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Hello Andrea,
The Houston dance community ends the 2009 year with a
rush of events just before the holidays. The year has been
a great success; all shows presented have been received
with enthusiasm and great acclaim, so read on to find out
the latest news about dance in Houston!
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Amahl and the Night Visitors |
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Sandra Organ Dance Company presents "Amahl and the
Night Visitors," a charming tale that is sure to
capture your heart this Christmas season. Originally
adapted from an English opera written by Gian Carlo
Menotti in 1951, James Sewell ingeniously
choreographed this ballet to incorporate American Sign
Language. For one weekend only, the cast of "Amahl and
the Night Visitors" will perform this beautiful,
multifaceted ballet that is a favorite of the entire
Houston community.
Dance Houston's Allison Truax will be performing the
role of Amahl's mother on December 19 at 2:30pm and
December 20 at 7:30pm.
Performance Information
Amahl and the Night Visitors
Sandra Organ Dance Company
Zikha Hall
Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
December 19 & 20- 2:30 & 7:30
Tickets start at $22
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The Houston Symphony Celebrates the Holidays with
Special Guest Dance Performers |
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The Houston Symphony's Very Merry Pops concert
features two of our favorite dance companies, Dance of
Asian America and Revolve Dance Company. They will
perform several pieces at Jones Hall accompanied by
the full Symphony and Houston Symphony Chorus. Also on
the bill is pop piano sensation William Joseph who was
recently featured on a PBS special with Michael Buble
and Josh Groban. Sounds like a fun and festive night!
Performance Information
Very Merry Pops
Houston Symphony
Jones Hall
December 11 & 12 - 8:00pm
December 13 - 2:30pm & 7:30pm
Tickets start at $29
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Bellas Danzas, A Fun-Filled Evening of Dance |
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On November 14, we hosted a community dance festival
at Ripley House on the East End. Over 100 dancers
performed various styles of Latin dance to a packed
house of 500 people. The evening kicked off with a
dinner party catered by My Fit Foods and accompanied
by Solero Flamenco music and dancing. It was a
beautiful night, and outside the cafeteria windows
dozens of children participated in a sidewalk art
project led by artist Matt Manalo. Inside, the artwork
of East End Artist Jesse Sifuentes covered the walls,
making the neighborhood center feel warm and festive.
In presenting lots of fun, new groups, we expected
nothing less than a great show full of energy and
surprise and that's exactly what we got!! Standout
performances were given by Argentina Tango Club and
Mexico en Danzas Grupo Folklorico. There were several
exciting hip hop and salsa dance groups, and Kucheza
led the children in the audience through the
Afro-Caribbean favorite dance, the limbo. Once they
were out of their seats, the audience never really sat
back down. They danced in the aisles and around the
room. Dance Houston's staff also strutted their
stuff--Allie in a jazz solo to Enrique Iglesias's "Escapar"
(pictured above), and Andrea in a rumba to Luis
Miguel's "Sabor a Mi". The show closed with an awesome
ballet folklorico piece performed by Compania Alegria
Ballet Folklorica.
We believe that dance is a highly versatile form of
art that can be about many different things like
culture, creativity, spirituality, and community.
Bellas Danzas was an evening of that brought together
the community in celebration of Latin culture, and it
was enjoyed by everyone who watched it, danced in it,
and danced in the aisles while they watched it!
Read more about Bellas Danzas at our blog
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Revolve Dance Company's Fall Mosaic |
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On November 20 and 21, 2009, Revolve Dance Company
took the stage at Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex
for yet another astounding showcase of beautifully
crafted choreography and breathtaking technique. Along
side Uptown Dance Company and Ad Deum, Revolve
performed new works choreographed by Amy Cain, Dawn
Dippel, and Billy King .Amongst them, a crowd favorite
seemed to be Dawn Dippel's "Synchronicity" that closed
the first act. This exciting, fast-paced piece caught
the audience's attention and left them wanting more.
It was an all around great performance, with out a
dull moment. Thanks for a fun night Revolve!
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Travesty Dance Company's The REcycle Club |
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Travesty Dance Company hosted their new show "The
Recycle Club" at Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex on
November 7. Choreographer Karen Stokes proved her
genius yet again with the clever theme of recycling.
The performance incorporated not only the works of
previous artist, but the audience as well. All
together, the performance was engaging and deep,
letting the audience dance through a completely new
and original experience.
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Our Christmas Wish List |
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We've been so good this year!! We coordinated huge
festivals, free community events, summer camps, and
school programs. We also pitched in on a national
dance convention and worked with casting agents to
help get Houston dancers on popular TV shows. As we
continue expanding to serve our community in new and
exciting ways, we'd like to ask you for your help and
cheer this Christmas. Any gifts or cards would be so
very much appreciated! Here's an idea of the kinds of
things we're hoping for:
- Subscription to Dance Spirit Magazine
- DVDs: Step Up, Dirty Dancing, Take the Lead,
Save the Last Dance, Center Stage
- Digital Camera
- Desk Chairs (3)
- P.C. or Laptop
- Financial gifts for camp scholarships (donate
here)
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Dance Houston Inspires HISD Students through Dance
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Dance Houston finished November with a bang from our
dance education programs! A lively group of 6th
graders at Jackson Middle School performed a salsa
piece choreographed by Adderly "AD" Montante at a
school pep rally. After six weeks of rehearsal, the
students were confident enough in their salsa skills
to get up on stage and show their peers what they
learned. The performance was amazing and their friends
happily cheered them on as they danced. A huge round
of applause to our brave 6th graders and our awesome
choreographer, AD!
The in-school program described here is one of many
that Dance Houston is proud to call our own. After
recently being approved as an HISD vendor, we have
been excited to spread the word! The kids who
participated in our program last semester at Jackson
Middle School reported that they had fun, learned a
lot, and looked forward to going to school more on the
days when they had dance class. That's the spirit!
If you are interested in having Dance Houston visit
your school and teach dance in-school, after-school,
through interactive videos or teach dance workshops
please give us a call at 713-526-1049.
Learn More |
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