October 2023

November 2023

December 2023
SundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
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  • 12:00 PMIn-person! Weekly Improvised Music Session
  • 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Weekly Improvised Music Session. All are welcome to come and jam if you like to play improvised music. Wednesdays 12pm-2pm
  • 6:00 PMIn-person! Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac (OYC) Celebrates 20 Years of Sharing Aztec Culture in Philadelphia! dance, ofrenda, documentary, play, and more
  • 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac (OYC) Celebrates 20 Years of Sharing Aztec Culture in Philadelphia!Based out of South Philly, the group considers itself to be “modern keepers of the culture investigating indigenous history and the retention of cultural heritage in the context of modern immigration.” OYC was the first Danza Azteca troupe in Philadelphia, and over the past 20 years, it has sponsored master dancers, musicians, and instrument/regalia makers, bringing them to Philadelphia for events and workshops as well as humanities talks. 

     

    OYC is also hosting an event at The Rotunda to celebrate its 20-year anniversary and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on Wednesday, Nov. 1 from 6-9 p.m. In addition to a dance performance, there will be a showing of the video documentary “¿Y Nosotr@s que? What about us?” that deals with how the pandemic hit Philadelphia’s thousands of undocumented immigrants -- mostly descendants from the Indigenous people of the American continent.

     

    There will also be a the theatrical piece titled “Camine, camine, camine pero nunca llege… (Walk, walk, walk but never arrive…),” which explores the immigration experience of crossing the border as well as cultural identity and traditions.+ tamales, flower paper-making, and more! 

     

    During the Nov. 1 event, the group will erect an altar to honor the ancestors and those who have passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. The altar will be located in front of The Rotunda and will stay up until after the Poet-tree En Motion event completes on Nov. 8 (info on that event HERE). In effect, it will be a weeklong Day of the Dead celebration from Nov. 1-8 when anyone may stop by the altar at any time to pay homage to their ancestors. People may reflect on their loved ones, light a candle or leave a trinket or offering to the dead.

     

    Admission is FREE. Tips for the artists are welcome and encouraged. 

     

    For information about Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac, log on to https://ollinyoliztlicalmecac.org/.

     

     

    FOR EVENT LISTINGS:

    Aztec nonprofit organization Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac Hosts a Free 20-Year Anniversary Celebration and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Event from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at The Rotunda. There will be live Aztec dancing; a showing of the documentary “¿Y Nosotr@s que? What about us?”; a theatrical performance titled “Camine, camine, camine pero nunca llege… (Walk, walk, walk but never arrive…)” ; and the erection of a Day of the Dead altar honoring those who have passed from the COVID-19 pandemic. The altar will stay up and be open to the public from Nov. 1-8. The Rotunda located at 4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19104. For information, log on to https://ollinyoliztlicalmecac.org/ or email brujodelamancha@gmail.com.

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  • 1:00 PMIn-person! Deep Listening Study Circle - We will explore our own awareness and relationship to the sonic, physical and dream environments that both surround us and are contained within us.
  • 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Deep Listening is a practice developed by experimental music composer and improviser Pauline Oliveros.  During the study circle we will explore listening through the modalities of movement, sound and dreams and in the process perform several of her text scores.  We will explore our own awareness and relationship to the sonic, physical and dream environments that both surround us and are contained within us.  All are welcome, no experience with music or improvisation necessary.FREE!
  • 8:00 PMIn-person! Event Horizon presents: Lyle Holdahl / onewayness / Christopher McNulty
  • 8:00 PM - 11:30 PM

    Event Horizon presents: Lyle Holdahl / onewayness / Christopher McNulty

    Lyle Holdahl has been writing and performing progressive pop and symphonic rock for over 50 years. First known to the 1970s prog world as a writer/member of Harlequin Mass. Since those early days, he had gotten involved with numerous musical styles, and projects. As a multi-instrumentalist, he has played with many other artists, and written music for some of them. His compositions can also be heard in movies and as movie soundtracks. In the ’80s, he was a member of the Band Stubborn Puppet. He currently composes for three different music acts. FireMonkey: Euro-synth-dance-pop, art+science Projekt: ambient / instrumental / experimental music and Lyle Holdahl: symphonic / progressive rock and movie soundtracks. As far as influences are… you name it, and it will probably be listed (in all forms of music). His music shows this as well. It is very hard to place him under a small umbrella.

    onewayness is Adam Holquist, a composer, musician, sound designer, and multimedia creator from Erie, Pennsylvania. He uses guitars, pianos, analog and digital synthesis, spoken word and field recordings, and a variety of hardware and software tools to create atmospheric and textural music which draws influence from a variety of sources.  These may include: ambient, drone, minimalism, post-rock, and vintage and contemporary electronic ‘listening music’. Adam performs and tours regularly, appearing at festivals, galleries, cafés, dive bars, art spaces, basements, and the occasional laundromat throughout the US and in Canada. Since 2011, he has given hundreds of live performances, and has released over 40 albums and EP’s between various creative entities. His work has been featured on a number of both terrestrial and streaming radio stations, has charted on Zone Music Reporter’s weekly Top 100 ambient music airplay charts, and has been positively reviewed by a variety of publications both in the US and abroad. In addition to recording and performing as onewayness, Adam is a member of the duo embral, with longtime collaborator Charles Shriner [dRachEmUsiK], and also regularly performs in both composed and improvised group settings with a variety of local and global collaborators. Adam has created original music and sound design for theatre, independent films, and art installations; serves as curator of the ElectroFLUX Experimental Music Series, which presents creative music from local, regional, and international artists at various Erie venues; and has served as the producer and co-host of Social Distancing Variety Hour, a weekly live streaming video program and podcast focused on the arts, politics, and current events.

