A Poetic Vision

BELLA GAIA Choreographer & dance artist Irina Akulenko

BELLA GAIA show at Eyebeam Art + Technology Center NYC

Photo credit: Anna Galuza

Thunder only happens when it's raining...

BELLA GAIA, the renowned audiovisual experience lead by director-composer Kenji Williams and the BELLA GAIA Ensemble, will present BELLA GAIA - A Poetic Vision of Earth From Space for one night only on Saturday, April 15, 2017. The immersive event combines NASA satellite imagery, time-lapse nature photography, cultural heritage footage, and live performances of music and dance to form an unprecedented and powerful exploration of the beauty and interconnectedness of all things on Earth. The award-winning show will take place at Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium in Pasadena, California. The performance will start at 8:00pm, and tickets range from $35 to $45 with certain exceptions (see “Ticketing & Venue Details” towards the bottom of this press release). For additional information on BELLA GAIA, please visit http://www.bellagaia.com.

Rooted in the stories of astronauts who described the life-changing experience of seeing Earth from space, director-composer Williams developed BELLA GAIA to communicate this same transformative sense of wonder and awe. The event’s stunning fusion of human art, scientific data, and cultural tradition guides audiences through an emotional journey that culminates with a positive message of care and respect for our surroundings and planet.

“BELLA GAIA shows you how humans and nature are connected, and how art and science are connected,” says Williams. "It's an exploration of the relationship between human civilization and our ecosystem through time and space.”

Williams is joined by an all-star cast of artists, including Sound Healing vocalist and composer Kristin Hoffmann (as seen composing works performed at The Sydney Opera House, and sharing stages with The Wallflowers, Feist, and Brandi Carlile), Japan ese 20-string Koto master Yumi Kurosawa (who has toured internationally with countless symphony orchestras including Suntory Hall Opening Gala with Tokyo Symphony Orchestra), dance artists Mariyah, and choreographer Irina Akulenko, (one of the principal dancers and choreographers with Bellyqueen Dance Theater, and an alumni member of Alchemy Dance Theater). 

BELLA GAIA –

BELLA GAIA is an unprecedented NASA-powered immersive experience that communicates without words, the BEAUTY (BELLA) of the planet – both natural and cultural – and the INTERCONNECTEDNESS of all things on Earth (GAIA).

A visceral flow of unencumbered beauty manifests for all the senses by combining supercomputer data-visualizations from NASA, high-fidelity orbital views of Earth, cultural photography, and stirring LIVE performances of music and dance from around the world, with an “iridescent landscape of gossamer melodi es and labyrinthine rhythms” (Nooga.com).

The award-winning BELLA GAIA tells a cosmic story and explores both human and natural expressions of the Living Universe, illuminating the relationship between civilization and nature as we enter the Anthropogenic Age by visualizing our effects on the biosphere, all while celebrating the evolution of art and culture.

Inspired by astronauts who spoke of the life-changing power of seeing Earth from space, BELLA GAIA successfully simulates this Overview Effect* from space flight, and makes audiences “Discover what it’s like to be an astronaut” (Washington Post). The experience leaves audiences with a transformative sense of wonder and inspiration, and the ability to see the Earth as a multifaceted yet cohesive working organism. Attendees will realize deeply and emotionally that there IS something to lose, and therefore that there IS something to preserve and to steward.

Crafted by the neuroscience-driven methodology of director-composer Kenji Williams, the transcendental effect of  BELLA GAIA has been proven to generate the elusive but critical emotional response: A Reason to Care.

Ticketing & Venue Details –
General admission ti ckets for BELLA GAIA’s immersive audiovisual experience range from $35 to $45 for adults. Children’s tickets are $10. To purchase advance tickets, please visit http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?pid=8270068 or call the Beckman Auditorium box office at 626-395-4652. Seniors and Caltech staff can receive a special discount on tickets by calling the box office. Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium is located at 332 S. Michigan Ave., Pasadena, CA 91125. Free parking is provided on the Caltech campus near the Beckman Auditorium.

Links –
• BELLA GAIA - http://www.bellagaia.com
• Event tickets - http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?pid=8270068
• Venue event page - https://www.caltech.edu/content/bella-gaia-beautiful-earth-poetic-vision-earth-space
• Artist event page - http://www.bellagaia.com/la.html
• Facebook event page - https://www.facebook.com/events/1034439539937057
• BELLA GAIA Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bellagaia
• BELLA GAIA Twitter - https://twitter.com/BellaGaia
• BELLA GAIA SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/bellagaiamusic/sets/bella-gaia-beautiful-earth

The Hunk Of The Irish

Not An Irish Hunk

Happy St. Patrick's Day! You'd better wear your green or live in fear of getting pinched, or don't wear green and love the masochism of it all. 

Today is the day we wish people the luck of the Irish and that they find their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Whatever...Here at Entertain Me I am taking a different approach and wishing all of you The Hunk Of The Irish. What's that you say, you've never heard of such a thing, well guess what? Now you have.

