In Memoriam: Ellen Siegel (July 5, 1934-February 12, 2014)

By Janice Steinberg | May 8, 2014 |

Ellen Siegel’s daughter, Anny, and friends in the San Diego dance world remember this stunning artist of dance and life who passed away in February. Ellen started her career as a soloist with the Martha Graham Company – you should see the photos … JUST ADDED: Pat Sandback’s wonderful memories of the Big Ladies Small Dance Company and of going with Ellen to spend a weekend at Paul Taylor’s.

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Forum Offers Hope and Ideas for a Revitalized San Diego Opera

By Ken Herman | April 18, 2014 |

The unexpected plot twists and emotional torrents of the opera stage seem rather tame compared to the real time drama that San Diego Opera has experienced during the past month. While the San Diego Opera Board was imploding at a raucous meeting in La Jolla Thursday afternoon, over 400 opera subscribers, stagehands, chorus members, and company staff members gathered at Civic Center downtown for a forum to consider what makes contemporary American opera companies successful . . .

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Spring Dance Calendar 2014: ‘Flowers & Weeds to Pick’

By Kris Eitland | April 4, 2014 |

Dance events are wonderfully strange and varied flowers in a “pick your own” garden. Dozens of troupes are presenting dance-theater spiced up with live music, spoken word, puppetry, and art installations. Productions may be fresh and colorful or prickly and dark. You may find a few strange weeds among the flowers – and weeds can be fascinating.

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French Curves Bared at R.B. Stevenson Gallery

By Kraig Cavanaugh | March 19, 2014 |

Using a bright 1960s flower power palette, Ricardo Xavier paints floral designs with meticulous care in his current exhibition entitled “Kinetic Contrasts” at La Jolla’s R.B. Stevenson Gallery. Xavier creates his ornate canvases by using draftpersons’ French curves and meticulous silk screening technique. The newest paintings’ color and designs have evolved in both their power and complexity…

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