CUE Showcase Recap~
Yesterday was dedicated to raising funds for CUE and its programming.
It began on a windy and blustery Sunday morning at 7am preparing for an 8 person tour of our home. It was a lovely group of people from Berkeley who heard about the Gregangelo Museum through a recent meeting we had about a future event we will be doing with the Berkeley Museum. We open our home to tours and charge a fee of which 100% goes to fund CUESPACE and its Programming. They were a lovely group of people and it was very refreshing to meet a bright young group of people and have stimulating conversations on Sunday morning, rather than my usual cup of coffee and the New York Times.

As soon as we finished the tour Gregangelo and I drove with Milan (see previous post) to Glen Park to grab lunch for the artists showcasing and headed over the Bay Bridge to West Oakland. Henry (V-Troupe member) was finishing up organizing the seating and Cecilia Palmtag our assistant Technical Director was humming along setting up the film projector, audio and lights. After setting up the green room, I began my favorite task of popping Popcorn! It is a mindless task for me and it a great way to relax after the week of high-energy and business stimulants.

Our line-up was great and some incredible stories from the artists. Cassie (see attached image) a 7 year old aerialist her second time in front of an audience wowed the crowd with her finesse and presentation of static trapeze to the song "Somewhere Out There" from the movie "American Tale". What was very moving about her story is that she was adopted from a orphanage in China and is now living in the Bay Area and training in Circus Arts. She is a very special child and through her loving parents is now on a path of self-esteem building, confidence,discipline and rewards that will enable her to succeed in what ever her life path will bring. This is what circus arts brings to youth and is a great catalyst for social change in the community.

We had a great supportive audience and Francis and Scott Wocicki from the tour of our home came to the show and brought friends. This particular showcase was a great success from all the collaborative elements, audiece and volunteers that came together to see, create and support the arts!




Here is the line-up of the show~
Trapeze Arts/Janene- Youth Aerial Troupe

Audrey Rosales- she's doing an aerial net act

Paula Kidwell- Paula is the newest member of V-Troupe. She joins us after a lifetime of training in acrobatics, dance, and stunt work. She trained with Cirque du Soleil in Montreal before braving the circus and performing arts world on her own. Today she is here to present an original acrobatic dance piece.

**Alex Ramon Gonzalez/ magic show (if he shows--I'm lead to believe that he will be there)- Alex is a Bay Area native from Richmond, CA whose talents have won him several awards of national acclaim. He has just returned from a world tour as a Principal Illusionist with Disney, and is best known for his Dove Act.


Fou Fou Ha!- is a Bay Area performance ensemble "Combining buffoonery, intricate dance choreography, drag queens, slapstick, and cheap bourbon, the Fou Fou HA! Dancing girls are a band of mayhem-makers like no other. Their performances always cause laughter and excitement (and at times a bit of brain damage)". Today, Fou Fou Ha brings us a Slapstick Dance number.

Hiromi Yoshida create and edit of our Heliopolis show and previewed it as well.

Here is a video created by HGTV for the show "Offbeat America" about our home.





Sincerely,
Jeffrey