AADL Talks To: Sylvia Nolasco-Rivers, owner of Pilar's Tamales and Founder of Pilar's Foundation

Thu, 11/14/2024 - 8:02pm

In this episode, AADL Talks to Sylvia Nolasco-Rivers. Sylvia tells us about her early experiences in Ann Arbor, and how she convinced her entire family to move here. She shares stories of her work as a caterer and eventual restaurant owner, and tells us about fundraising efforts in the early 2000s, which led to the creation of her nonprofit Pilar’s Foundation in 2019.

AADL Talks To: Judith DeWoskin, Longtime Community High School Teacher

Wed, 10/16/2024 - 3:39pm

Judith DeWoskin is an award-winning teacher of English literature and creative writing from Ann Arbor's Community High School, where she taught for most of her career before retiring in 2021. Judith talks with us about her teaching style, including some of the unique assignments and classes she created, and she reminisces about her favorite books and authors. She also recalls some memorable moments over the course of her career, from the meaningful interactions -- mostly joyful, sometimes painful -- with students to playing Prospera in The Tempest during COVID.

AADL Talks To: Eve Silberman, Former Profiles Editor & Writer for the Ann Arbor Observer

Wed, 10/09/2024 - 4:45pm

In this episode, AADL talks to Eve Silberman. Eve has written for the Ann Arbor Observer for over four decades. As profile writer and editor Eve oversaw the Ann Arborites section, which highlights community members. In addition, she has covered and written features on local politics, social services, the city's history, and more.

Local Movement: Five Decades of Dance in Ann Arbor - Directors' Cut

Sat, 09/21/2024 - 5:06pm

"The national 'dance boom' of the late 1950's through the 1980's expanded audiences and support for dance. Federal grants supported the development of college dance programs and touring dance companies. The University Musical Society brought dance to the University of Michigan’s Power Center for the Performing Arts, built in Ann Arbor in 1971. Both at the University and in the community, Ann Arbor became a destination for dance. Low-cost performance and rehearsal spaces, community support, and grants helped create and nurture a vital dance scene, and Ann Arbor became home to numerous modern and jazz dance companies including Dance Theater 2, Hydra, Whitley Setrakian’s People Dancing, The J. Parker Copley Dance Company, Jazz Dance Theater, and The Peter Sparling Dance Company. Recurring community dance showcases, such as Spring Dances, Fall Dances, Dancing in Summer, and others took place throughout the year, allowing many choreographers to share their work. The film Local Movement, by Aimee McDonald and Terri Sarris, explores modern dance in Ann Arbor from the 1970's through today." - Terri Sarris

This is the directors' cut of Sarris and McDonald's 24-minute original created for Ann Arbor 200.

Local Movement: Five Decades of Dance in Ann Arbor

Sat, 09/21/2024 - 4:34pm

"The national 'dance boom' of the late 1950's through the 1980's expanded audiences and support for dance. Federal grants supported the development of college dance programs and touring dance companies. The University Musical Society brought dance to the University of Michigan’s Power Center for the Performing Arts, built in Ann Arbor in 1971. Both at the University and in the community, Ann Arbor became a destination for dance. Low-cost performance and rehearsal spaces, community support, and grants helped create and nurture a vital dance scene, and Ann Arbor became home to numerous modern and jazz dance companies including Dance Theater 2, Hydra, Whitley Setrakian’s People Dancing, The J. Parker Copley Dance Company, Jazz Dance Theater, and The Peter Sparling Dance Company. Recurring community dance showcases, such as Spring Dances, Fall Dances, Dancing in Summer, and others took place throughout the year, allowing many choreographers to share their work. The film Local Movement, by Aimee McDonald and Terri Sarris, explores modern dance in Ann Arbor from the 1970's through today." - Terri Sarris

And for more stories from the film, check out the 46-minute directors' cut.

There Went The Neighborhood - Studio Interview: Roger Brown

Wed, 08/07/2024 - 1:47pm

Roger Brown grew up in “The Old Neighborhood” and has vivid memories of playing in Summit Park next to a junkyard and slaughterhouse. He attended Jones School from 1963 to 1965, and he remembers his friends being bused to several different schools after its closure.

This interview was filmed during the making of the documentary film There Went The Neighborhood: The Closing of Jones School, produced by the Ann Arbor District Library and 7 Cylinders Studio. More interviews are available in the There Went The Neighborhood Interview Archive.

There Went The Neighborhood - State Theatre Interview: Larry Young

Wed, 08/07/2024 - 11:34am

Larry Young was interviewed after a preliminary screening of the documentary film There Went The Neighborhood: The Closing of Jones School at the State Theatre on April 16, 2023. He speaks about participating in the French Dukes and founding the Salt of the Earth drill team.

More interviews are available in the There Went The Neighborhood Interview Archive.

AADL Talks To: Elmo Morales, owner of Elmo's T-Shirts

Thu, 05/09/2024 - 5:39pm

In this episode, AADL Talks with Elmo Morales, owner of Elmo’s T-shirts, currently at 17 Nickels Arcade and previously at a long-time storefront on Main Street. Elmo came to the University of Michigan in 1964 on a track scholarship and has lived here ever since. He recalls his time at U-M; his 30-year career as a physical education instructor with the Ann Arbor Public Schools; how he helped start the Ann Arbor Track Club and turn the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run into a popular community event; and some of his other business ventures over the years.