The ArtsFest Finale

It was the last day of ArtsFest, and I couldn’t think of a better way to bring these ten days to a close than to watch one of the most beloved plays of all time: The Kind and I.

The King and I, a musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, is a tale about an English school teacher named Anna Leonowens as she travels with her young son to Siam to tutor the many wives and children of King Mongkut. I’d heard nothing but good things about the musical, so when finally presented with the opportunity to see it, I knew I couldn’t pass it up!

So off I went to the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in Sanford. I was excited, I was anxious and I was ready to be dazzled!

I entered the building and took my seat, but as I was waiting I came to be a little bit confused. There was music playing, but the curtain was down. And it stayed down. For a while.

I was beginning to question whether this was a play at all or just a musical performance when finally the music came to an end, and applause erupted. A moment later, the curtain was drawn and the show began.

The first scene was lovely enough; as Anna and her son sailed to Siam, she broke out into the first song in her beautiful voice and I was immediately drawn into the story. But the part that truly amazed me was what came next.

The first second curtain was drawn and the stage was illuminated to reveal what easily rivaled the beauty of any set I had ever seen. The King of Siam’s palace was filled with rich reds and golds and purples and blues, and large curtains draped to the floor behind golden screens. In the middle of the stage stood a tall throne of gold, and on it sat the King himself, dressed in blood red robes trimmed in gold..

The glory of the set was absolutely astonishing. I have never seen anything like it, and I was unable to tear my gaze away for even a second. The live orchestra in front of the stage only added to the richness of the performance. Between the witty, humorous and genuine dialogue between the characters, the beautiful music and the breathtaking set, this was easily the best play I have seen in a long time.

The last event on my to-do list was the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in Avalon Park. Now, when the location in my ArtsFest pamphlet said “Avalon Park”, I was expecting to arrive in an actual park. Apparently I assumed incorrectly.

I turned into the entrance of Avalon Park and found myself driving not through a wooded glen or clearing or anything quite so quaint, but instead an actual neighborhood. There were apartments and flats on one side, houses on the other and all sorts of little shops in between.

I parked on the lawn next to a long line of other vehicles and was greeted by a group of kids that ran past with squirt guns. This was my first indicator of what was to come...great fun.

I meandered on over to a small amphitheater in front of which countless families sat in lawn chairs, on top of towels and sprawled out across the soft grass. The lazy Sunday afternoon sunlight was filtering down warmly on the audience as children laughed and screamed and soft tunes from string voices filled the air.

All around the edges of the lawn was a sidewalk down which people were walking their dogs and chatting softly. There were booths set up as well, some that served coffee and hot cocoa and others that sold tropical smoothies, knitted hats and everything in between.

When I finally found a seat on the lawn amidst the other concert-goers, I was pleasantly surprised at how soft the grass was. It wasn’t like the stereotypical Florida grass that poked my feet and was filled with fire ants; it was soft and green and cool from the breeze. It was REAL grass!

Things only got better from there as the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra selected the song Green Sleeves as their next number. And as I sat on the cool lawn with the sunlight warming my back, I took the chance to reflect on the last nine days I’d experienced.

I’d had a little taste of everything on my plate, from sculpture to improvised comedy, to symphonies and plays and dance and African folklore and pottery, and if there’s one thing that I can take away from all of it, it’s this:

No one should be intimidated to pursue art in any avenue. There are so many different mediums to try, and there are so many chances every day to create something beautiful. And that’s what is important to remember; it doesn’t matter what you do or how you do it, but it’s crucial that you simply DO. In context of the universe, our time here on Earth is fleeting, and the most significant thing we can do as human beings is to leave behind a beautiful mark upon the world, and the way we do this is simple:

We create Art.

These ten days have been absolutely magnificent, and I’ll be biding my time waiting for next year’s ArtsFest to come rolling around again.

Until then, I hope that everyone has had a happy ArtsFest 2010, because without a doubt, I know I did!

ArtsFest Day 9: Orisirisi and Out of This World Costumes

From the moment I met Tutu at the kickoff of ArtsFest at the Enzian Theatre, I knew I had to attend her event.

Tutu and her husband, Don, were in charge of Orisirisi African Folklore: Drum Sermons, Folktales, Legends and Myths from the Far Corners of Africa. When she introduced herself to me for the first time, she was dressed in traditional African attire. She was happy to tell me a little bit about her event, then she motioned between her husband Don and herself.

“I am African, and he is American; therefore, we are African American,” she explained with a huge grin on her face. “We’re the real deal.”

The atmosphere in the Orlando Public Library, where Tutu and her husband were set to perform on Saturday the 13th, was just as playful and lighthearted as the drummers themselves. Children were laughing, parents were chattering and everyone seated in the audience seemed to be smiling.

The stage was filled will all sorts of traditional African drums. In fact, they covered so much of the stage that there was hardly enough room for Tutu and her husband to make their entrance. Somehow they found a way, and the couple, along with a guest drummer from Nigeria, started off the event with a traditional African song.

After that, Don shared the African folktale about how music first came to be. That story preceded many more like it, all of which were more fun and interesting than the last.

African stories are different than the Anglo-Saxon tales more of us are accustomed to for one key reason; they require listener participation. If you were intending to slump down in a chair and be lulled to sleep by a storyteller, you‘ve come to the wrong place!

