SEASONS of NEW HAVEN - ANTHONY MCDONALD SUMMER ARTS PREVIEW - Seasons Magazines
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SUMMER 21: Hula Dancing | Connect icut’s Kayaking Wave | Grilled Salad | Sammy Davis Jr.
NEW HAVEN
SEASONS of
ANTHONY
MCDONALD
The Shubert Theatre’s
New Leader
SUMMER
ARTS PREVIEW
Live Entertainment Returns
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S easons’ Greetings
Summer 2021
SEASONS of New Haven ®
®
Welcome to the summer issue of Page 8. Page 24. Page 42. Page 64.
Seasons Magazines! Feature Arts & Culture Delicious Entertainment
Decades after leaving Yale Hula in Connecticut? It’s Take a salad from ordinary to Theaters and music venues
In this issue, we’re inspired by the University, author Joyce happening at a Wallingford- extraordinary by throwing it welcome live audiences back
outdoors, warmer temperatures and Visit us online at Maynard is back to finish based Polynesian dance on the grill. this summer.
www.seasonsmagazines.com what she started. company.
tropical locales. We take you inside a 72.
Page 50. Page
Wallingford-based Polynesian dance Follow us on Twitter
@SeasonsMag
Page 12. Page 32. Home Pets
company that brings the movements Meet Innovations in The pandemic has spurred The hosts of CBS’ “Lucky
– and deep meaning – behind hula to Like us on Facebook Anthony McDonald, the Health Care a booming housing market Dog” offer insights into
life. We also explore the pleasures and Facebook.com/SeasonsMedia Shubert Theatre’s new Doctors at UConn Health in Connecticut, including their show and advice for pet
executive director plans to approach to stroke treatment. among those shopping for parents.
scenery of kayaking in Connecticut, and bring more diversity and second homes.
urge you to try cooking up something new accessibility to the 100-plus- Page 36. Page 78.
by throwing your salad (yes, salad) on the Seasons of New Haven ® year-old landmark. Sports Page 58. Final Thoughts
grill this summer. is published by Seasons Magazines Former pro soccer player History Sometimes, life makes you
James P. Tully, Owner/Publisher Page 17. Kristine Lilly molds the next Music legend Sammy Davis slow down, whether you want
We’re excited to share what Connecticut Adventure generation of athletes. had a major impact on the to or not. That’s not always a
Creative Director long-running golf tournament
theaters have planned for the summer Kayaking has gained bad thing.
Cara Rosner Stacy Wright Murray popularity since the start of now known as the Travelers
and beyond. With many preparing to the pandemic. Grab a paddle Championship.
Editor
welcome live audiences back in person for the first time since early 2020, it’s Cara Rosner and get on the water.
an exciting time as we begin to move beyond the pandemic into our “new
Sales & Marketing Executive
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For advertising information please
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jim@seasonsmagazine.com
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FEATURE
More to This Story
Author’s Homecoming Has Been Decades in the Making
I
By FRANK RIZZO
t’s been nearly 50 years writer I deeply admire who teaches at
since Joyce Maynard was a Yale and who taught Marina.”
freshman at Yale University, Fadiman recounted that she taught
when she wrote her 1972 cover Maynard’s 1998 memoir, “At Home
story in The New York Times in the World” in her writing class at
Magazine. “An Eighteen- Yale — “and hearing that just grabbed
Year-Old Looks Back on Life” was a my heart because the book had been
personal, generation-defining essay that condemned and scathingly dismissed
led to a relationship that would soon when it was published and it was so
upend her young life and shadow her costly to my career,” says Maynard. “I
own long and accomplished career. am so proud of that book.”
J.D. Salinger, the celebrated-yet- Many of Fadiman’s students bought
reclusive writer of the touchstone into the literary establishment view
classic “The Catcher in the Rye” and at the time; they thought that by
other works, had seen the Times article writing that memoir Maynard violated
and began an intimate correspondence Salinger’s privacy by including their
with the teenager. At the end of her relationship. “But Marina Keegan, this
first year at school, Maynard dropped bright young woman, had been my
out of Yale — and abandoned her defender.”
scholarship — to live with the writer Keegan saw Maynard as a teenage
in New Hampshire. Less than a year girl manipulated by a predator, a much
later, Salinger would coldly sever older, esteemed and powerful man, and
defended Maynard’s right to tell an
the relationship, and the shock and Joyce Maynard in New Haven, 2021. Photo by Frank Rizzo
important part of her own life story.
aftershocks of that abandonment would
sensitivity and engagement, Maynard wrote to Fadiman, thanked Joyce Maynard graced the
resonate with her for years. reminiscent of the Times cover her, and offered to visit her class any cover of New York Times
Amid many personal and photograph taken of the pretty, lithe Magazine in 1972.
time. That offer was accepted and
professional struggles, Maynard freshman — and the image that first Maynard’s class talks became annual
persevered. She raised three children attracted Salinger. events. On one of the visits, Fadiman
as a single parent; authored 18 books From her cozy, art-filled Wooster told Maynard, “You have unfinished
including novels, memoirs and best- Square apartment, the New Hampshire business in New Haven.”