    Christopher McNulty is a multi-instrumentalist, designer and composer from Princeton, New Jersey. His arrangements, largely ambient, produce thematic soundscapes using field recordings, modular synthesizers, stringed instruments and found sound via improvisational and automatic techniques. He works mostly alone in a basement next to the washer and dryer and sometimes one cat.  

    The Event Horizon concert series features Electronic, Avant Garde, and Experimental music along with the work of live video projection artists. The concerts are always FREE and open to all.

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  • 2:00 PMIn-person! Funky Sole Fundamentals presents The Sole Open 2023 !!! 1v1 House Dance
  • 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM LET’s GO PHILLY !!! Hip Hop 50th Anniversary SPECIAL !!! All ages welcome !!!@funkysolefundamentals presentsThe Sole Open 2023 !!!1v1 House DanceWinner: $500 + $500 @snipes_usa Gift CardRunner up: $250 @snipes_usa Gift CardJudges:@caleafsellers @ejoewilson @justsoleDJ: @deejaysylo1v1 AllstylesWinner: $500 + $500 @snipes_usa Gift CardRunner up: $250 @snipes_usa Gift CardJudges:@queen_dinita @buddhastretch @chrybaby_cozieDJ: @rebel_foster$20 to Enter$20 to Battle Doors Open at 2pm / Battles Start at 3ish
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  • 6:00 PMIn-person! Vogue Drop-in Session
  • 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM practice for the balls! Vogue drop-in. All are welcome. These [almost] weekly sessions are free unless the event is a ball in which case the admission price will be stated in the event info. 
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  • 12:00 PMIn-person! Weekly Improvised Music Session
  • 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Weekly Improvised Music Session. All are welcome to come and jam if you like to play improvised music. Wednesdays 12pm-2pm
  • 7:00 PMIn-person! Poet-tree En Motion - Honoring the Ancestors: the Fall Harvest Rhythm and Flow Festivities
  • 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    MONDAY, OCT. 16, 2023

     

    THE ROTUNDA CELEBRATES AUTUMN WITH 2 FREE COMMUNITY ARTS EVENTS

    Aztec Nonprofit Organization Commemorates Day of the Dead Nov. 1Poet-Tree En Motion Hosts Community Arts Showcase Nov. 8

     

    WEST PHILADELPHIA – Poet-tree En Motion’s free seasonal arts showcase returns with “Honoring the Ancestors: the Fall Harvest Rhythm and Flow Festivities” from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at The Rotunda. It will celebrate the season and honor those who have passed on.

     

    The event is open to the public and attendees can enjoy an array of multidisciplinary artists from around the region who will perform live music, spoken-word poetry, hip-hop, ritual dance theater, mindful moving meditations, fire and flow arts, reiki sound healing, and more.

     

    Highlighting the event will be a traditional dance performance by Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac (OYC). Based out of South Philly, the group considers itself to be “modern keepers of the culture investigating indigenous history and the retention of cultural heritage in the context of modern immigration.” OYC was the first Danza Azteca troupe in Philadelphia, and over the past 20 years, it has sponsored master dancers, musicians, and instrument/regalia makers, bringing them to Philadelphia for events and workshops as well as humanities talks. 

     

    OYC is also hosting an event at The Rotunda to celebrate its 20-year anniversary and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on Wednesday, Nov. 1 from 6-9 p.m. In addition to a dance performance, there will be a showing of the video documentary “¿Y Nosotr@s que? What about us?” that deals with how the pandemic hit Philadelphia’s thousands of undocumented immigrants -- mostly descendants from the Indigenous people of the American continent.

     

    There will also be a the theatrical piece titled “Camine, camine, camine pero nunca llege… (Walk, walk, walk but never arrive…),” which explores the immigration experience of crossing the border as well as cultural identity and traditions.

     

    During the Nov. 1 event, the group will erect an altar to honor the ancestors and those who have passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. The altar will be located in front of The Rotunda and will stay up until after the Poet-tree En Motion event completes on Nov. 8. In effect, it will be a weeklong Day of the Dead celebration from Nov. 1-8 when anyone may stop by the altar at any time to pay homage to their ancestors. People may reflect on their loved ones, light a candle or leave a trinket or offering to the dead.

     

    The Rotunda events are supported by grants from the University of Pennsylvania. Admission is free. Tips for the artists are welcome and encouraged. Masks must be worn when inside the venue.

     

    For information about Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac, log on to https://ollinyoliztlicalmecac.org/.

     

    For information about Poet-tree En Motion, email de Burke at plumdragoness@gmail.com. To be updated about the seasonal events, join the Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/116980678334215.

     

    ABOUT POET-TREE EN MOTION:

    Poet-tree En Motion works to inspire both artist and audience to connect and work together toward cultivating the arts community in Philadelphia, welcoming artists of all kinds to experience performances local to the neighborhood, and offering the opportunity at each show for community participation to sign up in the all-genre open mike/stage and jam session component of the events.

     

     

    MEDIA CONTACTS:

    Gabrielle de Burke (artist Plum Dragoness)

    Founder/Event Organizer Poet-tree En Motion

    484-557-9605

    plumdragoness@gmail.com

     

    Gina Renzi

    Director of The Rotunda

    267-934-3705

    gina@therotunda.org

     

    Brujo de la Mancha

    Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac representative

    brujodelamancha@gmail.com

    http://www.brujodelamancha.com

    https://ollinyoliztlicalmecac.org/

     

     

    FOR EVENT LISTINGS:

     

    Poet-tree En Motion’s Free Seasonal Arts Showcase “Honoring the Ancestors: the Fall Harvest Rhythm and Flow Festivities” is from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at The Rotunda located at 4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19104. The event will feature live music, spoken-word poetry, hip-hop, ritual theater, mindful moving meditations, fire and flow arts, reiki sound healing, Aztec dance, and more. Masks must be worn when inside the venue. Check in is required for contact tracing. For information, email plumdragoness@gmail.com, visit www.facebook.com/groups/116980678334215 and www.therotunda.org, or call The Rotunda at 267-934-3705.