Each story has its own individual song that is broken up into two parts. The first part is sung by the storyteller, and the second is the designated audience response. The way it works is that the storyteller will go through the story up until the point where the song fits in. Beforehand he’ll teach the audience the appropriate response, so when he sings the verse of the song, with a little prompting the audience will sing the next verse, and then it’s a trade-off between singers.

Other than that, African sermons are similar to fairytales in other cultures; they’re filled with magic, humor, and, of course, plenty of talking animals.

Don, whose narration of the African folklore was the equivalent of James Earl Jones', playfully embodied all of the colorful characters in his stories, from the bald, troublesome turtle to the loud elephant, making the children in the crowd squeal with laughter and the adults chuckle, too.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for. Tutu invited everyone to grab a drum and beat to their hearts’ content, and the kids didn’t hesitate to rush the stage and claim their instruments. The adults hung back, content with relaxing and watching their children enjoy themselves. But Miss Tutu wasn’t having any of that.

“If you’re not a drummer, that makes you a dancer,” she announced, which sent a good-natured groan echoing through the crowd.

As Don taught the children the beat of the song, Tutu and some African-costumed helpers in the front row taught the audience to dance.

“Always dance as if no one is looking!” Tutu cheered encouragingly.

Far too soon, the event was ending and the audience dissipating. But the Orisirisi Drummers’ good humor and vivacity had been positively contagious, and everyone left the event with a smile on their face.


I spent the remainder of the day in downtown Orlando at the Orange County Regional History Center for Film and Television. I’d heard through the grapevine that the new exhibit there was pretty cool, so I thought I’d go take a look.

From the outside, the building appeared normal enough. It was concrete and conservative like the buildings around it; nothing out of the ordinary.

Therefore I was sharply taken aback when I entered the museum and there were manatees hanging from the ceiling and what appeared to be a red Ferris Wheel peeking out from one of the upper levels. This, I thought, must be what it’s like to set foot in Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium.

It was definitely full of wonder.

I walked past- or under, rather- the manatees and down the hallway that led to the new exhibit: Out of This World: Extraordinary Costumes.

The entire room was dimly lit for theatrical effect, and all around, preserved in glowing, glass cases were some of the most historical Hollywood costumes in existence.

Darth Vader’s black cloak and helmet was there, along with many other of the Star Wars outfits. Indiana Jones’ whip, leather jacket and Holy Grail were one of my personal favorite pieces, along with the jumpsuit worn by Dan Aykroyd in Ghostbusters.

The model of the ship Voyager from Star Trek was there, and so was Luke Skywalker’s severed hand from Star Wars [don’t worry, it’s fake].

I made it through the costume exhibit, but I thought I’d meander on and see what else was in the building as long as I was there. There was an entire exhibit dedicated to Florida oranges, and another on the history of Florida Native Americans. Yet another was dedicated to the plight of pioneers and life on the prairie.

There was even a legitimate courtroom on one floor!

The new exhibit may have been put in the spotlight for ArtsFest, but the History Center will remain open long after the ten days of ArtsFest have passed. You can check out details by visiting their website, www.thehistorycenter.org/
This place was just one adventure after another, and I have to say, I was glad I stopped by!


Day nine has come to and end, and with only one more day left of ArtsFest, I can certainly say that this has been one of the most fun weeks I’ve had in a while.

Happy ArtsFest!

ArtsFest Day 8: The Detroit Symphony Orchestra

It would not be an entirely unwarranted accusation to say that one of the deciding factors in my going to see Festival of Orchestras present The Detroit Symphony Orchestra was the fact that it originated in Michigan. Because I am a Michigan native myself, I naturally have an unfathomable pride for anything and everything that has to do with my state… except the Lions. But I think my lack of support for the Detroit Lions is justified.
At any rate, when I discovered that the Detroit Symphony Orchestra would be playing as part of the Festival of Orchestras at the Northland Performing Arts Center, I knew I couldn’t miss it for the world.
In all the years I’d lived in Michigan, I had never actually seen the orchestra perform. Next to the automobile, seafoam candy and the Red Wings, the DSO is probably the Mitten’s greatest export.
What’s interesting about the DSO is the fact that it was founded in 1914 by ten society women. To get things running, the women entreated subscribers to donate $10 apiece in order to fund what was, at that time, ‘a little project‘. Little did they know that by the 1920’s the DSO would be one of the most prominent orchestras in the country, attracting guests such as Sergei Rachmaninoff, Igor Stravinsky and Richard Strauss, just to name a few.
So put that at the top of the list of “Reasons Why Women are Awesome”.
I arrived at the Northland Performing Arts Center worrying that I might be slightly underdressed in my Orlando Magic’s Jersey, but when I entered I noticed that many of the guests that evening were dressed casually as well. There were children in the crowd, too. In all, it was a very comfortable atmosphere.
I took my seat in the auditorium and joined in the tumultuous applause as the musical director Leonard Slatkin traversed the stage and took his rightful place on the podium. The orchestra played a long, harmonic chord for the purpose of tuning, and then the room fell silent.
With a bouncing flicker of his wand, Slatkin pulled the first perfect note from the players onstage, and from there, the room was filled with an array of grand, delicate and beautiful tones and trills.
Between pieces, I hurried out to the lobby with the intention of grabbing a pamphlet, but as soon as the door closed behind me I was trapped.
“You’ll have to go up and watch it from the balcony until intermission,” the woman rigidly explained, pointing at a staircase.
She acted like it was a punishment. Watch it from the balcony? As in, take one of the best seats in the entire house and enjoy amazing music?
Well if I absolutely have to...
I hurried up the staircase and was ushered into the upper level of the auditorium, where I spent the rest of the performance enjoying the fantastic view of the stage below.
It’s not easy to describe music with words, but as I closed my eyes and basked in the wonderful acoustics of the auditorium, I had a thought. I came to the conclusion that music is, perhaps, the finest art in world because it is the only medium of art that is untouched by human hands. Artists play the instruments that produce the music, yes, but really, we are only the channel through which music passes.
So in a sense, music is the ‘perfect’ art.
I spent the entire concert thinking deep thoughts like this; I couldn’t help myself. There was something profound about the music that incited ‘big thinking’. That’s probably why parents play Mozart for their babies. Hm. It’s all adding up now.
Eventually the time for intermission arrived, and as I was walking down the stairs I heard the sound of music. It sounded like someone was playing a marimba in the lobby.
Sure enough, as I rounded the corner there was a marimba parked right in the center of the lobby, and a girl with two mallets in each hand was deftly tapping away on the instrument.
The last time I witnessed anyone play that many notes in succession that ungodly fast, it was when a world-renowned percussionist played Flight of the Bumblebee. This girl, and her successor, were amazing!
The lights in the room flickered as a notice that the intermission was coming to an end, so I left the girls to their marimbas and settled down in my seat for the rest of the concert. The lights dimmed down, the instruments went up, and I was thoroughly dazzled for the remainder of the evening.

