By Bonnie and Bill Neely
We were in Washington, D.C., in October for the special performance of The Washington Ballet at the Dupont Underground, entitled “Dance for All.” It was a wonderful evening of emotionally moving artistic presentation. New artistic director, Edwaard Liang, introduced his premiere choreography for an all-new studio company of dancers. Blake Neely composed brilliantly expressive new music for the event and also performed piano and synthesizers, accompanied by vocalist Sherry Chung, violinists Camille Miller and Stephanie Yu, and cellist Jacob Braun. The sound production was provided by Thor Fienberg, Jacob Neely, Hector Cortez, Vince Isler, Nicoletta Nomicou, and Alyssa Tortomasi.
Five female and four male dancers in leotards and white suits, danced incredibly agilely and perfectly. Their movements dramatically depicted emotions which seemed to deal visually with loss, love, friendship, and acceptance. The show was uniquely enhanced by a backdrop of projected visual art, created specifically for this ballet by acclaimed artist Tom Neely. The choreographed paint in water medium moved and transformed in perfect time with the music and ballet scene changes and created beautiful abstract images, which added subtle emotional drama to the performance.
Season tickets to the ballets can be purchased online. The performances inspire all and make us proud of our Nation’s artists!
There is so much to see and do in the beautiful Capital city of the USA!
Of course, when visitors come to Washington, DC, everyone wants to walk or ride through the National Mall to see and visit each of the dramatic monuments which stretch from the White House and Capitol to the Washington Monument obelisk. Lovely monument buildings honoring Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, James Monroe spaced dramatically, and World War II and Vietnam Veteran Monument walls and the newest statuary wall honoring World War I Veterans. The beautiful lake in the serene green lawn setting is enhanced by the famous pink blossomed cherry trees. Nearby is the Potomac River with tranquil river boat sight-seeing tours, a MUST! Across the Potomac is the Arlington National Cemetery. Also not far from Arlington is “Mount Vernon,” the home of George Washington before the White House was built, is an interesting tour.
You will be intrigued by the huge, new building surrounded by fascinating geometric artistic gold colored art grill. This is the location of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, which is well worth time for the free, self-guided tour with excellent signage from which to learn the history of the griefs and triumphs of the captive race which has contributed so very much to each place to which these people were taken. It is a wonderful, four-floor depiction of the history of the black race. The displays are noteworthy in their inspiring visual story which includes several hundred years of historic journeys away from Africa to many countries and especially the moving and disturbing history as slaves. Other exhibits reveal the dedication to purpose and faith which African Americans have brought and greatly enriched America and other countries. We had not thought about the vast and vital contributions to art and music and film and faith we owe to the valued heritage these people often diligently impart to others. At the museum we were educated and greatly inspired to appreciate this heritage. We came away feeling this museum should be at the top of everyone’s To-See list! As with many of the amazing Smithsonian museums, admission is free.
Other buildings at the Smithsonian Institute we chose to visit included the National Gallery of Art and the separate Portrait Museum. As with all the Smithsonian museums, each of these art galleries is a wondrous experience of admiring and enjoying many of the most prized works of artists from around the world and through centuries. Each of these museums contains priceless masterpieces. The Portrait Museum features famous leaders throughout United States history. It is a great place for children and adults to learn the U.S. Presidents and be able to connect names and faces.
The National Gallery of Art is like a walk through the centuries of artists’ styles and genres. These paintings and sculptures are arranged in separate rooms by style such as realistic portraits and scenes in nature and still-life; then a room of Renaissance art from around the world; another area of pointillism; another, a collection of abstract style; another, with cubism; another, modern art; and then post-modern. With these separated it was a help in learning to identify styles through the ages. I wish I had had access to these art displays when I was studying Art History in college!
We had read about the International Spy Museum, and it was the place we most wanted to see after we visited Smithsonian Museums and the National Mall. (Our driver dropped us off at the Spy Museum’s former location, a long way from the current one, so be sure to tell your car service it is newly located at 700 L’Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington. We were excited to see the “Bond In Motion” exhibit, since we are great fans of the 007 movies. This collection requires an additional, separate ticket from the entrance ticket but is fascinating enough to be worth the extra cost. We loved seeing the collection of seemingly magic vehicles from all the six decades of 007 James Bond films. It is owned by the EON Productions Archive and the Ian Fleming Foundation. The exhibit will be in place through April 2025. We could see and even touch the cars, boats, planes, submarine, which were equipped with unbelievably sophisticated and complex devices to make them perform in ways no other such vehicle type could do. In the movies these always enabled Bond to escape dangerous situations and to spy in very unique ways. It is a thrill for anyone to see these creative works of imaginative drama up close and in person.
Since we had been focused on seeing the Bond In Motion exhibit we had not expected the rest of the museum to be so very fascinating and educational. We were in awe and exclaiming over the “tricks of the spy trade” throughout our visit. The written and pictorial history of various events through several centuries and around the world are amazing. We saw the secret and hidden, or camouflaged equipment used in various assassinations of despots and war leaders. Most of the items appeared to be normal clothing or cars, etc. A pair of gloves for a woman and a tube of innocent looking lipstick were instruments which were used as weapons of self defense to save the spy’s life. There was even a car from early 1900’s which had spaces created for spies to hide within the engine and under seats!
Although our visit was self-guided with no tour person detailing the exhibits, we wandered through the museum’s four floors at our own pace. We were entranced with mind-boggling displays and excellent signage and videos showing the evolution of spying in the United States from the American Revolution up through Vietnam as it pertained to America’s involvement in wars as well as the Cold War after World War II. Seeing the development of spy techniques and gimmicky equipment used by the US and other governments over the years which involved new technology in the types of equipment used in spying. We also saw the photos of different people involved in spying both for and against the United States.
One section of exhibits dealt with the Cuban Missile Crisis during John F. Kennedy’s presidency. The exhibit gave a great deal of information about behind-the-scenes spy activity in uncovering Russia’s attempt to put missiles aimed at the USA into Cuba. This is just one of the many, many different exhibits dealing with spy craft with numerous terrifying intentions and the ways the dangers were averted, and citizens were protected. Many of these occurred during our lifetime and we remembered the fears we felt as the news casters described potential dangers. Yet we were never fully informed of who and how the spies who helped save us were. We wished we had planned a full day at this museum.
IF YOU GO: Washington National Ballet, Dupont Circle Underground, Smithsonian Institute and Museums, International Spy Museum, Washington National Mall, Blake Neely, Tom Neely Artist, Edward Liang
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