Season Premier of SYTYCD

This season's SYTYCD opened in LA with a bunch of talented dancers. It seems to be the season of the tap dancers with Ryan, Bianca and Phillip all wowing the judges and the audience. Although Ryan and Bianca had an impressive tap trade, my favorite of the three was Phillip Atmore. His stage presence was magnetic and tapping was milky and clean. I wanted him to keep going. All three went straight through to Vegas.
As usual, lots of modern dancers made it through. Notables are Mollee Gray, Amanda Kirby, Alixa Adeppa, Paula Van Oppen and salsa dancer Christina Santana. Woman Power.

New Pairings on DWTS

The pairings are finally named for the new season of DWTS. Ok, I admit that I had to Google some of the Star's names.

AARON CARTER, singer and brother of former Backstreet Boy, Nick Carter, will be teamed with KARINA SMIRNOFF. Lucky little boy. Although Karina can have a bit of a snarky attitude for my liking, her dancing is phenomenal. I never tire of watching her. Luckily, they aren't judging the attitudes of professional dancers. She has tamed a bit since falling in love though. (Collective 'awwwwww').

NATALIE COUGHLIN, an Olympic champion swimmer, will be paired with ALEC MAZO. Olympians always do well and she is a beauty from Vallejo, California. This pair is going to look phenomenal. I hope it will go well because since all the Olympians have done so well, it seems there is tremendous pressure on whomever comes on this show to make it to the finals.

MARK DACASCOS, will be dancing with LACEY SCHWIMMER. Gotta be blunt here. Haven't a clue what this guy is famous for and don't really care because wow is he cute! I hope he can move. Although Lacey is not my favorite pro (not even from her time on SYTYCD), she has done well on DWTS. We'll just have to wait and see.

TOM DELAY, former House Majority Leader, is placed with the two-time champion CHERYL BURKE. Just so you know, when you do an image search for Tom Delay, you get a mug shot. Cheryl may get that vacation she has deserved for so long! This is a prediction that Mr. Delay should try to disprove. But, I think I'm pretty on the non-laundered money. (bad joke)

MACY GRAY, singer, teams with JONATHAN ROBERTS. I've never seen Macy perform live or otherwise, but I hope she can dance. It seems as though Jonathan is always placed with partners who can't move well. He is a good dancer so I'd like to see him get to a higher spot on the show.

ASHLEY HAMILTON will dance with EDYTA SLIWINSKA. Ashley: What do you do? Why are you famous? No, really. I'm asking. Other than being born to someone famous and marrying someone else famous for about 30 seconds, what qualifies you to be one of the STARS with whom to be danced? Furthermore, why do you get to dance with Edyta? She is the only pro who has been there all nine seasons! Her rumba is unmatchable. In my opinion, she deserves to win Ashley. You better bring it my friend!

MELISSA JOAN HART, from Sabrina The Teenage Witch, is all grown up and teaming up with reigning two-time "Dancing with the Stars" champ MARK BALLAS. Way to go Melissa! He is dance royalty (Mom=Shirley Ballas) and is probably the best young choreographer on the show.

KATHY IRELAND, teams with TONY DOVOLANI. Ok, I'll say it: the models never do well. But, Kathy is not a typical model. Throughout her career she made herself a brand, a model tycoon. She's an entrepenuer and I hope she can change the luck for the models on the show. She has a wonderful partner for it.

MICHAEL IRVIN, NFL player, will make his debut along with Season 8's Professional Dancer Competition winner ANNA DEMIDOVA. It will be interesting to watch them both learn the ropes together. Clearly, Anna has done this before, but not on national television or with an NFL player.

JOANNA KRUPA, model, teams with Season 7 pro winner DEREK HOUGH. These two will look amazing together provided the model can dance. Again, with the 'model curse' on her back, she will have something to prove. I hope she (and Kathy Ireland) can change that. Derek is an amazing dancer (a little show boat-y at times, but it's ok once in a while) who is getting better at choreography for skill level of his partner. His energy is fantastic and he's adorable to boot!

