National Dance Day brought out a huge crowd.

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On July 26th of 2014, National Dance Day hit Orlando. It was held at the Orlando Ballet Central Campus (2201 McRae Avenue Orlando FL). The Free event featured 15 classes with 13 styles of dance in 3 dance studios. This was the second annual
celebration that aimed to educate, inspire, and promote the Orlando dance
community. This event was specially designed to promote
progressive development of dancers, celebrate the diversity of Central
Florida’s dance professionals, and further connect the Orlando dance
community. This year’s event encouraged dancers and non dancers
alike to participate in a variety of 15 free dance workshops. These
classes were taught by local Orlando dance company directors,
choreographers and fitness instructors who lead participants
through body conditioning, dance technique and choreography at beginner,
intermediate, and advanced levels. National Dance Day Orlando brought opportunities
to those who love the art of dance by encouraging ongoing education.

I parked in the Theater parking lots on Princeton and walked towards the dance studios. I’ve never been inside this dance space before, so I didn’t know what to expect as I approached.  The dance studios are in a large building right next to the railroad tracks. There were a few dancers standing outside the entrance chatting. I was amazed when I entered. The entry hall was packed with dancers taking a break between classes. Holly Harris who was instrumental in organizing the event, welcomed me. She gave me a quick tour showing me the 3 huge dance studios. Every dance studio was packed. Hundreds of people had showed up to dance. To say that the event was a success would be an understatement.

I settled in, sitting in the back corner of a studio. Sketching a crowded group of dancers, all doing the same dance moves is probably the greatest sketch challenge there is. I contented myself with catching each dancers unique gestures and body proportions. The instructor further complicated the sketch by insisting that dancers in the back rows should move up while the front rows moved back. This allowed everyone a chance to see the dance moves up close and added a sense of panic and chaos to my sketch. I stayed for the duration of the samba class and then packed up my kit. I could have stayed all day capturing dancers but I keep my sketch habit to one a day. Otherwise I’d get lost in the process and never come up for air. Art requires some balance to work its way into becoming a life.

As I was leaving I bumped into Larissa Humiston who is the founder and lead choreographer for Emotions Dance. She was with Taylor Shepherd, who is one of Larissa’s incredibly talented dancers. On stage Taylor is fierce and commands attention. They were about to teach a beginning and intermediate Contemporary dance class. Larissa understands the advantages of collaborating with artists of all kinds. I worked with her doing a series of paintings that were projected before each dance piece for a show titled “Art Evolution“. It was a very rewarding experience.

Jammin’ Drum School offers a weekly class in worldbeat hand drumming.

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There is nothing more primal than the beat of hand drums. Greywolf offers weekly classes every Friday at The Orlando Aikido Dojo (3764 Howell Branch Road, Winter Park, FL). At 7:00 pm the beginner Jammin! drumming class starts with with Greywolf and Mark DeMaio. They offer insights into proper dembe hand technique; drills and fundamental orchestrated multi-part rhythms. In the class I sketched, there was one beginner, Susan, and soon she was holding her own. Judy, in a pony tail, seemed like a regular beside her was Mark, who I’ve seen perform at Earth Day for Heather Henson‘s Ibex puppetry. Greywolf I have seen many times at drum circles and at world beat gigs around town. Sven who was right beside me had a fascinating intricate tattoo on his bicep.

At 8:00 pm Intermediate class Jammin! class appropriate for all levels begins. All levels are welcome. Greywolf offers insights into Samba drumming with  Djun-djun and other stick techniques along with more complex rhythms. Dun-Dun parts and solo phrases for basic rhythms are covered. I found it funny that Djun-djun and Dun-Dun sound just like the beats created on the drums.  This class is all Sambas, all the time thanks to the insistence of students.

At 9:00 pm the Advanced Jammin! course with Greywolf offers Additional instrumentation and yet more complex rhythms; odd time signatures; performance breaks and leads along with Ensemble pieces. As an example of complex rhythms Greywolf showed us a You Tube video he helped produce based on a ticking beat. Sketching to these complex rhythms is a real pleasure. The beats set the pace as lines danced on the page. People often tell me, “I can’t draw a straight line.” I bet some people feel that they couldn’t keep a beat. But after one session with Greywolf, they would be proved wrong. If you are looking for a fun date night. This would be it.