sellers, including “To Die For” and native talks about how her return to At that time, Maynard was newly scholarship. So, at the age of 65, she delights, but it’s also been bittersweet. a dancer and I can’t do a lot of things I
“Labor Day,” both which became Yale was spurred by a chance read married, had just moved to California applied to Yale through the Eli Whitney “There was some ‘closing of the would have been doing when I was 19.”
starry films. She also established eight years ago of a slim volume of and, though her husband was ill, she Students Program, established for those circle,’ but there are some things you She also discovered much had
herself as an inspirational writing guru, essays by another young woman from wasn’t yet prepared for the fact that who have interrupted their college cannot now claim from your youth,” she “refreshingly changed” with Yale and
especially for women who wanted to Yale writing on big topics. it would lead to a wrenching decline career. says. “I’ve never been more aware since the city — but some things haven’t. In
share their stories, too. That’s when she came across “The and death from pancreatic cancer. She Maynard says her goal is not to I’ve been back here of what I lost.” 1971 when she first arrived, hers was
“But I always deeply regretted Opposite of Loneliness” by Marina wrote about it in her 2017 memoir complete the four-year cycle and get For this return, Maynard has just the third class since Yale went co-
leaving Yale,” says Maynard. “I never Keegan, a promising writer who was “The Best of Us.” a degree — “First of all, it’s very embraced the school’s many ed for its undergrad program. She still
imagined going back.” tragically killed in an auto accident “After Jim died, the whole world expensive” — but rather to get some extracurricular activities, part of Yale’s remembers the stings of discrimination
Until now. days after graduating Yale and just looked different,” says Maynard, “but I semblance of the Yale experience that cultural swirl where students are and dismissiveness young women
before starting work at The New knew I just couldn’t curl up in a ball. I she missed. encouraged to take on activities beyond Dr.then faced S.
Jonathan from male classmates and
Aranow
‘UNFINISHED BUSINESS IN Yorker. needed a big challenge.” their path of studies. “I especially especially PHOTO LEAD IN:Some of that
the professors.
Photo caption here.
NEW HAVEN’ “Suddenly I saw my name Maynard sometimes wondered CLOSING THE CIRCLE loved performing in plays,” she says. remains, she says.
At 67, Maynard still has a long- mentioned in the introduction to the what she lost in making that fateful Maynard’s return to Yale has been filled But because of the limits of her age, “I But overall students have changed for
haired, wide-eye look of intelligence, collection, written by Anne Fadiman, a decision in 1973 to leave school and with academic stimulation and personal can’t be on a sports team and I can’t be the better, she says: They’re
8 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 9
™
Connecticut
HAS A VOICE!
VOICE
TURES
more diverse, more LGBTQ, more been minimally affected by the virus. was the beginning of the workshops that / COM MUN ITY / TRAVEL
/ FASHION / FOO
D / YOUTH /
HISTORY / FEA
E / HEALTH
challenging. It was natural refuge for Maynard. attracts about 30 people a year — now NEWS / CULTUR
CT VOICE has partnered with the
“They’re so sensitized now,” she Guatemala was a special and serene just women. In the absence of men, they
LGTBQ community to provide a
CON NECT ICUT VOIC
says of her classmates. “I was talking place for her since she visited decades tend to tell more intimate stories.”
CO
to a couple of young women the other earlier when she joined her daughter voice for all. Every voice is unique,
NN
While in quarantine there, she
EC
day and one of them was describing who was traveling there for Spanish finished her latest and perhaps most interesting, meaningful and
TI
TM
E
CU
a famous musician who came to Yale language instruction. ambitious novel — and one of her most important, and this publication has
T
to perform. She was assisting him and “I just intended to spend a few weeks personal, “Count the Ways” — which a duty and privilege to present
oh, the things he did. ‘Now he would with her but Guatemala had this heart-
have been Title IX-ed so fast,’ they
will be released in early summer, those voices.
grabbing effect on me. It was the first published by William Morrow. It
said [referring to the law protecting year I had no children at home and I
people from discrimination based on
follows a woman and her family from Each issue will bring you engaging,
rented a little house on the shores of
sex in education programs or activities Lake Atitlan which is surrounded by
the ’70s to present day, dealing with thought-provoking, and fun
receiving federal financial aid]. That’s marriage, parenthood, divorce and stories.
volcanoes. I wrote a novel that had
an expression that wasn’t around when changing times.
nothing to do with Guatemala but I
I was here.” felt very inspired. It’s one of the most
And because her life sometimes Follow us on Instagram,
Maynard is especially appreciative makes it ways into her writing, a book Facebook, Pinterest and LinkedIn.
extraordinary and beautiful places on
of the personal connections she’s made about her return to Yale is in the works
the planet.” We’d love to hear your thoughts
with many of her fellow students, most and is expected to be published next
year, marking the 50th anniversary of
and story ideas.
of them many decades her junior.
