Autumn, 2008
Artists Embassy International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting intercultural understanding and peace through the universal language of the arts. Founded by Althya Youngman in 1951, AEI has continuously promoted individual and group artists working in many media, offered venues, publication opportunities, poetry contest, prizes, festivals, conferences, classes, exhibitions and many other opportunities for the promotion of artists and their work throughout the United States and the world. Membership dues, $30 per year, include quarterly newsletters, advertisements of events, opportunities and contacts for international events and reports on your personal artistic work. Subscription only to the quarterly Newsletter, $10 per year. Send dues, subscription, newsletter articles and information to AEI for inclusion in the next publication. For more information about AEI, please visit www.dancingpoetry.com
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| In Praise of the Jellyfish by Lucille Lang Day, Oakland, CA, Grand Prize performance by Natica Angilly’s Poetic Dance Theater Company |
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Dancing Poetry Festival
September 27, 2008, Noon to 4:00 at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor
Our ad slogan for this year was Live outside the box. Take an afternoon for drama and adventure. That we did!
The house was close to packed with an exuberant, joyful and appreciative audience, partly because of the 8 week series presented by the Post Newspapers of the East Bay with photos, featuring the various stars who would be performing. We began the program with the excitement of the Redwood Empire Chinese Association Lion Dancers, Richard and Natica performing Richard’s Organic Music and Ma*Shuka Mira Murjan’s glamorous dance The Language of Life. Other wonderful acts followed, including the serious, Grand Prize poem, Xenophilia, by Allison Joseph of Carbondale, IL. Then the ice was broken with the reading of Allison Joseph with her 2nd prize poem, The Numerology of Kisses. This list of scientific statistics was so outrageously funny, and her presentation was so dynamic, that everyone roared with laughter and more thoroughly and exuberantly enjoyed the rest of the show. Later Allison read her second 2nd prize poem, Poet’s Boot Camp, which was also hysterically funny. Grand Prize winner In Praise of the Jellyfish by Lucille Lang Day of Oakland, CA gave us a mass of color by using four foot long veil fans to depict schools of little jellyfish, and three large umbrellas, draped in reflective fabric for the large cephalopods. Grand Prize winner Silence of the Song by Janice P. Egry, Verbank, NY, was a poignant piece about lost love. All three Grand Prize Winners were danced by Natica Angilly’s Poetic Dance Theater Company, the host troupe for this event. The event was packed with poets and dancers from around the world. 1st and 2nd prize winner, Diane G. Woodcock, came the farthest, from Doha, Qatar.
For more info and photos, winners list, etc. visit www.dancingpoetry.com
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Photos by Judy Hardin Cheung unless otherwise indicated.
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| Grand Prize Winner "Silence of the Song," by Janice P. Egry, Verbank, NY, as performed by Natica Angilly's Poetic Dance Theater Company. |
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| Exotic and exciting, the Redwood Empire Chinese Association Lion Dancers opened the show. Photo by Arthur Chang |
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| NAPDTC highlight performance toasting with goblets of light |
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"Poems of Light" by Richard Angilly included toasting with goblets of light and Aleka as the Mother of Light with a candelabra dance.
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| Moving Arts Company with poetry by Maria Rosales, in their most unusual ballet, "Last Breath |
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Gypsy Krackers from Stockton, CA, gave a unique performance of the original poem in the valley delta suite read and authored by Ann Williams Bailey. The act featured a live harpist and dancers who depicted the vastness of the sky and expanse of land of California’s Great Central Valley, including tule fog (above).
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| First Step Outreach Ministries of Alameda brought youth to our stage with Christian Rap and hip-hop dance. Their featured poem was St. John, 17:20-23. They were introduced by a poem written and read by Alameda Poet Laureate, Mary Rudge. |
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| Paradise Freejahlove, Oakland, CA, with Pop Locking Dancer, Mike Smith, music by the Ambassador of Trouts and their rendition of Paradise's poem, "You Should Be Concerned (Why It Takes a Team of Scientests to Make Your French Fries?) |
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| Xenophilia by Allison Joseph, Carbondale, IL, portrayed some of the fundamental elements that are the basis of Artists Embassy International and of the Poetic Dance Theater Company. |
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| Allison Joseph takes her bow and photo op on stage after the performance of her Xenophilia. |
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Allison Joseph read her grand prize poem, Xenophilia, and later, her two second prize poems, Numerology of Kisses and Poets Boot Camp, that brought down the house with their humor.
