REDEMPTION NOT RENDITION

3.REDEMPTION NOT RENDITION

Two days to redemption in America and I am a bag of nerves. The Ballet Victoria performance of Firebird last night was exactly what I needed. A breath of fresh air from a young company, who, sadly, cannot afford live music. Isn't that just disgusting given we have the man and womanpower, underutilized and underpaid symphony members?

Thanks again, Mr. Prime Minister for your mis-spending of our tax money.

Isn't it a no brainer? What would we prefer - watching healthy young dancers or sending their brothers and sisters to killing fields in Afghanistan?

I heard Stravinsky conduct Firebird in Vancouver years ago and was lucky enough to be introduced to the maestro by my uncle by marriage, Mozart specialist Jan Cherniavsky, who was known as "the poet of the piano," which leads me to my thoughts of the day.

I wrote bass maestro Gary Karr and Paul Destrooper,lead dancer and director of Ballet Victoria, this morning. to suggest a collaboration - poetry, bass and dance (bass, baritone, soprano). This isn't a new idea. We have collaborated with choroegraphers Lynda Raino and Suddenly Dance Company's David Ferguson in the past and audiences loved it.

Shouldn't we be hitting Harper and our fellow countrymen with performances they can't ignore.

Isn't there strength in numbers and in the inclusivity of intermedia productions?

In Cuba, where the Canada Cuba Literary Alliance is doing such good work, son (song) and palabre are a long tradition.

My message to Canadian artists in all genres is- United we stand, and I mean the humourists too.

Our comedians have been front and centre in the Bush McCain Palin show. Way to go, Canada!