Fig. 1: The Katama. Photo courtesy of Flickr user jmknapp.

I met Lucinda Childs today! The Joyce Theater screened a great documentary about her, after which she appeared in the flesh for Das Obligatie Q und A. There was a brief segment in the film on a dance called Katema, which reminded me of a ferry called Katama my family used to ride to Martha’s Vineyard when I was a little boy. Unlike the double-ended Islander (yes, I was a bit of a ferry connoisseur), the Katama is single-ended, so every time it ports it has to do a little flip turn. And, fancy that, Katema was exactly that: a sort of brisk walking back-and-forth dance, interrupted by little turns at each change of direction. Childs actually lives on the Vineyard, so I asked her if it was a reference; she said “No” and reminded me of the spelling difference, and then got in her limo. No matter.

Also, a new show added to the calendar, coming up in two short weeks: The NOW Ensemble visits Baltimore, MD, with The Night Jaunt in tow. I’m especially excited to hear Steve Gorbos’s new piece, Signals.