Hence for your viewing pleasure I have got four, yes count em' four Hollywood Hunks who are, drum roll please, Irish for your St. Patty's Day viewing pleasure. A special shout out to author M.E. Franco as her personal fave and mine, Gerard Butler is present and accounted for.

Feast your eyes on these pots of gold! 

Gerard Butler

Colin  Farrell

Jamie Dornan 

Jonathan Rhys Myers


Now that you are all hot & bothered cool off Irish Style, translation: drink mass quantities of beer. Have Fun and be safe! 

Michael's Musings

Want Some Candy?
Michael Shinafelt

This week I became acutely aware that my microwave was quietly judging others. Damn! That is pretty motherfucking impressive for something that cost me a mere sixty dollars when I bought it over ten years ago!

Now if only I could get it to print money, hey if it can judge others I bet I can coax it into doing that, riiiiiiiiight?!?!

Hereeeeeeeeeeee's Michael!

Kyle Richards blocked Eden Sassoon on Twitter. I would too, she's so creepy, not to mention she will one day die of a one night stand.

"Fingers are for Lesbians" - The More You Know

Am I the only one who does not get the appeal of This Is Us???

A certain sexy boy who met Bette Davis told me that Susan Sarandon's portrayal of her on Feud is awful, that Susan is playing a character, not Bette at all. As if we all need another reason to think Susan Sarandon is lame. 

Trump supporters are like a white trash Braveheart

Scarlett! Ivanka! Scarlett! Ivanka!

Some idiot blasted me for posting the SNL skit with Scarlett Johansson as Ivanka Trump on my Facebook page. She stated I was a bully. I deleted the comment. Overreact much?

Why does anyone give a rat's ass about The Bachelor? On the plus side it  does make a case for legalized prostitution, which I am for.

Things that make you go shhhhhhh......

I use my small snowblower, it gets the work done - weirdest post I saw on Facebook this week

According to an online quiz I took, I am "Wild Sexy" - Duh!

Sweet Baby Elephant! That one's for you Shani Bayne!

"I wish I was like you, Easily amused" - All Apologies, Nirvana - because you can never have enough Nirvana in your life

My ideas for this column were so much sharper earlier in the day, but I was nowhere near a computer to write. Guess I have to record them on my phone and let people think I am conversing with myself in public...now that's Entertain Me!

Follow me, I'll give you candy at:

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt  

Things That Make You Go Shhhhhhh...

Got A Tattoo?
l-r Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Shay Mitchell, Sasha Pieterse,
Lucy Hale & Janel Parrish  

The final season of Pretty Little Liars is already wrapped and ready for it's eagerly anticipated April 18th premiere date, yes I said eagerly anticipated premiere date, don't judge me. What's a "Liar" to do after seven successful seasons? Why commemorate the show with a tattoo of course!

Where are they?! What are they?! You beg to ask. Well being as the show is about secrets and keeping them and the iconic opening credits show all the "Liars" wagging there Shhhhhhh finger at you to keep your mouth shut, each of the cast members got the the first letter of the name of their respective characters tattooed on their, what else, Shhhhhhh finger, naturally.

That's correct minions Shay Mitchell, Ashley Benson, Troian Bellisario, Lucy Hale, Janel Parrish and Sasha Pieterse got themselves a tattoo artist to inscribe their pointer finger with the first letter of their character from the shows first name. How could they not after all "A" has put them through?!

Enjoy the photo above of all the girls sharing their pseudo matching tatts, because sharing is caring after all.

Pretty Little Liars on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/prettylittleliars/  

What Comes Between You & Your Calvin's?

Nothing Comes Between Brooke & Her Calvin
Brooke Shields & Calvin Klein

Here is an image only a certain segment of the populace will understand the significance of. I present to you Brooke Shields and old friend Calvin Klein meeting up at Sirius XM in New York City. 

As you may or may not recall Klein did a series of racy ads featuring Brooke in 1981 for his line of jeans. Personally I loved the campaign where "nothing" came between Brooke and her Calvin's, it was total genius. Quite racy while being sexy without the use of gratuitous skin.

What's that you say? You've never heard or seen the scandalous TV spot? Well never fear that's why I'm here. Like I've pointed out so boastfully before I'm a giver and never want to leave anyone wanting. Thus you can view the ad below.

No need to thank me, you can just spank me.

I know you like to watch...

Brooke on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/brookeshields/?hl=en  

"I Do" Colton Haynes

I Got You Babe
Colton Haynes, Jeff Leatham & Cher

It's just another Manic Monday, time to start a new week, yadda yadda, yadda...actor Colton Haynes of Arrow and Teen Wolf fame is engaged to his boyfriend Jeff Leatham, three cheers for the happy couple!

Jeff proposed to Colton on the beach at the Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos, Mexico Saturday night. Oh what a proposal it was, Cher was even involved in a video message lead in singing I Got You Babe. This of course was followed by fireworks and being that that groom is a celebrity and Four Seasons Hotel floral designer, yes there were flowers.

Colton & Jeff

What's a boy to do? Say "Yes" naturally.

Colton & Jeff sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!

Colton on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/coltonlhaynes/?hl=en

Sunday Schwing! John Cena

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