Whole families pay the price, and our nation gives thanks

A good day to remind myself how lucky I am to be alive and with my
family; to catch a bit of  the spirit of service and selflessness that
guides Americans in uniform; to try to reach out every day and watch
someone’s back, lend a hand, help folks who really need it, and be
determined, resourceful about it; remember that peace comes with
justice, and I want to work toward a just world as well as a world
where service members won’t have to risk their lives; and recall that
in the end I’m not doing it for the gratitude, but for the pure joy and
challenge of it.

Wanted to share these photos from a cemetery in Ohio, where my daughter is just graduating from college.  I like the circling of these Civil War graves, as if the warriors were watching one another’s backs, defending themselves to the last.

Ajkun Ballet Theatre, an international ballet company, has engaged me, Roman Baca, as a choreographer for their 2009 season. Ajkun Ballet Theatre has become known as one of the country’s most original companies for its inventive and challenging repertoire.

Your help is needed to make this opportunity a monumental one.

I originally imagined the concept for my work while watching a performance in the Ailey Citigroup Theatre in NYC. The Marines with target designators patrolling down the isles. Now that dream is a realtiy.

This is our opportunity to bring something truly different to the art world. To touch people with the story of courageous men struggling to make sense of war.

I have the opportunity to set my work on a company of dancers the way I envisioned it.

To make this a reality, costumes must be bought, tickets sold, production crew engaged, dancers must be paid.

This cannot happen without you. You can help in a number of ways.

1) Purchase tickets from me to see the show. They are $35/ticket. I have to sell 50 tickets for each show. Tell your friends to buy tickets.
http://tinyurl.com/ctnxbh

2) Donate to the cause. Any amount helps. $5 pays for a dancers Metrocard. $20 pays for a studio for an hour.

To donate more than $5, change the quantity field.
http://tinyurl.com/ctnxbh

3) Donate tickets. $35 dollars sends a Veteran or Student to a show free of charge to them. $70 lets them bring a loved one.
http://tinyurl.com/ctnxbh

4) You can help or buy via check. Mail to AjkunBT, 193 Cross Street, BX-NY 10464-1225 and put Roman Baca or Roman Baca Tickets in the Memo line.

Please mark the dates on your calendar and forward this to everyone you know.

Habibi Hhaloua, at Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre
along with works by Chiara Ajkun, Nacho Duato and Mats Ek.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 8pm
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 8pm
Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 6pm

Thank you for all of your help and support.

Sincerely,

Roman Baca
Exit 12 Dance Company, www.exit12danceco.com
Ajkun Ballet Theater, www.ajkunbt.org

This post was submitted by Roman Baca.

Recently thre was an article by the Associated Press regarding the the three decade high rate of suicides in the Army which I was going to use as a follow-up to my “The Service, Marriage, Stress and Murder”. However, I didn’t want to add another morbid tale about Veterans without offering some kind of possible solution or sign of hope.

So today ESPN’s Sports Center had a piece on Project Healing Waters that “serves military personnel who have been wounded, injured, or disabled to aid their physical and emotional recovery by introducing or rebuilding the skills of fly fishing and fly tying and by using and enjoying these skills on fishing outings and as lifelong recreation.”

ESPN Sports Center “Healing waters” video

If you know of any other events or organizations that are working on helping veterans please leave a comment or add a post and tell us about it.

This post was submitted by mmwebster4.