involved performance. After each performance we provide a project to create. It is  a puppet that a child could bring home and recreate a show with his own puppet."

We are looking forward to seeing this performance before visiting Tree of Wonder puppeteers at their workshop as they work on the puppets for the story of "Christopher Columbus" puppet show in time to celebrate Columbus Day.

Time to see Cinderella :   11am, Saturday, Sept 28, 2013
Venue:  Will and Ariel Durant Library (part of the Los Angeles Public Library system)
Address:   7140 W. Sunset Boulevard,  Los Angeles, CA 90046

For a snippet of their Russian-language version of this puppet show Cinderella, check out their short youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or203W0tHhc&noredirect=1

See a list of their repertoire of puppet shows from this link:

http://www.puppettheaterla.com/#!list-of-puppet-shows/cy5t

If you miss this show, Tree of Wonder will be doing another  free public performance of "Pinocchio" on Ventura Blvd's Taste of Encino Festival at 12noon on October 13, 2013.  Check out the festival at this link again when updated:  http://www.tasteofencino.com/

LA COUNTY FAIR 2013 is open till September 29

LA COUNTY FAIR 2013 ends on September 29!   All schools, whether private, public, or homeschoolers, can organize free fieldtrips with free parking at the ratio of no more than 2 adults to a child.

If you cannot get on a educational fieldtrip on a weekday, check out all the admission discounts and specials for different days at:

http://www.lacountyfair.com/2013/planyourvisit/promotions_calendar.asp

There are free days for various colleges, and discounts and promotions, Food Drives days, School Supply Drives day on Sept 5 and 12.   I added the entire list which you should double check for updates below at the end of this post.  If you are a Star Trek fan and can come in costume, there is even a free admission day on Sept 14.

For a family of four, Costco has the best package as it includes one parking pass and 44 rides/games tickets (different rides/games need multiple tickets), and you can go on any day including weekends.

Costco Fair Savings Pack

Available beginning Aug. 1 through Sept. 29 at participating Costco stores for only $59.99, includes four any-day Fair admissions, one parking pass and 44 RCS ride/game tickets. Rides and games require multiple tickets. Click here to view a list of participating stores.

There is so much to learn and enjoy at the fair!  Plan on one next year and here's a link:
http://www.lacountyfair.com/2013/educationcommunity/fairKids.asp

Below are the tips and suggestions to enjoy the LA COUNTY FAIR on an educational fieldtrip and to keep cool and hydrated!

============================
The official address of the fair is:

1101 W McKinley Ave

Pomona, CA 91768 But Gate 9 in the BLUE GATE area is off WHITE AVE if you are doing a homeschooler/private school fieldtrip. http://www.fairplex.com/fp/company/groundsmaps/index.html is a good map to orient yourself and you can see WHITE AVE and GATE 9 as well as the freeways. I would gps the intersection of McKinley and White Ave unless you see a closer route from the freeway you are taking.  This map is interactive so you can click on each named areas.

First, if you did not get a map when you pass the School House Facade, you can get maps within the first 100 yards after you get into the Fair and out of the tunnel.   Look for a kiosk with maps and schedules for the day.

http://www.lacountyfair.com/2013/entertainment/images/FairMap2013.jpg

There are many many shows worth seeing.  My favorites are listed in this daily schedules and you can check out the times:

http://live.xomo.ca/w/lacountyfair/lacountyfair2013/refresh/

Click on your specifc day to see the schedule of educational and entertaining shows for the day and many shows are presented twice or more a day. Allow extra time for children to go slower and enjoy what they see along the way.   However, if you have never been to the fair before, it is a good idea to plan out your route based on performance shows or demonstrations you want to catch. You can do that ahead of time with this online interactive map in the blue box above.

It is always hot at the fair, so plan any rides for after the sun has gone down when it is cool,  Bring hats and sunglasses and sunscreen ...and have plenty of water bottles.  I know there is good ice-cream opposite the cow-milking areas.

My best tip for managing the heat is to alternate between outdoor activities and indoor events in air-conditioned buildings - the art gallery, car museum and all the shopping areas as well as the garden/flower buildings.  Look at the map to see where things are and look at the schedule to see what times you want to be in a certain areas. 

