Wanda's Picks Radio July 21, 2010 www.blogtalkradio.com/wandas-picks

Jo Kreiter and her collaborators have nationally recognized expertise in creating site-specific and apparatus-based performance work. Their current production, the result of Flyaway Productions’ 2010 Arts and Activism Apprenticeship premieres this evening and tomorrow, July 21-22, at CounterPulse in San Francisco. This summer program for girls is inspired by the company’s mission to make dances that live at the intersection of acrobatic spectacle and social justice. 15 young artists received a paid summer apprenticeship, facilitating both dance-making and community–based activism.

The 2010 summer season is based on Flyaway’s award winning “The Ballad of Polly Ann,” which won an Isadora Duncan special achievement award in 2010. “Polly Ann” celebrates the experience of women who built the Bay Area’s bridges. The workshop is led by Jo Kreiter, in collaboration with Flyaway’s seasoned company members Jennifer Chien, Kelly Kemp and Alayna Stroud.

The young artists come to Flyaway from the Mission, Bayview Hunter’s Point, the Avenues, South of Market and Oakland. Shows are: Wednesday-Thursday, July 21-22, 2010, 7 PM, at CounterPulse,1310 Mission Street @ 9th, San Francisco. Visit www.flyawayproductions.com Tickets:$6-12 sliding-scale, Youth (14 & under) free. Visit counterpulse.org or call (800) 838-3006 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (800) 838-3006      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

We close with a special interview with Angela Bofill who is bringing "The Angela Bofill Experience," narrated and written by her to the RRazz Room at Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason Street (between Ellis and O'Farrell), San Francisco, July 22-24, 2010. For tickets visit:www.therrazzroom.com or call: (415) 394-1189.

Continuing her miraculous recovery from two devastating strokes (2006 and 2007), legendary Classic Soul/R&B/Jazz singer Angela Bofill will be appearing in a mini-tour with friends. The show will mark Angela's first public appearance since her stroke.The show will include video footage of her jammin' days in Central Park, and peppered with footage of her appearances on The American Music Awards (with Michael Jackson), The Tonight Show, and Soul Train.

Angela will provide stage narratives about the tunes, with some humorous anecdotes.

Singing the songs of Angela's career will be award winning vocalist Maysa (Stevie Wonder's female backup group Wonderlove and British jazz/funk/R&B band Incognito), and Grammy-winning jazz flutist Dave Valentin, who played an important part in Angela's early career, will provide his own stories as well as perform.

Special friends Phil Perry and Norman Connors will also perform. Sounds like a happy reunion.