This was Panayiotou’s debut performance in the US, as he unveiled his new exhibit, “One Thousand and One Days.” The collection combines fantasy with reality, forcing viewers to question their understanding of the roles they play as part of the general public.
The title is in part an allusion to the collection of Middle Eastern folk tales “1001 Nights,” and to Arthur Schlesinger Jr.’s chronicle of the Kennedy Administration, “A Thousand Days.”

I strolled around the gallery before the discussion kicked off, meandering around the rolled-up red carpets that were strewn around the floor. (I thought CAM was still cleaning up after the opening reception party from the night before, but as it turns out, this too was part of the exhibit.) Moving from one photo cluster to the next, I felt I was missing the message behind the series. One group of photos depicted a man making different facial expressions, while another showed a man who, seated in a crowd of people, was busy feeding a pigeon.

Sipping on my cup of coffee, I puzzled over the meaning and took my seat, eager to figure out what I was missing. Panayiotou and CAM Chief Curator Dominic Molon took the floor and embarked on a verbal walk-thru of Panayiotou’s exhibit.
The show is in essence a collection of color and black and white photographs taken from the archives of the Republic of Cyprus’s Press and Information Office, depicting images from different ceremonies, meetings and public events. Panayiotou compared the show to an essay—each piece is simply a paragraph that helps develop the overall concept.

Each image centers around a different event, but in each one the sense of ritual, scene-setting and pompous presentation is a constant. In one series, the chair used by Cyprus Archbishop Makarios III was positioned separately from the rest of the audience, silently recognizing the leader’s authority and social separation from the people of Cyprus.

Duh! Suddenly, the red carpets made sense—it all made sense. Panayiotou’s exhibit wasn’t just about the theatricality of politics, it was about the social stage set for concerts, celebrities, Christmas…everything.

I was still wondering how I fit on this stage as the presentation wound up, but several audience members around me had already realized Panayiotou’s message and moved on. Many of them had grown up in Cyprus and were eager to swap stories with the artist, discussing the torn national identity in Cyprus and the role history plays in creating that identity.
But here I sit, days later, still struggling to figure out how to pull myself off the metaphysical stage in order to get a better look at the national identity we’ve created here in the States. Panayiotou made it look so easy.

– Ettie Berneking, ALIVE Street Team

ALIVE Bride 2012 was a huge success, thanks in no small part to the dresses that Jill, Fleur De Lis and Bella Bridesmaid sent down the runway. Paul Mitchell The School St. Louis styled the brides’ hair in lovely braided up-dos, and each walked down the “aisle” with a beautiful bouquet from Petals Galore.

See more photos from ALIVE Bride 2012 in our photo gallery.

This weekend sees the return of Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. The Chicago-based company has performed three years running as a part of Dance St. Louis’s annual Spring to Dance Festival, and is back this year with an entire evening of its diverse and dazzling repertoire. The program includes an array of the many facets of Spanish dance, from Flamenco to folkloric. All of the passion and dynamic movement typically associated with Spanish dance is present, but Ensemble Español expertly elevates the authentic techniques, songs and legends with innovative choreography and mixed media. The dancers retain a commitment to Spanish roots with flashes of Western theatricality.

One of the most beautiful aspects of Spanish dance in its many forms is duality: the brief moments of stillness against speed, the tension against fluid artistry. Each piece showcases both the dazzling physical and emotional capacities of these incredible performers. Perfectly highlighting these concepts were solos from the world-renowned Christian Lozano, whose lightning-speed footwork and quickly whipped turns in “‘Veneno (poison) Taranto” could only be matched with his exuberant charm, and Paloma Gomez in her solo “Ruinas,” dedicated to Ensemble Español’s artistic director and founder, Dame Libby Komaiko. Dancing to music by Rodrigo Leao, Gomez kept a continual thread of achingly detailed, supple movement with an introspective quality that somehow seemed to suspend time. Besides the vibrant visuals, the audio effect of the show was also staggering. Many pieces are set to live on-stage accompaniment, and the dancers themselves add sound with percussive footwork, clapping and the use of castanets. Because of their sheer speed, and the distance of a theater seat, it was at times difficult to identify exactly what the performers were doing with their feet and hands to produce these flying rhythms—all with the rest of the body held erect in a suave sense of aristocracy. This however, only added to their duality, mystery and showmanship. Each piece begs not only the question, “how are they doing that?” but also “what will they do next?” Ensemble Español is a dazzling example of the manipulation of time and space, effort and emotion.