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra was definitely a good decision; I would see them again in a heartbeat! They definitely made day eight of ArtsFest a success in my book!

There are only two days of The Central Florida ArtsFest remaining, so go out and have a happy ArtsFest!

ArtsFest Day 7: Sculptures and the SAK

It seems impossible that there could been any form of art absent from the vast multitude of events during this week of ArtsFest, but on second thought, I realized that one medium had somewhat fallen by the wayside:
Sculpture.
Fortunately after consulting my 30-page ArtsFest pamphlet I realized that there was an event that was exactly was needed to fill the gap in my ArtsFest experience where fine arts should be. The City of Orlando’s Sculpture Exhibit was in full force downtown, and I’d be darned if I was going to miss it!
I drove into the city and, after circling what I thought was 400 S. Orange Ave. more than a few times, I managed to find a parking spot… in the scariest, darkest, most decrepit corner of the parking lot across the street. The wind was biting cold and the dead branches of the scraggly trees next to my car stretched up haggardly towards the golden moon, and the sound of my car door slamming behind me was the only sound in the entire, desolate lot…
It was creepy.
I hurried as fast as a could towards the building but was a little bit hesitant to enter when I saw display table after display table of what appeared to be VFW memorabilia. I scanned the area and checked the address to make sure I was in the right place and everything seemed to be correct, so I walked inside to make sure.
I was greeted by the sound of a disgruntled night watchman grumbling into the phone- not the watchman himself. He managed to separate himself from the conversation long enough to bark out “Sculptures?” and then, upon my timid nod, immersed himself in the conversation once more.
I wandered into the sculpture exhibit and silently appreciated the work. The first thing I saw was what appeared the be the shape of dress made out of mesh, with shreds of cloth attached strategically in some places.
Abstract pieces like this always leave me begging the question, “What is art?” And I don’t mean the technical definition that you’ll find in Webster’s.
I mean, what makes something art? What makes something beautiful? What makes something like Starry Night a masterpiece, or the Statue of David, or the Mona Lisa as well?
I don’t think anyone can really say for certain, because the world of art is, really, based on perception and individual interpretation. I could look at the sculpture of the octopus and say that it was angry and terrible and mean, while a stranger could say that it seemed sad and desperate, and evoked a feeling of helplessness.
But that, I think, is the true beauty of art. It’s the ability to create something from nothing, and to stir up feelings in people that experience it.
The beauty in art is doing it. Doing something.
Some people could argue that you can’t just “go do art”. There are rules for art; there are time-tested methods. You can’t just go out and paint a cow and call it “art.”
I would have to disagree.
There are some principles, of course, that come with art and are prevalent in all mediums, such as painting, drawing, film and dance; but I think the real beauty of art comes not from following the technical rules, but instead using them as guidelines to channel feelings into the tangible.
The real beauty of art is when artists capture an emotion and use it to build something that can be shared with the world.
That’s what is beautiful about sculpture, in my opinion, because whenever one looks at a sculpture, they’re looking not only at the creation, but into the soul of the artist who created it. It’s looking at a specific moment in the artist’s life that is perfectly crystallized into something that can be seen and touched.
In my opinion, that is what makes art, art.

The trip to the sculpture exhibit was quiet compared to my other misadventures during ArtsFest, but it was certainly not a disappointment! And there would plenty of time for rowdiness that evening at the SAK Comedy Lab.
I’m sure plenty of people are familiar with the improvisation television show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” Well if that has you laughing, you should definitely check out the SAK!
The SAK’s new show “Dueling of Fools” kept me laughing longer and harder than I have in a very long time!
The way it works is that the players on the show are divided up into two teams of three, and select audience members are given score cards. The teams compete to win points, which are awarded based on how much the audience members like the improvised skits.
The show started with the host, Ron Weaver, sprinting across the stage and up the aisles with a bucket of tootsie rolls in hand. He scattered the candy into the excited audience with all the vivacity of a kid on a parade float, then picked up the mic and welcomed in the players of that night’s show.
Scene by scene, things spiraled into hilarious insanity as the players hopped around stage, climbed on top of one another, improvised their own Broadway musical numbers and ate bunt cakes off the floor.
The show had me laughing from beginning to end!
There will be shows at SAK for the next two days of ArtsFest, so if you’re looking for something fun and interesting to do with your Friday or Saturday night, check out www.sak.com to grab tickets and look at details on the upcoming events.