“I really love being around them and her Times essay.
they’re so sweet,” she says. “I host “I look back at the last four years, FOR ADVERTISING
many of them at my home here in an when I watched a man I adored die INFORMATION CONTACT
MONTTIH
informal writing group. They write and slowly and excruciatingly, and I could jim@seasonsmagazines.com
we talk about what they’ve written. I not have imagined I would be here CUT
IN CONNEC
sometimes get an email from a student now,” she says. “It gives me — and
who asks if we could have lunch and I know it would have given Jim —
SPRI NG 2021
they usually want to talk about their enormous pleasure that I made a good
writing and I just love that.” life.
“I love New Haven. I ride my bike
PANDEMIC RESET everywhere. I love the farmers’ markets.
Maynard’s Yale experience was I’m a country person basically, but this
upended last year when the pandemic city works for a small-town person. I
struck.
never think about retiring, but if I were
In March 2020 during spring break,
a retiring type I would much sooner see
Maynard was in the Mayan village of
myself here because there is so much
San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala
teaching her annual memoir writing At that same time, she learned she to take in and it’s so nourishing of the
workshop there for women. “Personal lost her savings due to a disreputable spirit.
storytelling has been a big part of my investment advisor — “and suddenly “I don’t ask myself where I am
life that I’ve been teaching for years.” I had nothing. So I put a notice on the going next but you know there was
With Yale shut down and people internet that I would be having a writing actually a house that was for sale on
quarantined around the globe, she and
several of the women decided to remain
workshop. I had to figure out some way Court Street and I thought, ‘Hmmm,’”
to do something. I housed them. I did she says laughing with a shrug, “But
www.CTVOICE.com
in Guatemala, which at that time had the cooking. I did everything. And that now these places cost a fortune.”
10 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 11
MEET
Setting the Stage
The Shubert’s New Leader Has a Clear,
Inclusive Vision for the Future
S
Written by CARA ROSNER / Photographed by STAN GODLEWSKI
ince taking over as the Shubert Theatre’s as we say. And then I would say my next two favorite
executive director in mid-March, Anthony shows are by the same artist, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and
McDonald has hit the ground running. When those would be In the Heights and Hamilton.
he’s not managing logistics for the “new All three of these shows I love for different reasons,
normal” when live audiences will return to whether it is the spectacle, the show, the voices of the
the theater or getting to know local performers and arts actors, the style of dance, including elements of hip-hop
leaders, he’s crafting his vision for the 100-plus-year- into the lyrics – they all are fun to watch and definitely
old Shubert – one that’s more inclusive, diverse and leave an impression.
accessible than ever before.
McDonald’s background is largely in theater Q: What excites you most about your new role
management. Most recently, he worked with the at the Shubert?
Nederlander Producing Co. of America at both the A: What excites me about the job and this position is
Minskoff Theatre and the Gershwin Theatre, home to
a sheer matter of opportunity. We have to grow our
Disney’s The Lion King and Wicked, respectively. He
audience base and really shake up how we’re perceived
has served as general manager, general management
in the community. I know we’ve probably been seen
consultant, and company manager for various Broadway
by some as a place that may only cater to a small
productions.
demographic of this community. And especially when
He brings a unique perspective to his role at the
you look at a lot of our past programming, it’s been really
Shubert, and recently took some time to discuss his vision
Broadway-centric. And even though I’m coming from
for the future.
the world of Broadway, I also know that Broadway isn’t
Q: What drew you to a career in theater? always something that connects with everyone.
A: Theater has been a part of my life now since about There’s so much more out there that we can also
sixth grade. What drew me to this world is really just my present and bring to our theater. As an organization we
love for the art. I grew up performing and around all the realize that we have to intentionally begin to shift our
different forms of the arts – vocal, instrumental, dance, programming model in order to gain the attention of the
and of course theater. whole community in New Haven. And it doesn’t mean
I also had really supportive parents who somewhat we’re going stop bringing our Broadway shows, but it
steered me, I would say, more into the business side of means we’re going to expand our programming and make
theater when I went to undergrad at Howard University. sure that we bring more diverse, more culturally specific
At the end of the day, though, of course I don’t mind; programming to our stage and, subsequently, to the
I have no complaints. I love what I do, and having this community.
platform now, I really look forward to just making some We as an organization understand that we can do better,
positive change in the community. we can be better. From the top down, everyone seems to
understand that if we don’t begin to really open up our
Q: What are some of your personal favorite doors and expand our audience base, and also just expand
shows to see live? what we’re known for doing, then we may not be here
A: I would say I have three favorite Broadway shows, for 10 or 20 years from now. We’ve got to make sure that
sure. Starting with the very first show I ever saw, which [everyone in the community] knows that we exist and
was Phantom of the Opera. My parents took me to see wants to come into our doors, wants to come and support
that show in sixth grade and that’s when I caught the bug, us because of what we’re bringing to that stage.
12 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 13
counterparts in the state, the other performing arts center
leaders. And as I’m relatively new, I’m still meeting artists
and other leaders within the community as well. I could be
working on how we roll out our season announcement, or
speaking with our amazing grant writer.