Bring these to cool off:  a light-weight baby-stroller (lighter than a wagon) even if you don't have a toddler so you can carry ice-cold frozen waterbottles without breaking your back as well as any healthy snacks (although the turkey legs is really something if you are not vegetarian!).  Neckerchiefs or even paper towels that you can wet to cool off around the necks, or handheld battery-operated fans, or the watermisters for fun cooling,  

 When you first enter, you will be near Fairview Farms and you can see prize-winning 4-H animals, bee-exhibits and you can hang out near the FarmViews and Heritage Farm and Crafts earlier in the day if you are interested in all the animals' exhibit (don't miss the cow-milking by machine, goat-milking by hand, and pig races), and the air-conditioned America Kids Building where this year you will see Magic Tree House show. For the horse lovers, you can see some horse shows near the farm area and you can also see real horse racing at the fair .. another place to cool off and rest :)

Oh, if your kids want to earn some free junior ride tickets for up to 8th grade, you can get up to 6 free tickets-to- ride by printing out this form:

http://www.lacountyfair.com/2013/educationcommunity/documents/18-ReadtoRide13.pdf

By listing the titles of books your child have read this summer and making pictures reports (K-2nd) about them or brief book reports between 25-50 words depending on their grade.  They can type or write them .. and the retired teacher volunteers would sometimes ask them about the books they read  :) Bring the form and "book reports" to the counter near the entrance at America Kids and get the ride tickets.  This building also has all the winning art work worth looking at and also dress up and play areas.  See if your child's favorite books have special features and activities here .. don't miss the Magic Tree House Stage for some action:)

http://www.lacountyfair.com/2013/educationcommunity/documents/2013AmericasKids-DLProofed_000.pdf

I personally would try to see everything and we usually leave at closing time since we like most of the shows, but if you have limited time, try these recommendations for each grade level from this link:

http://www.lacountyfair.com/2013/educationcommunity/Curriculum.asp

Here are some of the main attractions:

PENCILS 2 PIXELS – THE ART OF ANIMATION

Explore the world of animation and learn from the best at Pencils 2 Pixels – The Art of Animation. Create your own stop-motion animation sequence at the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity or learn to draw some of your favorite cartoon characters at the Animation University.

AMERICA'S KIDS: A LIVING LIBRARY OF FUN

presented by King Taco Restaurants

A Living Library of Fun isn’t your ordinary library. In this library, books are 8-feet tall, some of your favorite fictional characters come to life and you don’t have to whisper!

• 

  MAX'S COUNTRY FARM SHOW

  is NEW this year!

New show in FairView Farms all about animals you would find in the country. See animals like a barn owl, a fox, an opossem, tortoises and king snakes.

At the shopping centers, you can catch many performances and shows and the Beijing Acrobatic Show is well worth seeing.  Besides this is a cool building and you have chairs to sit down to rest.  There are always vendors selling massage chairs (many weary fairgoers try them!) and giving things away.

The sharks, stingrays, and this year, Melissa the Mermaid, will be swimming around.  Last year, it was a man who could put a shark to hypnotic state underwater :)

BENEATH THE SEA: AN UNDERWATER ADVENTURE

Sea Lion Splash features sea lion fun and a 5,000-gallon tank that houses sharks, stingrays, crabs and starfish. A Sea Monsters Traveling Exhibit and a visit to Melissa the Mermaid are also a part of the exhibit.

NHRA MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM

The 28,000-square-foot NHRA Motorsports Museum chronicles more than 50 years of American auto racing history and features vintage vehicles, uniforms, and other memorabilia.  If you bring along your admission ticket and tell them you are part of an educational fieldtrip, you can enter this amazing showcase of cars and bikes for free. Otherwise, it is one dollar per person

Don't miss this Art Gallery even if your kids normally don't like art .. because many objects in this exhibit will interest them .. besides it is another "cool-off" location and you can sit down and have the kids do some quiet art as well.  There are docent tours you can just join in.   

2013
The Millard Sheets Gallery Presents:
“Art Treasures From the Attic”

 The Millard Sheets Art Gallery is often missed, but it is right across from the NHRA car museum. http://www.fairplex.com/fp/Foundations/MillardSheets/

  Don't miss the miniature train display where you can see several model trains run. The Fairplex Garden Railroad is considered the oldest and possibly the largest miniature railroad of its kind in the United States and possibly the world.  Read all about these trains here:  

http://www.fgrr.org/ and then go and climb out to the real big locomotives and the caboose ... I remember that they let you sound the "horn" in one of the locomotives! The historic collection of real locomotives here can be checked out here:   http://www.trainweb.org/rlhs/collection/collection1.html

Don't miss the Beijing Circus Show,  Mango and Tango, and other shows - with a little planning, you will be at the right place and all these sit-down events will give your legs and kids a chance to rest and be entertained.

