Hip-hop, she’s off the charts!

BY LESLIE WESTBROOK
It’s rare to receive a press release from a teenager, but 16-year-old Jackie Rotman is not your typical, high school senior. The headline read: TOMMY AND THE HIP-HOP CLOWNS INSPIRATIONAL MASTER DANCE CLASSES.

I’ll tell you who is inspirational: Jackie Rotman.
I emailed Ms. Rotman for an interview, and she responded immediately (via iPhone, ‘natch) with available dates and times to meet. This young lady — who skipped 2nd grade — is the sweetest pro you may ever meet.
The founder/director of “Everybody Dance Now!” has organized two master “krump” dance classes with Tommy and the Hip-Hop Clowns for both kids and adults. Tommy the Clown is a former drug dealer, gang member, and prisoner who is now a “world famous clown dancer.” He will be in Santa Barbara on Tuesday, May 27th to help at-risk youth and “spread the joy” to our community.
I was always kind of afraid of clowns, not to mention dancing in public in a dance class, but perhaps this will be a chance to face my fear? Bring in the clowns.
Those 12 and younger can dance at Harding School, 1625 Robbins Street from 3:30-5pm; teenagers 13 and up and adults will hip-hop that evening from 7-9 p.m. at the Veteran's Memorial Building, 112 W Cabrillo Blvd, 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $15-25 for dancers and $5-8 for observers, but any youth in need can attend for free. All ages and levels are welcome and advance tickets can be purchased at a pre-sale discount by going to www.presaleticketing.com.
When I asked Jackie to show me krump dancing (since I really don’t know what it is), this poised young lady was off center for the first time: “I don’t really know how to krump dance,” she admitted. But she, and anyone else, will after these classes.
And this hip young lady’s fav type of dance? “I like modern group pieces with music by Meredith Monk,” the tall lanky blonde told me.
Jackie — who wrote the grants for after school hip-hop classes she’s been teaching at schools and Girls, Inc. — graduates from Santa Barbara High School in June, and then heads off for the Junior Miss competition in Mobile, Alabama. She wanted to make sure I knew that this is NOT a beauty pageant/swimsuit competition but a scholarship program based on a “Be Your Best Self” program. Jackie spent her spring break being her best self with other high school volunteers in Guatemala building (a roof) and painting (a bathroom) in Antigua.
Oh yeah, did I tell you Jackie Rotman is going to Stanford in the fall? She already is planning to volunteer with “Teach for America” after graduating from college.
Told ya, she’s inspirational.

A Little Bird Told Me
Craig McCaw has purchased the former Cynthia Wood property on East Valley Road in Montecito from Fawlty Towers/Naughty Python funny man John Cleese, who is going through an “expensive” divorce from his wife of 15 years, Alice Faye. Alice Faye hosts and produces a delightful, musical memories driven radio show (on a station that shall remain nameless) and, according to a British tabloid, is receiving over $30,000 a month in support. Heck, last week I said whoever saved money on their medical plan (and plenty of your wrote in to thank me for that tip) could take me to dinner; this week I say Alice Faye could take us ALL for cocktails at the Plow & Angel. Are you with me?
Anyway, I really do love her radio show: I just wish she’d move it to KCLU, the NPR public radio station that is having a great big fundraiser at the end of this month, which gives me a perfect chance for a segue!!!!
On May 31, NPR radio station KCLU (88.3 and 102.3 FM) is having a “Spring in to Summer” luncheon (for VIPS) and afternoon soiree at actor Larry Hagman and his wife Maj’s “Heaven Ranch” in Ojai. Montecito-based radio host Fran Halpern should be there, along with other event committee folks from our area including Congresswoman Lois Capps, Hannah Beth Jackson, Jeff and Susan Bridges, Barry and Jelinda deVorzon, Judi and Harry Weisbert, Lailan and Sean McGrath, filmmaker Sam Tyler and other cool radio junkies.
There’s a celeb luncheon mid-day ($500) and the $150 event takes place from 2 to 5 p.m.
I listen to KCLU daily. Here’s a chance for misbehaving with other listeners and supporters instead of sitting at home, alone with your radio. For information and reservations go to www.KCLU.org or phone (805) 805-493-3900.

Reich Therapy Slated for Ojai Music Fest
While I’m on the subject of Ojai, better hurry up and book tickets to the Ojai Music Festival’s 62nd season from June 5th to 8th which will feature minimalist composer Steven Reich (he returns after thirty-five years and will be composer in residence throughout the Fest) and lovely soprano Dawn Upshaw, a recent MacArthur Genius Grant recipient.
This year’s theme is “Intersection of Words and Music” and a new composition by Reich, Daniel Variations —which employs texts from the biblical book of Daniel and the words of the American-Jewish reporter Daniel Pearl — will be performed on opening night. On Friday night, check out Charlie Chaplin’s silent film Modern Times—shown on a large video screen—with the accompaniment of the original Chaplin score by the Ojai Festival Orchestra conducted by Festival Director David Robertson.
For information, go to www.ojaifestival.org or phone (805) 646-2094 for tickets and information.

Maybe You Will Meet Prince Charming
“Nights” at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art kicked off with a stunning, sold-out crowd of 1,100 attendees last Thursday night. The Wizard of Oz Cupcake Bar was our favorite distraction during the fanciful evening designed around children’s stories and the current book illustration exhibit, “Over Rainbows and Down Rabbit Holes.” Revelers “ordered” by asking the Wizard questions and then received a yummy cupcake in boxes decorated with Dorothy, Tin Man and the Wicked Witch of the West! One guest asked “How long do I have to wait for my cupcake?” while others wanted to know “Why is the moon round” and “Am I going to meet the love of my life tonight?” That did happen at one of the “Nights” parties three years ago when Scott Harwin, of Bryant & Sons, Ltd., met Hollanda, whom he married. The couple are now expecting a baby. Bryant & Sons security guard, Ed, remarked: “This isn’t advertised as a single’s event, is it?”
“No,” I told him, “but it sure acts like one.”
Mark your calendar for the next “Nights.”
If you are a guy looking for a pretty, young thing, this is fertile ground.
Tickets $20-$60, www.sbma.net/nights for more details.

Google Him
Last but not least, in case you missed it and/or care: Eric Schmidt, Google's head honcho (chief exec to you) and chairman of the board, bought Ellen DeGeneres’ historic Ashley Road manse. There goes the neighborhood.

Leslie Westbrook is a freelance writer and editor. Address correspondance to her at thisandthat@santabarbarafree.com.