Every day is a little bit different and poses different
challenges but, thankfully, I really enjoy most of what I’m
doing and I really have no complaints. Everything is right
now kind of just geared towards [getting ready to have
live audiences again]. Preparing, rehiring a staff now to
be able to be ready for that moment where we can finally
see people smiling and excited and jittery from the fact
that it’s been probably a year and a half since they’ve been
able to sit in a theater and experience something live.
Q: What are you looking forward to about
working in New Haven?
A: There are quite a few things that I’m looking forward
to. One of them is supporting my new friend, Shelley
[Quiala], who’s the executive director at the International
Festival of Arts & Ideas, in addition to my other new
friend, Jacob [Padron], the artistic director at Long Wharf
Q: How has the theater adapted during the Theatre. I heard a lot of great things about Long Wharf
pandemic? before I even got to new Haven, so I’m really now looking
A: We did a lot more virtual programming than we ever forward to seeing the magic that he creates on that stage.
probably have done before. We also did a series where The entire theater community in New Haven has begun
we were getting local artists, more so the music genre, a transformation. It’s an interesting time to be, as one
and giving them a platform to once again perform for our would say, alive in New Haven – with our institutions, like
audience. I would say moving forward, when it comes to mine and Long Wharf and Arts & Ideas, having all this
our programming side, we are now definitely gearing back new blood, all these new fresh ideas. It’s a cool time to be
up to have a live audience once more. here and to just be a part of that wave.
Outside of programming, we’re trying to also figure out
ways to try to give back to the community [such as hosting Q: What are your goals for the Shubert,
recent COVID-19 pop-up vaccination clinics]. For me, it’s this year and beyond?
honestly just trying to figure out what else can we do as A: My hope for the Shubert Theatre is that we find a
an organization that can connect with this community that way to make our entire community feel welcomed, seen,
doesn’t always have to be some form of entertainment. heard, and appreciated. It’s making sure that we are
Something that I definitely do want to explore in always inviting everyone to see all of our shows, and not
the future is to see how we can make our theater making any assumptions on what may interest someone.
more accessible to the community, whether it’s from It also then means having some intentionality in our
a socioeconomic standpoint or it’s an able-body programming, making sure we’re not only presenting a
accessibility kind of issue, whether someone has pre- diverse set of productions – dance, comedy, music, theater
existing conditions now and doesn’t necessarily want to – but, within those worlds, we’re also finding diverse
take that chance of coming back into an audience or into a talent.
crowd. What else can we do to offer them an opportunity I also want to find ways to help our community-based
to still experience the magic of what we do? I don’t like artists gain access to our stage. If I could find a way to
the idea of just saying, ‘No, sorry, you can’t come.’ That’s help subsidize the costs, to allow them to showcase their
not okay. work on our stage more often, then we open up ourselves
to expanding our audience base and expanding the
Q: What’s a typical work day like for you? potential possibilities that may not have always been fully
A: How I start my day when I head to the office is usually realized or explored before. Without community support
driving in the car, because I’m actually currently in and generosity, we would not have been able to sustain
Stamford. So it’s driving up 95, listening to Joel Osteen on ourselves for over 100 years now, so now I just want to
XM radio and kind of starting my day in a positive way. make sure we find a way to inspire, invite and partner with
However, one day can consist of back-to-back meetings the next generation so that we will be around for another
with senior leadership, to my staff, to speaking with my 100 years.
14 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 15
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Connecticut, says, “It’s a fun outdoor activity that to kayak – as well as safety tips,
really brings families together.” information on etiquette, and more –
“We have a lot of reservations from big groups visit the Connecticut Department of
getting together with friends families and kids.” Energy and Environmental Protection
And a lot of gal pals. at portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Boating.
With beginners, she says, “We give them a
lesson how to paddle. No one has too much trouble
learning for the first time.” Part of the attraction,
she says, is that “anyone can learn how to do it; it’s
something we can just do instead of go learn.”
Chris Burke, who sells and rents kayaks at Indian
River Marine and Kayak in Clinton, thinks renting
is one of the best ways for anyone to get their feet
wet.
“It’s a wonderful way to get on the water,” Burke
says, and those who take to the sport can spend as
little as a few hundred dollars buying a used kayak.
He sells mostly new kayaks ranging in prices of
about $450 to over $3,000.
“There’s no maintenance to kayaks, you don’t
need a boat slip, you don’t need engines, you don’t
need mechanics, you don’t need a lot of the things
that are a hindrance to the average person to get on
the water,” Burke says.
Although Burke sells inflatable paddleboards, he
has a warning about inflatable kayaks, which are
not as rigid as paddlers might prefer on open water
such as Long Island Sound. Users of inflatables, he
says with a laugh, “get three workouts: one when
Sue Warner, who has owned you bring and inflate it, one when you paddle, and
Collinsville Canoe and Kayak with another when you try to get the air out of it.”
her husband Jon for 31 years. “With
the pandemic,” she says, “Kayaking
is more popular than ever.”
Cassandra Eilers of
West Hartford at a
Southington Paddle Sara Valleca of Roxbury, (on paddleboard,) leads a Southington Paddle
Meetup Group event Meetup Group event at Crescent Lake in Southington.
