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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 2004)
December 8. 2004 il!‘ ^Jortlanb ©bsvruer Page B3 FOCUS Science Playground Oregon Museum of Science and Industry has made renova tions to suit its tiniest guests. The Science Playground, an early childhood education hall, stimulates OMSI’s littlest visi tors with a “ w ater w a ll,” Sandland and a larger than life reading and drawing canopy. The new and expanded area was sparked by OMSI’s mem bership statistics, showing fam ily memberships including chil dren under six years old grew from 4,500 in 1997 to 13,200 in 2002. “With input from kids and parents, we've transformed an entire hall into a vibrant, multi- sensory environment, complete with amenities that are impor tant to adults participating in the fun,"said Ann Wieding.OMSI’s lead early childhood educator. One-year-old tw ins R on a n d Ten ley H odge c e le b ra te their first birthday a t th e grand o p en in g o f O M SI's S c ie n c e Playground, a colorful a n d vibrant p la ce for kid s to play, explore, a n d e n g a g e in sc ien c e. PHOTO COURTESY OF OMS1 Harlem Dance Theatre Come Back New support brings life to renowned program (A P)— The world renowned but financially beleaguered Dance The- atreof Harlem in New York reopened its school last weekend after sup porters poured in more than $1.6 million. The donations include $500,000, contributed by an anonymous bene factor a source identified as M ayor Michael Bloomberg. "The Dance Theatre o f Harlem not only holds an important place in this community but also in the cultural landscape o f our city,” Bloomberg said at a news confer N ew York M a y o 7 M i c h a e l B i o ^ e r g ( f a S ) a n d ^ v e e ^ S ence announcing the school’s re look on a s Arthur M itchell d irects s tu d e n ts in a preview e x e rc ise opening. a t th e D ance Theatre o f H arlem S c h o o l in N ew York. (AP photo) The school had closed in Octo- it was just amazing. The response mous gift o f $10 million to the ----------------- jusi uuiazing. i ne respon; ber due to poor finances and lack o f has been absolutely incredible.” Carnegie Corporation, which was I net i r ' i n / ' a ' ____ ___ « . insurance; the dance com pany shut A t the new s c o n fe re n c e , distributed among 162 cultural in down in September. Bloomberg said Bloomberg declined to identify the stitutions. the school’s reopening was a step anonym ous donor but was not Hie Dance Theatre o f Harlem on the road to getting the company asked if it was him. A person close School provides training in classi performing again. to the mayor said that Bloomberg cal ballet and the allied arts. The “The last few weeks have been had been the source o f the money. school is accredited by the Na a b s o lu te ly h o rre n d o u s ,” said This isn t the first time the mayor tional Association o f Schools of Arthur Mitchell, who co-founded has stepped in to help arts organi Dance and is listed as an institution the school in 1969. But “the outcry zations. In February 2003, accord o f higher learning by the state De that came from across the world ... ing to reports, he made an anony- partment o f Education. Tina Goes Swiss W I fe (AP) — Tina Turner, who cel ebrated her 65th birthday last week, is enjoying herquiet life in Switzerland, but reportedly has no plans to retire from perform ing. The rock diva completed her final world tour four years ago, but still gives live performances in Switzerland. Her latest was Saturday night, the day after her b irth d a y , th e S w iss w eek ly Schweizer lllustrierte said Tues Tina Turner p erfo rm s a so n g during th e G erm an televisio n sh o w day. W etten D a s s ...? ' ('B e t It...?') in Leipzig, Germany, on N ov 1 3 Turner will star as the Indian g o d d e ss S h a k ti in Ism ail Turner, who j u s t c e le b ra te d h er 6 5 th birthday, is enjoying h er M erchant’s new film, “The G od q u ie t life in Sw itzerland, b u t reportedly h a s no p la n s to retire dess,” and she recently released from perform ing. (AP photo) a new CD. Her screen credits also 1 um er told the magazine. "I love Zurich district o f Kuesnacht since include 1985’s “Mad Max Beyond the people, the lakes, the moun 1994. She also has a ski chalet in Thunderdome” with Mel Gibson. tains - simply everything." Klosters, the luxurious Swiss al “Switzerland is wonderful,” She has lived in the exclusive pine resort. __ MF Author Puts Dramatic Works on Audio O ne y e a r ag o sh e took theatergoers on a whirlwind trip through black history when Danny G lover was tapped to narrate her play “From the Porch." Now Mi ami-based author E. Claudette Free man is once again taking lovers of literature on a journey. Freeman uses her ear-enchant ing voice to lure the literati into an array o f fiction in “Drama Exposed,” short stories and poetry that can leave you in deep thought or tears. Freeman, the author o f “Pieces and Me - A Collection of Life”, does a masterful jo b o f relaying varying themes and giving them indepen dent life in Piano Man." The story wonderfu 1 ly uncovers a w ife’s pain and acceptance o f her adulterous Actresses o f Color Needed A play about women o f color surviving em otional and verbal abuse is holding open auditions for early next year’s production o f "Tangoing With Tornadoes.” T he choreoplay, w ritten by award-winning Oregonian colum n ists. Renee Mitchell and directed by Brenda Phillips, is scheduled for production from Jan. 28-Feb. 5 at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center in north Portland. Auditions will be 5:30-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 at Reflections C offee, 446 NE K illingsworth. Women o f color actresses, ages 25-65 are needed. Latina women are especially encouraged to apply. Come prepared with a monologue, either to read or recite from memory. If you are interested and cannot make the open auditions,e-mail your n am e and p h o n e n u m b e r to nappy rootspress @ blackemai I .com. husband. In “His Skirt W asn’t What 1 Wanted To Be Beneath” she takes on a w om an’s discovery of a lover on the down low with someone in her office. W ith a calm ing and warm tone, "M am a B lues” delicately exam ines how the possibility o f losing . C laudette F reem an a parent m akes one question their own m ortality. Still th e re’s “A Look At M yself," in which a seem ingly harm less trip to the mall leaves the listener seriously ques tioning who they are in the o v er all schem e o f life. Drama Exposed is available for those who prefer audio books or have been considering enjoying literature in a more portable fashion at www.cdbaby.com/ecfreeman Your Care Our First Priority Dr. Marcelitte Failla Chiropractic Physician Call for an appointment! 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