Don't miss  all  the animal shows at this link below:  Sealions are new, and the African animals and animal shows are near the Flowers and Gardens building which you can also take the fair trams to.  The pet animal shows as well as the bird show is pretty good and educational ... as is the magic show in this area.http://www.lacountyfair.com/2013/entertainment/Animals.asp

If you are a StarTrek fan, you may find this worthwhile - separate $5 admission you can buy online or at the fair . Haven't seen this, so I cannot recommend.  

http://www.lacountyfair.com/2013/entertainment/startrek.asp

Anyway, have a great day at the fair.  If you think this post is worth a small donation to our Orang Utan cause, just email me at this email address:  reallykf@gmail.com    Thanks for your "pay forward" donation and I hope this post helps to get your kids excited about the far and makes the fair manageable for your family.

LA COUNTY FAIR is quite amazing if you have the stamina.

If you wish to get discounted admissions or promotions on your own without an educational fieldtrip, check out this link as promotions are subject to change:

http://www.lacountyfair.com/2013/planyourvisit/Promotions.asp#metrolink

PROMOTION DETAILS

Promotions are subject to change without notice.   Walgreens Season Pass Visit your local Walgreens to purchase a season pass for just 24.99. Click here for a list of participating stores. Ralphs Any-Day Ticket Come to any participating Ralphs grocery store to purchase admission tickets for just $10 for adults, ages 13+ and $6 for ages 6-12. Each Ralphs adult and child any-day admission ticket comes with an exclusive carnival ride wristband offer (purchase required, restrictions apply). Wristbands are $35 and must be purchased before 9 p.m., and used by 11 p.m. weekdays; must be purchased before 4 p.m., and used by 7 p.m. weekends. Wristbands must be purchased in the carnival at a ticket booth by the designated times. Presented by Ralphs. Click here to view a list of participating stores.  Cardenas Markets Any-Day Ticket This year you can pick up your tickets at participating Cardenas locations as well! Adult tickets are still just $10 and tickets for children ages 6-12 are $6. Tickets available August 19 through September 29. List of participating stores coming soon. Group Sales Groups of 20 or more can enjoy up to 50% off of admission. Adult tickets are available for $10 and child tickets are only $6 (ages 6-12). Tickets may be ordered on consignment or online with a discount promo code. Click here for more information. $5 after 5 p.m. presented by Circus Circus Las Vegas $5 admission to the Fair on Wednesdays and Thursdays with a coupon only. Children ages 5 and younger are free. Get your coupon now! Wild Wednesdays, presented by Farmer Boys and Del Taco Fair admission and a carnival ride wristband just $25 on Wednesdays only.  Available in participating stores. Weekday wristbands must be purchased before 9 p.m. and used by 11 p.m. Vouchers must be exchanged at a front gate admissions window and wristbands must be purchased in the carnival at a ticket booth by the designated times.  *You must be 36” or taller to ride any of the rides. Click here to view a list of participating stores for Farmer Boys and Del Taco. Coupons available August 28 through September 25. T-Mobile Thursdays Fair admission and a carnival ride wristband just $25 on Thursdays only.  Available in participating stores. Weekday wristbands must be purchased before 9 p.m. and used by 11 p.m.  Vouchers must be exchanged at a front gate admissions window and wristbands must be purchased in the carnival at a ticket booth by the designated times.  *You must be 36” or taller to ride any of the rides. Coupons available August 29 through September 26. Click here to view a list of participating stores Food Drive Fridays, presented by Ralphs Guests receive free Fair admission in exchange for five canned products on Fridays. Free admission good that day only , noon- 5 p.m. only. The canned products will be donated to Los Angeles Regional Food Bank with a portion going to the honored community of the day for distribution to their charity. Blood Drives* Blood donors receive a free Fair ticket good any day.  *On-site blood drive donors receive a ticket for one free return admission to the Fair. Aug. 30 - Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Bloodmobile at the Fair Aug. 31 - Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, Bloodmobile at the Fair Sept. 5 - Huntington Hospital, Bloodmobile at the Fair Sept. 6 - Huntington Hospital, Bloodmobile at the Fair Sept. 7 - Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, Bloodmobile at the Fair Sept. 12 - Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, Bloodmobile at the Fair Sept. 14 - Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, Bloodmobile at the Fair Sept. 20 - Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, Bloodmobile at the Fair Sept. 21 - Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, Bloodmobile at the Fair  Sept. 25 - City of Hope, Bloodmobile at the Fair  Sept. 28 - City of Hope, Bloodmobile at the Fair Race & Fair Combo at SpeedZone Los Angeles A very unique Fair Combo package is available only at www.speedzone.com/losangeles. Get a 4 Hour Unlimited SpeedZone Play Card valid towards racing (Slick, Turbo and Grand Prix), (1) Top Eliminator Race, mini golf and video games* and (1) Any Day 2013 LA County Fair Ticket for $34.99 per person. Value $74.99. Save $40.00. *Redemption games/prize games, Strike Zone bowling and certain video games not included. This offer not valid at LA County Fair box office must be purchased at SpeedZone LA only or online at www.speedzone.com. Must print coupon offer and present printed coupon to SZ cashier to receive offer. This offer expires 10/2/2013 LA County Fair Hours Open Labor Day & Labor Day weekend (closed subsequent Mondays and Tuesdays). Some other restrictions apply and new card activation fee may apply. Offer valid while supplies last. Metrolink $10 Weekend Pass Metrolink offers a special $10 Weekend Day Pass for Saturday or Sunday travel only.  