KILLER HOBBIES: A Good Time for a Good Cause and FREE Mysteries!

Last night my husband and I attended a fundraiser for the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Georgetown, DC.

You might think you've never heard of this school, but you certainly are familiar with its graduates. Every show on Broadway has an alum from the school in its cast. The list of graduates is a who's who of talent, including Dave Chapelle, Lamman Rucker, and Denyce Graves. You can read more about this fabulous place here: http://www.ellingtonschool.org/about/

While the average high school graduate rate here in DC is 65%, the Ellington School boasts an astonishing 95% graduate rate. Get this--students are admitted on the basis of their artistic talent only, with their academic skills being "blind." As one teacher told us, "Kids tell me that they can focus on their schoolwork because they know they'll be here from 8-5 and won't be in the midst of all the craziness of their homes and neighborhoods." She went on to explain, "They love being a part of the arts, and they know they have to stay in school to participate, so they do."

The performance by the students was outstanding. I was particularly impressed by their quality of movement. Most people without a dance background have a very clunky way of moving, but those who have been trained express themselves differently, allowing energy to flow from the core of their bodies out through their fingertips. This results in a fluid, compelling motion.

Of course, there was other entertainment, too--and I thought you'd enjoy hearing some of that. Especially the finger-snapping chorus of one of my favorites.

I've never added video to a blog post before, so I'm counting on all of you to tell me if you enjoy it!

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