     

    Aztec nonprofit organization Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac Hosts a Free 20-Year Anniversary Celebration and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Event from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at The Rotunda. There will be live Aztec dancing; a showing of the documentary “¿Y Nosotr@s que? What about us?”; a theatrical performance titled “Camine, camine, camine pero nunca llege… (Walk, walk, walk but never arrive…)” ; and the erection of a Day of the Dead altar honoring those who have passed from the COVID-19 pandemic. The altar will stay up and be open to the public from Nov. 1-8. The Rotunda located at 4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19104. For information, log on to https://ollinyoliztlicalmecac.org/ or email brujodelamancha@gmail.com.

     

     

    ARTIST BIOS:

     

    OLLIN YOLIZTLI CALMECAC

    Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac (OYC) is an educational organization whose mission is to raise awareness about the history and culture of the indigenous peoples of this continent, and in particular the Mexicayotl tradition and teachings, which flourished in pre-Columbian Mexico. 

    Meaning “School of Blood Moving in the Heart” in the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs, Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac is a dance and cultural troupe based in the heart of South Philadelphia.

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8vgV0BpGk8&t=2s

     

    A visually captivating portrait of the group told through their own voices, the documentary “Aztec Dance in Philadelphia” raises questions about indigenous history and the retention of cultural heritage in the context of modern immigration.

     

    “We consider it a school because we are learning about the culture we have lost,” says one of the group’s members. The dancers of Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac bring their audiences a pre-Columbian heritage with roots in central Mexico. Kept alive by modern keepers of the culture like those in this trilingual Spanish/English/Nahuatl documentary, Aztec dance has followed the paths of contemporary Mexican immigrants into the United States. That migration has brought Aztec culture to Philadelphia. Aztec Dance in Philadelphia is an engaging resource for educators teaching modern immigration and a colorful testament to the resilience of indigenous cultures.

     

    www.facebook.com/oycphiladelphia

    www.ollinyoliztlicalmecac.org

     

     

    PLUM DRAGONESS

    Native to West Philadelphia, Plum Dragoness (a.k.a. Gabrielle de Burke) is a multitalented thespian, dancer, martial artist, instructor, poetess, and writer who has been involved with performing arts since childhood. She is known for her poetic style, vocal performance, fire dance, flow arts, and choreographic flair throughout Philadelphia and abroad.

     

    Over the past 17 years, she has toured as a solo artist, founding member/core performer/assistant artistic director of Archedream for HumanKind among many others. She has independently released two albums of original work with the project Plum Dragoness & the Elements, known for its fusion of multimedia, live world-beat musical infusions, spoken-word vocals, and lyrical poetry. She has also helped bring together the all-female performance group trio The Femme-Mynistiques, who released their debut EP “Here She Comes…” in the summer of 2016.

     

    Since 2007, Plum Dragoness has been a resident performance artist, as well as host and organizer for the successful performing arts series Poet-tree En Motion. This has allowed her the opportunity to share her own creative performances (including collaborative projects she initiated) and work created by many unique artists within the West Philadelphia community and beyond.

     

    Her work as a healing arts practitioner and instructor continues to intersect with her work as an interdisciplinary performance artist through the incorporation of internal and martial arts forms in combination with dance, poetry, and theater presentation. She has been teaching in the Philadelphia area and abroad since 2000.

     

    www.DragonSpiritArts.com

    www.ThePlumDragoness.com

     

    Follow:

    www.facebook.com/4PlumDragoness

    www.facebook.com/DragonSpiritArts

    www.instagram.com/plumdragoness

    www.instagram.com/dragonspiritarts

    www.instagram.com/authentic.eccentrics

     

    Listen:

    www.soundcloud.com/plum-dragoness

    www.tunecore.com/music/plumdragoness

    www.cdbaby.com/PlumDragonessandTheElements

     

     

    KILLERWHALE

    KillerWhale, standing at an impressive 6-foot 4-inches and weighing in at 280 pounds, is not only a commanding presence but also a musical force to be reckoned with. Notably, he's the brother of Grammy-winning recording artist Macy Gray, and his music is a futuristic fusion that defies easy categorization. Describing his sound as if Rick James had time-traveled into the future aboard a pimped-out Millennium Falcon on a mission to spread electro-funk throughout the galaxy, KillerWhale's music is a high-energy journey through uncharted musical territories.

     

    With production by hip-hop producer J.Fish, known for his work with artists like Mac Miller and Tayyib Ali, KillerWhale has coined his style as "Ghetto-electro-pop." This genre-blending sound draws inspiration from a diverse array of musical influences, including indie-pop electro, synth-pop, funk, new wave, and punk. KillerWhale's music palette is as diverse as his influences. From hip-hop to soul, heavy metal to mainstream pop, he incorporates elements from across the musical spectrum into his work. This unique fusion not only makes his music accessible to mainstream listeners but also provides an exciting and eclectic experience for those with discerning ears.

     

    In a music landscape where genre boundaries are constantly shifting, KillerWhale's innovative approach and family ties to musical greatness set him on a trajectory to make waves in the industry. Keep an ear out for this boundary-pushing artist as he continues to evolve and redefine the sound of tomorrow. 

     

    https://instagram.com/wassupkillerwhale

     

     

    CLOUD / RICH DONAHUE

    Cloud is a pagan rapper and spoken-word poet from the Southern New Jersey/ Philadelphia Area. He has been a practicing witch for over 20 years, He is head of The Circle of the Nine Muses coven located in South Jersey. His music was designed to push boundaries within the pagan music genre by bringing a mainstream feel, his love for hip-hop and love of his craft have combined to create a unique brand of pagan hip-hop with lessons about witchcraft, combatting misconceptions, and raising awareness taking the forefront. He loves music of all different forms, plays multiple instruments and sings.... a little bit. 

