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Three performances this weekend, Oct. 22-24. (Photo Courtesy of Ed Flores)

Addictive and thought provoking, SHARP Dance Company‘s ten dancers will premiere five new pieces including “Blind Faith” with co-choreographer and Parsons Dance Company member, Steven Vaughn.

Among SHARP’s pieces in this performance you will see collaborations with various artists such as: composer Jason Andrew and Costume Designer Brian Strachan to connect their artistry with dance. The show was recently selected as an “Art’s Pick” for the Philadelphia City Paper.

SHARP brings together a company of strong dancers to perform work with a new vision. Their mission is to translate raw human emotion utilizing contemporary movement to connect the audience through individual interpretation. 

This five-year-old Philadelphia-based modern company feels that dance should be an experience with “meaning behind movement.”

Come enjoy an evening of kinetic energy and modern dance with SHARP.

Times:
Friday, October 22nd @ 8 pm
Saturday, October 23rd @ 8 pm
Sunday, October 24th @ 3 pm

Location:
The Jeanne Ruddy Performance Garage
1515 Brandywine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130

Buy Tickets

Sharp Dance [Official Website]

Ballet X's Open Rehearsal, Photo by Bill Hebert

Now celebrating their 5th year, Ballet X will unite three unique performances to create the 2010 Summer Series. Last Thursday evening BalletX hosted an open rehearsal at The Wilma Theater with dances from “Journey of the Day”, “Risk of Flight”, and “The Last Glass”. I was able to get an inside look and witness the dancers up close.

The choreography represents an array of emotions through elegance and refined technique. The combination of soft cello music and up-beat folk tunes radically reveals the intentions of each choreographer. Comprised of ten charismatic dancers, Ballet X features each performer within his/her own spotlight, while the duets harmonize to interpret the inspiration behind a story.

Ballet X's Open Rehearsal, Photo by Bill Hebert

Opening the Summer Series 2010 will be the World premiere of “Journey of the Day” choreographed by Matthew Prescott, who will also be dancing in two other works. “Journey of the Day” is inspired by the Appalachian Journey album, with its hauntingly beautiful songs.

“Risk of Flight” by Adam Hougland will be returning to the stage since November 2007, described by critics as “staggeringly beautiful”.

Inspired by the wild street-parade rhythms of the indie-rock band Beirut, Matthew Neenan’s powerfully graceful performance titled “The Last Glass” uses free-flowing movements to celebrate relationships and raises a toast to falling in love. This performance will uplift your spirits and keep you intrigued with unique twists and energetic ensemble dancing.

I was truly captivated by this glimpse of Summer Series 2010 and was left wanting more. Can’t wait for tomorrow!

The Wilma Theatre
265 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 546-7824
www.wilmatheater.org

Last Year's Global Grooves @ the Kimmel Center

Starting this Thursday, July 15th, the Kimmel Center’s Global Grooves returns for another Summer of shaking it up in the Perelman Theater.

These world music dance parties go down every Thursday night through the end of the month, on the 15th, 22nd, and the 29th.

The Kimmel is dishing out a rather diverse and eclectic line up this year, from Sarazino’s “blend of Latin pop, reggae, funk, African, French and Arabic music” to Bomba Estéreo’s psychedelic cumbia, which mixes folk sounds with contemporary splashes of electronica, reggae, and hip-hop. For more information on the artists performing, visit the official Global Grooves page on the Kimmel Center’s website.

Tickets are $20 for each show, and can be purchased online or at the Kimmel Center’s box office.

The Kimmel Center
260 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 790-5800
www.kimmelcenter.org

Last Year's Gala in the Arboretum's Rose Garden

Next Friday, the Morris Arboretum has an evening of enchantment planned, and they want you to join them.

It’s time for the annual Moonlight & Roses fundraising gala in the Arboretum’s beautiful Rose Garden. All funds raised from the evening support the Garden’s Summer Concert Series, which returns this Summer for four Thursday night concerts; two in July and two in August.

The gala starts at 6pm with cocktails and a fancy hors d’oeuvre buffet for guests, followed by dinner. Reservations are required and space is limited. For more information, visit the Arboretum’s official website.

Blogger Sean Kennedy went to the Arboretum not too long ago. Check out some of his photos, here.

Morris Arboretum
100 Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118
(215) 247-5777
www.morrisarboretum.org

Feel like letting loose during the week? Check out Brasil’s, a Latin nightclub in Old City.

Every Wednesday, those with dance fever can learn sexy salsa moves taught by La Luna Dance Studio. The lessons, which go from 9pm – 10:30pm, cover basic steps, turns and partner dances. It’s a great way to break the ice and meet new people— partners are changed every few minutes through a circle rotation. And the cover is only $5!

No need to worry about your dance expertise, people of all skill levels crowd the floor for beginner-based instruction. In the diverse crowd you’ll find couples, friends, singles and dance enthusiasts, all just there to have a great time.

After the lessons are over, guests can show off new moves to hot Latin music on the dance floor or head over to the bar and refresh with one of many drink specials.

Wednesday night specials include $3 tequila shots and $4 margaritas. The bar also offers $3 Coronas every night before 11pm.

So go shake it up!

