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WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES JUNE 8, 2017 21 Jennifer Vanilla Live at The Windjammer in Ridgewood BY ANTHONY GIUDICE [email protected] @A_GIUDICEREPORT  A performance artist from Ridgewood brought her alter ego to the stage at The Windjammer on Tuesday, June 6, for a night full of art, poetry, performance, and most of all, inclusiveness. Becca Kauff man moved to New York from Boston nine years ago to be a jazz singer. Since that time, Kauff man has toured cities in the U.S. and Europe with her band Ava Luna. Three years ago she moved to Ridgewood and began working on her very fi rst solo project. That project became Jennifer Vanilla — an alter ego she created to help bring a sense of community and connection to the many diff erent people of New York. “I feel like it’s so hard to fi nd your place and arrive somewhere you feel like you belong,” Kauff man said. “I created the world of Jennifer because I wanted to create a place where Jennifer belonged undoubtedly. But it’s a very inclusive environment, and it’s like everyone is a Jennifer … it’s like the best version of you, and her attitude is meant to bring that out in people, even for a moment when you’re having an experience at a show.” A Jennifer Vanilla experience — as Kauff man likes to call them — involves a lot of house and dance music, with a fi tness and self-improvement aspect and a hint of 90s aerobic video vibes. For the fourth time, Kauffman brought Jennifer Vanilla to The Windjammer for her “Jennifer Vanilla Live at the Bar” performance. Joining Jennifer Vanilla on stage was erotic poet and DIY artist Alaina Stamatis; painter and writer Annie Bielski; and acclaimed interactive sculpture performance artist duo Poncili Creación closed out the show. Throughout the night Jennifer Vanilla donned her shoulder-padded suit jacket and acted as the show’s host, much like a late night talk show host from the 90s, and interviewed the artists aft er their performances. At her previous “Jennifer Vanilla Live at the Bar” performances, Kauff - man would hold it right near the bar. This time, however, the show took place on the stage in the back room at The Windjammer, allowing for more room and a bigger audience. Kauff man loves to see a wide variety of diff erent people enjoying the show where everyone, old residents of the neighborhood and newer ones, can “feel comfortable and happy.” “The neighborhood is changing and I recognize that and know that I’m part of that change,” Kauff man said. “But I come here with the utmost respect and gratefulness for the environment that exists now and I don’t seek to change that. Jennifer is a people person and I am interested in doing the best I can to help bridge the gap between older and newer generations of residents here … I really just want to hopefully plant a seed of community here.” BUZZ Photo courtesy of Walter Wlodarczyk Becca Kauff man brought Jennifer Vanilla to The Windjammer in Ridgewood on Tuesday night M.V. students celebrate the ‘Roaring Twenties’ Christ the King High School students gathered in their glamorous “Roaring 20’s” attire at the culmination of Ms. Mayer-Foley’s English class reading of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Photo courtesy of Christ the King Regional High School “The Great Gatsby.” Students reenacted the time period through creating news reports, research documentaries, and performing songs and dances from the era.


RT06082017
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