Sunday, September 21, 2008

Street Dancers

Another Arts and Crafts fair brought festivities to Mission Street yesterday. Regional artisans spread out over several blocks, offering a variety of jewelry, textiles and works on canvas. If beautiful objects weren't enough, the city set up a fun fair at one end of the street with just enough vertigo-inducing kiddie rides to make this parent wish she'd stayed back with the batik tapestries. (My daughter convinced my husband and me to ride the little rollercoaster three times.)

This smooth ensemble performed hip hop dance routines-- and a way to work off all that kettle corn, soft-serve ice cream and roasted peanuts.

22 comments:

Sarah said...

Oh,lovely photo!it is new to me,thanks for sharing it.

Eki said...

It's a nice street moment you captured here, Laurie. Did you explore this scene from other angles?

Webradio said...

Hello Laurie !
It's nice to danse on the street !
Like I was young...
Lovely photo in B&W...
See You later...

Anonymous said...

Hello Laurie,

Your black and white exercise picture is remarkable because none of the people in the picture look like they need any exercise. LOL

Sounds like a fun time was had by all in your fair city.

Unknown said...

I think what I like best about this shot is the inclusion of the bystander (woman with the pony tail) partially cropped as if to say - You can stand on the sidelines and watch but you are cutting yourself off by not joining in. Does that make sense? I always love a mix of architecture with the human element and this has that going on for sure. I particularly like the lines of the building above their heads, and the bird (is that a stork?) on the glass of the storefront. I love street fairs and if this is anything like the farmer's market, as far as variety and fun goes, I surely wish I'd been there to fondle the beaded jewelry and have some of that kettle corn you advertised. :~)

Hilda said...

Ooh, I wish I could be there! We hardly ever have arts and crafts fairs here in Manila. Or at least, nowhere near enough my home.

Fun photo! Did you try dancing? ;)

Virginia said...

Like the angle of the dancers in this one Laurie. BW is perfect too. Sounds like a great day. Did you buy any batik?

Dixie Jane said...

The first thing to come to my mind when viewing this photo is: Nobody is ever sad while dancing. It just doesn't happen. Did you ever see a grumpy dancer? I really do appreciate seeing people enjoying themselves in this fashion. Young or old. But I would avoid anything having to do with vertigo. You were a brave mother. Street Fairs are always fun. Remember what Arthur Murray said: "Put a little fun in your life. Try dancing."

Anonymous said...

The older looky-loos, who R not exorcising, look older.
The younger looking folks, who R exorcising, look younger.

L, where did u guys eat breakfast this past saturday?

Anonymous said...

What Judy said! I, too, noticed the stork, symbol of new life, flying above the heads of the dancers as if to lift them higher.

Reading right to left, from the pony-tailed young adult, the composition arcs from her to young dancers, to senior citizens, and to a baby store. Great capture!

Wayne said...

I've long suspected that life was just one long party in South Pas. Now I'm convinced.

Laurie, I've thought for a long time that I'd like to see the Doo Dah Parade in person. Is it still happening and is it worth the effort? I don't need much of an excuse to come down to LA.

Petrea Burchard said...

I'm with Judy, the bystander with the ponytail anchors this lovely pic.

South Pas always has so much going on! Really, there's always too much to do around here with South Pas, Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino, etc. One cannot claim boredom.

Mister Earl said...

Wayne:

The doo dah still lives. It's on January 18, 2009 this year.
http://www.pasadenadoodahparade.info/index.htm. It's worth seeing once at least. Where are you coming from?

I just found out that Columbus, ohio has a Doo Dah on July 4 every year.

Sharon said...

It sounds like you had a fun day! I'm actually wishing I had the same amount of energy as these young people!!

Knoxville Girl said...

Lots of motion and joy in this shot!
If they squared their hips a bit more, they could be doing tai chi "brush knee" movement.

Dan said...

Looks like great fun and a great pic too!

Jane Hards Photography said...

The girl with the ponytail is us and that's why we are all drawn to her. She's our observer on the inside of the shot and we sit on her shoulder to gain better access to the beautiful scene from the outside in.

Wayne said...

Thanks Mister Earl. Looks like I'll be down In January. I don't need much of an excuse. If I can afford it I'm gone.

The parade is one of those things that's been on my list for years.

See what you can do about warm weather and sunshine.

Laurie Allee said...

Hello good people,

Welcome Sara and Dan!

Eki, alas, I didn't manage to take more than 3 shots (from this vantage point) before my memory card was full from a long afternoon shooting. I was happy to get this one, though!

THanks, Judy, Yak, Petrea and Babooshka for pointing out the ponytail woman...she was kind of the point of the photo, in my mind, and you all picked up on that.

Virginia, I didn't buy any batik but I saw some beautiful stuff!

Wayne, let us know if you journey here for the Doo Dah parade! We could arrange a bloggers meeting with our little gang of San Gabriel Valley CDPers!

Hilda, I didn't try to imitate the moves of these cool kids -- but my daughter was all over it. She's the cutest 3 year old dancer you ever saw...

Knox, I totally thought of tai chi, too, when I saw this move!

Cafe Observer -- we had breakfast at Russells in Pasadena. YUM! (Two words: Special Spuds...)

Thanks, as always, for keeping things here so fun and lively! Til tomorrow...

Olivier said...

merci pour ton passage sur mon blog Evry DP. Belle photo b&w, nous voila transporter dans Fame ;o) j'adore les spectacles de rue. Bravo pour ton français, malheureusement mon anglais est très mauvais, je suis obligé de passer par un traducteur (ce qui donne des résultats assez amusant)

thank you for your passage on my blog Evry DP. Nice picture b&w, we are transported in Fame o) I love street performances.

Seb! said...

Very nice shot !

Danial Bigham said...

it's attractive and