For more information or station locations visit metrolinktrains.com/lacofair or call (800) 371-5465(LINK).  Click here for schedule. Schedules and information are also available at Fair guest service centers. Children Children ages 6-12 are admitted to the Fair weekends for $12 and $8 Wednesdays through Fridays. Ages 5 and younger are admitted free every day. College Days Specific college campuses will be featured during the Fair, with students, faculty and staff receiving one free admission on their respective college day with proper ID. See your college's respective Recreation or HR Department for coupon. Alumni will receive $10 admission on their respective day with promo code, only valid on tickets purchased through our online shopping cart. Coupon required for all college day discounts. Participants are encouraged to wear school colors on their day. Please contact your respective college’s Recreation or HR Department to retrieve a coupon. Western University Day, Sunday, Sept. 8 University of La Verne Day, Thursday, Sept. 12 Azusa Pacific University Day, Saturday, Sept. 14 Chaffey College Day, Saturday, Sept. 14 USC Day, Thursday, Sept. 19 Mt. Sac Day, Thursday, Sept. 19 UCR Day, Friday, Sept. 20 Citrus College Day, Wednesday, Sept. 25 Claremont Colleges Day, Thursday, Sept. 26 CSUSB, Friday, Sept. 27 Cal Poly Pomona Day, Saturday, Sept. 28 UCLA Day, Saturday, Sept. 28 *Coupon required to receive discount Community Days With exclusive online promotional code, residents receive $5 admission before 5 p.m. on their respective community day. A total of 17 communities are honored during the Fair. Tickets must be purchased online in advance and a promotional code is required. Each city or county employee, resident and their families and friends receive an exclusive offer.  Contact the city office for more details. Montclair & Fontana - Wednesday, Sept. 4 Diamond Bar - Thursday, Sept. 5 Pomona - Friday, Sept. 6 L.A. County - Sunday, Sept. 8 San Dimas - Wednesday, Sept. 11 La Verne - Thursday, Sept. 12 Upland - Friday, Sept. 13 Chino - Wednesday, Sept. 18 Walnut & West Covina - Thursday, Sept. 19 Chino Hills - Friday, Sept. 20 Glendora - Wednesday, Sept. 25 Claremont - Thursday, Sept. 26 Azusa, Rancho Cucamonga, Covina & Ontario - Friday, Sept. 27 Costco Fair Savings Pack Available beginning Aug. 1 through Sept. 29 at participating Costco stores for only $59.99, includes four any-day Fair admissions, one parking pass and 44 RCS ride/game tickets. Rides and games require multiple tickets. Click here to view a list of participating stores. Day at the Races For groups of 10 or more, it starts at just $37 a person for a fun-filled day that includes free Fair admission, lunch buffet & group photo in the Winner’s Circle. Special packages are available for larger groups. Call (909) 865-4094 or visit the Day at the Races page for more info. FairKids Field Trips Students, teachers and chaperones from schools throughout Southern California experience a weekday at the Fair with no admission charge to schools or students. Accompanying curriculum ensures a day filled with fun and pain-free learning. Advance reservations required at (909) 865-4075. Field trips are subject to availability. Los Angeles County Day Sunday, Sept. 8  L.A. County employees, families and friends receive an exclusive $5 offer.  Day for Heroes Saturday, Sept. 7, active and retired military, reserves, police, fire and paramedics, with ID, along with one guest, can attend the Fair for $1 each; proceeds from the $1 admissions will be donated to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation. School Supply Drive Thursday, Sept. 5 and 12 School Supply Drive, with a donation of 3 new and unwrapped school items for free admission noon-5 p.m. The items will be donated to Inland Empire United Way’s School Tools Program. Senior Wednesdays $5 admission with coupon from your local LANG publication. Don't get the paper? Download your coupon here to print and bring to the Fair. Star Trek™ Day at the Fair Sept. 14, 2013 Free Fair Admission 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. for guests in Star Trek attire. Star Trek exhibit admission not included. Costumes are permitted, no weapons allowed.  *Information subject to change  **Fair admission is not included in the price of concert tickets *You must be 36” or taller to ride any of the rides. A limited number of free, general admission concert tickets are available at the ticket kiosk located on Rose Lane at 3 p.m., concert days, first come first served. Everyone wishing a ticket must be present.