Any class is $12.
Any two or more classes on the same night is $10 each.

Miller’s Field House had so many TVs, it was hard to know where to look.

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On July 19th, Terry and I went to Miller’s Field House (7958 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando, FL) to watch the Chargers battle against the Chiefs in the playoffs. Well, Terry watched the playoffs and I sketched. Terry grew up in San Diego, so she always roots for the Chargers, even if she is the only person in the room doing so. The place was packed with fans, Many wearing the jersey of their favorite team. I ordered a burger and a beer and got to work.

The game was pretty close for a while, but by the second half, Terry was groaning far more than she was cheering. The Chargers lost which sealed their fate for the season, they would not be going to the Super Bowl. On my several trips to the bathroom, I realized that the bar also had seating outside, and it was just as crowded out there. People would come in shifts, watching a game and then heading out. The bar must do a brisk business since the drinks kept flowing as long as there were games and commentary.

A curators preview of Real Life Observations by Dale Kennington at the Mennello Museum of American Art.

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On January 22, I went to The Mennello Museum of American Art which was undergoing preparations for the January 23 opening of Real Lives: Observations and Reflections by Dale Kennington. This is the first exhibit in the museum’s yearlong series devoted to “Storytellers of the South: Voices of Women.”  Curator Dr. Lee A Gray offered insights as guests followed her through the museum. I sketched Executive director Frank Holt who had just announced that he planned to retire at the end of January. Holt was instrumental in widening the museum’s scope from simply folk
art to all American art, and in establishing the Mennello’s affiliation
with the Smithsonian Institution. Virginia Mecklenberg, chief curator
of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, has called Holt a “visual
genius.” As the group of about 20 guests moved gallery to gallery, I stayed sketching the main reception desk. Frank seemed pensive, perhaps reflecting on the influences brought to the museum. He always seemed to understand and respect my sketching obsession. So I’m sorry to see him go. This sketch was done on top of another sketch so that I could give the sketchbook a consistent flow.

Realist painter Dale Kennington is now 80 years old. She does large oil paintings of people engaged in everyday activities. She takes a series of photos of any given location and then pieces together her composition from those many visual elements. For instance a painting of people in a swimming hole featured the same bather in multiple places in the same painting. I do the same thing when I sketch on location. Often I will follow one person, sketching them multiple times to populate a scene. Dales paintings are all inspired by luminous light and often feature reflections. She married Don Kennigton, a successful business man so making a living as an artist was not a concern. She started painting because she wanted portraits of her children. In the mid 80’s she gave up portraiture and switched to becoming a studio painter. In 2009 she was recognized by the Alabama State Council on the Arts with
the Governor’s Arts Award, and the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel
as one of Alabama’s “Master Artists”. Seeing so many large light filled paintings made me want to start working large myself. I’m working on a 30 inch high piece right now but it is a real challenge to sit alone all day working on one painting. I’m used to sketching in the hectic chaos of life and those sketches only take 2 hours. Committing to spend a solid week with one image is a real challenge.

United Arts is offering Artist in the Community Grants.

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I went to a workshop offered by Mary Giraulo, the United Arts of Central Florida Manager of Grants and Arts Education at the Maitland Arts Center (231 Packwood Ave, Maitland, FL). The room was pretty full and the Power Point presentation was already started. An author had read about my Life Sketch project where I went to retirement homes to sketch people and get their life stories. I had collaborated with several authors in the past. While they conducted the interview, I sketched. This worked for me because once I start a sketch, I’m lost in the moment until the final wash and lines hit the page. Any conversation is a distraction that takes me cot of my “zone”. One author I worked with took her own life and the other decided it was too much work after a few write ups.