     

    His first album “Misconceptions” released in March 2020, has been nominated for a 2020 Witchie Award by The Witches Sabbat for Most Outstanding Album of the Year, and was awarded the 2020 Order of the Silver Chalice award from the Correllian Tradition of Wicca.

     

    His second album, “Modern Bard,” is a conceptual mix of hip-hop and spoken-word poetry that tells the tale of struggles with ego, depression, and addiction. 

     

    A member of the International Pagan Music Awards Association he has been nominated for male artist of the year for the last three years running.

     

    https://spotify.link/TuLecwlj2Cb

    www.instagram.com/cloudrapswicca

    www.facebook.com/cloudrapswicca

    www.Cloudrapswicca.bandcamp.com

     

     

    JAN JEFFRIES

    Philly-based percussionist extraordinaire and drummer brings the soul-full ancestral beatz and rhythms. She also spearheads M.O.M. (Music Over Matter).

     

    www.facebook.com/jan.jeffries.58

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYzrccdxGSc

     

     

    STOOP KID STUDIOS FIRE PERFORMERS: REESE CRAWLEY, KATERINA AND ALICIA TALIA

     

    REESE CRAWLEY / TREBLEMAKUR

    Reese Crawley is a fire and flow arts performer and founder of Stoop Kid Studios. He will lead the trio presenting for this event, bringing passion through the talent that he has been honing over years as a multidisciplinary artist. Behold their stunning visual display and showmanship when they present “the Fire that Feeds My Soul” in service of the healing power of fire and self-expression.

     

    Reese has been manipulating fire for over a decade now. The flames whisper to him as he embellishes them in order to make each performance unique. Whether it be flaming balls, sticks, swords or others, each prop takes on the patience and passion that is his craft. Reese looks forward to bringing the same skills that have brought shock and awe to the faces of thousands back to the steps of The Rotunda.

     

    Stoop Kid Studios LLC is available for services ranging from photography and videography to fire and flow arts performances for special events and more.

     

    https://www.facebook.com/StoopKidStudios

    https://instagram.com/treblemakur

     

     

    KATERINA

    Katerina is a fire and LED performer based out of the Philadelphia area. She is coming up on a decade’s worth of participating in this wonderful craft and loves that it still ignites a passion for the community surrounding it. She has gotten to gain many friends and unique experiences from this art, and she doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon. 

     

    https://www.instagram.com/katichka_33

     

     

    ALICIA TALIA / NINJA WITCH

    Introducing Ninja Witch, a captivating fire dancer with a remarkable skill set that includes katanas, rope darts, sickles and folding fans. She brings her enchanting performing to The Rotunda fire circle for Poet-tree En Motion, where her confidence and fearlessness shine through. Ninja Witch is known for igniting inspiration and captivating audiences with her thrilling shows. Be sure not to miss the chance to witness her fiery magic at our event! 

     

    https://www.instagram.com/aliciatalia

     