Free Eleos Music GALA Concert at Westlake Village at 2pm Saturday, June 29, 2013

If anyone is looking for a music teacher or an excellent music education program, coming to Eleos Music's free Gala concert this Saturday at 2pm in Westlake Village will be a good start.  Families, including children, are welcome.  There will be a reception after the concert.

I am happy to share my own personal experience with the Eleos Music program for the past 4 years.  I should also mention that I do not personally benefit from attracting more students to this music program, but this program may be perfect for some families reading this blog :)

My children have been studying what I consider to be "Colburn-in-one-teacher" with Alexander Michael Tseitlin (Sasha) who, together with his wife, founded Eleos Music with the goal of providing the type of music education they wish they had with the music curriculum that they have put together!  

Eleos Music has two main campuses - one in WLA and the other in Conejo Valley.  All the string instruments, including guitar,and piano as well as voice, music history and theory (including listening and taking music dictation) and composition are taught.  My son, age 11, plays both the piano and violin and takes a one-hour lesson each week and learns both instruments at almost the same level.  My daughter, age 10, plays the piano and celloand takes 45-minute lessons.  Both have progressed to the Foundations level, learning instrumental techniques, music theory, composition and music dictation, with informal recitals every 6-weeks.

We are very pleased with the music program and I often recommend this compact and somewhat accelerated program to families looking for an excellent music program which you can check out at www.eleosmusic.com.

Students can study at both recreational enjoyment level and more seriously up to the proficiency and advanced (MA-equivalent) levels. My son has attended weekend music retreats in San Diego with private lessons with Mr. Tseitlin Sr.  Graduates of the proficiency program should easily qualify for college music scholarships as they would be able to play the concert and competition-level repertoire.  Next year, some Eleos students, including my son, will be participating at the International Music Festival in Germany.  Non-Eleos students can audition to qualify to attend this music festival too.  I don't know the exact pieces played by other soloists and guest soloists on Saturday, but my son will be playing Messenet's Meditation on the violin.

If anyone is interested in coming to see the dress rehearsals earlier, letme know since I will be there all day from 9am for the soloists' recordings and rehearsals to the the full orchestral rehearsal.

EVENT:  Free Gala Concert featuring soloists, ensembles and orchestra.

All welcome, especially families who want to check out the quality of music studied, learned and played at Eleos Music and to meet with faculty. The youngest students are around 5 years old, but some precocious learners have started piano earlier at 4.

Location:  Saturday June 29th at Westminster Presbyterian Church at
Westlake Village

Address:  Westlake Village, 32111 Watergate Road, Westlake Village,
CA 91361

2:00 PM - Concert
3:30 PM - Reception

Below is the press release from Eleos Music regarding the Gala concert and
Eleos Music..

============== press release from Eleos Music============

Eleos Music

Eleos Music Studios
P.O. Box 1268
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
www.eleosmusic.com
office@eleosmusic.com

(310) 285-8202

Rebecca Tseitlin, Marketing Director
cell: (805) 444-3485

Gala Concert

Eleos Music is a program designed to provide excellent and accessible
Classical music education. Our students are performers, composers, and
artists from the early to pre-professional years. The annual Gala Concert
celebrates the work our students have done throughout the year, and is a
free event open to the general public. The event draws students and
their families (between 80 and 140 attendees) as well as a number of
outside attendees and press. Guest artists often come to perform as well.
Eleos Music has two locations; one in West LA and one in Thousand Oaks.