Brasil’s Nightclub and Restaurant
112 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3009
(215) 413-1700
www.brasilsnightclub-philly.com

Photography courtesy BalletX, Photo By Bill Hebert (BHPhotos)

Watching a dance performance is all well and good (especially if it’s by BalletX), but have you ever wondered what actually goes into the creation of a piece? Now you can find out. In conjunction with their Spring Series, which runs April 14th through 18th, BalletX is hosting a free lecture and demonstration that will take you inside the dancers’ heads.

You’ll get a sneak peak at how choreographers invent their moves and how dancers perfect and memorize their steps. The presentation won’t be over the heads of the kiddies – in fact, it’s aimed at all ages, and specially created to give youth some unique perspective and first-hand insight into what goes into being a professional dancer.

So if there’s an enthusiastic aspiring dancer in your life – or if you’re just curious (and trust me, after watching the show you will be) – check out this event. It takes place at the Wilma Theatre on Sunday, April 18th, a couple of hours before their final performance.

It’s free, but space is limited since it’s interactive, so make sure to reserve a spot! Email publicity[at]balletx.org with the subject line “Lecture reservation.”

Inside the Mind of a Dancer
Sunday, April 18, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

The Wilma Theatre
265 South Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 546-7824
www.wilmatheater.org

Danse4Nia In the Studio, Photo courtesy Danse4Nia

Next Sunday, the Painted Bride Art Center is hosting the Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble’s annual benefit performance, Danse for the Cure. This year, proceeds will support awareness and research for HIV/AIDS, with Philadelphia’s BEBASHI as the chosen benefactor.

Along with Danse4Nia, performers include Nia-Next, Smoke, the Lilies & Jade Arts Initiative, and Pittsburg’s Dance Alloy. Tickets to this year’s event are $25.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Painted Bride’s official website.

“Danse” for the Cure @ the PBAC
March 28th, 2010, 5pm

Painted Bride Art Center
230 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-9914
www.paintedbride.org

Photo by Chris Kendig (chriskendig.com)

Gentle, yet intense. Effortless, yet deliberate. Fluid, yet at times, intricate. Warm, steamy, intoxicating. Familiar. Dance with a good Blues dancer and You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman will play in your head as you swoon back to your seat.

Jesse Young, Carsie Blanton, Cheryl Caraan, and Jon Darvill founded Lindy and Blues – affectionately known as LaB – in 2007. The organization’s lessons and dances have been a popular destination for swing and blues dancers alike ever since. In addition to seasoned dancers, the events attract an ever-growing number of new dancers eager to learn more about these intriguing partner dances that originally gained popularity between the early 1900′s and 1930′s.

I found out about LaB while walking through Rittenhouse Square one Sunday and stumbling on a group of people swing dancing merrily away. I stopped to watch and was pretty impressed. They clapped, hollered, swung and hopped, somehow managing to look totally cool doing dance steps that seemed just as relevant today as they were 100 years ago. I picked up a flier and eventually found my way to the Tuesday night dance. Every Tuesday night, LaB holds a one hour beginner lesson starting at 8pm, followed by a three hour dance. The entry fee is $5, and they alternate between Lindy Hop and Blues each week.

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Photo by Weiferd Watts

Philadelphia is known for many things: sports teams, cheese steaks, the Liberty Bell. Few though, might recognize Philly as a city with a rich dance history, focused on strengthening local talent, young and old.

Philadelphia Dance Projects hopes to change that with its four-week celebration PDP Presents 2010. Started in 1993 as a three-year mentoring project, Philadelphia Dance Projects now presents performances, workshops and even film screenings as part of the contemporary dance series.

With most of the events taking place Friday through Sunday, the schedule is worker-friendly and has a little something for everyone. And with three different venues (The Performance Garage, Temple’s Conwell Dance Theater, and the International House at Penn), one of the shows shouldn’t be too far from home.

Notable performers include Ishmael Houston-Jones, who has choreographed shows at such notable venues as the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the L.A. Festival of the Arts, and Terry Fox, who, by hosting many workshops and classes, has had a major impact on promoting contemporary dance here in Philadelphia.

In addition to the numerous live performances, PDP Presents 2010 blends live art and film with screenings on March 4th at the International House. The Annual Shorts Program will combine some of the most animated and clever short dance videos from around the globe, chosen from the 2010 Dance on Camera Festival at Lincoln Center in New York.

If you aren’t sure that dance if your thing, trust me, you won’t be disappointed by the strength and athleticism of these artists.

Philadelphia Dance Projects Presents 2010
February 26 – March 20, 2010
Various venues and times, $8 – $20
www.philadanceprojects.org

The Pennsylvania Ballet, Photo courtesy MANNA

Since 1993, the Pennsylvania Ballet has been raising funds for Philadelphia’s MANNA. With parties before and after the performance, this year’s Shut Up & Dance! is shaping up to be one fantastic evening of fundraising and dance.

This one-night-only performance by the PA Ballet takes place on March 20th, 2010. Tickets range from $35 for balcony seats to $200 for premium seating. Every ticket purchase to Shut Up & Dance provides more than 20 meals to MANNA clients.

As for the parties, the first kicks off at 6pm at the Forrest Theatre; a fancy cocktail party for those with premium seating. Everyone is invited to the after-party at Voyeur Night Club though, with DJ Robert Drake from WXPN spinning. It’s free with your ticket stub.

For more information on Shut Up & Dance! be sure to visit their official website. Check them out, and support a good cause.

Shut Up & Dance!
March 20th, 2010
www.mannapa.org/mannaevents/shutupanddance