Sir? Ma'am?

Love for Schenectady!

Jing and I had an awesome time in Schenectady doing wo(n)man show!  The First Unitarian Society of Schenectady was a beautiful performance space (see below, the so-called “Whisper Dome” where you can hear someone whisper from the complete opposite side of the dome — yes, Tony, I could hear you clear as day with your little running commentary ;) …) and the crew of folks who welcomed us: Marta, Nikki, Michelle and the fabulous reception crew, were all so amazing, loving and fun.  My audience “volunteers” were fabulous as well, particularly Chad and his fantastic willingness to “tango” with me. 

I also had the great privilege of being interviewed on WRPI “The Quest of Life” by Steve Sims, who is such a lovely, generous host. He kept the questions coming at a good pace, and stayed focused while listening my silly ramblings!  Check him out Fridays 12 - 2 pm, when he interviews LGBTQ folks living inspirational lives, with a particular focus on spirituality. http://tunein.com/radio/WRPI-915-s22546/

What a great way to get back into the swing of things! More to come soon — look for me on Friday at JOCK COUTURE!

Whisper Dome, stadium-style seating… in style! Photos courtesy of Nikki Syrlik:

The gorgeous ceiling of the dome:

My fantastic dance partner, Chad, photos courtesy of Don Porter:

And check out my Facebook page for some video of Chad “rescuing me”!

One teachers approach to preventing gender bullying in a classroom

togetherforjacksoncountykids:

“It’s Okay to be Neither,” By Melissa Bollow Tempel

Alie arrived at our 1st-grade classroom wearing a sweatshirt with a hood. I asked her to take off her hood, and she refused. I thought she was just being difficult and ignored it. After breakfast we got in line for art, and I noticed that she still had not removed her hood. When we arrived at the art room, I said: “Allie, I’m not playing. It’s time for art. The rule is no hoods or hats in school.”

She looked up with tears in her eyes and I realized there was something wrong. Her classmates went into the art room and we moved to the art storage area so her classmates wouldn’t hear our conversation. I softened my tone and asked her if she’d like to tell me what was wrong.

“My ponytail,” she cried.

“Can I see?” I asked.

She nodded and pulled down her hood. Allie’s braids had come undone overnight and there hadn’t been time to redo them in the morning, so they had to be put back in a ponytail. It was high up on the back of her head like those of many girls in our class, but I could see that to Allie it just felt wrong. With Allie’s permission, I took the elastic out and re-braided her hair so it could hang down.

“How’s that?” I asked.

She smiled. “Good,” she said and skipped off to join her friends in art.

‘Why Do You Look Like a Boy?’

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Hypothesis is Back!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Johnny Blazes and Madge of Honor present:
HYPOTHESIS
a night of inventive performance

Fresh from their sold-out smash hit “The Buttcracker”, Johnny Blazes and Madge of Honor have returned to the laboratory to blast Boston into the new year with their monthly performance event, Hypothesis, on Tuesday January 18, 2011 at the Midway.  Hypothesis takes an intelligent, theatrical approach to cabaret while blending highbrow art with a lowbrow aesthetic.  Each month, a new group of artists present work based on a challenge posited by fellow scientists Prof. Honor and Dr. Blazes. These challenges provide an opportunity to ask questions, test new approaches, and make work that fascinates.

To break in the new decade,  art/scient-ists will explore “Past and Future.”  Each performer will bring two pieces: one expressing the artist’s past, and another imagining their future.  Perhaps in the first half we’ll hear poetry written at a tender age, witness a post-modern remix of pre-adolescent ballet recitals, or experience burlesque from a bygone age of five years ago.  The latter half may bring flying cars, cities underwater or a robot world takeover.  (Or perhaps the robot world takeover will take place in February for “Human vs. Machine”!)

The evening will feature: exquisitely crafted burlesque clowning and a few surprises from “Busty” Keaton of Rogue Burlesque, truth-telling lyrics and enchanted harmonies from Lady Enchantress and Kabluna, the haunting, evocative sounds of Singer Mali of Jaggery, as well as performances from Boston’s most innovative vaudevillians, Johnny Blazes and Madge of Honor.  The presentation of findings will be followed by a dance party to the smashing sounds of Boston’s own DJ Golden Touch of Audio Chemists.  Feature drinks, appropriately fluorescent and elixir-evocative, will be available at the bar for those scientists over 21.

HYPOTHESIS
Date: Tuesday January 18, 2011
Venue: The Midway, 3496 Washington St, Jamaica Plain 617-524-9038
Admission: $7 at the door, 18+
Doors: 8pm
Show: 9pm
Dancing: 10:30 pm onward
Website: www.HypothesisShow.wordpress.com

Questions: contact.hypothesis @gmail.com