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  • 8:00 PMIn-person! Bright Bulb Screening Series pres. THE SECRET CINEMA CONNOISSEUR SERIES: Richard Talmadge double feature on 16mm
  • 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM Bright Bulb Screening SeriespresentsTHE SECRET CINEMA CONNOISSEUR SERIES:Richard Talmadge double featureOn Thursday, November 9, The Secret Cinema will launch a new, occasional sub-series called THE SECRET CINEMA CONNOISSEUR SERIES. While we've frequently (always?) explored the lesser-seen realms of film history in our screenings, the CONNOISSEUR SERIES is meant to provide an outlet for films in our archive, especially features, that are so obscure that we've never figured out how to showcase them before. On first glance they may not have obvious appeal, but we feel these curios will reward the true film buffs in our audience.Our initial CONNOISSEUR SERIES offering is a double feature (each of them less than an hour long) showcasing the multi-talents of Hollywood veteran Richard Talmadge. Who?Richard Talmadge was born as Ricardo Metzetti in either Germany or Switzerland (accounts vary) in 1892 or 1896 (ditto), and emigrated to the U.S.A. as a boy with his brothers, who worked together as an acrobat troupe in the Barnum & Bailey Circus. In 1910 he arrived in Hollywood and soon was working as a stunt man in silent films, even doubling for Douglas Fairbanks. He then became an actor, starring in countless independent silent and early sound features and serials, which usually featured exciting stunt work. He later transitioned to a second unit director, handling action sequences well into the 1960s on such films as CASINO ROYALE and WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT. Talmadge may have had one of the longest and most prolific careers in all of Hollywood, with credits as actor, producer, director, and writer in scores of films, in addition to his usually uncredited stunt work in many more.There will be one complete show at 8:00 pm. Admission is free.As always, all Secret Cinema presentations are projected with 16mm film on a giant screen (not digital, not video).The program will include:DETOUR TO DANGER (1946, Dir: Richard Talmadge and Harvey Parry)Stumbling upon a good print of this unusual film was the real inspiration for this program. In the 1940s, Talmadge and fellow stunt man Harvey Parry formed a production company called Planet Pictures, with a novel strategy for filmmaking success: They would produce b-movies, shorts and cartoons using lower cost 16mm equipment. Then, they would market their product directly to non-theatrical film users that owned 16mm projectors (schools, churches, clubs, military, and even private homes), a market that was expanding rapidly after World War II. All of Planet Pictures' films would be made in Kodachrome color. Ads were placed in hobbyist magazine Home Movies, while Hollywood trade publications fretted in editorials about this new threat to traditional film distribution. Some theaters installed 16mm projectors to accommodate showings, but there is no evidence that DETOUR TO DANGER was ever blown up to 35mm, which would have been needed for wider distribution (decades later that would become a common cost-saving scheme for low budget filmmaking). Thus, DETOUR TO DANGER had a limited audience on its initial release, largely in special one-time showings at school auditoriums, playgrounds, and clubs, though it did turn up on black and white television screens in the late 1950s.DETOUR TO DANGER is very much a homemade looking feature. The plot is minimal, about the two male heroes getting mixed up with payroll thieves in a resort hotel in Big Bear Lake, California, and the story is described in some reference books as a "comedy-drama." Unsurprisingly (considering who made it), there are stunt-filled fight scenes galore, but perhaps the most enjoyment comes from the gorgeous Kodachrome photography of mid-century Americana, from the resort cabins to an old roadside gas station where the story begins.Planet Pictures made two other features in 1946, JEEP HERDERS ("drama") and THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE ("comedy"), as well as four non-fiction shorts, two newsreels and one cartoon ("Professor Purrington in HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY") -- all of them in color. It is not known whether any of these films are extant today. Planet Pictures soon abandoned their plan to shift the traditional film industry to small gauge film, and Talmadge resumed his steady employment as a second unit director of action scenes. In 1974 Talmadge, Parry, and Yakima Canutt were honored at an awards dinner given by the Stuntmen's Association, which was taped for a television special. He died in 1981.THE LIVE WIRE (1935, Dir: Harry S. Webb)This bare-bones adventure b-movie is typical of Richard Talmadge's acting work in the sound era, especially the several films he made for Bernard B. Ray and Harry S. Webb's Reliable Pictures Corporation (their other regular stars were cowboy star Tom Tyler, and "Rin Tin Tin, Jr."). The slightest of plots (scripted by Richard's brother, under the name "Leon Metz") sees two professors hire sailor Talmadge to lead them to some valuable pottery on a remote island. Inevitably there are bad guys in their ship's crew, allowing for fisticuffs and action. Reviewing THE SPEED REPORTER (another Reliable Pictures quickie) in his book SECOND FEATURE, the late film historian John Cocchi wrote, "To say that any of Richard Talmadge's talkies were among his best is a mistake, since they were crudely made and designed solely to show off his acrobatic skills…his vague accent, and shy-grinning style of acting were endearing, if nothing else." THE LIVE WIRE is a good example of a lost world of filmmaking, when canny producers could make saleable b-movies out of almost nothing, keeping things moving onscreen for under one hour.Admission is FREE
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  • 8:00 PMIn-person! West Philly Swing Thing returns featuring Swing That Cat
  • 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM West Philly Swing Thing returns featuring Swing That Cat!COVID Policy: Masks are NOT required and equally welcome.7:30pm: Doors open8pm: Dance instructors will teach you Lindy and Swing dance steps to get you started.9pm: Swing That Cat! will jump on stage so you can try out your steps and have a fun night!Admission: $10 at the door. Merch and Light refreshments will be available for sale.~About the Band ~Swing That Cat is a sonic cocktail of Jump, Jive and Wail!Take Jump Blues, swizzle in Horny Swing, add a dash of Cabaret and splash of Bourbon Street. This female-led Philly band can shake it all up with rhythm, and writhe guaranteed to make you leap off your seat and dance your tail off!Over the last few years, Swing That Cat has emerged as one of the most unique, original, and engaging acts in the Philadelphia area.  Featured by The City of Philadelphia Office of the Arts PHL Live Top 5 Jazz, the Wawa Welcome America July 4th, and local festivals at Clark Park Festival, NoLibs 2nd Street,  City Hall, South Street and Italian market festivals, Swing That Cat has earned their stripes at more than 350 shows spanning NY TO DC, and on radio, podcasts, and streams around the world.  The City of Philadelphia Office of the Arts Top 5 PHL Live Jazz acts in 2018 and 2022.
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  • 6:00 PMIn-person! Part storytelling, part lecture, and part live documentary film, Sarah Kanouse’s solo performance “My Electric Genealogy” explores the shifting cultures and politics of energy in Los Angeles and the West through the lens of her own family
  • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

    Artist Makes Environmental Justice a Family—and Collective—ObligationPhiladelphia, PA For Immediate Release

    Part storytelling, part lecture, and part live documentary film, Sarah Kanouse’s solo performance “My Electric Genealogy” explores the shifting cultures and politics of energy in Los Angeles and the West through the lens of her own family. The performance will take place November 11th at The Rotunda as part of a tour of the East Coast.

    “For nearly forty years my grandfather worked for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, designing, planning, and supervising the network of lines connecting the city to its distant sources of electricity,” Kanouse explains. “The grid was his second family: when he died, he left behind boxes of snapshots that mixed birthday parties and family Christmases with portraits of power plants and transmission towers. Years later, I learned his legacy also included some of the most polluting fossil fuel infrastructure in the country—much of it located out of state, on Indigenous land. As these power plants finally and belatedly come down, what is owed the communities long harmed by this infrastructure?”

    Combining storytelling with moving images, movement, and an original score, the 75-minute performance examines the “infrastructures of feeling” supported by the electric grid, including assumptions of perpetual growth and closely held beliefs about nature, gender, race, and progress. Sarah Kanouse weaves together signal moments in Los Angeles history, episodes of her grandfather’s life, anxious fantasies about a climate-challenged future, and stories of resistance and reinvention in the face of extraction. “My Electric Genealogy” is an essayistic working-through of energy as a personal and collective inheritance at a moment of eco-political reckoning.

    LA-based musician and sonic artist Jacob Ross contributed original music and sound design for “My Electric Genealogy.” Ross has worked with wide variety of filmmakers and performers including Lucky Pierre, Terri Kapsalis, Deke Weaver, Deborah Stratman, and Califone.