ArtsFest has continued to provide thought-provoking and entertaining events throughout the entire week, and I’m sure the next three days won’t be any less exciting!

Have a happy ArtsFest!

ArtsFest Day 6: Heritage

I have never seen a more vibrant display of pride for one’s culture than at the Heritage festival put on by the Orlando School of Cultural Dance on the sixth day of ArtsFest.
The Plaza Theatre was abuzz with excitement last night at 7:15 as vendors outside the auditorium doors cheerfully showed their artwork for all of the incoming guests. I perceived, as I entered the doors, a sort of energy radiating through the air. Although I couldn’t explain why, I knew that this event was going to be vastly different than the previous eight I had attended so far.
The first thing I noticed when I took my seat in the theatre was the unique set of drums set up on the stage. As I am not much of a ‘connoisseur’ of foreign drums, I could only rightly call the drums “bongos”, which I’m sure is incorrect. Nevertheless, there were several of them sitting in a row, and each of them had a silhouette of Africa painted on its front.
The stage was perfectly silent and awash with blue light from the lamps above. The only movement was the sparkling freckles of dust that churned gracefully in and out of the spotlights. There was something about the way the tendrils of azure mist swirled about the stage that gave the scene a feeling of mystery, and I felt a shiver of excitement pass through me as the first hallow knock of the drum echoed around the room.
I was already drawn in, and the show had barely even started!
Suddenly the stage was filled with dancers dressed in traditional African costume of the most vibrant teals and pinks and yellows and reds, and all of them were throwing themselves into the beat of the music, singing at the top of their lungs and smiling from ear to ear.
I can honestly say that I have never watched anyone dance with more vigor and outright joy than the students of OSCD. And that’s to say nothing of the crowd! All around me, women who were part of the Orlando School of Cultural Dance’s adult programs were quick to raise their voices and join in with the beautiful African hymns, and all throughout the performances there were excited yips and trills from the audience members as they cheered on the girls onstage
The Orlando School of Cultural Dance didn’t put on a show last night; what happened at the Plaza Theatre on the 6th day of ArtsFest could only rightly be called a party which all the audience members were a part of.
It was an honor to be involved in such an experience!
At one point in the night Julie Coleman, who founded OSCD in 1989, invited audience members up on stage to learn the moves of an African dance.
“There’s no Simon Cowell out there to judge you,” she assured her pupils as she took her place center stage.
The reason, she explained, for learning a cultural dance is to express yourself and celebrate life. There is just no room for judgment in an environment like this that is so inherently joyful.
I was right when I guessed that this event wouldn’t be like the rest of the ones I‘d attended- in fact it was unlike anything I had ever seen period!
While I was sitting in the audience looking up at the youths onstage who so jubilantly celebrated their life and culture, it was obvious to me how proud they were. Though the costumes were beautiful and colorful, and the dances were energetic and the music was fun, the real beauty of the experience came from obvious joy the students were experiencing as they displayed the arts of their history.
I wish that more people in the world could show just an ounce of the pride towards their own cultures as the students did for their mother Africa last night. In the end, it’s our own responsibility to make sure that the traditions and arts of our past are kept alive, and the best way to do that is to share them with the rest of the world, like the Orlando School of Cultural Dance so aptly demonstrated this ArtsFest.

It’s the 6th day of ArtsFest and things are just becoming more and more interesting! This was one of the most fun events I have been to yet, and there are still four more days’ worth of events to attend. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Have a happy ArtsFest!

The Grant Norman Experience: ArtsFest Day 5

For me, one of the first things that comes to mind at the mention of “opera” is The Phantom of the Opera. This was more than fitting for the circumstances Monday night, because Grant Norman, who played The Phantom in the Broadway musical, was set to perform with the Central Florida Lyric Opera at the Plaza Theatre.
I was thrilled to think that I would be watching the show!

The first thing that happened upon my arrival at the Plaza Theatre was that I was shown backstage, at which point I tripped over a cord and sent a four-figure microphone crashing to the ground. The sound technician was friendly enough as he picked it up, but all the same, I hurried downstairs into the dressing room and away from the scene of the crime. I met Sam Reynolds, the self-proclaimed “upping-coming” stars of the Central Florida Lyric Opera, and he cheerfully joked with me for a while about that night’s show. He introduced Jake, a fellow student at the University of Central Florida, and neither one of them could find a bad thing to say about Grant Norman.

Grant Norman is a graduate from the Central Florida Lyric Opera's Training program. It’s where he got his start. In fact, the pianist of the show and Executive Director of CFLO, Maestro Bill Doherty, was the one who taught Grant.
To anyone unfamiliar with Grant, he has become a regular on Broadway. He’s played a variety of roles, from the leading man in Miss Saigon to the "Beast" in Beauty and the Beast, and he even played in London in Her Majesty’s Theatre!
We were so lucky to catch him for ArtsFest!