The Gala Concert program includes:

3 orchestras
A 60-member choir
A selection of soloists
Guest Artists

The concert repertoire includes compositions by Schubert, Mozart, Vivaldi,
and Popper.  We expect to have prominent members of the LA classical
community present as well.

Who We Are

Eleos Music has 2 campuses in the Los Angeles area in Conejo Valley and West Los Angeles. We provide our high class of  classical music education in areas local to families. We strive to bring excellence in music education in an environment where students can thrive. Our students quickly become well-rounded, intelligent, and masterful musicians. Our students perform at our monthly recitals, are seated in top local orchestras, and demonstrate extraordinary musicianship.

Eleos Music faculty members are selected from today’s most promising
artists and musicians, and are extensively trained inhouse. This creates
one of the most unique elements of the Eleos Music program: continuity in
teaching content, style, and results.

Eleos Music closely partners with the California Institute of Music in San
Diego, and IMF Germany (an annual music festival in Germany).

History

Eleos Music was founded by a husband and wife team, Alexander and Rebecca Tseitlin. They founded their organization in 2007 in the locations of their own private studios (Conejo Valley, West Los Angeles, and Santa Clarita). Rebecca Tseitlin is a respected orchestral, chamber, and soloing musician from Thousand Oaks. Alexander Tseitlin is from a Russian family with a long and rich musical heritage that reaches back to the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow and Moscow University. Alexander and Rebecca authored their own comprehensive music curriculum which seamlessly integrates instrumental technique, musicianship, and music history. Their goal is to train a new generation of young musicians with a thorough grasp of music as a whole, who can perform, teach, and enjoy music for their lifetimes. They are committed to a high level of training and to providing
an encouraging environment for students to grow and learn. They have also developed a teacher training program which trains eligible students to teach others through the Eleos curriculum. Their faculty has grown to include two professors, one pedagogue, and three teaching assistants; a formidable faculty with which they are able to effectively develop a strong student body.

George Balanchine and Los Angeles Ballet's Balanchine Red Festival at UCLA Royce Hall this Sunday June 9 at 2pm

"We must first realize that dancing is an absolutely independent art, not merely a secondary accompanying one. I believe that it is one of the great arts. Like the music of great musicians, it can be enjoyed and understood without any verbal introduction or explanation ... The important thing in ballet is that movement itself, as it is sound which is important in a symphony. A ballet may contain a story, but the visual spectacle, not the story is the essential element. The choreographer and the dancer must remember that they reach the audience through the eye — and the audience, in its turn, must train itself to see what is performed upon the stage. It is the illusion created which convinces the audience, much as it is with the work of a magician. If the illusion fails, the ballet fails, no matter how well a program note tells the audience that it has succeeded."

So writes the foremost contemporary choreographer George Balanchine!   He was not only a gifted ballet dancer himself, debuting as a cupid at age 10 in Sleeping Beauty with Mariinsky Ballet Theatre, but he was a son of a composer and studied both the piano and music composition.  Read more about his background at this link, where this quote and the one below come from:  http://www.nycballet.com/explore/our-history/george-balanchine.aspx  

"He began studying the piano at the age of five and following his graduation in 1921, from the Imperial Ballet School (the St. Petersburg academy where he had started his dance studies at the age of nine), he enrolled in the state's Conservatory of Music, where he studied piano and musical theory, including composition, harmony and counterpoint, for three years. Such extensive musical training made it possible for Balanchine as a choreographer to communicate with a composer of such stature as Igor Stravinsky; the training also gave Balanchine the ability to reduce orchestral scores on the piano, an invaluable aid in translating music into dance. ...  Igor Stravinsky, once described their association on one particular ballet as follows:

Balustrade, the ballet that George Balanchine and Pavel Tchelitchew made of the Violin Concerto, was one of the most satisfactory visualizations of any of my works. Balanchine composed the choreography as he listened to my recording, and I could actually observe him conceiving gesture, movement, combination, composition. The result was a series of dialogues perfectly complimentary to and coordinated with the dialogues of the music." Hofmannsthal once said to Strauss: "Ballet is perhaps the only form of art which permits real, intimate collaboration between two people gifted with visual imagination."