    Sarah Kanouse is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, and filmmaker whose solo and collaborative work has been presented at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Documenta 13, the Museum of Contemporary Art-Chicago, The Cooper Union, The Smart Museum, and numerous festivals, academic institutions and artist-run spaces. Raised in Los Angeles, she is now based in Boston, where she teaches at Northeastern University.

    My Electric Genealogy” will be performed at 6pm on Saturday November 11th as part of curator Daniel Tucker’s new Eco-Social Salon, Site-Seeing & Screening Series or ESSSSSS which is co-sponsored by ecological arts organizations The Green Sun Symposium and RAIR Recycled Artist In Residence and will take place at The Rotunda in West Philadelphia (4014 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104). More details on ESSSSSS are at https://ecosocialseries.wordpress.com/2023/01/07/essssss-begins/

     

    Contact infoSarah Kanouse (artist) – sarah.kanouse@gmail.comTrailer: https://vimeo.com/283307068

    Please register for the event HERE

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  • 8:00 PMIn-person! Fire Museum presents: LEO CHANG'S NAKJI 낙지 樂知 & Uriol Korean Percussion Ensemble
  • 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM Fire Museum presentsLEO CHANG'S NAKJI 낙지 樂知 & Uriol Korean Percussion EnsembleLeo Chang's Nakji: Nakji are a Korean diaspora collective led by Leo Chang. Nakji is a type of small octopus native to Korea, known for its ability to adapt quickly to foreign environments. The hanja characters chosen carry additional meaning for this name: nak (樂) means joy and at times music itself, ji (知) means knowledge. So within the name Nakji, there is intention to understand the various layers of joy more deeply. The music of Nakji weaves stories from the Korean diaspora into songs and improvisations--at once complicating, contextualizing, clarifying by undefining Koreanness.Leo Chang (he/him) is a Korean improviser, composer and performer of avant-garde music currently living in Brooklyn. Born in Seoul, Leo lived as an expat in Singapore, Taipei, and Shanghai, and then moved to the United States in 2011. Needing to assimilate to various cultures and thereby cultivating an irreverence towards rules and norms from a young age, Leo expresses rootlessness and multiplicity within identities through his music. Leo traces the origins of his fractured identity-formation to colonial legacies that continue to this day. His art is an act of home-making inspired by various musical and ideological movements that have sought to question power dynamics and imagine egalitarian possibilities. His primary methods are improvisation, written text, graphical notation, and electronic processing.Leo frequently performs as/with VOCALNORI, which amplifies vocal sounds through gongs via electronic instruments. He also plays Korean double reed instruments (piri and taepyungso) in untraditional ways, often processing his piri playing using electronics.Leo’s various performances and collaborations have been with William Parker, gamin, DoYeon Kim, eddy kwon, Vong Pak, Chris Williams, Lester St. Louis, Miriam Parker, Alex Zhang Hungtai, Erin Rogers, Lucie Vítková, Jason Nazary, Jeonghyeon Joo, Adrianne Munden-Dixon, S.E.M. ensemble, the Rhythm Method, and the JACK quartet. From 2017 to 2021, Leo organized Ensemble Consensus, a collective of experimental artists who transformed creative prompts into music by designing rehearsals that center playful co-creation. Leo is a 2024 Jerome Commission artist for Roulette Intermedium, and holds a PhD in Electronic Arts from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.DoYeon Kim is a traditionally trained Korean artist who plays the gayageum, a traditional Korean string instrument, and has developed a uniquely broad approach to music, which incorporates Korean music, jazz, and improvisation, among other influences. Importantly, she introduced the gayageum into the improvisational music scene worldwide. Her recent collaborative projects have broadened to include dancers, actors and visual artists.During her traditional Korean training, she won numerous international competitions for her gayageum performances, including the Dong-A Ilbo Traditional Music Competition (Gold Prize, 2009), and the On-Nala Korean Music Competition (Gold Prize, 2011). DoYeon is also a graduate of the Contemporary Improvisation Department at the New England Conservatory of Music, where she was the first student ever admitted to the school playing any kind of Korean traditional instrument. She joined the faculty at her alma mater (2022).DoYeon has performed throughout the world leading the Kim Do Yeon Band, and alongside many improvisers, including Tyshawn Sorey, Joe Morris, Agusti Fernandez, Tony Malaby and Anthony Coleman. Her first album, GaPi (2017), intimately combined traditional Korean music and jazz, and was nominated for a 2018 Korean Grammy Award in the crossover album category. The same year, DoYeon released the free improvisation album Macrocosm with Joe Morris, and performed on Jim Snidero’s Korean themed jazz album Project-K (2020), alongside Dave Douglas, Orrin Evans, Linda Oh and Rudy Royston.Che Chen is a creative musician and multi-instrumentalist interested in the overlapping fields of intuitive music, improvisation and tuning theory. In addition to the solo and collaborative projects, he also plays guitar in the band 75 Dollar Bill, which he founded with percussionist Rick Brown in 2012.Uriol Korean Percussion Ensemble: Hyunjin Cha leads this traditional Korean percussion ensemble. Percussionist Hyunjin Cha is a solo and Korean ensemble musician. She began her career in Korea at the famous Korean music band DULSORI. During her 1998-2016 career in DULSORI, Hyunjin performed at many festivals, concerts and collaborations such as WOMAD, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Roskilde Rock Festival with international music and dance artists in multi-disciplinary projects. She is also active in various fields such as festival workshops and lectures on traditional culture education. Since 2010, she has also been involved in traditional Korean cultural planning. She has organized a variety of repertoire performances and invited overseas world music artists to organize residency programs, as well as hosting Jeonju So-ri Festival, Seoul Street Festival, and Ulsan World Music Festival in Korea.In 2017, she moved in the US and has been continuing her music works, teaching, managing and directing events.Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/leo-chang-s-nakji
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  • 6:00 PMIn-person! The Bigger Picture presents a FREE workshop - Securing Community Partnerships
  • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Learn how to establish strong partnerships in your community and secure support for your ideas and projects.Join us for an enlightening evening at the Securing Community Partnerships Workshop on November 13, 2023 . This event, hosted by Jasmine Jahwula Seapoe from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.​This is a fantastic opportunity to learn, network, and share ideas about fostering sustainable partnerships within our communities.​We're thrilled to have Tenara Calem, a respected Community Partner, as our facilitator for the evening. Tenara will share her insights and experiences on the essential steps taken toward creating and maintaining successful community partnerships. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this workshop promises to be an invaluable resource for anyone interested in strengthening their community ties. Don't miss out on this chance to learn from the best in the field!Please register HERE
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  • 7:00 PMSPEC-TRUM presents Bas
  • 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Join SPEC-TRUM on Tuesday, November 14th at The Rotunda to see Bas!The door opens at 7:00 pm, opening with a student DJ.The Rotunda is located at 4014 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104.*Attendees with student tickets must show Penn ID at door*One ticket limit per person. Tickets are $5 for Penn students and $7 for the general public.Grab your tickets before they are gone! Get tickets HERE 
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  • 7:00 PMIn-person! cinéSPEAK presents Best of Fests 2023
  • 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM cinéSPEAK presents: Best of Fests 2023an evening of contemporary short films from Philadelphia filmmakers who’ve been tearing up the Philadelphia festival circuit! Join us for our 2nd annual Best of Fests. In this interrogative program, we highlight some of our favorite short films from Philly-based filmmakers recently selected by our region’s film festivals. This program was curated by cinéSPEAK Assistant Director of Programs, Vernon Jordan III.This program is sponsored in part thanks to generous support from the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy. Special thanks to our film festival families at Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, Philadelphia Latino Film Festival, BlackStar Projects, and Women’s Film Festival for their collaboration on this exciting program!EVENT FLOW —DOORS @ 6:30 PMSCREENING @ 7 PMFILMMAKER Q&A TO FOLLOWFEATURED FILMS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON…FREE! 
  • 8:00 PMOnline! Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor (an interactive play) on Zoom
  • 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor (an interactive play) on ZoomRegister to attend for FREE at https://tinyurl.com/askasexabusesurvivorIn the interactive virtual show Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor, survivor Michael Broussard tells the story of the abuse he experienced as a child and of his path to healing. He does this in a series of vignettes, pausing after each vignette for attendee questions and comments.TRIGGER WARNING: This presentation contains references to and descriptions of sexual abuse and trauma.“This production is an excellent illustration of the healing power of art and community.” – Psychologist Margaret D. Sayers“I came away from the performance uplifted, braver, and will always remember Michael’s courage and draw strength from it when needed in my own life.” – Survivor and New England Director of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) Dave O’Regan
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  • 8:00 PMIn-person! Bowerbird presents two solo performances by Natacha Diels and Levi Lu
  • 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

