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Archives |
San
Diego Jewish World
Sunday,
May 13, 2007
Vol. 1, Number 13
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San
Diego Jewish World |
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Tempo of interfaith gatherings quickens as major Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit nears By
Donald H. Harrison |
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5/13/07
SDJW Report (click on headline below to jump to the story) Regional and Local *Tempo of interfaith gatherings quickens As major Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit nears *Letter to the Editor Arts, Entertainment & Dining *San Diego finally has a classical ballet company that is worthy of the name *Inside The Culinary Scene Daily Features Jews in the News Jewish Grapevine For Your Reference San Diego Jewish Community Calendar San Diego Jewish Community Directory Advertisements Anderson Travel |
The beat goes on June 9 when Congregation Dor Hadash, San
Diego's only Reconstructionist congregation, hosts a fundraising reggae
night dinner that will feature Jamaican food and African music and dance.
Andrea Wagman-Christian, event co-chair, explained that the theme was chosen
"to reflect the diversity of the Jewish people all over the world and the
spirit of inclusiveness at Congregation Dor Hadash." A portion of the $118 ticket price will be donated to relief efforts in the Darfur region of The Sudan. Dor Hadash is located at 4858 Ronson Court in the Kearny Mesa area of San Diego. Its phone number is (619) 972-0810. The Poway Interfaith Council plans a succession of "Summer Interfaith Evenings" starting with a presentation Thursday, July 5, by Rev. Glen Larsen at the Community Church of Poway, 13501 Poway Road. In his lecture and each of those that will |
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follow, speakers will be introduced by members of their own faith
groups, then tell stories about their traditions, and take questions and
answers. According to Rev. Abigail Albert of the Family Spiritual Center, who helped organize the program, speakers have been asked to address such questions as: 1) Where does our Faith come from" The Creation Story. 2) What is the meaning of life? 3) What is the role of prayer? She added: "We ask our speakers to address these topics through stories and some lecture. The stories are for the children attending as well as the adults." She said speakers also are invited to bring music, song, dance, creative art and food for the ensuing hospitality time. "At the end of the story/lecture time the speaker will say a prayer, chant or sing a song in his faith tradition and tie a knot on the Peace Quilt whic will be displayed. The schedule of Thursday night speakers to follow Larsen includes: On July 12; Gagandeep Kaur, representing the Sikhs; July 19, a yet-to-be-named speaker or speakers on Islam and Baha'i, and July 26, Lakshmi Sukumar on Hinduism. In August, the Interfaith Council will continue the Thursday presentations with Venerable Miao Han discussing Buddhism on August 2, Rabbi Tamar Malino of Temple Adat Shalom (Reform) of Poway discussing Judaism on August 9; Rev. Stephen Albert discussing New Thought on August 16; and Evans Craig telling about Navajo belief on August 23. It is likely that even more such events will be scheduled by other groups during the balance of the year, which is panning out as a good year for all of us to learn about each other. Questions about the program may be addressed to Rev. Albert via her email, revgailalbert@san.rr.com (return to top) ____________________ ______________
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Please send your letters to
sdheritage@cox.net, or to Jewishsightseeing, PO Box 19363, San Diego, CA,
(USA) 92119. Please include the name of the city where you live.
Jewish camping club proposed for families
San Diego finally has a classical ballet company that is worthy of the name City Ballet of San Diego performs Balanchine at the Spreckels Theater
There has been discussion in the dance community as to whether the Balanchine Trust is setting its imprimatur a tad too easily on companies wishing to incorporate the Balanchine repertoire. Whether that is true in the aggregate, I’m not sure, but it certainly isn’t true in this case. City Ballet of San Diego earned that stamp of approval Saturday evening, May 12.
