ANIDA’S UPDATE // Fall & Winter 2006

i finally have time to update folks on what’s happening in my life.

thank you for your continued support of my work. after months of traveling i will be in chicago for most of the fall as i get myself ready for the next phase of my life – Grad School!!! yep i’m taking the plunge to get an MFA in performance. there’s a 50/50 chance that i will stay in chicago. i’m looking at schools in chicago and the west coast. if anyone wants to offer up advice and guidance about heading back to school after a long break just hit me up.

this summer my travels have been full of jump shots and unlikely surprises. it was thrilling to share spoken word in the Faroe Islands with punk rockers and performance artists. i had an amazing time despite the remote location and rugged weather. copenhagen was also a lovely place to visit as we strolled the wet cobblestone streets while friendly bikers in cute boutique wear rode pleasantly by us. roaming the red light district and immigrant section of town was eye opening too. and what can i say about paris — i’m still not quite done with that weird little city. all i know is that traveling when you visit family is a very different experience. it’s the over-hospitality factor that seems to be infringing and restricting. and then there was cambodia — this time it was one of the most fun trips i have had since my first time back there. i co-lead a group of 14 american students on an excursion to understand the issues facing cambodia. it was challenging but filled with fun, laughter and a good load of eye opening moments. and then there was butoh in mexico. i spent a little over a week at diego piñon’s studio immersed in butoh ritual mexicano training. what did this mean exactly? imagine me climbing a hill backwards and blindfolded, crawling into a mine shaft blindfolded, dancing in a sandpit, running in the rain, dancing in an industrial area, warming up with branches and bricks, and lots of work around woman/sacrifice/heart. butoh training is about opening your awareness and experiencing everything around and in you as fully and deeply as possible.

so that was my summer. and now i’m here in chicago – still dancing and writing and yawping!
hopefully i’ll see some of you at some of these readings and shows!

here are some of my upcoming events
Thur. Oct 12 (Chicago, IL) – Reading for Cultural Crossings @Batey Urbano (Humboldt Park)
Thur. Oct 19 (Chicago, IL) – Reading for Cultural Crossings @Arab American Action Network (63rd & Kedzie)
Wed. Oct 25 (Chicago, IL ) – Book Launch & Reading of “Voices of Resistance: Muslim Women on War, Faith & Sexuality”
Thur. Oct 26 (Chicago, IL) – Reading for Cultural Crossings @American Indian Center of Chicago (Wilson & Ashland)
Wed. Nov 15 (Chicago, IL) – a Butoh dance ensemble piece exploring stereotypes featured as part of “Site Unseen 2006″
Nov 23-28 (Bay Area) – just chillin’ in the bay with friends and fam — maybe i’ll do a reading and maybe i won’t
Thur. Dec 14 (NYC) – the debut of my latest Butoh inspired piece called “Crescent Rising” @Galapagos Art Space

i’ll send more details later.

ramadan mubarak! peace & justice,

anida yoeu esguerra

http://www.atomicshogun.com