“I think it’s a combination of being “We had a tremendous interest all JOINING THE at Crescent Lake in
a perfect thing to do and being able through the winter. All the people who Southington.
to socially distance. People also had a couldn’t get a boat during last season
BOATING BUNCH
Unlike many outdoor sports,
greater appreciation for the outdoors decided to get them for themselves
recreational kayaking has a very small
after being cooped up in their houses early. We’ve had two groups Burke’s partner, Sarah Thompson, has some advice as well
learning curve as it doesn’t require
and realizing any outdoor activity was from Michigan, one from Indiana. — size is important, and linked to where you intend to kayak.
hours of lessons and practice to enjoy.
a safe thing to do,” says Sue Warner, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, “If you’re on the ocean you want at least a 12-footer. If you’re
And finding out if you like it is easy
the owner of Collinsville Canoe and Virginia and all parts of New England. sticking to ponds or lakes a 10-footer is fine,” she says.
and relatively inexpensive, with
Kayak for the past 31 years. We’ve had people drive 35 hours round Kayaks have been around for well over 4,000 years. The New
rental prices starting as low as $15
High demand meant a slow supply of trip to get a boat from us,” Warner World Encyclopedia says they were developed by indigenous
an hour along the coastline — from
kayaks, leaving outfitters scrambling to says. people primarily to hunt the rivers, lakes, and coastline of the
Stamford to Mystic — and inland at
help new enthusiasts. Warner only sells at the store or Arctic. They were made from animal skins stretched over frames
places like Scoot and Paddle on Lake
“We were able to get a decent delivers, and warns about having a usually made from whalebone (no trees in the Arctic).
Housatonic in Derby, or The Happiest
inventory but not nearly as much as kayak shipped. They’re just too easy to Contemporary kayaks haven’t strayed much from the original
Paddler on Lake Pocotopaug in East
we would have liked,” Warner says, damage along the way: “We’ve even designs, although they are no longer made from animal skins.
Hampton. And there are new places
adding that she remained busy even seen kayaks that have had forklifts go Fabric kayaks on wooden frames dominated the market up until
taking advantage of the sport’s rise in
through the off-season months. right through them.” the 1950s, when fiberglass boats were introduced. In 1973,
popularity.
rotomolded plastic kayaks first appeared. These boats, which are
18 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 19Brothers Michael Martin (left) of
Burlington and Nathan Martin
of Bristol kayak the Farmington
River after renting from
Collinsville Canoe and Kayak.
20 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 21Southington Paddle Kayak Meetup Group this
past April (you can find it on meetup.com).
THE GOLD STANDARD IN
She organizes group paddles for kayakers and
paddleboarders, a few times a month on weekend
mornings and weekday evenings.
MAGAZINE PUBLISHING
One of her recent attendees was Cassandra
Eilers of West Hartford.
“I used to row crew so I was always on the
water. I joined Meetup because I don’t have a
favorite place to kayak, and this is nice because Seasons Media congratulates our contributors for recently
you can find other people and connect,” Eilers winning the 2020 Excellence in Journalism awards from
says. “I like the tranquility of kayaking alone,
but I think the meetup group is great in terms of the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists
exploring new places. It’s nice to have a little bit
of both.”
Lisa Dostie Fitch, who has been renting kayaks Seasons Magazines contributors recently earned
to boaters for a little over five years at Quinnipiac the following 2020 Excellence in Journalism awards:
River Marina Kayak Rental in New Haven, favors Todd Fairchild: First Place, COVID-related photo
Lisa Dostie Fitch, owner kayaking on the Quinnipiac River. It’s a dynamic
of the Quinnipiac River area, where the fresh water of the river meets the Sean Wang: First Place, Editorial Cartoon
Marina in New Haven, salt water of Long Island Sound, she says. John Torsiello: First Place, Sports Feature
where she rents kayaks.
“It’s a perfect nursery for oyster beds,” she says,
“And it’s an historic area because the Quinnipiac Stan Godlewski: First Place, feature photo and
smaller, stronger, more resilient, and less expensive than [Native Americans] used to summer there.” Second Place, feature photo
those made of other materials, helped make kayaking the Kayakers can also beach their boats and walk the trails of the Matthew Dicks: First Place, Humorous Column
accessible and popular activity it is today. Fargeorge Nature Preserve, home to osprey, clapper rails,
herons, greater yellowlegs, and spotted sandpiper hawks, Tony Bacewicz: First Place, Photo Essay
GETTING YOUR FEET WET turtles, and deer and many others. Cara McDonough: Second Place, Education
For those just starting-out, some of the best ways to find “But you have to be aware of the currents and be aware
Reporting
new people and places for kayaking are meet-up groups of your surroundings,” says Dostie Fitch, who recommends
online. kayaking about four hours after high tide, particularly for Stacy Murray: Second Place, Page Layout
Sara Valleca of Roxbury loves the tranquility of kayaking beginners, to take advantage of the calmer water.
