Saturday

My Bollywood Days

Weather in Delhi does two things: rain very very heavily, or, become very very very hot and humid. The best thing about these two circumstances is that they are both ideal weather conditions for one of my favorite activities—going to the movies. Lucky for me, the Bollywood industry is probably the largest film Industry (definitely the most prolific) in the world, and the country’s independent cinema movement is also booming. If I’d wanted too, I could have seen three movies a day for every day of my trip and still not exhausted the supply. Since ostensibly there were other things I had to do, I just saw three films total: One Hindi indie called That Girl in Yellow Boots, about a young girl who works at a happy endings massage parlor to make enough money to track down her lost father, and two classic Bollywood films, Mere brother Ke Dulhan and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, the latter a classic stag party adventure for three best friends before one of them gets married. (The same female lead, Katrina Kaif stars in both of these).
I appreciated my first Hindi indie, but my favorite of the three was the archetypal Bollywood flick, “Mere Brother Ke Dulhan” or “My brother’s bride” which my mom thought should be changed to “EYES” because of the amount of screen time dedicated solely to close ups of our main characters looking longingly at each other. During this movie, our main character, Kush, is on a mission to find a bride for his brother, Luv. He finds the perfect woman, Dimple, but after her engagement to his brother, Kush realizes hes totally in love with her! My favorite scene had to be when, as part of the plot twist to get the brother back with his ex so that Kush and Dimple can be together, the whole family takes a break from engagement festivities at a Government Authorized Bhang Shop (Bhang is a juice made from marijuana plants that is mixed into milkshakes) and everyone including the fat old aunties and uncles gets completely blitzed out of their minds and they all perform a big-stoned-happy-family song and dance number. It's not my Dadima's Bollywood anymore, that's for sure! Do not think, however, that this means there was one single kiss on the lips during the entire film, because there was not. Not a single kiss, but eyes, eyes, eyes!It's true that Bollywood films are cheesy and obvious. BUT. Bollywood has PERFECTED cheese and obviousness to such an extent that the movies are wildly successful in what they aim to achieve: a tangled love story fraught with family drama and some seemingly insurmountable conflict, resolved by an elaborate wedding and all loose ends neatly tied up, with at least 3 or 4 musical numbers to rival any Brittany or Beyonce video. It’s damn hard not to fall in love with them!
BTW is this guy the Indian Jake Gyllenhaal or what?!

Friday

Away is the only way


Last night was the first screening of Away is the only way a short dance film I made with friend and film-maker, Cassie Spodak. It all started with a conversation about dance, films, collaboration, and an idea about the act of traveling as a conduit for change. Dance is so hard to capture, and I constantly struggle with the fact that performance can never be the same twice (a beautiful thing, but also a frustrating one). This little project is a way for me to experiment with different ways of creating and sharing dance. I can't wait to make more! All feedback is welcome and encouraged!

Saturday

Pretty Weekend in Los Angeles

Me and my #1 host, the ferocious Sam Racanelli.
#2 host, but by no means less important, James P. Viola.
Sam and Jonny Mais. Arne.

These are some snaps from my labor day weekend in Los Angeles. If NYC could have LA's weather, I swear I'd never say another bad thing about my city, and I'd probably never leave.

Well, actually... my lovely west coast friends would have to come too.

Sunday

Missing NYC


People from other places have some not so wonderful things to say about New Yorkers. My travels around the world has proved this. Yes, we are hurried, driven by success, are mostly overworked and underpaid, and sometimes I'm sure we can seem cold. BUT, we are a wildly creative, loud, and responsive bunch, and we do care about one another in the grand scheme of things. Combing through pictures and videos from today's 9/11 memorial and hearing thoughts and remembrances from friends and family made me realize just how unified and sensitive we can be. This video, not related to the tragedies of 9/11, is just an everyday example of how New Yorkers will, in fact, take time to stop and appreciate random creative acts, and most of all, say something nice to their fellow residents just for the hell of it.

On the Subject of Robots



How cool would it be to do an accent wall with this robot wallpaper? I think it would be perfect for a bathroom or a home office. In contrast to the stark, tron-esque neon and chrome robots of today (see below), these lil guys are kind of sweet and homey, aren't they? I wish I had a whole house to decorate! (photos via The Style Files)

Game Changing Tron Dance

Gah! This is insane! Daft Punk would be so proud of the geniuses behind Team Illuminate, a dance crew that seems to defy gravity and convention with their Tron-worthy neon glowing bodysuits. How awesome would it have been to have these costumes for the Mac Miller shoot? Thanks to Noam for sharing :)

Saturday

Last Tango in BA



Now that I've had a week to reflect on my month in Argentina, I think the thing I loved the most was (drumroll please)...the dance! SURPRISE, I LOVE DANCE! God, I'm so predictable. Salsa and partner dancing seems to come so naturally to Argentine people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Coming from the US, it's not often that you find great dancers who aren't professionals. In BA that was not so. Imagine my astonishment upon entering a nightclub where web designers, soccer players, newscasters, senior citizens, and otherwise self-conscious teens are all practically shimmying their shirts off in the same place like it's the most natural thing in the world. All of a sudden the dance floor becomes a circle of cheers as one particularly amazing couple, who appear to be in their forties, take the floor in a "dancing with the stars"-esque Salsa/rhumba duet. It is not choreographed. They are not professionals. These people just love to move their bodies!

In addition to the general spirit of movement that is so contagious in Buenos Aires, I happened to be there during the World Tango festival. I didn't go to any of the competitions, but there was Tango everywhere. It was ridiculously fun for me to ditch ballet and modern technique class for a while and start from scratch. Every week, my favorite Argentine and I would head over to La Catedral (that neat old Tango joint I wrote about a few posts back) have some wine and organic empanadas, and take a two hour class (only five bucks a pop!). One would think that being a dancer would make learning the Tango easier. It doesn't! I can fake the salsa and basic dancing with a partner if need be, but Tango is a different art entirely. Learning to follow was the hardest part. We spent hours just walking with our hands on our partners shoulders learning how to feel the difference between leading and following. Walk, switch partners, walk, switch partners, walk, walk, walk, walk. Now walk backwards! By the time I actually got to dance it was such a thrill, you'd think I'd never set foot on a dance floor. Dancing with partners who were more experienced was like floating on air once I learned to follow correctly. All of a sudden, I was dancing Tango! I'm determined to continue with classes once I get back to NYC. I may have had my last Tango in BA, but I'm not done yet:)

Friday

The Weary Traveler & Santa Fe


I'm on to the next leg of my journey folks! Hopefully by some time this evening I'll be in LA with my favorite little Ital, Sam (of "nut up or shut up" fame). I'm feeling a little like a weary traveler after being on planes for over 24 hours now, and moving around this much tends to make me feel all mushy and sentimental. In addition, little known fact: I also happen to be one of those people who cries on planes... have you heard that segment on This American Life? WEIRD. Anyway! Here is a song I'm listening to on my travels. It's from Beirut's new album and it's called Santa Fe. I just love it.