CHUCK LIDDELL, Ultimate Fighting Champion, teams with ANNA TREBUNSKAYA. I can't wait to see these two do the Paso Doble! An Ultimate Fighting machine could certainly grasp the mentality needed to capture the passion of the bullfight. Oh, I hope it works. The trick will be for Anna to teach him to soften in other dances. She has her work cut out for her.


DEBI MAZAR, actress, teams with MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY. There are a million reasons to love this pairing. Debi Mazar is a great actress so she will deliver on the dance floor. She is a tough girl so she can handle Maksim Chmerkovskiy's ways. Maks is a great dancer and a tough (it seems) teacher, so he needs someone who can take his ways. See previous sentence. I'm hopeful for this partnership.

MYA, singer, teams with DMITRY CHAPLIN. An interesting pairing. I'm not a big fan of Dmitry's even from his SYTYCD days. Enough with the open shirt. I'm just saying. I'm not sure how I feel. I need to let this one fester in my brain a bit. Check back later.

KELLY OSBOURNE, reality star, teams up with LOUIS VAN AMSTEL. Louis is an awesome choreographer, Kelly is lucky to have him and I think she'll do well with him. She's funny and I can't wait to see what she does with this show. I have been wanting to see her on DWTS for a long time. I don't know why, maybe her plucky attitude. The costume department is going to have a field day with her. If they try to make her do one of those modern Paso Dobles to Crazy Train or something else by dear old dad, I'm giving you a heads up for some incoming verbal vomit.

DONNY OSMOND, (does he need a byline?), is paired with KYM JOHNSON. This is really knocking boots with some sort of sick 1976 little girl fantasy I think I had once. I'm completely stoked for this pairing I shamefully admit this. If he doesn't wear purple socks at least once I will write the show to complain. Kym Johnson is the pro that got away. She really needs a win (less so than Edyta, but she still deserves it).

LOUIE VITO, professional snowboarder, joins CHELSIE HIGHTOWER. Sorry, still thinking about 1976.

Vaidas and Jurga Say Farewell to Competition

Vaidotas Skimelis and Jurga Pupelyte, arguably two of the best professional International Latin dancers in the San Francisco Bay Area, recently announced their retirement from competitive ballroom dance. They exit the competition floor from the number four spot in the country’s International Latin division.
They agree that the decision to retire from competition has been relatively easy although they did debate it over the course of a couple of years.
“Right now” Jurga says, “I feel happy about our decision. I think it is good. I am excited to watch competitions and not be in them. Of course, I may be sad too. We will see.”
One of the ultimate goals of a dancer is to reach a level of satisfaction with their body of work as they look back at their competitive career. “I feel very satisfied with what we have achieved. I had reached a point where I no longer needed to prove anything to myself or to anyone,” Jurga added.
Vaidas reflects on their decision and is optimistic about the potential that the future holds for their dance careers. “It was the right time to step into a new career. Maybe it won’t be perfect right away, but we get to have a different focus on dance and that is very exciting. To see it from another perspective and on another level. As a teacher, not a competitor but still have dance as an integral part of our lives.”
“I have so much energy now to teach. Energy I used to put into competition,” Jurga says excitedly. “and teaching is so fun. I want all my students to do well. I feel like I have new things to say and so much to share.” The couple’s fresh stamina, now flowing into teaching and coaching, is understandably being devoured by their students.
One needs only to attend their International Latin Technique class at Just Dance Ballroom in Oakland (Thursday 8pm) to see just how passionate and knowledgeable this duo is about their subject matter. Stunted rumba walks at the beginning of class are mysteriously transformed into graceful and purposeful gaits by the end of the hour. Latin Rounds (Thursdays, 9pm) give serious competitive dancers an earful of feedback from the firm voice of Vaidas and “bada ba dum” rhythm-reminders from Jurga on the sidelines. Students drill their routines to build stamina and work out the bugs to make competitions less intimidating. “I wish someone had done this for us when we were starting,” Jurga admits, “but look at them, they are getting better every time!”
“I feel we left on a strong note,” Vaidas interjects, “Sure we will miss it, but we will move on to see dance in a new way and we love that idea.”

Thought Process...

There are things to think about before returning to the Island and a Twaddler's life. For instance, can you stand all of that sunshine and fresh fruit?

