December 8. 2004
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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
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