Ariana Samuelsson in
Serenade Dale Stokes When he saw the dancers
shield their eyes from the light, he kept the
gesture This was a Serenade to melt the heart. One quickly became immersed in the magic realm of Balanchine and Tchaikovsky, the seemingly simple synchronism of the dancers belied the challenge that such symmetry demands. These dancers showed by ease and spirit, legato and attack, together and alone, they are worthy of the inheritance. The difficult moment when the woman is turned on pointe in arabesque by the man rotating her leg from beneath was carried through with aplomb by her, though his hands were slightly fussy – or at least made his effort obvious. A small matter of but a moment. The swirling froth of
dancers circling the stage in piqué turns was exciting. Attack never lost its
shape, speed didn’t cheat technique. One could feel the old love between music
and choreographer and through this group of dancers – the love affair twixt
music and dance. Even in the allegro sections the dancers kept the legato
quality which echoed back to the sweeping theme of the music. Agon
The women easily displayed
the nuanced epaulement (shadings of the shoulder and upper torso) and saucy hips
organic in Stravinsky’s music which Balanchine realized into movement. Of
particular note in the pas de deux, time and again line and curve matched body
to body. She Divertimento No. 15 The opening scene of the women in white and yellow cream tutus, ornamented with sky blue bows led into another Balanchine kingdom: more classical, more into Balanchine’s Russian heritage. Marrying his athletic technical demands to the delicacy of Mozart’s composition is a test of any dancer and any company. There was a slight
disagreement among the women as to the hand distance placement in port de bras
en haut (arms over the head). I was taught it was eye distance apart, but some
think it should be head distance apart. Whatever one decides, that decision
should be part of the discussion. For the men, the disagreement was in port de
bras
The Company’s women have mastered the secret of almost silent pointe shoes. This detail, like most details, becomes part of the whole experience for the audience. And so, there came a time during this last ballet, when the dancers floated through the world of Mozart and Balanchine, the audience was completely silent, no coughings, no stirrings, and we were all part – all able – to move into the magic realm of a theatrical experience for which we hope time and again when attending a performance. It’s the reason we go. * * H.L. Mencken said “People get the government they deserve.” In this case, San Diego needs to realize that it finally has a classical ballet company, and I hope it deserves it. Steven Wistrich, artistic director, and Elizabeth Rowe-Wistrich, resident choreographer, have given it birth; the city needs to feed it. Program notes while generally complete, were not always clear as to which man partnered which woman. Rather than mistake one dancer for another I’ve chosen not to mention any. A pity – they deserved mention. The music was taped and once again I am grateful for its level of aural comfort. Principals: Coatney, Samuelsson, (Janica) Smith, Bielik, Bowman, (Mira) Cook, (Natalie) Cook, Risi, Kirn New York City Ballet, George Balanchine: these are names familiar to everyone interested in the performing arts and even recognizable to many with only a passing glance at the arts section in the newspaper. But behind great names there often exists other names or two that do not claim as much of the spotlight, but enable the headlines nevertheless. Such a name is Lincoln Kirstein: scion of a wealthy Boston family, an author of several books on ballet history and biography, arts collector and as British critic Clement Crisp wrote: “He was one of those rare talents who touch the entire artistic life of their time. Ballet, film, literature, theatre, painting, sculptor, photography all occupied his attention." This Jewish philanthropist was the “enabler.” It was he who in 1934 tapped an unemployed, Russian émigré, George Balanchine, on the shoulder and offered to bring him to New York City, found a company – and at Balanchine’s insistence – a school. The aim was to produce a first rate American ballet company with first rate American dancers. Both men brought to fruition a dream in a dismal landscape that had been American classical dance. When Balanchine died in 1983 he left behind a new ballet vocabulary and a roster of ballets that are now danced by just about every great ballet company in the world. To guard this legacy the Balanchine Trust carefully assesses the capabilities of any dance company that wishes to present anything from the Balanchine repertoire. It’s not just a matter of guarding the copyright privileges, but of making certain that the work will be presented by those capable of doing so and within the framework the choreographer designed. A member of the Trust comes to the company’s studios, sets the ballet, and comes back to assess the rehearsed product. It is to City
