WHAT'S NEW THIS WEEK?

DJs are cool. And they hold a lot of power: they can set the tone for a party by the music they play and the vibe they give the space. I used to be a DJ locally at KPFT-FM and in Japan at a station called "FM Banana"! In Japan, I often went to car showroom openings as the party DJ (our station was a Mitsubishi cable station) and had such a fun time taking requests and getting people to "bust a move." If you (or your child) have been wanting to learn about the fine art of DJ'ing, I have the perfect opportunity for you! Mixxwell Audio Lab offers free DJ workshops and an open house on Saturdays from 1-4pm through August 31. If you're interested in taking the DJ thing further than that, they offer a full slew of courses, from "Turntable Techniques 101" to "Heavyweight Crates."

Go ahead, mix it up!

THEY MADE LEMONADE…

I just love Hope Stone Dance Company! Artistic Director Jane Weiner is a fabulous, creative dancer and, new this year, we get to see the Company on a regular basis since they are debuting their first-ever full season. “Lemonade Stand” will kick off the 2010-2011 season in August and is a three-week festival highlighting work from the company's 13 years in the dance community. Families will love “Knock, knock,” a combined premiere work created for Hope Stone Dance and the Kid's Play Ensemble. The festival features several Hope Stone guest artists and a unique lemonade stand serving plenty of lemonade (perhaps manned by Weiner’s fiancée, who has appeared in shows before??).

Hope Stone, Inc. is a threefold organization consisting of (1) the choreographic endeavors of Artistic Director Jane Weiner; (2) Hope Stone Dance Company, a dance and theater ensemble; and (3) Kid's Play, an artistic outreach venue for children and youth at risk. Founded in 1997, Hope Stone strives to make art a stronger part of everyone’s lives and is dedicated to presenting authentic dance, music and theater performances and nurturing the creative and expressive side of children and adults. The remaining shows in their season are “Village of Waltz” (October 22-23), “An Evening of Bread and Circus” (April 7-9) and the annual Kid's Play premiere performance, “One” (May 7).

“Lemonade Stand” will be at the Barnevelder Movement Arts Complex, 2201 Preston Street, August 12-14, 19-21 and 26-28 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $18/each.

CIRCUS WITH A SOUL

Unlike any circus you’ve seen, UniverSoul Circus is coming to Joe Kelly Butler Stadium (13755 S. Main Street) August 10 through August 15. “We Play Too…Much!” is an interactive experience for all ages and culture, featuring dancing in the aisles and singing along with popular Pop, R&B, Hip Hop and Latin songs. Other acts are Chinese aerialists, stunt basketball players, contortionists, trampoline shenanigans, teeterboard maneuvers, animal shows and a furious tiger act. The audience gets to be part of the show and actor, comedian, and impersonator Anthony Luewellyn a.k.a “Tony Tone” serves as the Ringmaster with his quick wit and unique style. “Tony Tone” has performed across the country, sharing the stage with comedians such as Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx and most recently in Tyler Perry’s movie, “I Can Do Bad All by Myself.”

The UniverSoul Circus was founded in Atlanta, Georgia over 17 years ago by Baltimore native and preeminent live entertainment promoter, Cedric Walker. Cedric is a pioneering force in urban-influenced, high tech, state of the art music, theater, and festival productions.

Tickets are $12-$30; kids 12 months and up need a ticket (under 12 months don’t as long as they sit in a lap).

THIS WEEK'S ATTRACTION...HOUSTON & HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES. For more attractions, go to www.gishcreative.com/attractions.htm.

Summer’s almost over so I recommend you spend these last few lazy and hot days visiting your neighborhood libraries. Your whole family can get some good reads and many of the libraries have activities scheduled right up to the end of summer. The Harris County Public Libraries have a kids page and events all the time, which include lots of storytimes and occasional special guests. Houston Public Library also has a kids page and an events page where you can sort by type of event (children and teens, for example) and branch. Most branch libraries have storytime events this month and the Central Library is your best bet for the largest variety of kids’ events – they have “Bedtime Storytime” at 7pm each Thursday and this Saturday, 8/14, from 11am-2pm, they are hosting an “End of Summer Craft Table" that will feature crafts out the wazoo!

DANNY CLARK PHOTOGRAPHY MIXED MEDIA CAMP

Danny Clark Photography Studio is hosting two more weeks of summer camp for teens -- August 10-12 and August 17-19, from 10am-3pm (early and late care available). This special mixed media camp is a collaboration with Gonzo247 of Aerosol Warfare, CKC StART, and Danny Clark Photography. The camp will focus on incorporating photography within mixed media collage art. Techniques such as screen printing, stenciling, painting with aerosols and other mediums will be used to explore the endless possibilities.

The camp is $300 and is for ages 11-16.

Sarah Gish
Gish Creative
1940-A Fountainview, PMB 116
Houston, Texas 77057
phone/fax: 713.482.7065

email: sarah@gishcreative.com
web: www.gishcreative.com
and: www.thesummerbook.com
and: www.saveourlandmarks.org

© 2010 Sarah Gish

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