28 October 2006Hi All, Thought I’d give you one last update before I come to Australia for the highlight of the year ... THE JAZZ FACTORY CONCERT!!! (And also a Kylie concert while we’re in town!) Can’t wait to see everyone again. I had such a blast when I was in Sydney earlier in the year and am really looking forward to catching up with everyone again—and to seeing how well you’re all dancing! I must admit, the thought of sitting in the audience of a Jazz Factory concert for the first time ever is very, very exciting!! Life continues to be wonderful over here. Where to begin ... The children finished up school in June, returning again in mid-September, giving them an almost three month break—and that’s at a public school!! It’s such a long time!! As working people only get two weeks of annual leave, the summer camp system is thriving, as you can imagine. India and Atticus had two weeks at a beautiful day camp, where they did gymnastics, craft and had day trips into the countryside to see trees and nature again—essential for young Manhattanites!! They also did a trapeze summer camp at STREB in Brooklyn which was just too cool for words! We also took advantage of our proximity to Europe and met my family for two weeks in Denmark (my father’s homeland!). Some shows I’ve seen since last postcard include ... The Wedding Singer which was based on the retro 80s movie. Very corny, but lots of fun!! Hairspray for the second time!! Some friends and I took our girls along—such a great happy musical and the kids were amazed! We queued up afterwards to get autographs from the cast—including Haylie Duff!?!?! Note: they’re currently making a movie of the musical, starring Zac Efron—Troy from High School Musical (my kids’ favourite movie of all time!!!) The Times Are A Changin’ which is directed and choreographed by renowned dance guru Twyla Tharp and uses (as you’d guess from the title) the music of Bob Dylan. It was an odd one (not blessed the good reviews!?!) but with some great songs and amazing acrobatics, it was certainly entertaining. I would have loved to have seen some more dancing, knowing what wonderful things were possible with such a director. Never mind! A touring production featuring Sylvie Guillem (probably the most famous ballerina in the world today—now aged 41) with choreographer Russell Maliphant in four of his short works. She is so amazing!! Not a programme packed with leaping and spinning virtuosity at this stage of her career—but so much control and presence. Sublime ... The Legends of New York Hip Hop Featuring the likes of Grandmaster Flash, the Rock Steady Crew and DJ Jazzy Jeff, it was a retrospective of hip hop dance, music and culture since its birth in the Bronx. It was at a theatre that generally presents shows for kids, so the audience was a bizarre mix of parents with their children (think educational programmes at the Opera House) and hard-core hip hop fans!!! India was blown away! The Rolling Stones at the Giants Stadium in New Jersey. Still rockin’! It’s been great to have Jazz Factory visitors to stay. Hannah Marchetto, an original Jazz Factory student who’s just finished Year 12, came to visit after working at a Summer Camp in Canada. We had such fun. She came with us to Hairspray and afterwards Hannah, India and I ended up waiting in the crowds outside the stage door of Radio City Music Hall for the stars to come out of the MTV Video Music Awards. We did manage to see Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Serena and Venus Williams, Ne-Yo and Chris Brown (although it was lucky Hannah was there to point out who was who at times?!?). We also recently had Stephanie and Annie Hunter to stay. Step (a Jazz Factory teaching assistant who dances in Senior 1 & 2 classes, advanced hip-hop and advanced exam class) did an open jazz class at Broadway Dance Center, came to three of the shows mentioned above and shopped New York dry!! She was also in town for her 15th birthday, Atticus’s 4th birthday (the same day!) and India’s 6th birthday! India had her party with 20 little friends at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and was so thrilled to have her ‘big girl friend’ Stephanie along!! One thing to look out for if it comes to Australia ... there’s a reality TV show over here along the lines of Australian Idol. It’s called So You Think You Can Dance and it’s amazing!!! The dancers are auditioned from all over the USA. The finalists pick from a hat to determine who they are partnered with and what styles of dance they will perform each week. Dance styles include: contemporary, hip hop, crumping, disco, jazz, pop, cha cha, waltz, jive, tango, musical theatre etc, etc. The dancers are SO good and manage to pull off most styles SO well. Imagine a breakdancer dancing contemporary, or a ballet/contemporary specialist performing hip hop. I went to see the national tour of the top ten dancers at Madison Square Gardens and it was literally one of the best shows I’ve seen!?! My favourite dancer (who came second ... is’t that always the way) is an 18 year old guy named Travis Wall. To check out his dancing go onto YouTube and search for ‘Travis Wall’ or ‘Happy Birthday Mr Wall’. You’ll be truly blown away! So all in all, we’re having fun and keeping very busy. India’s enjoying ballet at the Joffrey Ballet School and modern dance at Dance Theater Workshop. Atticus still loves his African Dancing and Drumming with Djoniba, soccer, ballet and swimming (his teaching being the joint gold medallist for the 50m freestyle at the Sydney Olympics!! Somewhat overqualified to teach a 4 year old with minimal swimming talent, I would have thought!). Arlo is now two and has started some pre-school which means I’ll have more time to do things around town. I’ve started another photography course, this time at the International Center for Photography which is going really well. Missing everyone and really looking forward to catching up in a week or so!!! All my love, Hanne xxxx |
2nd April 2007 |
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