Ballet of San Diego’s credit that the Balanchine ballets are part of the
company’s repertoire - they have passed the “test.” In a sense, the hard
work of a Jewish family connected with City Ballet—artistic director Steven
Rowe-Wistrich; his wife, Elizabeth Wistrich, the resident choreographer, and their
daughter, Arianna Samuelsson, a principal dancer—is another form of philanthropy
to the community. This month we are celebrating the centenary of his birth.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inside The Culinary Scene
esteemed award for Best Fine Dining Seafood Restaurant in San Diego. Congratulations for this much deserved recognition. Cheer on Chef Brian when he appears on Bravo’s “Top Chef” on June 6 at 9pm as he demonstrates his culinary skill and competes against 15 of the top up-and-coming chefs around the country! Honors also went to the fabulous and creative Tracy Borkum who was recognized as Restaurateur of the Year for her innovation, unique dining experiences in daring locations, and countless charitable donations. Known for serving fresh and exciting cuisine at her Kensington Grill, Chive, and Laurel Restaurants, Tracy is a stand out in San Diego’s culinary community. Congratulations to her, her family and friends who deservedly kvelled over her throughout the evening!
Other big winners included Bread and Cie
for Best Neighborhood Casual Dining, Roy’s for Best Pacific Rim,
Kensington Grill for Best Neighborhood Fine Dining, El Indio’s
for Best Mexican Casual Dining, Indigo Grill for Best Ethnic,
Dakota Grill & Spirits for American Casual Dining, Parallel 33
for Best Fusion, Mimi’s Café for Best Family Dining, The
Grill at the Lodge for Best Hotel Restaurant Casual Dining, JRDN
Restaurant at Tower 23 for Best Hotel Restaurant Fine Dining, Phil’s
Barbecue for Best BBQ, Roppongi for Best Asian Fine Dining,
Hash House a Go Go for Best Breakfast, Prado at Balboa Park for
Best Continental/French Casual Dining and Tip Top Meats European Deli
for Best Delicatessen.
Exotic dishes at the San Diego Press Club Blast Sixteen of San Diego’s spectacular chefs celebrated these radio legends by serving exotic dishes with equally exotic sounding names, like Plum Spiced Kona Kampachi, Red Quinoa Avocado Tian, Spanish Trout Caviar, Buddha’s Hand Sake from the Marine Room’s Chef Bernard Guillas.
dished out strawberry and yogurt panna cotta, chocolate liegois, white chocolate mousse and tropical fruit chutney and Asia-Vous complemented that with its Curried Marshmallow Brulee, pineapple ragout, basil pound cake. And have you heard of Zambeedo? It’s a handcrafted gourmet ice cream I tasted again and again that afternoon. This all natural, gluten free, unbelievably rich ice cream with no preservatives and a kosher dairy base swept “Best Ice Cream” at the America’s Best Food show. For more info about this unique, gourmet treat go to www.zambeedo.com Next year, the San Diego Press Club will hold its 5th “Salute.” What a great way to sample the best of San Diego’s finest restaurants and schmooze with the chefs who represent them. Another reason to love this town…B’Tayavon. Lynne Thrope can be contacted at
www.TheReadingRoom.net |
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EDUCATION
BEAT—
SAN
DIEGO— The City Ballet of San Diego chose Serenade; Agon; and
Divertimento No. 15 which need not only several artistically, stylistically
and
technically capable dancers, but as important need to have strength in the
corps de ballet, and this shows the ever increasing depth in the company's roster.
Men
are not second class citizens in this Company and "Agon" gives them an
opportunity to give us pleasure – and that they did. They caught the quick
structure changes inherent in Balanchine’s choreography. Pulling back while in
arabesque to full weight on the standing heel and flexing up the supporting foot
– against all the classical “rules” of the ballet – they made it look intrinsic
to the dance rather than outside the classic norm. 
What's
Good to Eat in
