DANCE IS LIKE WATER

Dancing was forbidden by my upbringing.

I had to secretly go to my room which really wasn't my room, as I shared it with my sister, to dance.

I was allowed to go, but I couldn't dance at my high school prom.

I love dance more than anything. Then I love music next.

Dance and Music - the best about being alive.

I can dance while home alone and it makes me feel great.

I love to dance every summer at the music concerts at Waterplace Park in Providence by the river.

Dance is like water.

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Uploaded by lovemylifesblog

This dance was originally danced by Judith Jamison. It is danced here by Dwana Adiaha Smallwood on the Oprah show.

The original music is not used in this Youtube because Warner Music Group may own rights to the music.

Cry (1971) Choreography by Alvin Ailey. The original dance music by Alice Coltrane, Laura Nyro and Chuck Griffin. Costume by A. Christina Giannini.

Interview with Dwana Smallwood:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=05AXVBm8n_I

See another video, but danced by Renee Robinson:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSCZBhe77B0

The Youtube links included below are also of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre
and have the original music with the videos.

Alvin Ailey Dance Performances:

Blues Suite
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z0FeZsG9oM

Wade In the Water from Revelations
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9uEq9Sjefg

Revelations - Part 1
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWJzSP7irwM

Revelations Part 2
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvP9dmH5PBA

Fix Me Jesus
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CXk1mQVCgI

Love Stories 2
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eKHLBMZU6w

Alvin Ailey and Katherine Dunham 1988
www.youtube.com/watch?v=edhwJHAey1o

Alvin Ailey speaks
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYhiV8oqAKU

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre is more than dance
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2T-Rbf_z54

The music is Miyela Africa by Vusi Mahlasela
from the CD A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AFRICA
The CD is available for $13.98 US
at www.amazon.com
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I saw this independent film Sunday, June 7, 2009 by Anne Bass
Dancing Across Borders

See some clips of the movie
www.dancingacrossborders.net/videos

The story of ...

SOKVANNARA (SY) SAR

www.dancingacrossborders.net/bios

Sokvannara (Sy) Sar was born in Siem Reap, Cambodia, where he studied traditional Khmer dance from the age of ten at the Wat Bo School. He often performed with the school’s troupe at Preah Khan Temple for guests of the World Monuments Fund. In 2000, Anne Bass, an American enthusiast and supporter of ballet, saw him there and was impressed by his talent and invited him to visit the School of American Ballet in New York.

Sar studied at the School of American Ballet for five years and ultimately joined Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle when his teacher, Peter Boal, became Artistic Director.

Sar was a semifinalist in the International Ballet Competition, Varna, where he performed variations from Giselle, La Sylphide, Coppelia, and Le Corsaire. He was also a guest artist at the cross-cultural evening at the Chatomuk Theatre to celebrate the opening of the new United States Embassy complex in Phnom Penh, where he danced variations from Square Dance, Tschaikovsky pas de deux, and Le Corsaire. He has originated roles in Benjamin Millepied’s On the Other Side, 28 Variations of a Theme by Paganini, and 3 Movements. In July, 2008, Sar performed On the Other Side, accompanied by Philip Glass, for the opening night of the Vail International Dance Festival. In addition, he has danced featured roles in George Balanchine’s La Sonnambula, William Forsythe’s One Flat Thing, reproduced, Kent Stowell’s The Nutcracker, and Twyla Tharp’s Waterbabies Bagatelle.

While still in Cambodia, Sar placed third in the National Japanese Language Competition. During his years at the School of American Ballet, Sar also attended Professional Children’s School, from which he graduated in 2003 with honors. He has attended Fordham University and Seattle Community College.

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The Film

On a trip to Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia in January 2000, filmmaker Anne Bass came across a sixteen-year-old boy who moved her immensely with his amazing natural charm and grace as a dancer.A longtime devotee of the world of dance, Bass felt compelled to give this young boy the opportunity to leave his home and follow a dream that he could not yet have fully imagined. From the serene countryside of Southeast Asia to the halls of New York’s School of American Ballet to the stage of the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, DANCING ACROSS BORDERS peeks behind the scenes into the world of dance and chronicles the intimate and triumphant story of a boy who was discovered, and who only much later discovered all that he had in himself.

Read more synopsis

The teacher - Olga_Kostritzky

About Anne Bass at production

Dancing Across Borders Press Package

BECAUSE OF MY DAD I KNOW I HAVE KNOWN WHAT LOVE FEELS LIKE ~ DAD'S MY ANGEL

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The Last Rose of Summer

Tis the last rose of summer,
Left blooming alone,
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone.
No flower of her kindred,
No rose bud is nigh,
To reflect back her blushes,
Or give sigh for sigh.

I'll not leave thee, thou lone one,
To pine on the stem.
Since the lovely are sleeping,
Go sleep thou with them.
'Thus kindly I scatter thy leaves o'er the bed
Where thy mates of the garden
Lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow
When friendships decay,
And from love's shining circle
The gems drop away!
When true hearts lie withered
And fond ones are flown
Oh! who would inhabit
This bleak world alone?

This is the note I sent recently to the nurse who was with my father when I talked to him on the telephone when he moved from mortal life to immortal life…

I cried today. I have my regret that I wasn’t there in body to be with Dad and watch him take his last breath, to hold his hand. But you were. I am grateful for you. Thank you.

I didn’t know how my note would be received because my family is broken and people knew it where dad lived his last year of his life in an institution. They didn’t know the weird inside story, but we had to appear in ways to draw judgments. I was never told by my mother that dad was near death and she knew he was. So I was in Rhode Island the day he died. I sent my note to Marcia anyway because I am sincerely grateful for what she did for me and for my father. I really only knew Marcia from a couple exchanges. So I took a chance that she would receive me in the spirit that I sent my sentiments.

Today, I received a reply from my note that I sent to Marcia ~ who sat with my father in Indiana, May 10, 2007 the morning he died. I have been so moved. It has helped me grieve, finally, for losing my father.

This is the note sent to me.

Dear Sandra,

I felt privileged and honored to act in your behalf at your Father’s Death.

I admire your courage and strength born of the great faith that you shared with your Father.

I think back at that unforgettable moment in time when Mark took his final breath precisely at the final word of your song. I was in awe at the peace and stillness in his presence.

I have no doubt that Mark was very proud of you ~ and had great love for you ~

Sandra ~ thank you for sharing those final ~ precious moments with me ~ PEACE

The song that I sang to him was “The Old Rugged Cross”.

Today, I don’t feel like sharing my deep feelings or talk more of the story. I did write about it complete with pictures at posts
Though My Dad Died He Lives On
and
I Sang for My Father ~ Precious Memories

From my childhood through today, I love the old hymns we sang as I was growing up. And Dad and I shared this love together.

This is in honor of my beloved Father:
…………………………………………………..

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I Surrender All

Thank you, Dad.


Mahalia Jackson ~ Just A Closer Walk With Thee