Dancing Poetry Festival 2017
September 16, 2017, Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Florence Gould Theater, Palace of the Legion of Honor Museum
San Francisco, CA
This program is dedicated to our recently passed friends
Adele Joyce, Mary Hart, Zeppelin Wong, Phi Phi Dang
The Dancing Poetry Festival is produced by Artists Embassy International which promotes "furthering inter-cultural understanding and peace through the universal language of the arts."
Artists Embassy International is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 1951 by Althya Youngman after being inspired by Ghandi while visiting him in India.
Photographs by George Hollie and Bob Hickman, selected and edited by Judy Hardin Cheung.
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We were welcomed and guided through the afternoon by our dynamic and colorful MC, Raoul Epling, with his famous change of tuxedo with every act.
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Our show opened with the Poetic Dance Theater Company's signature piece, Welcome to Wonderland, with poet Richard Angilly and artistic director Natica Angilly. To meet each of the Dancers from our host troupe of Natica and Richard Angilly's Poetic Dance Theater Company, please check out the Meet the Dancers page under DPF 17 on this website.
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| Johanna Ely, Benicia, CA was our first prize winning poet to read with "The Murmuration of Starlings." |
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| Tanya Joyce, Emeryville, CA, read her "At the Marina." |
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| Scotti Fritts, Paradise, CA read "Plein-Air." |
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The Redwood Empire Chinese Association Intermediate Dancers performed a Chinese stick dance. The first part was danced to the poem, "Bamboo Sticks," by Lotus. The rest was performed to a 1994 poem by an elementary student, Brendan Byrne, writing during a Bullying Prevention Program. Performers are Emily Martinez, Daisy Martinez and Daniella Ruiz Alcazar. This troupe is choreographed and taught by RECA dance instructor, Judy Elliott.
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| Helene Knox, El Cerrito, CA read her prize winning poem, "Beginnings." |
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| "Dancing Dynamism," poem by Natica Anglilly, performed by the Poetic Dance Theater Company. "Until I Am I Do I Dance" was written and read by Richard Angilly as a tribute to "Remember Them, Chanpoions for Humanity," a monument installed in the City of Oakland to celebrate advocates for humanity. Original music was written by David Merritt. |
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| Natica Angilly introduced her new book, "The Art of Awe," hot off the press a week before the Dancing Poetry Festival. Books are available from Natica at naticaaei@aol.com |
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| Instead of book awards, this year AEI gave awards to San Francisco Bay Area organizations that actively promote understanding and peace through the universal language of the arts. Awards were given in two sections of the program. |
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| Elizabeth Hack accepted on behalf of San Francisco Peace and Hope. |
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| Winnie Thompson accepted for Diablo/Alameda Branch of National League of American Pen Women. |
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| Carol Marcos accepted for Hayward Arts Council |
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| Shirley McPhillips, Dumont, NJ, reads her grand prize winning poem, "Shinrin-yoku: Forest Bathing. |
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| "Shinrin-yoku: Forest Bathing by Shirley McPhillips, Dumont, NJ as performed by the Poetic Dance Theater Company, and read by Richard Angilly. |
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| Shirley McPhillips takes her on stage bow with the dancers. |
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| Leanne Grossman, Oakland, CA, read her prize winning poem, "Lifesaver." |
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| Sandra Erickson read "What Matters Now, " a prize winning poem by Ziji Beth Goren, Hadley, MA. |
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| Gary Turchin, Berkeley, CA read his "Crying Sky Morning." |
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| The New Dance Company performed "Fragile Strength" with poet La Brea Spivy and choreographer Lisa Rie. |
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| New Dance Company poet La Brea Spivy |
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| Katy Brown, Davis CA, could not attend to read "The Theory of 3 Baskets," so it was read by her friend, Allegra Silberstein. |
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| Garrett Murphy read "Outline." |
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| Diane Frank, San Francisco, CA, read "Margolit." |
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| Claudine Nash, New Rochelle, NY, read her grand prize winning poem, "How to Come Full Circle in Five Steps, More or Less." |
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| "How to Come Full Circle in Five Steps or Less," written by Claudine Nash, New Rochelle, NY, performed by the Poetic Dance Theater Company. |
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| On stage bow of Claudine Nash and the Poetic Dance Theater Company. |
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| We gave a great round of applause for Akira, the designer and Taylor for the tuxedos of our MC, Raoul Epling. |
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| We want to thank our tech team for lights and sound. Caution tape is due to the renovations they are making. We were honored with a brand new carpet, new lights on the stage steps and many other, ongoing upgrades to this beautiful world-class art museum's theater. |
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| We also want to thank Joseph Hickman for his 2nd year of being backstage hand, gofer and curtain man. |
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| Intermission is a time to talk to new and old friends, meet a favorite poet who has just read, and stretch your legs in this beautiful theater with gold sconses on the walls and a fabulous Baroque mural on the domed ceiling. |
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| If you didn't find an old friend from far away before the program began, intermission is a good time to ask if anyone has seen them. One new winner commented, "Everyone seems so friendly, like they know each other." This is true. We do not all know each other, but we are happy to meet new friends at the Dancing Poetry Festival. |
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