cats and coffeehouse chronicles

more green market fare . .

that was of great interest to the kittens . . 

("where are our goodies?")

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i had a ticket today to la mama's coffeehouse chronicles celebrating fifty-five years of the rod rodgers dance company. ellen, the girls' dance/choreography teacher, spoke on the panel along with other several other early members of the company and several current members. interspersed with the discussion was a video interview with rod rodgers along with excerpts from three dances. 

in the 1960's ellen regularly attended a dance class taught by mary anthony at mary's studio on broadway at waverly, which is where she met rod. she was a part of his company for the beginning years, traveling with them overseas one year for a tour and also accompanying them to several prisons where a specific dance piece titled box 71 was performed. (here's a link to a photo of her with rod rodgers and company member barbara roan.) rod rodgers grew up in detroit in a family of professional dancers and performers and came to new york city in 1963. you can read about his life and career on encyclopedia dot com here. he was dedicated to bringing dance to children in underrepresented neighborhoods, a commitment the company still maintains with their strong youth program at its fourth street location. the panelists spoke about how rod always took care of his dancers, paying them well for home performances and while touring. he also recognized the importance of having a space that the company could call home, and acquired the building on fourth street around the late 60's, early 70's. i would often rent studio space there so the girls could practice the dances they were working on for ellen's class. it was wonderful to be present for this event.

in the studio with ellen, marina (ellen's student during the time she held her classes in the company's building) and rod's son jason. (here we are in the same studio for a rehearsal in 2011, and here in 2017.)

afterwards, i walked three blocks to see korrina at her new work place . . 

i'll have to go back to try the food one day.