    Bowerbird is pleased to present two solo performances by Natacha Diels and Levi Lu 

    Natacha Diels’ work combines choreographed movement, improvisation, video, instrumental practice, and cynical play to create worlds of curiosity and unease. Recent work includes Papillon and the Dancing Cranes, for construction cranes and giant butterfly (Borealis Festival 2018); and forthcoming is a 6-part TV-style miniseries with the JACK quartet (TimeSpans Festival 2020) and a collaborative work for shadowed audience with Ensemble Pamplemousse (Darmstadt 2020). With a focus on collage, collaboration, and the ritual of life as art, Natacha’s compositions have been described as “a fairy tale for a fractured world” (Music We Care About) and “the liveliest music of the evening” (LA Review of Books).

    Qiujiang Levi Lu/卢秋江 (they/them) is a Beijing-born, New Jersey-based performer, experimental vocalist, composer, and certified foodie. As an improvising performer, Lu utilizes custom-built feedback-driven electronic instruments, voice, and amplified muscle movements to perform in various settings. Other than performing, Lu also writes for acoustic and electronic improvisers. Through using sound-canceling headphones and in-ear monitors, Lu creates surreal listening environments for improvisers to explore human relationships, audio-visual interactivity, and the phenomenology of sound.Lu’s works have been performed at Festivals, Conferences, and Venues such as DiMenna Center, IRCAM Forum, SEAMUS conference, HighZero Festival, NIME conference, the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, Oberlin MMG, Spencer Museum of Art, Rhizome DC, and NowNet Arts conference.Lu currently works as a lecturer in the Department of Music at the University of Pennsylvania.

    Admission is FREE/pay-what-you-will

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  • 1:00 PMIn-person! Self-Taught Art Show and Sale
  • 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

    “Self-Taught”* Art Show & Sale!1pm-5pmATTENTION ARTISTS:

    If you make art -- *but have never attended an accredited art college* -- you may apply to be chosen to exhibit (and to sell, if you wish) at this exciting new event by emailing jpgs of three examples of your works in any medium to: tmonty52@yahoo.com.  Please include information about the size of the works in your photos and how you can be reached by phone or text.  Deadline for applications: October 12, 2023.   We will contact you by October 20 to let you know if you have been accepted to the show.  Participating artists will receive a small stipend.

    Admission is FREE

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  • 3:00 PMIn-person! The Big Tellabration Celebration, a spectacular showcase of stories & storytelling, feat. the amazing talents of its stalwart practitioners & the community-at large
  • 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

    PATCHWORK TELLABRATES AGAIN!The Big Tellabration CelebrationPatchwork presents The Big Tellabration Celebration, a spectacular showcase of stories and storytelling, featuring the amazing talents of stalwart practitioners and members of the community-at-large! Suggested: $15/pp* with Pay-What-You-Can options to allow for greatest accessibility for all. Running Time: ~120 minutes.  Light refreshments. Recommended for adult audiences. Immerse yourself in the magic of storytelling as talented tellers weave enchanting narratives in diverse ways that will leave you spellbound. From folktales to personal anecdotes to song and more, each unique story will take you on a journey of discovery, evoking a range of emotions and broadened insights.