As I took my seat and waited for the show to start, I didn’t know what I should anticipate. I’d seen some of the girls backstage wearing evening gowns and some serious jewelry, so should I expect to see the rest of the performers in costume as well? As far as I was aware, any sort of opera necessitated some kind of fantastic getup, usually including a cape and possibly even a mask. Turns out that this is just not the case. Grant Norman entered the stage, guitar in hand, dressed normally enough. He candidly addressed the crowd, and then kicked off the show by performing Elvis’s “Hunk of Burnin’ Love”. I was thoroughly impressed, though clearly not as impressed as the elderly woman behind me who I heard remark, “He’s just so sexy.” I couldn’t help but notice the disappointment in her voice when she learned that he was married.

After Grant finished a few sets, current students of the Central Florida Lyric Opera performed numbers from The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, Camelot and others. The performance was spectacular. I can honestly say that I’ve never heard so many beautiful voices together under one roof. To end of the night on a perfect note, all of the performers gathered onstage and joined in together in a tear-jerking rendition of Nessun Dorma. They then bowed together, to tumultuous applause and a standing ovation from the crowd, and exited the stage, beaming all the while.
Afterwards I managed to snag Grant Norman for a quick talk. I’d been pondering throughout the performance what I wanted to ask him if given the chance, and I’d finally come up with a couple worthwhile questions.

“What advice do you have for aspiring artists?”
Being the gentleman that he is, Grant was more than happy to respond in full detail. But the just of the message was this: Work hard, be open to criticism, and make sure you’re having fun and learning something along the way. I think that these are words of wisdom that any artist should take to heart.

Day 5 seemed to come and go so quickly, and I still am feeling a little star-struck about talking to Grant Norman. I’ll be back at the Plaza Theatre tomorrow for more great performances, and I can’t wait to experience something new!

Have a happy ArtsFest!

Past-times and Patriotism: ArtsFest Day 4

The American Racket Cloggers

“Today, in an auditorium filled with spectators, I’m going to grab a stranger in a baseball cap and make him my partner, then hop onstage and let a professional Clogging team teach me how to Barn Dance.”

This was not the first thought that came to mind when I woke up this morning.

I had been flipping through my handy ArtsFest 2010 catalogue, scouting out interesting events to attend on the 4th day of the festival when my eyes fell across it:

American Racket Cloggers: Live and Kickin’.

I had to go.

Without hesitation I hopped into my Kia and shot off towards Kissimmee, excited at the prospect of finally regarding a sport that was much-anticipated in my book: Clogging.

I didn’t know much about Clogging, except that the dancers wore silly shoes and the music was fun. What more could I possibly want out of a dance? It sounded like a win-win to me!

The outside of the auditorium was deceivingly serene, and when I wandered around the premises there were signs posted for some sort of Church gathering. I was halfway convinced that my GPS had mislead me when my ears caught the distant trill of a fiddle, and I hurried towards it.

Inside the building were a few ushers that were quick to welcome me in, so in I went. The moment I set foot inside the auditorium I knew I had made the right decision.

A good ol’ folkie favorite was being blasted over the loudspeakers, filling the large room with the merry hymn of fiddles and onstage was a group of 6 dancers; three guys and three gals. On the way to my seat, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from them as they twirled, “hoo-hah”-ed and vivaciously slapped their steel-plated shoes against the wooden floor to the beat of the song.

I was mesmerized!

When the song was over, a group of traditional Irish Cloggers gamboled onto the stage and performed a lively jig that had the audience clapping their hands in rhythm. If the Flip camera hadn’t been in my hands, I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from clapping as well!

The American Racket Cloggers returned to perform a few of their favorite numbers, and then came the interesting part.

“For this next dance, we’re going to need some help from the audience.”

The request rang throughout the auditorium and rattled up a wave of mumbling from the crowd. You could tell what was on their minds: ‘Help? From the audience? Where‘s my coat?’ But sure enough, the Cloggers dispersed into their audience and took their pick of innocent bystanders to publicly humiliate. I, for one, was happy to be cozy in my seat and excited to watch the newcomers attempt to dance.

“We need one more female participant.”

... Of course you do.

After shooting a quick glance behind me at the reserved crowd, I knew for certain that the gods of dance were calling upon me, so I pocketed the Flip camera and hustled onto the stage, where I partnered up with the pleasant stranger in the baseball cap and, well, the rest is history.

I’m going to pretend like I didn’t have an absolute ball up there with the Cloggers. Scratch that; I had a Barn Dance. Even better!

After snagging an interview with the Cloggers on the way out the door, I was proud of my spontaneity and the fantastic adventure it had led me to.

Check out more from the American Racket Cloggers by visiting http://americanracket.tumblr.com/


The Hannibal Square Heritage Center

After the Cloggers, I hurried off to Winter Park where I hoped to find my next destination, Hannibal Square Heritage Center.

Ever the observant one, I unwittingly parked directly across the street from the Heritage Center then spent the next fifteen minutes meandering through Winter Park looking for it.

After giving up hope and heading back to my car, I saw ArtsFest flyers adorning the entryway of the building across from me. Sure enough, there was Heritage Center. I hurried inside.

Although beautiful, the interior décor was not what I was expecting. Almost every inch of the wall was covered by a portrait of a local African American resident of the Winter Park area, along with a short story or description about the picture.

These pictures were part of The Heritage Collection: “A unique exhibition of history told by the residents who have lived it”.

