I came across this building as I was walking around in the city. Initially, the ridges in this building made me think that it was run down or broken, but after some speculation I realized that the building was just like that. I found the ridges awkward yet attractive. The building becomes unique with the ridges as compared to the regular rectangular buildings in NYC. It’s architecture like this that define New York’s buildings: simple and and alluring. 
The La Casa Azul Bookstore is a Hispanic bookstore in East Harlem that started 2 years ago. It is the only bookstore in East Harlem and the only Hispanic bookstore in NYC. It was inspired by Frida Kahlo’s home in Mexico. It’s really a creative space that mainly sells books written by Latino and Afro-latino writers. It features book clubs, book readings, open mics, dance classes, cooking classes, exhibits, and a lot more. The current exhibit “A Ribbon Around A Bomb: Who Am I Being + Becoming In This Space” portrays photographs of young women in the day and age, with their personal reflections of what makes them the lively and brilliant women that they are. All reflections started with “I am powerful because…”
one of the photographs from the “Ribbon Around A Bomb” exhibit
This place is such a rarity. I was amazed to find it in the first place. I love the individuality and flair it has as a book store. It gives a platform to voices that aren’t heard often. It’s just a beautiful, bright place.
I came to Fall for Dance thinking that the performances would be so fantastical and out of this world, but after the first two performances I was a little disappointed. I felt that they were classical and traditional in style, and the music had me nodding off a little. However, the last two performances were extremely captivating. I loved how much they played with the lighting in “AP15.” I could see how the dancers pushed their bodies to the limit, especially during the one part when one basically jumped over the other’s head. It takes so much skill and so much practice, and then so much composure to carry that out on stage. I also loved how some of the moves could still be playful and receive a bit of a laugh or a shock. It was really an enlivening dance. With the “Minus 16” dance, I enjoyed how informal it felt and how welcoming the dancers were towards the audience. It took me a while to even realize that the performance had begun. I honestly thought the man in front of the curtain was like one of those award show hosts that entertains the audience while the next performers get ready. But that inclusivity of the audience during the performance carried out through the end. During this performance, I realized how much voice contribute to dance. Dance performances can actually incorporate vocals alongside body movements; there’s no rule that says it can’t. That was something I’ve rarely seen if ever.
There was simply a feeling of good energy by the end of the night. I feel like that’s just something that dance evokes in people.
It seems like everyone enjoyed the Fall For Dance performance that you attended last Friday! I wish that I had gotten to attend with you all also, but I really enjoyed the one that I went to on my own.
My favorite of the performances was “Umnikelo” by the Vuyani Dance Theatre. I was really captivated by their use of what seemed like traditional African music and dance. To me, it was all really beautiful. Here’s a video:
There were a few things that I was really able to notice from sitting in the last row of City Center to watch the performance. The first was that getting a birds-eye view of the show enhanced my experience. I’m sure that seats closer to the stage and down lower are considered to be better for a reason, but I was excited to be able to see everything. I also really enjoyed during some of the performances not being able to tell whether the dancers were male or female. It was a good reminder about how this kind of art only is produced by humanity with no necessary divides between gender, race, or social class.
Something else that I noticed and appreciated was also touched upon by Chloe in her post: the set designers for each performance played with light as a major tool to set the scene for the audience. I never really noticed how important this was until I saw how the same people and place could be dramatically transformed because the color or location of the light changed.
My favorite part of all the performances was honestly seeing how seamlessly all of the dancers cooperated with each other. I have always admired dancers because I’m not a good dancer, myself. I admire their dedication, self-discipline, and passion. However, to me the best part isn’t an individual dancer, it’s seeing how beautifully everything ties together when all of the individuals mesh into one whole.
If you guys ever take the L train, there are these adorable statues all over the 8th Avenue stop. There are a whole lot of variations on them and I took a picture of one because I thought some of you might enjoy it! This one looks like he’s working with a partner to saw down the pole. Other’s were wheelbarrowing supplies or trying to patch in pieces of the station. I thought they were really cute and I hope you guys like them! 
I took this photo while I was in the car on the Grand Central Parkway. The view really struck me because I had initially been looking for a view of the Manhattan skyline. I love the skyline and think that it’s one of the most beautiful things about New York. It usually reminds me of all the amazing people, places, and opportunities that are encompassed by New York City. However, as you can see from the photo, the skyline is minuscule as compared to the expanse of sky, and Manhattan seems to be a good distance away from where I was, just in Queens. I like this photo because it serves me as a reminder that there is more to “the city” than just the borough of Manhattan. We’re all part of it and interconnected, even when it seems that all the glamour and excitement of New York City is worlds away.
I hope that you all enjoyed your Fall For Dance performance last week! I’m sorry that I didn’t get to go with you all, but I’m looking forward to hearing about what you guys thought about your night.
Meanwhile, I spent the weekend on a lake in Pennsylvania for my cousin’s wedding. I took a picture of the sunset the last night I was there because it reminded me of the conversation that we were having last class about these wonders of nature and how we can possibly describe them to other people. I’m not sure if I would be able to accurately describe what this sight was like, but hopefully the photo speaks for itself.