For a short video of the two of them in discussion and view short excerpts from two versions of Balustrade, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CV9vtFpbgo

For a list of Balanchine's works and more personal details on his life, see this Wiki entry:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Balanchine

If you would like to see Balanchine's dance choreography performed, these youtube videos will illuminate the ideas quoted above.

http://www.youtube.com/channel/HC3zW-K8AV91o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FixT33wXqk8  Diana Vishneva - Vyacheslav Samurov - "Rubies"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud8zVcHPnuM Selections from Agon with music by Stravinsky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm_xxKPliwM La Valse with music by Ravel (rare entire ballet)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FGRUjhVujg&list=PLBADED5419348EBC0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnJUtKBoQrc&playnext=1&list=PLBADED5419348EBC0&feature=results_main

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN_YZ72hT34&list=PLBADED5419348EBC0&index=15

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p93LUjOODfw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhzDZnrIlSE&list=PLBADED5419348EBC0 (amazing technique)

If you are in Los Angeles, come and join us on Sunday June 9 at UCLA's ROYCE HALL on our fieldtrip to see Los Angeles Ballet perform Balanchine Red Festival showcasing these three dances:

La Valse - A waltz of frenetic energy with a hint of doom.

Agon - Twelve dancers in black and white in a contest of dance.

Rubies - The embodiment of the gem's elegance and appeal.

 We will be having picnic lunch from 12noon, attend a talk about Balanchine at 1pm if you wish, and then see the show at 2pm.  Contact me at reallykf@gmail.com for details on this special and very affordable fieldtrip.  Limited tickets available and first come, first served :)

This Saturday June 8 at Getty Center - Renaissance Family Festival

One of our greatest delights of living in Los Angeles is enjoying the periodic family festivals at both the Getty Villa and Getty Center.  For the same parking cost of $15 for the day, you can enjoy special art workshops and special dance, music, drama, or story-telling performances related to the theme of the family festivals which is usually inspired by one of the special exhibits.  It does get more crowded, but well worth a visit on these special days.  Don't forget your address book if you wish to have your own specially-created "wish you were here" postcards sent by Getty Center to any part of the world :)

Little known is the fact I learned from a security staff near the taxi stand:  the first hour of parking is free.  You can drop off passengers inside the parking structure.  According to the link below, if you wish to visit both the Getty Villa and Getty Center on the same day, you can now "pay once, park twice" with your $15 parking.  I haven't tried that myself, so find out what parking evidence you need for the second museum.  Remember that Getty Center is closed on Mondays and Getty Villa is closed on Tuesdays.  Parking after 5pm is $10 and Getty Center is open till 9pm on Saturday and Sundays.  Getty Villa always closes at 5pm.

Check changes in visiting hours and parking policy at:
http://www.getty.edu/visit/hours/index.html#parking

This Saturday's festival is inspired by the exhibit on "The Gardens of the Renaissance."  In addition to their permanent exhibits, these are their current exhibits and their closing dates.  Enjoy your family day of  fun learning there this Saturday!

		Gardens of the Renaissance May 28–August 11, 2013
		In Focus: Ed Ruscha April 9–September 29, 2013
		Overdrive: L.A. Constructs the Future, 1940–1990 April 9–July 21, 2013
		Japan's Modern Divide: The Photographs of Hiroshi Hamaya and Kansuke Yamamoto March 26–August 25, 2013
		Looking East: Rubens's Encounter with Asia March 5–June 9, 2013
		The Life of Art: Context, Collecting, and Display February 7, 2012–Ongoing

	Brigid's Daughter

Family Festival Celebrating Gardens of the Renaissance

Date: Saturday, June 8, 2013
Time: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Admission: Free; no reservations required.

Celebrate the Gardens of the Renaissance in this free daylong family festival. Create a garden of your very own or fashion a floral wreath at one the interactive workshops. Delight in the sounds of madrigals from the 15th and 16th centuries or listen to tales of distant kingdoms with renowned storytellers.

Ad Hoc Consort

COURTYARD STAGE

Ad Hoc Consort
10:30–11:15 a.m. and 2:30–3:15 p.m.
The Ad Hoc Consort is an eclectic group of musicians that enjoy playing and performing music from the Renaissance and medieval periods on instruments from those eras. Recorders, krumhorns, sackbuts, viols, shawms, and serpents make up what you'll see. Come experience the true sounds of the English Renaissance! 

Brigid's Daughter
Noon–12:45 p.m. and 3:45–4:30 p.m. 
Brigid's Daughters features Colleen Russell, Stephanie Molen, and friends. Dressed in beautiful Italian gowns, these performers set to entertain and delight you with music written in the Renaissance era in six different languages. 

