After a brief intermission where poets could chat with eachother, we continued our program of poetry and dance as a unified art form.Please scroll down and enjoy.
We began our second half in a ceremony presenting Artists Embassy International Gold Seal Book Awards for books of note that have been published this year.
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| Recipients of the AEI Golden Seal Book Awards |
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| Cathy Dana received an AEI Golden Seal Book Award for her poetry book, "My Dad Believed in Love." |
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| AEI's Golden Seal Book Award was accepted by Lucille Lang Day of San Francisco, accompanied by two of the poetry contributors. This is a book of poetry written by Native Americans living in California. |
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| Laverne Frith, author of the poetry book, "Advanced Dancing," receives his Gold Seal Award from Natica. |
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| Allegra Silberstein's Gold Seal Award was for her poetry book, "West Of Angels." |
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Vince Storti, author of "Scenes Beyond Restraint" also was granted an AEI Gold Seal Award, but was unable to attend.
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| Claire J. Baker read her Grand Prize winning poem, "Fountain." |
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| "...it moves image by image,/step by step,/vision by vision..." |
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| "...The climbing/falling waters / may overwhelm. We step closer,..." |
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| "...priming us to let visions/lead us wherever they may..." |
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| Allegra Silberstein read her "The Search." |
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| Torre Houlgate-West, San Louis Obispo, CA, read "Unsummoned Sorcery." |
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| Cathy Dana, Alameda, CA, reads "Young Poets," accompanied by her "Mighty Pens" writing class from Alameda Learning Center. |
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| Banat El Hoggar performed "Soleil," a poem by Jeed. |
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| Isis wings created spectacular effects. |
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| Majestic spectacle from beginning to end. |
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| A unique move of enfolding ended this glorious act. |
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| Kenneth Peterson, Alameda, CA, read "Island Rondeau." |
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| Robert Coats, Berkeley, CA, read "The Arrival." |
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| Alisha Rodregues performed to a duo of poems, "Avebury" by Richard Angilly and "Avebury Polished and Rough" by Tanya Joyce. Art was produced by Tanya Joyce. |
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| Reverence was a theme. |
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| Two poets and the dancer take a bow. |
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| Alisha Rodregues played a large roll in the 2016 DPF. Not only was she backstage director, as she is every year, she also performed two dances and wrote the finale, "Lady White Snake." Alisha is also 1st VP of Artists Embassy International. |
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| John Rowe, El Cerrito, CA, read "Things I Have Carried." |
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| Carolyn Scarr, Berkeley, CA, read "Family History." |
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| Christine Valentine read "At the Junction." |
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| The Poetic Dance Theater Company performed "Balancing on the Brink of the Present" by Judy Hardin Cheung, DPF contest chair and assistant to the MC. Judy is also 2VP of Artists Embassy International. |
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| ...One way to disentangle from the past/is to look to the future." |
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| "...The tightrope is taught. / The distance is far. / I will take the next step / with arms outspread / in case I have to fly." |
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| Judy Hardin Cheung takes her onstage bow with the dancers after the performance. |
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| John Laue, La Selva Beach, CA, read "Sandy and the Turtles." |
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| Alan S. Lowe, Lincoln, CA, read "Time Takes Its Toll." |
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| Marion H. Youngquist's neice, Beth Kamieniecki, read Marion's poem "Proposal." Marion is 93 and could not make the trip from Brookfield, WI. |
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| Ellen Hickman wrote the poem and performed "Flowing Winds of China." |
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| Maya and Ellen have been dancing for the Redwood Empire Chinese Association Cultural Dancers since they were about 5 years old. |
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| Youth and fresh breezes seem to be one and the same. |
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| Maya Ibitz completes this duo of talented teen dancers. |
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| Ruth Hickman was the reader for this performance. |
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| High School Poet Laureates from Alameda Learning Center were honored. On stage were Truly Elison, Ivy Nebeker, Josies Whitock, Sophie McCaine, Tay Lew, and Ellie Dodds. |
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| "Lady White Snake," written by Alisha Rodrigues from an old Chinese legend, depicts the troubles of Lady White Snake and her Sister Lady Blue, when Lady White Snake marries a mortal man. |
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| The rains of time change from gentle spring breezes to the dangerous downpours of winter. |
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| Some chase Lady White Snake. She flees to a pagoda. |
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| The pagoda is burned, but true love wins out in the end. Lady White Snake and her husband have a son who grows into manhood as a true and dutiful son to be proud of. |
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| David Merritt, Pleasant Hill, CA, played the son in Lady White Snake. He is a composer and wrote the original music for "Lady White Snake," "Balancing on the Brink of the Present," "Just Breathe, and Organic Music/The Dance You Are/I Welcome the Dragonfly." |
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| Final on stage bow by the cast of "Lady White Snake," including MC Raoul Epling in his final sparkling tuxedo for the afternoon. |
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