Winter Caplanson: Second Place, Photo Essay
and “being able to enjoy the outdoors and listen to the hum “You get to experience a different viewpoint of New
of all the nature that surrounds you.” Haven,” she says. “I believe it’s the best part of New Cindy Simoneau: Third Place, Arts and
Looking to find fellow paddlers, she started the Haven.” Entertainment Reporting
Connecticut Voice contributors recently earned
the following 2020 Excellence in Journalism awards:
Dawn Ennis: First Place, Video Storytelling and
Second Place, Video Storytelling
Jane Latus: First Place, Diversity Coverage
Carol Latter: First Place, In-Depth Reporting
Dawn Ennis: Third Place, Diversity Coverage
John Torsiello: Third Place, Sports Feature
Michael and Nathan Martin
on the Farmington River.
Visit seasonsmagazines.com
and ctvoice.com
22 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 23ARTS & CULTURE
Hula Dancing in Connecticut
A Polynesian Dance Studio Aims to Brings Deeper Meaning to Life
A
By ANNA ZUCKERMAN-VDOVENKO / Photos by EYE ON THE WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY
s residents of our New Englanders have found their great Through different artistic methods,
beautiful state of escape from routine in the embrace of Polynesians tell of creation and
Connecticut, we enjoy Polynesian dancing. history, and share reverence for their
New England life community. It is important to keep
mightily, but that doesn’t ISLAND STATE OF MIND in mind that the ancient Polynesians
mean we don’t long for a break from Whether a novice dancer or a originally came to settle there from
the mercurial weather and do-it-yourself professional, while engaging in thousands of miles over the seas,
lifestyle that is part of our proud culture Polynesian dance, one is privy to certain using just the stars and the currents to
here. thought processes born from life on navigate from other islands. They were
In fact, during certain times of year, some of the most beautiful islands in brave, determined, proud people with
we may often find ourselves fantasizing the world. Within the vast lasso among survival skills that allowed for voyages
about warm weather destinations. Easter Island (native name: Rapa Nui), across vast tracts of wild ocean. The
Suppress it as we may, who can resist New Zealand (Aotearoa), Marquesas dances born from these Indigenous
the notion of an escape from all that leaf Islands, Tahiti, and Hawaii, Polynesians peoples reflect their ancestral vitality
blowing, snow shovelling, and skidding have long sustained a breadth of and joy for life. The sheer mystical
on ice? different cultures, languages, dances, beauty of their islands and the reverence
Believe it or not, certain unique cosmologies, and ways of life. for their history has become infused
Some of the Kaiholunuie
hula dancers in their formal Jasmin (Pikake) expresses
and gracious Halau (studio) her love of hula in the
dress. Tahitian dance.
24 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 25Portrait of “Aunty” Kaye Colello as she watches her dancers perform.
within their dance.
And the dance has migrated to the Nutmeg State, too.
Kaiholunuie Polynesian Dance Company, based in
Wallingford, was founded in 2004 by Kekai (Kaye)
Colello, the company’s artistic director, who has more
than 45 years of Polynesian dance experience. An English
teacher by day, Colello began to teach Polynesian dance
out of her home as she completed graduate school, only
wanting to pass on the traditions of her Hula lineage that
had been bequeathed to her since childhood.
The name Kaiholunuie came to Colello in a dream. The
word “kai” – also embedded in her own given first name –
means “ocean.” To her, it symbolizes the esteemed ocean
adjacent to the land on which she played as a child. For
Colello, the Pacific Ocean is a grand and mysterious place
that ties the peoples of Oceania together.
At Kaiholunuie, students learn Hula – an art form
intrinsic to self-expression on the islands of Hawaii
and a sacred, physical expression of Hawaiian history,
genealogies, and stories that have both evolved and
remained constant throughout time. It is a dance
inextricably tied to the “Aloha,” a deep, emotional word
that has no English equivalent, but rather encompasses
an expanse of meanings surrounding love, compassion,
humility, and life. It is a testament to Indigenous
resiliency, tenacity, and strength.
Colello and her fellow instructors also teach dances
from throughout Polynesia, welcoming newcomers of all
backgrounds to learn and participate.
But the studio teaches more than dance, as students
often engage in workshops where they learn the skills
needed to assemble their own garments, create handmade
Gabby Colello lets the spirit
leis used in costuming, craft Pasifika musical instruments,
of the dance move her.
and engage in academic lessons on topics such as history.
Why is this important? As New Englander Henry David
Thoreau once said, “in wildness is the preservation of
the world.” But it seems even more accurate to state: “In
wildness and culture is the preservation of the world.” If
we should lose such places and ancient customs that give
life meaning, we stand on a tragic precipice where we no
26 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 27proffering many Polynesian numbers determination to convert Indigenous American businessmen supported by the Even the Hawaiian language is
to entertain their audiences, just as people to their way of thinking. At the U.S. military who happened to be there practiced at the Kaiholunuie studio.
they might at a celebration on the Big time, they believed Hula was far too rife at the time. Subsequently, the rights of Colello’s outreach preserves what is
Island. with alluring movements that horrified the local Hawaiian populace were taken precious, sharing the complexities of
Colello says in the beginning, them and seemed despicable. Over the away. Hula lovingly with others, even those
she had no plans to create a dance years following, Hula nearly died out as Liliu’okalani wrote famous anthems with no connection to Polynesian
company. She simply wanted to a result. and songs that became a part of the ethnicity.
