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Friday January 4, 2008
Week of December 31, 2007
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A new year and a new home for DC's Arena Stage. The company's southwest Washington home will be undergoing a hundred and twenty-five million dollar demolition and construction over the next 2 1/2 years. That means Arena had to shut down one theater, open another and move 40 years worth of stuff to its temporary home and storage facility in Crystal City - all during the hectic holiday season.
As one of the first not-for-profit theaters in the U.S. and a pioneer of the regional theater movement, Arena Stage has a long history. But the question remains as to whether its audience will follow the company across the river to Virginia. Stephanie Kaye travels to Arena's new home away from home in Crystal City and speaks with executive director Steven Richard.
Can a hip hop dance troupe and a classically trained company find their footing together on stage? Culture Shock DC and Contradiction Dance may not be Felix and Oscar, but their partnership is still an odd pairing. An improvisational show called "Make a Contradiction Dance: Welcome to the Blend" was the first of a series of collaborations between the companies. Held at the Rock Creek Sports Club, the idea was to have each group of dancers perform a series of moves and then learn each other's steps - and by the end of the evening premier a new choreography. Getting ballet and hip hop to co-exist may require a little fancy footwork. Andrew Hiller heads to the dance floor.
At the end of this month, Contradiction Dance is scheduled to move to its home, the Echo Park Contemporary Ballet Center.
Senior Commentator Fred Fiske looks back on the major changes that have occurred during his lifetime.
"Try, try... and try again" could be the mantra of Ilir Zherka. As Executive Director of DC Vote, he has dedicated himself to obtaining full representation for the District and its residents in Congress. Rosiland Jordan spent time trailing the "energizer bunny" of voting rights and has this report.
New Year's Resolutions are full of good intentions but often fall by the wayside sometime in mid February. Travel writer Jim Yenckel is here with some resolutions we might really get excited about trying to fulfill - ideas for getting out and about in the frozen mid-winter.
Gardeners in the DC region are always trying to come up with ways to keep deer and rabbits away from prized vegetables and flowers. But few of us struggle with a peacock problem. Writer Meg Roggensack explains.
Meg Roggensack is a writer who divides her time between the District and the Eastern Shore.