Each of the portraits told a unique story about a struggle an African American individual in the Winter Park area had faced. Keep in mind that the walls were covered with portraits. Not a single wall stood blank. This was certainly a humbling experience, and though it was unspoken, I knew that reverence was a necessity within the building

I eventually ran into the events coordinator of the day, and was able to talk to her about the activities that were going on inside.

“It’s an intragenerational activity today,” she explained to me.

She then showed me upstairs to where children, students and adults were all painting either self portraits, or portraits of someone important to them.

Although one of the goals of ArtsFest is to promote arts and festivities, it should not be forgotten that learning and embracing diverse cultures is also important. I definitely urge people to visit Hannibal Square Heritage Center for a chance to learn something new about one of the most important branches of American History.

If a portrait is worth a thousand words, and this building was filled with portraits, that means we have a whole lot of listening to do. So we'd better get started!



Emotions Dance Company

What makes “contemporary dance” any different that a regular dance?

Heck if I knew- up until 6:50 p.m. Sunday night, that is.

I parked my car outside a brown, round-ish building in Orlando at 6:45, entirely prepared to get to the bottom of this “contemporary dance” matter.

I stepped inside the building and was extremely surprised. The room was large and round and mostly empty except for a well-lit section straight ahead. A square, black mat lay across the floor, on the far side of which a sat a man with an acoustic guitar that was plugged into an amplifier. On the near side of the mat were the guests, seated in a hodgepodge array of plastic chairs.

This was certainly a different experience.

I noticed some photographers curled up on the floor between the audience and the mat, and I quickly joined them. Just as I had fired up my trusty Flip camera, the announcement echoed throughout the room, “Flash photography and recording devices are not permitted at any time during the performance.”

I was immediately disheartened, but luckily the photographer next to me seemed to notice. She nudged me.

“That doesn’t count for us,” she grinned, brandishing her “ArtsFest 2010: All-Access Pass” badge for me to see. I couldn’t have been happier!

Now, if a person were to decide, impulsively, to regard a contemporary dance performance, there is one important rule that needs to be established: approach this type of dance with an open mind.

I certainly did not intend to be nearly kicked in the face by one of the dancers, nor did I expect to watch one crawling across the floor directly towards me. These incidents were a bit astonishing at first, sure, but every movement was relevant delivering the underlying message of the performance: the struggle between good versus evil.

Sunday night at approximately 7:30 p.m., I fell in love with contemporary dance. A combination of the traditional grace of ballet and new-age rock, this is type of dance by far one of the edgiest, most passionate and artistic means of self-expression I have ever witnessed!



Day four of ArtsFest 2010 proved to be busier and just as exciting, if not more, than the previous three! From the noisiest of traditional American dances, to a glimpse into the lives of the Americans who have struggled most, today has been a day of Patriotism and Past-times! I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Have a happy ArtsFest!

Pottery and Players: ArtsFest Day 3

It's only the third day of ArtsFest but I already I feel as if I've been on the road for weeks! So much to do and so little time!

My first adventure took me into the heart of Orlando to the City of Orlando's Pottery Studio where I was hoping to catch a couple of minutes of the Kid's Pottery Workshop on camera.

Little did I know that I would have a far more hands-on experience than I had bargained for.

Once I finally located the building- and trust me, its discovery was no easy feat; I spent a good fifteen minutes driving circles around the Amway Arena before I even caught sight of the studio- I hurried inside, Flip camera ready, hoping to talk to the artists running the place and maybe even some of the participants of that day's activities.

I introduced myself to Kim, the manager of the City of Orlando's Pottery Studio, and she was happy to give me a brief history about the studio and some of the classes it offers. Having been in business for nearly 40 years, the Studio offers classes specifically tailored to all age groups from local students to senior citizens.

However, it's no secret that most of the Studio's business stems from young, budding children artists. In fact, one of the most popular events in the Studio is the Kid's Summer Clay Camp, a four-week long program that offers kids a chance to invent everything from pinch-pot animals to vases.

The number one mission of City of Orlando's Pottery Studio ArtsFest event, "Kids Pottery Workshop", is to encourage kids' creativity.

"We don't allow parents back into the studio with the kids," Kim explained to the hovering parents today. "We want the kids to be able to express themselves, and the parents will end up doing the whole project for them."

This was the point at which she turned to me and asked if I wanted to join the class. Join the class? As in, playing with clay for half an hour? Is that a serious question?

One set of paintbrushes and a block of clay later, I was building a masterpiece. I'm not sure who was having more fun, me or the ten-year-olds at my table, but one thing was for certain; this class rocked!

Far too soon the clay had been molded and painted and turned in for firing in the kiln. My new-found friends and I will be returning on the 27th to pick up our clay dishes, and personally I plan on making mine the center of attraction in my future, overpriced Orlando apartment!




Later that evening, I was on my way to attend one of the most anticipated events on my hectic schedule: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at Mad Cow Theatre in Downtown Orlando.

Wait, they're dead? Do they start off dead in the beginning of the play? Well that certainly doesn't make much of a story if the heroes of the play are already pushing up daisies... maybe they die later in the play? Or maybe they're dead, and we're just watching them at some different level of existence... Are they ghosts?

Confused? I was too.

The entire first act of the play is dominated by the Shakespearean heroes Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as they flip coins, ponder the validity of "chance" in the universe, and try to remember which name belongs to who. To be honest, it's slightly reminiscent of the age-old "Who's on first, what's on second" sketch.

