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For the last year or so, I’ve been exploring slant form and “matsuri” / “bon” taiko. I have been searching for a way to notate my new movements and have been reading about dance notation. I’ll do a separate post on taiko movement notation once I’ve figured out a workable system. In the meantime, here are quick reviews of the books I’ve read thus far, including one fantastic work by Ann Hutchinson Guest with historical and philosophical perspective on dance notation.

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Hiro and I are making progress on the dream home! In addition to the Shoebox House described earlier, we’re exploring another design concept called the Two Box House. Working with Ron Golan of (RGON Architecture), we’ve now have a 3D model of the rough schematic design. Here are the first renderings! (Note the shadows are a little wacky because the walls are made transparent.)

Parallel configuration

Perpendicular configuration

More images and info after the break!

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Working with Matt Gallizzi at NoTix Technical Solutions, Hiro and I implemented a photo auto-blogging system to take shots of our meals. There are still a few rough spots to work out but you can see our most recent meal in the updated header of my blog, and our last 30 meals here. Nerdy, no?! Howto coming soon!

Like Kris just posted Brent came by the studio to do a photo session for his portraiture class.  We went down to the LA river which is just a couple of blocks from the studio for the outdoor shots.  Brent does a lot of design work for us including the hand printed cover of our last limited run EP. See more of his work at BPdesignlab.com.

I never really was the competitive type of person, but some opportunities are too good to pass up. I just signed up for the 2011 Guitar Center Drum Off. If you’re not familiar with this competition, it’s where some of the nations best drummers go head-to-head for a chance to win a bunch of money, a custom drum kit and cymbals, endorsement deals, and tons of recognition. Preliminary competitions begin on September 23rd. Following these are district, then regional and finally national competitions. What’s my strategy? Pull all the stops. An onslaught of chops. Percussive blitzkrieg. This is both scary and exhilarating. Oh well, off to the sheds.

Our good friends at San Jose Taiko team up with bay area DJ group Bangerz for a song about robots!

Developing and Refining Movement Phrases
by dancer and choreographer, Rachel Cohen

Rachel Cohen has prepared a workshop at my request for the Matsuri Aces crew entitled Developing and Refining Movement Phrases, to be held next Tuesday, August 24. Although spaces for participation are full, if you would like to observe, you are welcome to join us. Send me an email and I’ll give the details!

About Rachel Cohen

Rachel’s strong proclivity for the arts led her to a career as a dancer, choreographer, and dance educator, earning two degrees from UCLA, and performing and choreographing professionally. She has taught dance at UCLA, Loyola Marymount University, and El Camino College. Seeing a necessity to create national visibility for local dance companies, Rachel founded Cadence Arts Network, Inc., in 1989, which now includes an international roster of artists in dance, music, and theater. She frequently lectures in universities, and serves as a consultant, mentor, and mediator for a variety of performing artists.

Okay so usually I would NOT turn OnEnsemble.org into an advertisement for anything but I feel compelled to let you all know know that I found something I thought I would never find: mainland shave ice that doesn’t suck!  For years and years I’ve been wondering why it’s so hard to make shave ice like Hawaii’s famous Matsumotos or my personal favorite Waiola’s.

When I lived in Hawai’i going to Waiola’s was a religious experience.  Inspired by chado I sought perfection in the ritual of my own shave ice ceremony.  To arrive fully with all of your senses in a single moment to enjoy the pleasure of a lychee shave ice is to attain some kind of modern day enlightenment.  (more…)