	Country Garden Dancers

Country Garden Dancers
1:15–2:00 p.m. and 5:00–5:45 p.m.
A high-energy troop of English country dancers performs leaps and lifts in a swirling flash of color and sound. Join these lively lads and lasses in a step or two. 

MUSEUM LECTURE HALL

Flower Fairies: A Bouquet of Tales
1:00–1:45 p.m. and 3:30–4:15 p.m.
Storyteller David Prather employs a flowering humor, cultivated wit, and budding audience participation to bring flower-centric stories to full bloom! 


WORKSHOPS
10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Garden of Crafted Delights with Asuka Hisa (Museum Courtyard)
Create a Renaissance garden full of original floral and vegetal works of art in this site-specific participatory workshop. 

Floral Frames (Museum Courtyard) 
Use floral-pattern paper, botanic stencils, and tissue paper to create flowers to decorate a frame to display your postcard-sized art. 

Postcards (GRI Lawn) 
Create your own work of art using rubber stamps with floral patterns. We will mail your postcard anywhere in the world! 

Renaissance Wreath with Marianne Sadowski (Museum Courtyard)
Create a beautiful wreath adorned with fresh flowers and then parade around the festival grounds in all your glory. 

Celebrate Mother's Day with Hammer's Winged Migration documentary at 11am or an afternoon of piano music at 4pm with Richard Valitutto at Hilgard Ave

Celebrate Mother's Day with your family with this IMAX-like experience of a bird's eye view of the world as they migrate at the Billy Wild Theater in Hammer's Museum at 11am or enjoy an afternoon of piano music with Richard Valiotta from 4pm at the Italian Cultural Institute at Hilgard Ave near UCLA.  This Italian Institute offers free movies and music and a place to learn Italian.

Details below:

Winged Migration (2001)

May 12, 2013 - 11:00 am

Billy Wilder Theater

Free Admission!

"A film that will leave you dreaming about what it would be like to step off the edge of the world and discover you could fly." — Washington Post

Directed by Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud, Michel Debats

This thrilling documentary transports audiences to each of the world's continents to intimately experience the adventure undertaken by countless birds in their natural migratory journeys. Breathtakingly beautiful, the film offers scientific insights and technical wizardry, through a true bird's eye view of the spectacle of nature.

35mm, color, 91 min.

Recommended for ages 7+

FREE Admission!

Watch the trailer at http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/events/2013-05-12/winged-migration-2001

PART OF: 

 Family Flicks

Sunday afternoons  of piano music at the Italian Cultural Institute   Free Admission May 12 at 4 pm RICHARD VALITUTTO         ~ Program ~ William Duckworth from Time Curve Preludes (1979) Maura Capuzzo Portami con te nel mattino vivace (2013)  Salvatore Sciarrino Perduto in una città d'acque (1991) Alvin Curran Inner Cities III (1994-96)  Giovanni Verrando "Second born unicorn, remind me what we're fighting for" (2002)  Ottorino Respighi Notturno (1896) Jake Rosenzweig Three Piano Dances (2013)  Morton Feldman Nature Pieces (1970) Michael Finnissy excepts from Verdi Transcriptions (1972 - 2005) and  Gershwin Arrangements (1975 - 88) "Richard Valitutto was the vivid soloist in Messiaen's Oiseaux Exotiques,  musically conveying exotic birds in crazy song."  Mark Swed (Los Angeles Times, January 15, 2013)   Italian Cultural Institute 1023 Hilgard Avenue Los Angeles CA 90024 3:45 PM Doors open 4 PM Concert Light refreshments to follow Please RSVP to rsvp.iicla@esteri.it by 5/10   CURRENTLY ON VIEW AT THE IIC SALVATORE EMBLEMA: TRANSPARENCY A survey of works by Italian painter Salvatore Emblema (1929-2006) will be on display at the Italian Cultural Institute in Westwood, until May 31, 2013. The exhibition, titled "Transparency," has been curated by American art critic Peter Frank and organized by the Museo Emblema of Naples with the collaboration of the Italian Cultural Institute.   Until May 31 Mon - Fri 10-1 and 2-5; Sat 10-2

IIC Los Angeles 1023 Hilgard Avenue Los Angles CA 90024 (310) 443-3250 iicla@esteri.it  www.iiclosangeles.esteri.it  LIKE US ON   Download the IIC January - June 2013 calendar of events  Join Our Mailing List!  Start receiving our monthly newsletter and event announcements