The Company was first invited to perform in St. Louis by the Artistic Director of Dance St. Louis, Michael Uthoff. It was Uthoff’s brilliant vision that launched the Spring to Dance Festival, which brings more than thirty of the best dance troupes from around the country for three evenings of a wide variety of dance styles—for shockingly low ticket prices. During our interview, Uthoff spoke of his passion for bringing only the best to audiences—not just for the entertainment value, but to educate them on what quality dance from different cultures and aesthetics truly looks like. Some of the world’s most respected companies, such as the Joffrey Ballet and Martha Graham Dance Company have performed at the festival in the past. With many companies submitting work in the hopes of being chosen, Spring to Dance highlights the very best that the local and national dance scenes have to offer. The success of Spring to Dance has impacted the rest of the Dance St. Louis season as well, enticing outstanding companies to come perform in the city. Dance St. Louis has been enriching our city with the arts since its inception in 1966, and hasn’t missed a beat in delivering the best and most exciting work across the genres of dance.

Dance St. Louis and Ensemble Espanol will present two more performances at the Touhill Performing Arts Center, on Saturday Jan. 28 at 2 and 8pm. Purchase tickets at the Touhill website. Find information on the next upcoming shows from Dance St. Louis, including the Spring to Dance Festival, by visiting the Dance St. Louis website and, of course, by attending any of their performances.

On the third Thursday of every month, the Contemporary Art Museum hosts CAM Nights. The art museum transforms into a stylish happy hour hot spot, and for only a $5 cover charge, you can celebrate the week’s near-end with $1 beers and $2 cocktails. As I rushed into the museum from the cold, I immediately noticed the sleek white walls of the front galleries painted with multicolored lights. Bright pinks, cool blues, electric purples…I prayed the fashion would be just as vibrant. Five people answered my prayers.

It was Jennifer Betz’s bright red top that caught my eye, but I knew I had to hail her down the moment I noticed her leopard print skirt. My affinity for animal print is well-documented in my closet, and Jennifer did me proud by keeping the rest of her look sleek and simple so as to let the skirt do all the talking*. Jennifer is an attorney, but I’m going to turn the tables and officially charge her of excellent sartorial conduct.

*Note to all those wary of donning animal prints: Keep the rest of your look clean, and the print will look impeccably chic. If you’re still having doubts, start small–a pair of animal print shoes can punch up a basic outfit.

Top: J.Crew
Skirt: J.Crew
Shoes: Banana Republic
Purse: Louis Vuitton

Describe this outfit in one word: It’s what I wore to work today!
How would you describe your style?: I like to be an individual

Thanks, CAM! You looked fabulous Thursday night.

I visited the other day and chose the “Glow on the Go” treatment, a cleansing and refreshing seaweed mask using FaceLuxe’s special line of Repêchage skin products. My fabulous esthetician, Whittney, started with Opti-Cleanse, to wash away all the dirt and oil of my work day, then a cream cleanser to hydrate my skin and get rid of any lingering makeup. Next, she spritzed my tingly-clean face with Algo Mist, a hydrating seaweed spray—very light and cool. I was very close to napping by the end of my facial massage, which used C-Serum, a concentrated seaweed extract rich in vitamins, minerals and amino acids to help prevent dehydration. Before starting in on the main-attraction mask, Whittney covered my eyelids with Eye Rescue pads, soaked in a special tea blend to reduce puffiness and dark circles—essential for this editor, who spends all day staring at a computer screen! The seaweed mask, mixed from a powder, was delightfully cool as it was smoothed onto my face, and thickened/gelled as the heat of my skin warmed it up. As I sat there covered in what felt like a cozy comforter for my face, I easily forgot that the bustling street of the Central West End was just a few feet away. When it was all over, the mask peeled right off, Whittney took care of any remaining traces, then gave me another mist of the Algo spray. She took care all along the way to not get anything into my hair or on my clothes, so I really felt as though I could go straight back to work afterward or out to grab a drink with friends.