Bachata on the radio
Un cafecito on the stove
Poetry face down on the kitchen table, written by un primo de mi papa.
Sancocho para mi? Gracias tia.

This is the Island that I know. This is the life of the Twaddler in me.
The me-twaddler is using this assignment to find the avenue for the poetry, the stories.
I walk the trails and feel the hibiscus brush my cheek as I pass because I want the environment of mi familia. Not the money. And I'll do what I have to to be there in it. Learning it.

One day the real words will emerge into the light for others to see. One day the real story will be read. Un dia.

If researching this, will lead me to finishing my real story, then maybe the pay is good.

Hmmmmm...

With whatever fits...

Night
Originally uploaded by anachav.

Oh yeah, I remember now why I live here.

Sometimes, when I've let myself get in a staid routine, I have to act like a tourist and do something to remind myself why I picked up and moved half way accross the country -- bringing with me what would fit in my VW convertible, just under a thousand dollars, and that is all. Everything that didn't fit, I quickly realized was superfluous anyway. I made sure to fit clothes, my laptop and my camera equipment. That's pretty much it.

Very cleansing...and borderline crazy. I've been told it was brave. Sure, in many ways it was irresponsible, but it took the cojones I knew I had but never displayed. Yeah, selfishness played in, but it was high time I acted that way. Damnit that is my story and I'm sticking to it.

Now, most days, it seems like the smallest leap, no big deal. But then there are those times, where I catapult myself out of my routine and my surroundings appear fresh and undiscovered.

Take a boat ride. Take some photos of where you live and feel like a foreigner in your own neighborhood. Buy a pack a pack of smokes that aren't your brand (SMOKING KILLS). Walk to some shops that aren't a chain. Have a meal in a Mom and Pop joint. See some live music.

Just break out of it.

There are snakes in the ocean too

There are snakes in the ocean too
Originally uploaded by anachav.

Ok, I know it's not a snake per say. But damn!

Moments before this was taken, a local man trotted passed me with three ACTUAL snakes in his grasp.

I didn't pass out. I didn't cry. I didn't have a heart attack, seizure or blackout event. I just looked away and froze.

Was that what I think it was? Was that really coming toward me? Look at them, they were huge! Shit, don't look don't look. You're not really going to cry are you? You friggen weakling! OK, not crying. Hey, an eel, time to redeem yourself for not being able to face the snakes. Take a photo of this...yeah...baby steps baby steps.

Today is the day...maybe.

I'm leaving today for a long excursion throughout select sites on the Island. Maybe.

I was first told that we would leave yesterday. Then it became 8:00 Friday morning. Then 10:00. Now it has become a very nebulous 'after 1:00'.

This is Island time. This drives me mad. (Taz, on the other hand, would be at home here.)

Anyway, I'm traveling to and throughout the Samana Peninsula on the northern coast. In a boat off the coast, I'll be searching for breeding Humpback whales and having lunch on the island of Cayo Levantado and checking out the nude beach there. Could be fun, could be scary...

Going to a excursion through Los Haitises National Park where you can go into caves and see ancient Taino Indian cave drawings. (Between you and me, this one scares me the most because of the probability of seeing snakes. Actually, it terrifies the bejeezuz out of me.)

If I live, I'll be going to small beaches, Restaurant and Hotel hunting, vising a rum factory, an Ambar museum, Ocean World, a cigar factory and countless other sites along the Ambar coast.

Then, going down through the mountains of the Cordillera Central and checking out the white water rafting and other adventure sports.

As we pass through the capital city again, we'll then head over to the rocky cliffs along the southern shore and to Lago Enriquillo, which is 4x saltier than the ocean, to see the crocodiles and flamingoes (hopefully not with the latter in the teeth of the former).

This is just a taste (pun intended). I guess you'll have to read the book to find out the rest. ;)

Until I'm able to make it to an internet accessible place, this is 'so long' from the Island of Twaddle. I'll be back in about 10 days. (but do check between, i might miss you terribley while on the road and want to say hi.) It's a fast trip, but hopefully fruitfull. Pray to whatever diety you want to so that i won't end up in the mouth of a whale, or crocodile, or in the belly of a snake like that dude they found! God!!!! Sakes alive!!!

xoxoxo
A