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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2009)
"eJ 2 Q MAY 1. \11\1/W.JUSTOUT.CmA zooq ; 0 FORMER COMPANY MEMBER REJOINS PENDULUM DANCE THEATRE G E IR Aerial dance, an acrobatic art form incorporating circus-inspired apparatus such as the trapeze, is a unique and de- manding style of movement. "You have to keep doing it every week, three or four times-a week, or you lose your muscles and strength," says Luis Torres, a member of Portland's Pendulum Dance Theatre. Torres would know. He was -with Pendulum Dance Theatre from 2002-04, when he moved to Los Angeles to study music production and to work as a pro- ducer and stage manager at a number of nightclubs, including Circus Disco and Arena Cafe. One highlight of his time in L.A. was opening for disco queen Thelma Houston. Another was when Torres joined California's courthouse rush and married his partner. Now that Torres is back in Portland, he juggles his responsibilities as husband with training 16-plus ho_urs a week with Pendulum Dance Theatre. The company prepares to celebrate its ninth season with an evening program called Nine. "It's a lot to be everywhere ·and make everybody happy," says Torres, who also works part-time for a local fashion designer. The challenge of balancing work and personal life doesn't dampen Torres' ex- citement about being back in· the world of aerial dance. He feels great about having regained the flexibility and strength the style demands, and he enjoys working with Pendulum Director Suzanne Kenney, who focuses not only on the physical details of the choreography but also on the stories the company tells through its performances. Torre says, "When you know you're touching people's lives, that's your pay. However difficult it was to get there, ev- erything i worth it in that moment, when you realize 'I did it: I connected with that audience and told my story. m - REBECCA RAGAIN Pendulum Dance Theatre performs Nine: An Evening of Unconfined Circus May 2-3 at Portland's French American International School, 8500 NW Johnson St. 120 adults, 115 students, 110 children under 12, pendulumdancetheatre. org. grasslands, fields of balsamroot and lupine on the way to the top of the mountain. Hike includes excel- lent views of the Columbia River and neighboring volcanoes. RSVP required . Meet outside Starbucks in Hollywood Fred Meyer. (9 am, 3030 NE Weidler St. For info, call Chris @ 503-329-3916) Mai1 (Foi $22 253 m ::> "' )) Rosetown Ramblers First Saturday Dance. This month's caller is BC's Anne Uebelacker. 5 pm-6:30 pm, advanced-level dancing; 6:30-7:30 potluck dinner, 7:30-10 pm, Class, MS and Plus Level danc- ing (Milwaukie Grange, 12015 SE 22nd Ave., Milwaukie) Per Peri turr nut, ma, It's new will Ing Q Center presents Its monthly storytlme for kids 0 -5 years and their families. Nurture a love of read - ing while meeting other gay and lesbian parents. Youth Librarian, Maria Lowe, will read engaging stories and coordinate song and movement activi - ties to match the ages and attention spans of the children attending. (10 -11 am, 0 Center, 4114 N. Mississippi) New Cooking and eating well group at Manifest. Open to adult men of all ages, sizes, races, orien - tations, experience levels and backgrounds. Learn how to cook simple, nutritious meals. RSVP George Ellis 503-223-8822 xl (10 am-noon, $15-$25 sliding scale, www.manifestpdx.org/calendar) » SUN• MAY 3 Peacock Productions presents the Sec6nd An- nual Soul Food & Gospel Music Celebration, door 5 pm, dinner 5:30 pm. $15 in advance, $20 door. Net proceed s benefit the Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund. (Darcelle XV Showplace, 298 NW 3rd. Ave.) DO JUMP!'s teen performance troupe, the Zig Zags, presents its original show, Between Then and Now. The troupe uses acrobatics, aerial dance and physical theater to bring their stories of change, let- ting go and finding a place in the world to the stage. (1 pm & 4:30 pm, Echo Theater, 1515 SE 37th, $5 12 and younger, $10 adults) Crush presents "That's So Gay" trivia night ev- ery Sunday. Trivia about all things fabulous! (7 pm, 1400 SE Morrison St.) CC Slaughters presents the Superstar Divas 2nd Anniversary party and bash, A Walk in the Magic Kingdom. (9 pm, no cover, 219 NW Davis) Q Center Volunteer Appreciation Party. All volun- teers, past and present, are invited to come by