Red Tails (2012) HD Movie Trailer - Lucasfilm Official Trailer

Stevie Wonder Still ROCKS! "Songs In The Key of Life" ~ "AS"

Today I was feeling Stevie Wonder, so I got out one of my all time favorite double CD
"Songs In The Key of Life" ~ AS

I hope you all enjoy Stevie Wonder singing this song live with The Harlem Boys Choir - Amazing!

"...Did you know that true love asks for nothing?

No, no her acceptance is the way we pay

Did you know that life has given love a guarantee

To last through forever and another day..."

"Songs in the Keys of Life" ~ AS ~  Written and performed by Stevie Wonder

Love & light, Carla
(Songs in the Key of Life are the sole property of Stevie Wonder - no copyright infringement intended)

Happy New Year!

We are now embarking on a New Year. 2012. Wow!  May God continue to bless and protect you all~ Happy New Year everyone!  Truly, C

(Photo courtesy of NewYorkGuestlist.com NYE07BHorizontal.jpg)

"FELA!" - Ahmanson Theater ~ Now Through January 22, 2012

 Lena Coles-Dennis called me up and asked if I wanted to go see the Nigerian musical, "Fela!", now playing at the Ahmanson Theater. So you guessed it - after a quick meeting at in Century City,
I hopped in my whip and headed on downtown! Once I arrived at the Ahmanson Theater, there were so many people excitedly trying to get parked and get into the theater to see "Fela!" Got to the Box Office and picked up my tickets in Will Call, I raced to my seat with not a minute to spare - The lights went down and the show began!
From the start, the lead actor, Sahr Ngaujah, tactfully proved one of my Grand Father's favorite sayings,
 "Some of the biggest truths are told through jokes."  You owe it to yourself to go see "FELA!" and please keep in mind, unless you've walked a mile in a man's shoes, you should not judge him...

Okay, so, right before our very eyes, the spirit and the likeness of the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti =
Fela Kuti is standing and performing live! As a matter of fact, the entire cast brings their "A" game!

What is truly unique is how the musical explores in detail, the multi-faceted, symbiotic relationship between Fela Kuti and his Mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, is explored through the Yoruba religion that is practiced by the Kuti Family/Tribe.

Melanie Marshall, who portrays Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, has a mellifluous voice, the essence of a Mother's love, and simply evokes emotions that are sure to move your soul!

 "FELA!"  Cast members, Melanie Marshall, Sahr Ngaujah,
Sandra Izsadore, Paulette Ivory

                










A native Nigerian, Fela Kuti was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria,
 on October 15, 1938 - August 2, 1997.
He was his a human rights activist, a musician and a composer who was the catalyst that created Afrobeat sound.

His parents sent Fela Kuti abroad to the UK to study Medicine, and instead,  Fela Kuti decided to to learn more about music, and increasing the awareness of the political strife in his native land, Nigeria.
 "FELA!" has some of the most outstanding dancers I've ever seen! All of the performers are lively and beautiful and make you want to jump up and dance to the rhythm of the beat of the drums! Yeah, it is truly an excellent rendition of the life of one of Nigeria's Native Sons, a man that danced to the beat of his own drum, that was considered a threat to the Nigerian Government(1970-1997).

Long live the King of Afrobeat - Fela Kuti! "Yeah Yeah!

Visionary, Jim Lewis, multi-talented choreographer, Bill T. Jones, and the entire cast of men and women who perform are excellent! The vocals are amazing!

I'm just going to tell you now, get into your Whip and head to the Ahmanson Theater's Box Office and grab a seat while they are still available. Also upload the music on Facebook, and follow "FELA!" on Twitter -
http://twitter.com/#!/felamusical

 I have a feeling that the entire series is going to be sold out because the night we attended, as far as the eye can see, there was not ONE vacant seat in the house!

Love & light, C
(Photos are the sole property of  Ryan Miller | www.captureimmaging.com | Ryan@CaptureImaging.com, "FELA!" is Produced by Shawn"Jay-Z" Carter,
Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith,  Ahmanson Theater. No copy write infringement intended)

Gratefulness

When I woke up this morning, I was only too happy to get the turkey in the oven, with all of the trimmings - in record time. My Mother still makes the best turkey and dressing on planet earth, but I think that I do okay. I say that to say to you, no matter what you are doing today - whether it is celebrating Thanksgiving with the people that you love, or not, just take a moment and look at what is is that you have and not dwell on the things that you do not.  You'd be surprised at how fortunate you are!
Why don't you sit down - here, at Villa Blanca, and make a list.  Go ahead, get out a pen and paper and make a list - I dare you!  Enjoy your day, with gratitude...Love & light, Carla

Dancing With The Stars ~ Meet Urban Ballroom Dancing!