So what's the RGAD play about? It's Hamlet, but with a twist. The epic tale is told from the perspective of Hamlet's quirky, amnesiac friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as they first try to get to the bottom of Hamlet's ailment, then try to remember why they're on the mission at all.

The play is, admittedly, a little difficult to follow. Rosen and Guild even confess in the third act that 'their existence is just one incident after another, rather than a series of actions'... at which point pirates attack their England-bound ship. Just another example of how quirky and unpredictable this play really is; even if you know the story of Hamlet, RGAD will keep you guessing!

The befuddled antics of Timothy Williams (Guildenstern) and Michael Marinaccio (Rosencrantz) are what drive the plot, along with the vagabond tragedians and their ceaseless string of innuendos. The tragic character Hamlet only makes an appearance on the stage 5 times at most throughout the entire 3-hour performance!

In surmise, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead definitely isn't your run-of-the-mill performance, but if you're looking for an eccentric comedy or a new spin on an old classic, look no further than RGAD! It'll be onstage until Feb. 28th, and I highly recommend you check it out!

... Now, which one is Rosencrantz again?

Be sure to stay tuned to Mad Cow Theatre online for more amazing theatre!

Today was definitely an interesting day; from pottery to players, the third day of ArtsFest 2010 was a success in my book! Be on the lookout for video footage from today and the other events on the ArtsFest youtube account.

Have a happy ArtsFest!

Ballet on Magnolia Ave: ArtsFest Day 2

It was a madhouse at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center at 6:59 p.m. as people lined up in the hopes of grabbing tickets to see the Orlando Russian Ballet perform Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The only reason I was able to get in at all was because Cory came to my rescue and managed to pull me past the crowd and through the double doors.

Every single one of the 681 seats in the theatre was filled, which left over a hundred downtrodden people walking back to their cars without tickets. They didn't go home empty handed, though; each of the guests that could not be given a seat for the night's performance was instead gifted with a pass to attend a future show at the theatre.

As I got comfortable on a stairwell stage-left, I began to get excited. The last time I attended a ballet I was young and fell asleep through the entire second half. This time I was ready to be dazzled by the young dancers in tights!

But apparently graceful dance and Miranda Williams just do not mix.

Cory Warren, the head hauncho in the ArtsFest goings-on, invited me onstage to model my Orlando Magic's jersey and, true to my nature, I of course tripped and stumbled down the steps while exiting the stage.

Fortunately, my own clumsiness was in stark contrast to the the beauty and grace of the Russian Ballet. Under the direction of world renowned choreographer Vadim Fedotov, the show was outstanding, breathtaking and, in some parts, just plain adorable.

The next event performed by the Russian Ballet of Orlando will be the International Ballet Gala. Principal dancers will be flying in from Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Czech Republic, and from all around of United States Ballet Companies to celebrate the Russian Ballet of Orlando's ten year anniversary.

I urge anyone interested in dance to check out http://www.russianballetoforlando.org/ for details on upcoming performances, and, as always, have a happy ArtsFest!

T'was the First Day of ArtsFest

ArtsFest.

Something about the mention of “art festivals” dredges up, for me anyways, memories of row after row of collapsible white tents, sweltering summer heat and far too many meandering old women on the prowl for hand-made, ceramic soap dishes.

Fortunately, the Central Florida ArtsFest is absolutely nothing like what I’ve just described.

Ask any Floridian artist and they’ll be quick to tell you how renowned this festival is. With 205 events spanning across four counties over the course of ten days, it’s be a pretty big deal. Not to mention the fact that it’s sponsored by Bank of America and United Arts.

I, on the other hand, knew absolutely nothing about it until I was chosen to document it.

Therefore I had no idea what to expect when I pulled into the parking lot of the Enzian Theatre for the kickoff of ArtsFest last night.

From the moment I parked, all of my preconceived notions about art festivals were immediately thrown to the wayside.

The outside of the venue was nothing like I expected. It was cool and green and landscaped with meticulously groomed hedges that curled around stone pathways leading to an outdoor bar. The lawn stretched from the bar down across the hill, at the base of which an enormous movie screen was being erected.

While walking towards the entrance, I passed hundreds of hand-made, paper mushrooms. They were sticking out of bushes and poking out of the ground in all directions, and beside one particular patch was a sign that read “Free Mushrooms!”.

I smiled; what an interesting little quirk. That was the moment I knew that ArtsFest was going to be unlike anything I’d experienced thus far.

I met up with Cory Warren, who outfitted me in an official ArtsFest 2010 Orlando Magic jersey that hung past my knees, and then I was loosed on the event with my Flip video camera in hand.

First thing I did was hurry into the theatre itself. Again, I was blown away.

Remember those uncomfortable, squeaking, folding movie theater chairs? You won’t find them at the Enzian.

Instead, the theatre is outfitted with plush sofas and chairs, each with an adjoining table upon which sits a menu, with every option from steak tacos to Bavarian chocolate cake. Plus- a wine list??

I was astounded! But from there, the excitement only grew as guests, volunteers and even some ArtsFest performers began to arrive.

I was certainly surprised when a boy in a black tie blew past me on a unicycle more than once, and every time I’d turn around, I’d somehow strike up a conversation with someone interesting.