bring people together and teach them But in time, Hula experienced lexicon used in ceremonies and in As Colello has often said: “There is a
to dance. However, over the years, a revival and Hawaiian language modern Hula. This talented leader fine line between cultural appropriation
through word of mouth and love of gradually resurfaced in education. was jailed in her own home and and cultural appreciation.” No one
the dance, her classes grew into a Learning Hawaiian is popular at the subsequently tried in Honolulu for walks that line more gracefully than she
thriving business. Her studio is now University of Hawaii and is now given treason against the new regime that does.
home to a blossoming multicultural its due as a true reaffirmation of joy. had stolen her country from her. Perhaps best of all, Hula allows her
group of adults, young people, and This cultural renaissance speaks truth to Washington, D.C. did nothing to students to feel empowerment through
keiki (children) who join each other as the mind and heart. support the overthrown queen. The movements, centuries old. Undeniably,
extended family to learn the different Many people don’t realize that Hawaiians were ill-treated and stripped there is a newfound, burgeoning
forms of Polynesian dance. Hawaii was once a great Kingdom, of their lands. Ongoing work of awareness of how special and necessary
Christi Colello She hopes her students will become united by brave chiefs who fought activists, educators, and scholars has are the customs of Indigenous peoples
more globally aware of the many tooth and nail to unite the warring kept the last queen’s quest to recognize throughout the world.
beautiful cultures, traditions, values, tribes that immigrated there on double- the monarchy alive. Kaiholunuie steadfastly maintains
and belief systems that makes the hulled canoes from thousands of miles New England missionaries from the a commitment to authenticity as its
world an invaluable classroom to away. Before the missionaries and early 19th century spawned their own instructors strive to be inclusive to all
longer comprehend our meaningful tell a story of the song, a complex explore. colonization, Hawaiians were living in breed of cancel culture, putting the those who seek deeper knowledge of
place in existence. So, it might not be language that becomes second nature to a paradise free of disease, with plentiful kibosh on all things Hula. So it seems Polynesian culture and share in Aloha.
all that surprising that New Englanders those who study the art form. Gestures OVERCOMING HISTORICAL food and a proud artistic heritage. only fitting that here in Connecticut, the For more information about
who can appreciate that sentiment may depict various subjects described STRUGGLES Hawaii’s last queen, Liliu’okalani, art of Hula is being practiced, preserved, classes or performance bookings,
would embrace a Polynesian dance in a song: for example, movement It was the 19th century missionaries was overthrown by aggressive and given the respect it deserves. visit Kaiholunuie.com.
company thousands of miles from of the ocean, swimming fish, falling from New England who were squarely
Oceania. rain, emotions of love and attraction, responsible for putting a stop to this art
colorful flowers, and beautiful birds. of dance, which shocked and offended
“AUNTY KAYE” Tahitian dance for women is them.
Colello, as lead instructor at notoriously fast and can be extremely Henry Opukaha’ia was a young
Kaiholunuie, is respectfully known difficult to master. Simply put, merchant sailor from Hawaii who
to all her students as “Aunty Kaye.” the women’s dances of Tahiti are landed in a missionary school based in
She is a fount of knowledge pertaining an ebullient, joyful, jaw-dropping Cornwall, Connecticut. He converted
to cultures that spawned a myriad of performance that can only be quantified to Christianity and told students of
dance styles, each one significant to the as a highly respectable celebration of the faraway land where people lived
islands from whence they come. culture. The lilting, lyrical Hawaiian so differently. Inspired by his faith,
Her particular love of Hula since Hula is perhaps best known to those of he and others made plans to go on a
youth always remained deep in her us on the mainland; it is an expression mission back to Hawaii in order to
heart like an ember, reminding her of beauty in which every poetic convert his Hawaiian community, but
of all the life lessons she had learned movement concurrently illustrates a he died in his mid-20s, before he could
from her Kumu Hula (or master word, a thought, and a feeling. accomplish his goal.
Hula teacher). Those lessons are You might ask, why would any Others from his coterie, who later
grace, humbleness, light, and most New Englander want to participate in lived in Massachusetts, sailed to
importantly, Aloha. Today, Hula is Polynesian dancing? What relevance Hawaii in his stead. Hundreds of
once again central in her life, and could this form of dance possibly have whaling vessels based in Nantucket
the joy of sharing it with others is to a Connecticut resident? and New Bedford, Massachusetts, also
something she is so grateful for. Traditional dance is replete with made the long trip to Hawaii around
Aunty Kaye imparts her own meaning and allows the participant Cape Horn into the Pacific annually.
handcrafted, encyclopaedic information to focus on artistic movements that Sailors accidentally brought unfamiliar
to her students, who hang upon every resonate within the body – gestures that diseases to Hawaii, tragically causing
word she utters. She is such a talent have lasted for centuries. At Aunty some Indigenous populations to
that often she brings her audiences to Kaye’s dance studio, the sacred magic plummet by nearly 90 percent.
tears just from watching her expressive of Oceania is always waiting for her As the strict missionaries settled the Hula tells stories of history,
“lovely Hula hands.” students – real and tangible. islands and began to colonize, they emotion and cultural pride.