    Whether you're a fan of traditional tales or modern narratives, this event promises to entertain and inspire. Bring your friends and family along to experience the joy and wonder of live storytelling. Get ready to laugh, cry, and be moved by the power of words.

    Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to experience The Big Tellabration Celebration, an unforgettable afternoon of storytelling.

    With tasty treats for the ears, eyes, heart, mind, and belly—and an enthusiastic crowd, it's sure to be a good time.

    Sunday, November 19

    3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

     

    Suggested: $15/pp* with Pay-What-You-Can options to allow for greatest accessibility for all. Registration recommended! Please register HERE

     

     

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  • 6:00 PMIn-person! Vogue Drop-in Session
  • 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM practice for the balls! Vogue drop-in. All are welcome. These [almost] weekly sessions are free unless the event is a ball in which case the admission price will be stated in the event info. 
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  • 12:00 PMIn-person! Weekly Improvised Music Session
  • 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Weekly Improvised Music Session. All are welcome to come and jam if you like to play improvised music. Wednesdays 12pm-2pm
  • 7:00 PMIn-person! Soul Sanctuary presents Qualified Qool LIVE!
  • 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Soul Sanctuary presents Qualified Qool LIVE!

    Prepare to join us for an evening of deep listening and fellowship. We’ll be showcasing albums, and inviting some of our friends to sell their wares in a warm, groovy setting. No cover charge either. This is a Pay What You Wish Affair, and everyone is welcome.

    Kick off the holiday season with us, in a family-friendly venue with good people and great sounds.

    More details coming soon.

    Soul Sanctuary was first conceived by founder/manager Stephanie Renée as a lounge/performance venue and opened its doors for business at 722 Arch Street in Philadelphia on Wednesday, April 10, 2002 in what previously was known as The Red Room of dance club Brave New World.

    At that time, Soul Sanctuary maintained a weekly schedule with the following themes:THE GROOVE – Wednesday night open mic session for poets, MCs, vocalists & musiciansSPIN CYCLE - Thursday night dance party featuring music by Lil Dave and the Ill Vibe CollectiveTESTIFY – Friday night poetry and spoken word gatheringINNER CITY LIVE - Saturday night performance showcase featuring up-and-coming independent artists, hosted by Tiffany Bacon of Power 99 FM (WUSL) PhiladelphiaXFAD (Crossfade) – Sunday night hip-hop DJ night featuring music by DJ Razor RamonDuring its initial months of operation, Soul Sanctuary hosted an impressive number of performances and special events, drawing very supportive crowds and hosting such stellar talent as:EGOT-winning singer/songwriter John Legend [Stephens], Jazmine Sullivan, Raheem DeVaughn, Anthony Hamilton, human turntablist Scratch, rapper Flo Brown, trombonist Jeff Bradshaw, Def Poetry Jam on Broadway star Black Ice, Rick Tate Jr. (saxophonist, Musiq), Erik Tribbett (music director for Vivian Green and former drummer for Jill Scott), Renee Neufville (former member of R&B duo Zhane), improvisational orchestra Burnt Sugar, Maya Azucena, Yewande, Chinua Hawk, Rob Murat, Stori James, and Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys, who played a private acoustic set to kickoff the 2002 SISTAHS Celebration of Women. Read more at https://www.soul-sanctuary.net/about

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  • 7:00 PMIn-person! Urban Shaman Attack lands for harvest with Earth Jazz
  • 7:00 PM - 10:30 PM After one heck of a ride, USA lands the spacekraft for a celebration of the good times that have made the year, and to remember the challenges overcome. What better way to do that than an event of psychedelic music. We shouted "capacity " from the mountaintop, and many listened ... realizing wisdom in not only knowing our limitations in so many categories, also using that knowledge to fill those categories and go furthur. We are truly learning to color culture between the lines. Best part? We are still staying a little crazy ... not losing any character, and staying grateful. That's what we sowed .. that's our harvest.We will be proceeded by Earth Jazz, featuring Karl Fury on guitar and David Berends on Keys. Also, Move Me Brightly light show will create psychedelic visuals, in addition to the ones within.Let's not forget those who might not have food this harvest, for whatever reasons. Please bring some canned food to this FREE ENTRY event .. so we can make the world a better place. We send the cans to a food bank in Philadelphia, where it will be greatly appreciated.Urban Shaman Attack plays American Futurism. Our music can be found on most digital platforms, or experience us LIVE at a venue or festival near you.
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  • 5:00 PMIn-person! Vegan Potluck
  • 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM A casual, friendly vegan potluck with lots of space!A perfect chance to reinvent Fall dishes or bring something totally new!An opportunity to meet new people and share time with old friends!Children welcome!Admission is FREE.Please bring one VEGAN dish (no animal products*) to share, along with a serving utensil and a list of ingredients. Please don't bring something that has to stay hot unless you also bring a crock pot, warming plate, or something similar. No alcohol. The Rotunda will provide plates, cups, napkins, etc.*no meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, honey, or anything that came from an animal. If you have questions about an ingredient, feel free to email information@TheRotunda.org or ask here.
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  • 6:00 PMIn-person! Vogue Drop-in Session
  • 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM practice for the balls! Vogue drop-in. All are welcome. These [almost] weekly sessions are free unless the event is a ball in which case the admission price will be stated in the event info. 
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  • 9:00 PMIn-person! The Gathering
  • 9:00 PM - 11:59 PM The Gathering! breakin, DJs, ciphers, and more info to come. Admission is $3 before 10pm, $5 after. More info to come soon!
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