Perhaps one of the most memorable events for me was being tugged into the 95.3 Radio Station tent. The guys were quick to teach me the tricks of the trade, and they enthusiastically stood by as I spun disks for the first time in my life.

I trekked all across the venue all day long, side-stepping over paper mushrooms and talking to as many people as I could. I met Tutu and her husband, stars of Orisirisi Drum Sermons: Folktales, Legends and Myths from the Far Corners of Africa, which will be performed on Saturday, Feb. 13th from 1:00-2:00 p.m.. Then I tip-toed through a row of paper mushrooms-

Okay stop. What the heck is up with the mushrooms?

I eventually found the proprietor of the paper mushroom trade, who explained to me that his art had nothing to do with fungus at all. The Spore Project, developed by Doug Rhodehamel, is a worldwide effort to promote awareness for creativity in everyday life. Doug often travels to schools, promoting the importance of art and self-expression. You can visit his website at http://www.dougrhodehamel.com/spore_project.php

Finally it was time for the scheduled events to get started. I plopped down into a red plush sofa and for an hour and a half, I watched Pee Wee Herman be silly on the big screen.

When the movie had ended and the crowd was beginning to disperse, I played back through the footage I’d captured throughout the day and one thing in particular stood out to me.

Even though the theatre was gorgeous and the landscaping was beautiful and the movies were amusing, that’s not what made the day memorable.

It was the people that made ArtsFest such a great event. Their quirky personalities were the forces that drove the festival and made it worth attending.

With that thought in mind, I felt excited for the next nine days to come. All of the artists I’d met at The Enzian were so interesting and fun- imagine the sorts of characters I had yet to meet during the remainder of the festival!

On the way back to my car, I paused for just a moment. I then plucked up a handful of paper mushrooms, grinned, and headed off to prepare for the second day of ArtsFest, 2010.

Miranda Williams has Magic!

Miranda Williams has been selected by United Arts of Central Florida to be the "10 Days of ArtsFest Magic" blogger. For the entire ten days of ArtsFest, beginning tonight, Ms. Williams, a first year film student at The University of Central Florida, will be covering ArtsFest through video and photo footage and uploading her findings daily to the news tab of www.ArtsFestFL.com. Be sure to check back frequently to find the latest information on Miranda's experiences at ArtsFest 2010, February 5-14, 2010. For more information on this special promotion, please click HERE.

Orlando Magic draft ArtsFest

(Pictured above, Cory Warren, Events Coordinator for United Arts of Central Florida) In recognition of a special marketing promotion during ArtsFest, the Orlando Magic have printed a special jersey for the UCF Film Student, Miranda Williams, to wear while she visits several ArtsFest events around town during the upcoming ArtsFest 2010 (February 5-14). Miranda will be blogging about ArtsFest every day of the festival through a special partnership between the Orlando Magic and United Arts of Central Florida called "10 Days of ArtsFest Magic." (click here for more info) Tomorrow night, February 4th, Miranda will make her first appearance in the Magic Jersey at the ArtsFest Community Pre-Kick Off Event at Enzian. For more information on the kick off, click here.

Tickets still available!

4,000 tickts for ArtsFest sold out in 5 minutes, but there are still 2,000 FREE tickets available to the following events:

Fri 2/5/2010
at 7:00 PM
The Center for Contemporary Dance
Trinity Preparatory School - Winter Park, FL

Sat 2/6/2010
at 11:30 AM
Maitland Art Center (Good Knight Theatre)
Maitland Art Center - Maitland, Florida

Sat 2/6/2010
at 12:00 PM
Maitland Art Center (Sketch Club with a live model drawing)
Maitland Art Center - Maitland, Florida

Sat 2/6/2010
at 12:00 PM
Maitland Art Center (Sketch Club with a live model drawing)
Maitland Art Center - Maitland, Florida

Sat 2/6/2010
at 1:00 PM
Rock Lake Community Center
Rock Lake Community Center - Orlando , Florida

Sun 2/7/2010
at 2:00 PM
Central Florida Ballet
The Plaza Theatre - Orlando , Florida

Mon 2/8/2010
at 7:30 PM
Central Florida Lyric Opera
The Plaza Theatre - Orlando , Florida

Tue 2/9/2010
at 7:30 PM
Orlando School of Cultural Dance and OSCD Foundation
The Plaza Theatre - Orlando , Florida


To make your reservation, click here to be taken to the ArtsFest Schedule of events online. Once you are there, simply find the event you would like to attend and click on the "Tickets Are Limited" icon next to it to make your reservation.

Tickets live today at 10am!

ArtsFest tickets are live today at 10am! To make your reservations, click on the "Tickets Are Limited" icon next to an event that you would like to see after viewing the schedule. You can view the ArtsFest schedule by clicking here.

ArtsFest Banner live in action

How do I reserve tickets!?!?!

Once you log on to www.ArtsFestFL.com and click on the
"schedule" tab, click on the flipping schedule icon. That will take you to the schedule of events. Turn to page 8 to begin viewing all of the events offerred for ArtsFest. Keep an eye out for events that have the above "Tickets Are Limited" icon. When you see an event you would like to attend that has this icon, simply click on the icon to make your reservations to the event. Remember that there is a 4-ticket limit per email address to all of the "Tickets Are Limited" events and you MUST have a valid email address in order to make reservations. Thank you for your interest in ArtsFest and we hope you enjoy this event! Tickets go live Tuesday, February 2nd at 10am.