the new space, check out the digs, mix and mingle and enjoy food and drink. (2-4 pm, 4114 N. Mississippi) Rose City Softball Association players head to the fields of Hillsboro. Pack the friends, family and lunch and enjoy a day out. Leave the dog at home, no dogs allowed . (www.rosecitysoftball.org) New personal training group for men. Learn to turn your wellness goals into fun, easy exercise and nu- trition. David Scheer, ACE Certified Personal Trainer (7-8:30 pm $10-$15 per session, sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds. David 503- .223-8822 x1, www.manifestpdx.org/calendar) req1 Holl the ser, sho ho/I The Shrunken Head of Pancho Villa runs May 8-30 . 7:30 p.m. Thurs .. 8 p .m. Fri. - Sat .. 2 p.m. Sun . at the Milagro Theatre Group. 525 SE Stark St. The spri ·» Read Just Out's interview with actor Vicente Guzman-Orozco on page 30. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• , .............•.............•....................•............•.•.•......•.....•...•..•••......•... » MON• MAY LI CD promotion party at CC Slaughters, Gavin Ca stleton , Home. (9 pm, free, 219 NW Davis) Wanderlust Cycling Group. Have fun exploring Portland by bike, followed by optional dinner & hot tub. (6:30-8 pm Mondays, weekly. www. manifestpdx.org/calendar) Test your trivia knowledge for FREE every Monday night at Suki's (near PSU, located below the Travelo- dge). Prize is chiefly bragging rights, but last week's . champion also got to be a karaoke VIP Thursday through Saturday. Groups as well as individuals wel - come - they'll find a team for you. (9 pm, Suki's Bar & Grill, 2401 SW 4th Ave., www.sukisbargrill.com) » TUES. • MAY 5 WIiiamette Writers welcomes local author Laura Whitcomb, who will share her tips for writing well, quickly and under pressure. Whitcomb, author of the book Novel Shortcuts: Ten Techniques that . Ensure a Great First Draft, is one of Willamette Writers' rising stars. Portland meetings are held 7-8 pm in downtown Portland the first Tuesday of each month. Free for members, $5 for guests of mem- bers and students, and $10 for non-members. (The Old Church, 1422 SW 11th, www.willamettewriters. com, 503-452-1592.) » WE·D • MAY b Personal Training Group. Learn with ACE Certified Personal Trainer David Scheer, and a team, how to turn your wellness goals into fun, easy exercise & nutrition. (7-8 am weekly Mon, Wed, & Fri. www. manifestpdx.org/calendar) Get easy and fun exercise with the Walking Group. Create community and enjoy Portland's beautiful Esplanade & neighborhoods. (6 -7 pm Wednesdays weekly. Bob Basar & David Hicks www.manifestpdx.org/calendar) FAME! North Portland's new queer dance night. Every Wednesday night. Cheap food and drinks, pin - ball and pool. (9:30 pm - close. Portsmouth Pub, 5262 N. Lombard St. Free!) Join Brian Kurth, career strategist, author and founder of VocationVacations® and career/life transition coach Will Wiebe for a special Happy Hour and presentation of "The Ultimate 40-Hour Career Transition Plan." (5:30-7:30 pm, Aura 1022 W. Burnside. RSVP www.vocationvacations.com) » THUR • MAY 7 Connect your breathing, body & mind with Beginner's Yoga. Bryan Rollins, Hatha Yoga In- structor. (6:15 -7:30 pm, Thursdays weekly. www. ma'nifestpdx.org/calendar) Scandals presents the art of Tom Hardy for First Thursday. Featuring live music from SNEAKIN ' OUT, Patrick Bunch, and DJ Crumz. (7 pm, with music at 8 pm. Scandals, 1125 SW Stark. www. scandalspdx.com) 11'. LU z z 8 a:: ::> "' u Bag&Baggage Productions and The Venetian Theatre present Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. Take a journey out to Hillsboro's » Sha doc ope HILLSBORO'S ON LY PRO THE IMPORTAN O scar Wilde's classic work 1be Importance of Being Earnest was shocking when it debuted on London stages bac~ in 1895. The queer subtext was new and pow- erful to Victorian audiences. More than a hundred years later, it hasn't lost its punch. Beginning May 7, Hillsboro's only pro- fessional theater company, Bag&Baggage, interprets Wilde's play in a way that's both irreverent and relevant. The production re - lies on the gay sensibilities of Noel Coward and The Roaring Twenties, exchanging tea and crumpets for martinis and caviar. Artistic Director Scott Palmer explains, "We are pulling out all the stops to make Wilde's insights into gender, sexuality and passion the focus of our show." t 1 J s f 1 1 f t l I 1 1 1
