Kahekili

JWise Photo of the Day

A performance at the Scottsdale Center of the Performing Arts paying tribute to Kahekili the sacred Maui chief

The last performance of the month for us to attend was at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Tonight featured a dance and music group from Hawaii that told the story through their performance of the great and sacred Maui chief Kahekili. Jutta attended the show with us and enjoyed the opportunity to see a slice of Pacific Islander life and mythology that is rarely if ever performed in Germany. These cultural moments that transport Caroline and me out of the drab confines of what would otherwise be a very boring city are mini lifesavers.

Song and Dance

JWise Photo of the Day

Native American performing the chicken dance

A busy day of entertainment was in store for us today. It all started out at the new football stadium in Glendale where a travel trade show was going on. During the course of the day, various groups of musicians and dancers took to the stage to perform but we were here for a group of Native Americans, playing flute, drum, singing pow wow, dancing the hoop dance and as this young man demonstrated, the chicken dance.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo performing in Scottsdale, Arizona

Later in the day, we headed over to the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts to see Ladysmith Black Mambazo perform. This a cappella group from South Africa is probably best known for their collaboration with Paul Simon on the song “Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Feet” and while Paul didn’t join this all-male group of singers this evening, it was a thrill to have the opportunity to have seen these legends in the flesh.

Dyed and Spun

JWise Photo of the Day

A bobbin of yarn spun from roving dyed by Caroline Wise

Through all the work, travels, entertaining her mom, and occasionally me, Caroline still finds time to spin roving into yarn. This bobbin of yarn is at the moment a single-ply that at some point will likely be spun together with a like-colored bobbin of yarn to make a stronger two-ply yarn. And then from there, it will be knitted into an article of clothing, or maybe a purse.