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| Diane G. Woodcock, Doha, Qatar, "Cup ful of Light" and "Movement" |
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| Laverne Frith, Sacramento, CA, DPF's most awarded poet, "A Woman Alone." Photo by Carl Sermon |
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| Katy Brown, Davis, CA, "Arpeggio" and "In the Storyteller's Basket |
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| Lucille Lang Day, Oakland, CA, "In Praise of the Jellyfish" and "Woman: After a Painting by Nathan Oliveira" |
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| Cathy Edgett for Carol Munn, "Virgen de los Desemparados" |
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| Lily Dayton, Moss Landing, CA, "Spring Tide" |
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| Maxine N. Williams, Sebastopol, CA, "Dali" |
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| Tanya Joyce, Emoryville, CA, "Clarkia" |
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| Michael Magee, Tacoma, WA, "Chagall Dreams" |
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| Sherry Weaver Smith, San Ramon, CA "Grove at Mission Santa Ines" |
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| Lynn Roepke for Young-jim-fong Larriva, Alamosa, CO, "Dance of the Wax Puppets |
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| Sonya for Ziji Beth Goren, Hadley, MA, "Who Am I" |
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| Peter Nelson, Vancouver, WA, "Native Language: |
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| Rafael Jesus Gonzales, invited guest poet, "If We Do Not Speak" |
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| Arthur Levinson, AEI/DPF offical videographer |
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| Mr. Benjamin R. Yuzon, President of United Poets Laureate International, announces the 21 World Congress of Poets to be held in Nicaragua, July, 2009 |
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| Judy Hardin Cheung, assistant MC, contest chair, and reader for Janice P. Egry, Verbank, NY, "Silence of the Song" |
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| Raoul Epling, our illustrious MC with a new tuxedo for every act |
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| Richard Angilly, Poet Laureate Man of Letters, featured poet of NAPDTC |
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| Natica Angilly, DPF artistic director, NAPDTC choreographer. Photo by Carl Sermon |
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Webmaster's note: Due to the size constraints of the printed newsletter, we could not include all of our wonderful acts. Please look at 2009 winners and festival to see a more complete showing of our fabulous Dancing Poetry Festival.
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2009 CONTEST RULES (same as before, complete rules on www.dancingpoetry.com)
Line Limit: 40 lines maximum each poem. No limit on number of entries
Send TWO typed, clear copies of each entry
Poems must be in English or include English translation
Show name, address, telephone number, e-mail and how you heard about us on ONE copy only
Entry Fee: One poem for $5 or 3 poems for $10 Make checks out to Artists Embassy International
Poets outside the USA, please send an international postal money order in US dollars or US currency
Send all entries and fees postmarked by May 15, 2009, to
AEI Contest Chair, Judy Cheung, NL
704 Brigham Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
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Selected upcoming events presented or participated in by AEI
for RSVP and information on any listed event, contact AEI at richardaei@aol.com or 510-235-0361
December 6, AEI Annual Board Meeting, in the home of Nancy Merritt. Call AEI for time, date and directions.
December 20-January 29: Art show by Judy Cheung, Cafe Arrivederci, 11 G Street, San Rafael, CA
January 5, Judy Cheung presents Writing the Future at Salon for Your Imagination, WOW! Cafe Arrividerci, San Rafael, CA
January 7-30, Alameda Historical Art Museum displays an exhibition of AEI art
January 24, 12-3:30, AEI’s Artists Reception, poetry reading and dance performance at the Alameda Historical Art Museum
February: Ongoing, Mask and Tambourine Exhibit by Natica Angilly, Cafe Arrivederci, 11 G Street, San Rafael, CA
February 7, Rakkasah’s Winter Moon Dance classes, and bazaar, Temple Beth Hilel, Pinole, CA
February 28, RECA Chinese New Year Celebration, Santa Rosa, CA for info call Judy Cheung, 707-528-0912
March 13-15, Rakkasah West Middle Eastern Dance Festival and Bazaar. Classes from March 9. The Poetic Dance Theater Company and Dancers of the Pharaohs perform along with over 1000 other dancers, troupes and Middle Eastern Bands
July 16-20, 2009: Plan ahead for the World Congress of Poets in Managua, Nicaragua. Many AEI members plan to attend.
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