I still had some time left in my hour, though, so before taking off, I decided to take advantage of the complimentary chair massages they were offering as part of the Wine Down Wednesday. A free eyebrow wax is also part of the deal, but I passed on it this time.

For more info about FaceLuXe and its Repêchage products, visit FaceLuXe.com. Reserve your Facial Bar spot for the next Wine Down Wednesday by calling 314.361.5893.

— Gwen Ragno, ALIVE Associate Editor

This game is a social version of the game Boggle. For those of you who don’t remember Boggle, it is an incredibly fun game where you find words from a jumbled set of letters.  You may also see Peggy Hill playing Boggle in some of the many episodes of the cartoon King of the Hill.

As with Words, there is an iPhone app for this new game. You can play via your linked Facebook account – or just by setting up a username with Zynga. But be warned… this game is fun and highly addictive! We have cancelled all weekend plans and already have blisters on our fingers.

If you’re looking to make some strategic shopping decisions in 2012, you might want to check out Stephanie Nelson’s website. She’s the founder of CouponMom.com, a 5.5 million member site that offers tutorial videos showing step-by-step directions for saving smart.

I don’t know about you but I don’t typically clip coupons. But that’s why we’re here today. You don’t have to spend hours scouring the Sunday newspaper’s circulars with a scissors in hand to save money. Nelson offers a few tips on how you can make the most of what’s in your wallet.

*Make a meal plan. That way, you can focus on buying the foods you need. You also ensure you will eat/use the foods you buy.

*Spend a few minutes flipping through your store’s weekly sales ad flier. Get a loose idea of what’s on sale then plan your meals and organize your shopping list around the discounted items and brands.

*Buy only the items your family needs. This may sound like common sense but you’d be amazed at how often those impulse buys magically jump into your cart.

*Set a spending limit, not a “percentage saved” goal. Don’t get caught up in a numbers game that leads to buying too much salad dressing and not enough salad!

*Try to shop alone. This tip isn’t from Stephanie. It’s from me. I can tell when my son has gone with me to the grocery store because my bill is much bigger. This goes back to the last thought. Children will wear you down with “Hey Mom! Can I have…”  Or if they behave, they angle for a reward. That’s fine to do, if you feel it is appropriate. But those little extras can add up.

Stephanie has tons of ideas on how to save money on groceries, gifts, gadgets and getting out. For more information check out her site. And for those looking for a local slant, Kim of StlMommy has a wonderful site devoted to finding the best deals within our fair city and beyond.

There are worse things than sitting in the theater on a Sunday. If that theater is The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis for its presentation of “Sunday in the Park With George,” there are few things better.

This beloved two-act musical, directed by Rob Ruggiero, brings to life the famous painting, “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” by the French neo-expressionist Georges Seurat. In this large-scale historic piece of work, the painter used small dots of color, in a style later defined as “pointillism.” Both in history and in the musical, Seurat’s work was initially seen as lacking in passion, and too mechanical—that is, before art critics and the general public recognized it as genius.

Act one begins in France, detailing the furious work that went into the creation of the famous painting, and a glimpse of what Seurat would have observed and captured on the canvas that day. The first character he studies is his fidgety model and lover Dot, whom Seurat belittles for her inability to concentrate. The majority of the characters are not shown in a flattering aspect; they are jealous, needy and grouchy in their colloquial goings-on and almost all complaining about how hot it is in the park.

The music and lyrics are decisively Stephen Sondheim, employing his signature dark humor. Even the music itself reflects the artistic approach of pointillism, with many of the lyrics sung at rapid speed in staccato notes that jump all over the scale like the tiny dots of juxtaposed color on the canvas. The majority of the songs aren’t lovely, sweeping ballads but instead inspire the energy, tension and flurry of an artist at work and the quirks and frustrations of those whom he paints.

The real genius of the show goes beyond the perspective of an artist attempting to capture a scene in a picture—it displays a perspective of humanity and the state of art. Just as it is with pointillism, this is a show where contrast allows the real image or meaning to emerge. Against the complicated score and tension in most of act one, the intensity softens in the number “beautiful,” wonderfully sung by Zoe Vonder Haar as the Old Lady, who tells Seurat that he shows the world in a beautiful light through his art. Then, the entire company comes together in the number “Sunday,” in which the cast of voices harmonizes gorgeously and the tableau of the painting materializes to a stunning effect. This is where art contrasts the real world, and these somewhat-unlikable creatures display the beauty of humanity as an organized group.

