You've probably seen it on a mug, or maybe on your old music teacher's tote bag: If you can walk you can dance, if you can talk you can sing! Whoever said this hasn't met my family. To be fair, a handful can sing OK. But dancers we are not. We're not an entirely clumsy clan or anything - some at least have a certain sense of rhythm, others are actually quite coordinated - but it's fair to say we lack flow. Probably grace too.

My sister was clever. She countered this condition early on and applied her athleticism and gymnastic precision to choreographed dance. Enter Daniel, stage left. Early in life she was forced to share a room with me and two other brothers. To say we outgrew that house would be an understatement. Eventually she would get her own little room directly across from me and my younger brother. The particular proximity of our space growing up led to us pairing off frequently - and to her being a major influence on me and perhaps my character, for better or worse. Our mutual affinity for 80s power ballads really cemented the deal. I was 8 or so when I agreed to join her dance troupe. A company of two - or perhaps four, as she was lead dancer, choreographer and director. 

Facing the full length mirror in her room she would take me through her elaborate routines, to be performed in unison, or sometimes with a playful "call and response" flourish. Solos were rare. As for music, everything was fair game. Cindi Lauper if we were just messing about. Maybe Debbie Gibson. Let's take it up a notch. Erasure. Whitney. Show some attitude. Eurythmics. Prince. Jody Watley. You get the idea.

But the most memorable routines for me to this day were the slower jams. Heavy synths. Ethereal vocals. Eternal flames. Love and life on the line. The torch songs of the tormented. The movements were simple with intentional long, broad strokes- a heartfelt pantomime. It's all in the face, she'd say, cueing up "You've Got It All" by The Jets for the 23rd time that day. Let's take it from the top...

TONIGHT we are thrilled to host a special THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS fundraiser at OAKLAND YARD. Saving the world from the Schmidts, proceeds for tonight's tastings will support the Oakland Ballet School, providing accessible, relevant, and exciting dance programs and classes for our diverse community. The Oakland Ballet Company is committed to training the next generation of dancers, and to providing arts education and access to the arts for thousands of East Bay students and community members. Come join us in support of OBC and the arts in Oakland! Red & white flights, as always (Australian Whites, French Reds tonight)! Flights $15, from 4-8pm.

For more information on OBC:
http://oaklandballet.org/wp/theacademyatobc/

For a sentimental rainy day love ballad:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a7dN52k_r0

Looking ahead...

SATURDAY (12/1): Sparkling Flights at OAKLAND YARD. The sun will be out this weekend and we'll be feeling bubbly, sampling sparklers from around the world. Come taste some fizzy lifting drinks from France, Germany, and Italy! Flights $15. Saturday from 2-6pm.

SUNDAY (12/2): California Flights & Wine Club Party. Brendan Willard of Phantome Cellars will be pouring his Touriga Nacional Rosé and his Cabernet Franc from Bennet Valley, along with a dry, vibrant white from Angeleno Wine Co. The tasting is FREE for Wine Club members (all are most welcome to join!). Flights $15 for the public, Sunday from 2-6pm.


See you all soon,


Daniel