ABCs Dancing With The Stars is in it's 13th Season, and they have narrowed it down to 3 couples.
Whew! What, with 3 couples having to do so many routines in one evening -
The Tango, Cha-Cha, The Waltz - and I enjoy watching every minute of it!

Motown Ballroom Dancers

~ But hold up!
Wait a minute ~ Stop the show!
 Someone needs to tell the Execs. over at
ABCs "Dancing With The Stars" about the Brothers in
Inglewood, CA who are considered the BEST in Urban Contemporary Ballroom Dancing.
Who might that be? To answer that question, I went to the man that educated me -
Roy (Bro.Roy) Dennis, Roy will tell you it's all about the history of Urban Contemporary Ballroom Dance and how this style of dance came to be called Urban Contemporary Ballroom Dancing.

Roy (Bro. Roy) Dennis

It got its start in Detroit, Michigan. There were three dancers - Capers Tyus, Tyrone Bradley and Linda Harris friends that grew up watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies, and they developed their own techniques and methods of teaching ballroom dancing.

Capers Tyus taught his brother Michael and his sisters, Dorothy and Gwen - you see, as you might know, it takes two partners, executing the steps derived from the cha-cha. Well, Capers Tyus took the style of dance cross country, always dressed to the "Nines" and taught so many others throughout the United States the techniques.  This style of dance  - "A three count movement derived from the Cha-Cha, an International ballroom dance with a soulful beat!" - became known as,
the "Detroit Ballroom" and or "Motown Ballroom".

During the early 80s, Capers and Michael that have successfully competed all around the USA.
This dance has a soulful flavor and is an extract of International Ballroom.  They moved to Southern California, and continued to compete in the United States and Canada. In 1996, Capers Tyus(R.I.P) opened a dance studio in Leimert Park called "Dance in Motion", where thousands of people came to learn and dance this Urban flavored ballroom dance in night clubs throughout Detroit and LA.

Now, to fast forward, there is a group of gentlemen that Roy(Bro.Roy)Dennis and my friend
Lena Cole-Dennis introduced me to last weekend ~ I introduce you to, "The Gents".

 "The Gents" are a group of well dressed, intelligent Black men who are Masters of
Urban Contemporary Ballroom Dancing. These professional men(career professionals) have found a way to work within the community to do several things;

1) Carry on the Art of Soulful Dance with style

2) Get women to want to exercise on a regular basis, because the movement that is required to do the variety of dances that they do, keeps one on the move! These Gentlemen - "The Gents", make women feel  as if they are treasured and beautiful, no matter what size, shape, height, etc. Not judging or condeming the ones that are Full-Figured. Instead they welcome all, showing women that they can eat, socialize, look pretty and get their exercise in all within the same evening! Oh yes, these men go to work on the dance floor and the women follow - with a smile and grace.

It's a lovely thing, Urban Ballroom Dancing. It's a wonderful to actually see people of all ages and nationalities glide across the dance floor, having fun and exercising!

Hats off to Roy (Bro. Roy) Dennis and his entire team of people, from the reception area, Food Servers and Security ~ They are all professional and kind. Thank you all for your hospitality!

I would recccomend that everyone widen their horizons and take a course with friends and family. Practice for Wedding Dance Lessons, an office party with a twist, -  just try something new!
Contact: Roy (Bro. Roy)Dennis @royyah@juno.com or Facebook or call 909.373.3954

All photos are the sole property of Urban Contemporary Ballroom Dancing, and Roy (Bro.Roy) Dennis,

Taste and Style Just Aren't Enough* - Hammer Museum

Curator Frank Sirmans and  Art historian Karin Higa, joins Gallerist Alonzo Davis, Vaughn Payne and Joy Simmons as they sit and discuss the climate that helped to create

 such fantastic artistic expressions during the 1960s and 1970s in Southern California, specifically,
Los Angeles. Taste and Style Just Aren't Enough* - Hammer Museum