I decided this grant would help pay for the author’s time as well as my own. She was considering a grant for another project as well. I asked at the workshop if an author could collaborate on one project and also get their own grant and it is possible. The tricky loop hole in this grant is that United Arts would only fund half the amount needed. The rest of the funding would have to come from private sources.  The maximum grant amount is $2,500. So I would need to match that amount.

Via e-mail the author let me know that she decided against collaborating on my project. I have 3 days to decide if I will apply for the grant on my own. Perhaps I don’t need an author but instead I could use a tape recorder. When I’m sketching people, they tell me stories even when my attention is mostly on the sketch. Perhaps I could ask a few questions and keep working. I have to finish a large illustration in the next few days and then maybe I’ll fill out all the paperwork. I’ve started keeping track of all the opportunities that are available as I move ahead and this is just one of many. As an artist, you have to pick your battles as you learn to survive as an artist.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for March 7th and 8th.

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Saturday March 7, 2015

10am to Midnight $59 Circus World II REUNION. International Palms Resort & Conference Center Orlando, 6515 International Dr, Orlando, FL. Clown meetings, dancer meetings, etc. Contact Dan Stapleton at magicdanstap4u@aol.com.

6pm to 8pm Free. Brewery Tour. Orlando Brewing, 1301 Atlanta Ave, Orlando, FL.

8pm to 10pm Free. Shuffleboard at Orlando’s Beardall Courts. 800 Delaney Ave Orlando FL. 1st Saturday of each month. Free fun! https://www.facebook.com/OrlandoShuffle?notif_t=fbpage_fan_invite



Sunday March 8, 2015

9am to 1:30pm Porche Rally. Advanced registration is $40 per car. Day of rally registration is $45 per car.

Millenia Motors, 1020 Charles Street, Longwood, FL. The 29th Annual Challenge / Charity Rally to Benefit the Russell Home for Children. Registration form on our website.

You will be given the chance to drive your car through some of the best roads and unspoiled areas in Central Florida. Schedule for the Rally: 9:00 Registration begins. 9:30  Continental . Breakfast and Concours.  10:00  Drivers Meeting. For questions, email Bill Davis @ wmd968@gmail.com.

Noon to 5pm Free but get a drink. Sunday’s with Smiling Dan. The Falcon Bar & Gallery, 819 East Washington Street, Orlando, FL. DJ spinning tunes.

1pm to 3pm Free. Script Reading Workshop. Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show, 8267 International Drive, Orlando, FL. Read and workshop plays.

Mystery Sketch Theater has moved to the Falcon Bar.

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Mystery Sketch Theater is a monthly sketch group. Models are usually dressed in elaborate cos play costumes. The sketch session is just $5 for the night. The sessions have moved around over the years. The first time I went it was held in a tiny Japanese bar called Tatame near Rollins College, it was then held in Comic Shop on Semorian Boulevard and then in a warehouse near Fairbanks. Its newest home is The Falcon Bar ( 819 E Washington Street, Suite 2, Orlando, Florida). I like to go when I can. Having a model pose for any length of time is a real luxury.

Tonight’s model is Brooke. She will be coming out of hibernation on stage right in front of your eyes! I suggest you buy a drink to thank The Falcon for hosting. The bar doesn’t serve food so feel free to order delivery from a nearby restauraunt. I haven’t sketched Mystery Sketch Theater at the Falcon yet, so I plan to go tonight to loosen up and relax.

Mark your calendar! Mystery Sketch Theater is tonight, Thursday March 5, 2015. The sketching starts at 8pm until 10pm. You don’t have to be an artist, just come out grab a drink and be a voyeur. Sketching is $5. Its free to watch.

Kelly celebrated his birthday in style at Pilars.

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Kelly Dewayne Richards is a prodigy on the piano so it made perfect sense that he performed while his friends sang for his birthday on November 13. Pilars Martini Bar (146 Plant Street Winter Garden FL) is located right next to the Winter Garden Theater and Kelly has been performing there once a week for the past couple of years. It seems that Kelly’s friends are not your average karaoke singers. These folks belted out the tunes with Broadway quality voices. Trudy Petersen was the singer who I decided to sketch. Love was brazened on her shirt and it was easy to love her voice. One singer introduced as “Joy Top Dance” sang a Louis Armstrong song, “What a Wonderful World“. She lowered her voice and managed to sing with Louis’s gravely vibrato.