Act two takes place a century later in a chic gallery where Seurat’s descendant (also an artist named Georges) and his Grandmother Marie, the daughter of Seurat and his lover Dot, present the young man’s new work. Rather than capturing the world in a beautiful artistic representation, this Georges is portrayed in the rather ugly business of getting art out into the world. Unlike Seurat, who focused on vignettes of a single afternoon, young Georges is more intent on securing his place in the trajectory of art.

Sets and costumes from Adrian W. Jones and Alejo Vietti do equal justice to the historical landscapes and fashions of France and the glamour of a bustling art gallery. John Lasiter provided gorgeous lighting, especially for the scenes inside the artist’s studio.

It takes exceptional voices to get through this difficult score—let alone to do it well. The caliber of talent on the stage is staggering. Even in songs that aren’t necessarily romantic or lovely, the beauty of these voices cannot be overlooked. This further drives home the point that splendor can be found even amongst the flaws of humanity.

Erin Davie was sweet as Marie, but stunning as Dot. Seurat sings in act one about the frenzy of color used to create the flower on Dot’s hat in the painting, a furious mix of reds and blues. Davie was the perfect representation of that flower; spunky and passionate, heart-felt and every bit as lovely. Ron Bohmer as Seurat in act one filled the stage with energy, aggression and color while as Georges in act two, he brought a vulnerable quality and the uncertainty of an empty vessel—demonstrating the two extremes of life as an artist. Bohmer’s portrayals were as moving as they were diverse, the only consistent factor being the enthralling quality of his vocals.

The two acts contrast in perspective of time as well; a single Sunday versus a lifetime, finishing one painting as opposed to the achievements in the course of an entire life. With the aesthetic sensibilities and tools of art, things that don’t seem to go naturally together do—whether it’s warring characters gathered in a painting or simply clusters of colors, they blend to a single color with perspective. In this show, every person, day and dot counts. All we need do is concentrate enough to see the big picture. Just like every minuscule splash of color in Seurat’s paintings, every detail of the rep’s production of ”Sunday in the Park With George” was executed with flawless design, excellent composition and touching harmony. Like the artwork that it draws inspiration from, this show was a true masterpiece.

See for yourself by catching “Sunday in the Park With George” at The Repertory Theatre from now through Jan. 29. Better yet, leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the show!

Brigid Pritchard, Senior Account Executive I’m going to try and do The Dailey Method every day in January! Also going to be eating way healthier!!

Ellen Ramey, Office Manager I am planning to have more ‘me’ time. So many things in life can take away from one’s self and I think it is important to reconnect with your inner person and make sure you have enough ‘me’ time to get yourself in order!

Gina DeGenova, Account Executive Run a half marathon (aka getting in shape for my wedding)!

Gwen Ragno, Associate Editor Start a book club with friends and keep a book journal of everything I read. Also, start composting at home, reduce the clutter in my life and get my financial situation under control.

Jennifer Dulin Wiley, Executive Editor As predictable as it may be, my New Year’s resolution is to get back to the gym and be a healthier me in 2012.

Jill Manoff, Fashion Editor
I resolve to eat, pray and love, just like Julia. Oh, and to stop swearing like a sailor.

Kelly Hamilton, Editor-in-Chief/Co-founder Regular running and weight lifting habit-rituals! This will help me with the other fitness goal of doing the half marathon in under two hours. Get back into doing yoga at least once per week. Write four more chapters of my memoir project by August. Expand my personal philanthropy/volunteer work. Cook more at home.

Kristin Kellogg, Associate Art Director More books, less Netflix. Also, actually attempt to make the food in “Bon Appetit” instead of just looking at it.

Molly Ross, Account Executive To train for and complete the Go! Half Marathon in April and to reduce my road rage…deep breaths!