The dances of Polynesia are as Kaiholunuie dancers perform all over were determined to blot out certain
various as the countless scores of New England – at festivals, schools, aspects of the culture that seemed
islands themselves. Hand movements private parties and public events – at cross-purposes with their own
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A New Era for Brain Care
W
By ALIX BOYLE / Photography courtesy of UConn Health
hen Dr. John Greenfield joined in stroke care. That means that most patients who come in
the UConn Health Department of with acute stroke get tPA (tissue plasminogen activator, the
Neurology in 2016, the treatment clot-busting drug) within 60 minutes of arrival. Being fast is
options for acute stroke were limited. important, since the longer you wait before treating a stroke,
UConn could provide a clot-busting the more brain cells you are losing. Getting the award means
drug to appropriate patients, but did that the system of stroke care works really well, since a lot
not have treatments to offer if you arrived more than a few of things have to happen quickly. We’re also certified by
hours after your stroke or had bleeding into the brain. Now, The Joint Commission (a patient safety organization) as a
the UConn stroke team includes interventionalists who guide Primary Stroke Center, which means we meet their criteria
catheter tubes into brain arteries to pull out blood clots, and for providing high-quality stroke care. We now have a great
neurointensivists who manage severe brain hemorrhages. reputation, and the ambulance services and EMTs know that
Patients can get state-of-the-art care right in their own patients will do best if they are treated at a hospital like ours,
backyard. so the number of stroke patients we see goes up every year.
Neurologists treat an enormous variety of diseases of the Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the country. We
brain, nerves, and muscles. Stroke, Parkinson’s disease, see strokes in patients of all ages, but the norm is people in
epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis their 50s through 80s and
are all very different, and higher. We have given tPA
each of these conditions is to people in their 90s, and A PHYSICIAN WITH 30
best managed by a neurologist they do quite well. YEARS EXPERIENCE: Dr. John
Greenfield gives patients state-
with advanced training in that of-the-art care and access to
specific area. UConn Health has Q: WHAT HAPPENS the most advanced treatments
developed programs directed in neurology. Photo by Tina
WHEN A STROKE Encarnacion, UConn Health
by subspecialty-trained experts PATIENT ARRIVES AT
to treat all of these diseases and UCONN?
more. A. First, patients have a CT
“When I went into neurology scan to make sure there is
30 years ago, it had an no hemorrhage. We find out
undeserved reputation as a field when the symptoms came STROKE CENTER: Dr. Sanjay
where you could diagnose a on, and if there are any Mittal (left) is medical director
of the UConn Health Stroke
huge variety of diseases and contraindications, like if Center, and Jennifer Sposito
Dr. John Greenfield (right), chair of the UConn Health Department
not treat any of them,” said of Neurology, consults with Dr. Jaime Imitola, medical director of the patient has had surgery (right) is its clinical program
Greenfield, who is an expert in UConn Health’s Multiple Sclerosis Center. Photo by Tina Encarnacion, recently or is on a blood- coordinator.
epilepsy and chair of neurology UConn Health thinning drug. The tPA is (Note, this photo was taken
at UConn Health. “The tag line an enzyme that basically before universal masking in
was ‘diagnose and adios.’ Now, we have effective treatments health care settings).
chews up blood clots. If you don’t give it early enough,
for almost all of these conditions. It’s an exciting time the part of the brain affected by the clot can’t be saved, and Photo by Kristin Wallace,
to be a neurologist, with the tremendous advances in our there’s also a risk that tPA can cause a hemorrhage. We UConn Health
understanding of the brain and its diseases. We have so many have a window of 4½ hours from when the patient was last
more treatments than we had 20 or 30 years ago.” seen well. We get a CT angiogram to image the arteries in
Greenfield outlined the growth of neurology services at the neck and brain to see if there is a clot blocking the flow.
UConn Health in a recent interview. There is also CT perfusion scan that looks at blood flow to
the brain. Dye is injected into the blood stream to image the
Q. CAN YOU SAY MORE ABOUT blood vessels and how quickly blood gets into the brain. We
THE STROKE PROGRAM? use an artificial intelligence software called RAPID/AI that
A. It started in 2013 after we recruited Dr. Sanjay Mittal can help us interpret the blood flow in the brain to see if the
from Geisinger. He had built the stroke program there and patient is a candidate for intervention. The software analyzes
knew how to bring together the people and resources at the flow and color-codes how long it takes the blood to get
UConn to make it work like a well-oiled machine. We have there. Green is the savable area that gets blood late but is still
improved over the years how quickly patients get access to alive, and red is the dead area where there is no blood flow,
clot-busting drugs. This year, we received the American Heart that won’t survive. If the green area that shows brain that can
Association’s “Get with the Guidelines” award for excellence be saved is big enough, and there is a clot that is reachable
32 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 33You can also read