As I was packing up to go, an artist named Rod Reeves introduced himself. We sat outside and shared sketchbooks. He sketches on location like myself so it was an unexpected surprise.  He advised me to look up Francis Marshall, an English Illustrator. Marshal’s location sketches are fluid and bold with a flair of fashion. I could learn much studying his work.  I collected a card from my fellow sketcher, but for the life of me, I can’t find it.  Hopefully our paths will cross again. Inside the bar, every voice was singing “Seasons of Love” from Rent. With so much talent in the room, it was an inspired performance that could give the coldest heart a warm glow.

Mark your calendar. Kelly performs at Pilars every Thursday from 7pm to 10pm.

DRIP never fails to amaze.

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DRIP (8747 International Drive Orlando FL) is an in-your-face explosion of color and movement backed by a live rock band, all in an industrial bar. You may get wet … you may get messy … you WILL have an awesome time. Grab a colored beer (orange, yellow, red or blue!) or glass of wine from our bar and let DRIP assault your senses. For this sketch, I thought I might be out of the splash zone because I was standing close to the stage. I was wrong. This sketch was hit multiple times by uncontrolled tsunamis of color from the show.

This explosive dance show follows the story of three dancers, Yellow, Blue and Red. Yellow and blue fall for each other and when they touch their colors mingle to create green. Blue cheats and has a hot purple affair with Red. In a ferocious strobe scene Yellow discovers the truth and trashes the place in anger. In the spotlight she experiences isolation and sorrow. In the end though, she recovers as she washes away the residue of her former relationship in a bright yellow shower.

This local dance company has been bringing this show to tourists on International Drive for over a year. This is a place where adults can get away from the child themed parks and get a little nasty. DRIP is much like a speakeasy. It is located in a dark alley behind a Denny’s and Senior Frogs. You enter via a loading dock.  If you haven’t experienced DRIP yet, what are you waiting for. Spring Break shows are coming up starting March 6th. DRIP will blow the roof off. Be sure to dress down.

Tickets:

Student with ID $35.00

Party Rate for groups 8+ (includes DRIP t-shirt) $39.00

General Admission $44.00

Florida Resident with ID (includes DRIP t-shirt) $49.00

General Admission (includes DRIP t-shirt)$54.00

The Marble Bar in Sydney is a popular retreat for locals.

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In Sydney Australia Terry found the opulent Marble Bar (488 George Street Sydney NSW 2000) where we relaxed over several drinks between our tourist rushes. The bar was first built in 1883 in the former Adams Hotel on Pitts Street. The entire venue was painstakingly dismantled and moved to it’s present location at the Hilton Sydney. The original George Adams Bar was built for the then astronomical price of 32,000 pounds. The money was secured through the Tattersall Sweeps, one of a series of horse races held in New South Whales at the end of the 1800s. The decoration of the bar followed the traditions of the Italian Renaissance with Corinthian columns capped by solid brass capitols. 100 tons of marble were used from the best Belgium and African mines. Decorative stained glass panels can be found everywhere giving the room a warm magical glow.

A few people were curious as my sketch progressed. Locals are proud of this historic bar. A women stopped to tell us the bars entire history. I ordered a tasty Charlie Chaplin simply because I like the silent era comedian. The Charlie Chaplin Cocktail was one of the premier drinks of the Waldorf-Astoria prior to 1920. It has an equal mix of lime, apricot brandy and sloe gin and is documented in A.S. Crockett‘s The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book and it’s a nice, gentle mix, which is sweet and tasty.

A huge party of well dressed patrons soon filled the bar. They might have been from a wedding or business group, I couldn’t decide.  The dress code of the bar is “smart casual” and Terry and I might not have met the code since our dress code wan “casual tourist.” We and I returned upstairs to the busy modern streets of Sydney stepping from the romance of this historic time capsule.