I'm about a week behind in sharing this look, but here it is, anyway.
Rob and one of his colleagues organized and hosted a pretty extensive World Music Festival last week, which included several lectures about different cultures' music, ethnomusicology, current trends in composition, etc. Plus, one high profile performance (Indian Tabla!) at the Suzhou Culture Centre, which was performed for a full house! Do yourself a favor and go listen to some of Abhiman Kaushal's tabla performances- insane. Better still? He's a heck of a nice guy and a really engaging teacher. And if you're in a New Music mood- listen to some of Shi-Hui Chen's pieces (she's Rob's teacher from Rice and the reason we found out about the job here in Suzhou). All such good stuff last week!
So, in order to impress absolutely nobody except the gaggle of Indian and Chinese 19 year old students who flooded the concert hall for the performance, I kicked my maternity style up a notch and wore this snazzy little stretch dress, a loud overcoat, silk scarf (so beautiful and SO hard to wear since it's a massive square shape) and actually curled my hair. And then stunk it all up when, after the concert, we joined the performers for a late-night Hot Pot meal. Seriously, wear old clothes when you plan to order Sichuan spicy soup. You'll reek for days.
My birthday date/ fancy-pants dance performance tickets made for a truly wonderful Saturday. My guy done good! We started the day with him working and me reading (of course) and I blew my way through another book. It got awfully chilly down here in TX, so it was nice to have a Saturday where my day needed to consist only of drinking coffee, reading and being doted upon.
While I may have failed in planning dinner reservations (we wound up at the suuuper cheap Vietnamese sandwich place- no complaints from either of us, it was just really awkward to be so dressed up in such a casual place), but the dance program was absolutely phenomenal. The show details are here. I may not have been the best dancer myself, but I know good stuff when I see it and I was really impressed by the quality of performance and the guest artists brought in. I made two mental notes: one of the performers, who trained extensively in Japan, was very technically proficient, but I couldn't tell if it was the choreography or simply how she manipulates her body in space, but I was physically uncomfortable watching how every precise movement was completed with a more forward or frontal focus. I felt as though her arms and legs very rarely went past the centerline of the side of her body (which makes me think the choreography was the reason) and she didn't open up and extend to the back, her back didn't arch backward. It was the dance equivalent of a musical chord progression never resolving. And it felt weird. (All you non-music or dance nerds, sorry 'bout that geekery) Second note: The wonderful juxtaposition of "perceived ugly poses" like a flexed foot at the end of an extended leg in the midst of a fairly traditional arabesque and a very graceful lift with limbs jutting out at odd angles were some of the most exciting moments in the choreography.
If you know anything about dance, you'll want to pee yourself when you see how daaaang good these two are. This isn't the video from last night, but it's the same two dancers and the same choreography. I'm still feeling so affected by how beautiful the whole performance was, specifically the female dancer, Stephania Figliossi. I would shell out a pretty big hunk of moolah to see her perform next time she's in Houston.
Dress: Banana Republic...Coat: BB Dakota via Piperlime..Belt: Banana...Necklace: Black House White Market...Tights: Gap...Shoes: Naturalizer
On our way home, we grabbed a bottle of Malbec wine and snacks, changed into pajamas and sipped our way through my perhaps-bootlegged-$1.50-from-a-crazy-Beijing-video-store copy of "The Kids Are All Right".
We came to the conclusion that we were able to do Dinner, A Show, Fancy Post-Date Drinks, and A Movie all in one night.
And I'm still promised a for-real Birthday Dinner out.
Thiiiiiiis is what I wanted to wear during Kalya's21 Day Challenge Menswear Day. My first attempt was just post-kitty drama and I was sooo tired after being up all night at the emergency Vet, but I had good reason to try it again. Really, really good reason to try again.
Last night was my Guy's 2nd composition recital and it was completely amazing. I sent out a plea a few days ago for help with inspiration and I got some awesome advice about kicking basic black-on-black up a notch with rocking shoes. I switched it to a rocking tie and comfy wedges.
Pants: Gap...Shirt: J Crew...Vest: Trina Turk, thrifted...Tie: borrowed...Shoes: Payless, old
For fun, here's a few shots from the evening... My Guy writes a good chunk of his music with interactive electronics, meaning that some of it is prerecorded that the instrumentalists play along with, some of it is played into microphones which feeds into the computer and my Guy has pre-programmed effects that instantaneously goes back out the speakers. It's fascinating how much work and programming and precision goes into each piece.
My Guy at the helm
my Guy's Bromance is conducting, in the center.
With his quartet performers.
After the concert... he looks relieved, huh?
If you all are interested or even a little curious, the recordings should be on his website in the next few days. Click the picture below and it will go straight to the Composition page. Click around on titles to read more about each and to listen to recordings. Last night they played "Natural Selection," "Untangle my Tongue," and "The Gate."
See you all tomorrow. Hope your weekend was lovely!
