springtime cometh

Though it may seem that this is a never ending winter filled with snow, frigid winds, and cabin fever, there are still many exciting cultural things to check out this month. 

I will be performing at the monthly Folk-Off, dancing to Joshua Sotomayor's music as part of the line-up. The skinny is listed below. It has been nearly 2 years since last we performed together and back by popular demand! Should be some good times. 

• Joshua Sotomayor/Melissa West
  songs and things
  Folk-Off at Con Artist
  6-9pm, Sunday February 27 2011 (Free Admission)
  119 Ludlow btw Rivington and Delancey in the basement.
  New York, NY
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  As NYC's Dance Theater Workshop transitions into the newly merged New York Live Arts (NYLA), they continue to have many shows for low-cost as well as some cool workshops. One workshop of interest is Eva Yaa Asantewaa's Writing on Dance. The application deadline is March 11th so get those wheels turning. Eva is a writer and dancer whose work has appeared in the Village Voice (among many other publications) and on her blog, The Infinite Body.
  Some links: http://infinitebody.blogspot.com/2011/02/apply-now-for-dtws-new-writing-on-dance.html
  http://www.dancetheaterworkshop.org/programs/workshops/writing
  
  ***
  While away at  The Yard this past summer I met a woman in Oak Bluffs who makes hula hoops. Naturally, I had to have one and had a beautifully meditative experience learning as the summer waned. The more I learn and do, the more I wish to share. I cannot wait for the spring to get here so we can continue with the Free Dance Project which included Summer Dance Jams in Central Park. This year, I will be adding to that free-ness, a hoop jam!! More information to come and, as usual, it will be a grassroots/collaborative/come when you can type thing. 
  
  
  While on the subject, check out the Hoop Path! Ann Humphreys teaches in Brooklyn on Tuesday nights at the Lyceum. Low-cost hoop class with a master. Do check it! http://www.hooppath.com/cms/
  
  
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  And, as always, continue to check out the Second Saturdays Staten Island Art Walk which happens every month on the second Saturday. As the weather gets nicer, more events will turn up. This past month I performed at the Deep Tanks Studio with Mary Ellen Carafice and Alex Amirov. There was a great turn out and many stayed for the live jam that happened afterward. Many thanks to the Deep Tanks Studio for inviting us to perform.
  More on SSSI!: http://www.secondsaturdaystatenisland.com/
  
  
  ***
  Please check out my new website: www.mwestandcompany.wordpress.com. It will have my most current performance information. I update it pretty frequently and will continue to use this blog as a forum for dance critiques (anticipate many this spring, as the winter has been low-key for me), reviews, contemplations, exciting events, and more at the independent movershaker!
  I cannot wait for the snow to melt and to go outside in my jean jacket !!
  -m