Stephanie Terry, Ad Production Coordinator Say what’s on my mind, and speak up for myself. I’m kind of a shy person, but I’m learning to stick up for myself more. I made this one last year, and it seemed to really work for me. I’d like to start visiting my out-of-town friends more. It’s not enough to just see them over the holidays. Some of them live in warmer places like Florida, so how could I NOT go down there?

Your turn to chime in! What are your resolutions or goals for the new year? Tell us in the comments!

Here’s what our interns had to say:

Ettie Berneking, ALIVE Editorial Intern Start a book club, work out three times a week, cook something new and challenging once a week, establish date night once a week with my boyfriend Ryan and practice French for an hour three times a week.

Readers (via Facebook and Twitter)

@sunnydays212003: I’m going for the oldie but goodie…lose weight

Are they laughing with her...

Once upon a time, back in the ’90s, there used to be a designated time of the year that you knew would bring embossed envelopes regally inviting you to celebrate in the happiness of a distant cousin, close friend or a co-worker in the joining of holy matrimony. Now, it’s a year round sport. Wedding invites can invade your mailbox like a stealth bomb at any moment. Whatever happened to June being the designated month to make single girls’ lives a living hell?

OK, maybe I’m exaggerating. It isn’t hell, but it can be an anxious time for some single girls in the world. Who will I bring to the wedding? Will there be any one interesting to flirt with at the reception? Will I commit an epic fail after too many drinks at the open bar? There are so many landmines to navigate.

So, to help a single girl out, I’ve come up with this short survival list to unwedded bliss during wedding season—otherwise known as how to keep your pie hole shut, don’t get crazy-drunk and celebrate wedded bliss with the people you care about most. Feel free to weigh in with your own survival tips in the comment section.

Like it or not, it’s not about you. Maybe you don’t like the venue. You don’t like the groom. You don’t like weddings. So what? Get over it. Whatever opinions you may have formed on the actual wedding, keep your lipstick-laden lips sealed and be happy for the couple. Happiness reduces wrinkles. Frowning makes you look like a hag. Do you want to frown on this wedding and look like a hag? Thought not.

No plus one? No problem. Contrary to popular belief, weddings can be fun without a date. If you are attending with your couple friends, be their third wheel. They probably owe it to you for putting up with their relationships. Or, get creative. Who says a “plus one” has to be a guy? Can’t you bring your best friend or your sister? Get dolled up and treat it like a mini prom. Buy a new dress and hit that party like a West Coast party cuz a West Coast party don’t stop. Or, something like that.

Drunk and disorderly is not a good combination. Drowning one’s sorrows is a typical response to a tragedy. Weddings do not fall under this category. Unleashing yourself full-force on the unlimited booze that is likely available to you at a wedding is a big no-no. Your misadventures in the land of “drunkity drunk drunk” will be talked about well after the last grain of bird seed is thrown. In this tech age, it will also be posted on Facebook and/or YouTube before your cab arrives to take your sorry slurring carcass home. How do you want to be remembered? Charming and sweet or crazy-drunk with Rasputin eyes?

The bouquet toss is not meant to crush your soul. Many of my friends detest this tradition, mainly because it promotes “running of the bulls” behavior on the dance floor. They also hate how it glaringly points out their lack of coupledom or wedded matrimony. Here’s the upside. The tossing of perfectly good, expensive flowers is a goldmine. The bouquet is usually better than any flowers I would normally buy or get from a cheapskate date, so I go for it. Step aside, ladies. Momma needs a new dining room centerpiece!

Weddings are a celebration, not a jail sentence to get out of. Regardless of whether you don’t champion the union, hate the Electric Slide or think the couple is the best thing since sliced bread, take a deep breath and make the most of the day. At the very least, you get a decent meal and some cardio on the dance floor. In the best of circumstances, you will witness two people you care about making a lifelong commitment, and that is worth celebrating.

Image from www.idobudgetweddings.blogspot.com

Never one to believe that sleep is completely necessary, XXRay Vision’s, Pamela Raymond keeps a hectic social schedule, so she sees a lot of relationship dilemmas. A native of New Orleans, Pamela infuses a mix of Southern sass and Yankee tough love in all of her columns. Pamela also writes a blog for “Girls Guide To The Galaxy” and uses her MBA from Maryville University to run her own PR and events firm, The Raymond Experience. You can follow her on Twitter @rayexperience.