Dance, Drink, Whatever


By Victoria Looseleaf

The Leaf traveled a lot in one of her past lives (her second book, Whorehouse of the Mind: A Novel of Sex, Drugs and the Space Program, chronicles some of those sojourns), and though it’s taken a while to rack up the miles again, she’s been doing it with a vengeance since 2006 (thanks, in part, to receiving a special Lester Horton Award, Furthering the Visibility of Dance, that same year).

So what does she love best, besides the food (foie gras, anyone…), the wine (who knew Switzerland grows grapes and has some very fine vinos, none of which they export but keep all for themselves…), the sights (from gothic to gorgeous, each city’s got its own fabulous architecture), the sounds (sirens are definitely different in Europe), the arts (what The Leaf’s life is all about, including checking out a very fine Brassaï photo exhibition in Montpellier), and all the different cultures?

Israeli choreographer Yuval Pick has something on his, er mind…

The peeps, of course. Meeting people, like-minded journalists and dance-lovers in general (including presenters, performers, choreographers, etal), at a host of different festivals, as well as those folks who actually live in the towns The Leaf visits, is absolutely the most gratifying part of traveling. Soaking up local color is always great, fersure, but it’s particularly fabulous to see old friends at the various festivals, as well as meeting new ones, to share experiences, to bond over good – and bad – art…and vin rouge, Perrier Menthe and macarons or Luxembergerli, as they’re called in Zürich. What could be better?

Bartabas on the horse with butoh dancer Ko Murobushi in The Centaur and The Animal, photo by Nabil Boutros

Of course, attending dance concerts in Montpellier has always been magnifique. On this, The Leaf’s fourth trip to that gorgeous town in the South of France, there has always been something fascinating to see, to talk about, to remember. Even if a performance wasn’t that great! So, click here to read her thoughts for Dance Magazine on the 31st Montpellier Danse Festival. Also, click here to view performance snippets.

Opera house, Montpellier, on the Place Comedie

In the interim, merci and let The Leaf know what you think. Au revoir pour maintenant!

About Victoria Looseleaf

Victoria Looseleaf is an award winning arts journalist and regular contributor to the Los Angeles Times, KUSC-FM radio, Dance Magazine, Performances Magazine and other outlets. She roams the world covering dance, music, theater, film, food and architecture. Have pen - and iPad - will travel! Her latest book, "Isn't It Rich? A Novella In Verse" is now available on Amazon. Thank you for reading! Cheers...
This entry was posted in BRASSAI, DANCE MAGAZINE, DRUGS AND THE SPACE PROGRAM, FOIE GRAS, GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE, LESTER HORTON, MACARON, MONTPELLIER DANSE, PERRIER MENTHE, SWISS WINES, WHOREHOUSE OF THE MIND: A NOVEL OF SEX. Bookmark the permalink.