The countdown is on for Vida del Baile Latin Dance Festival! Just four days remain to get your tickets and get downtown for a magical evening of dance and celebration. With something for everyone, this highly anticipated concert is a wonderful way to spend Cinco de Mayo with family and friends.

The lineup is (in show order): Compañia Folklórica Alegria Mexicana, Houston Salsa Dancers, Sandra Organ, Barbara King Dance Company, The 8th Edition, Brazilian Arts Foundation, Alegria Dance & Performing Arts Center, Del Espadin Baile Espanol, Luna Tango Productions, Strictly Street Salsa, Sabor Mexico Theatrical Dance Company (Danzarts) & MECA Ballet Folklorico.

Doors open at 6:00pm with performances by Sabor Mexico and MECA Mariachi in the grand foyer where you can enjoy dinner and drinks. Performances in the Wortham Center's Cullen Theater begin at 7:00pm. Dress is snappy casual.

Tickets are on sale now through our website and on the telephone at 713-526-1049. We recommend you reserve your tickets in advance.

Photo: Sabor Mexico Theatrical Dance Company (Danzarts) by Les Campbell

This weekend marks the third installment to Dominic Walsh's The Trilogy: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, at The Hobby Center's Zilkha Hall.

Domenic Walsh's Dance Theater collaborates with Sarasota Ballet, directed by Iain Webb, to create a truly beautiful performance. Walsh's trademark is innovative choreography, fresh movements, and beautiful costumes. These elements unite splendidly in the artistry and energy of the beautiful dancers of the Sarasota Ballet to create an elegant, emotionally engaging work that climaxes in the last act with all the pieces coming together, with the aid of great visual cues on the stage.

This performance is a must-see for contemporary dance patrons.

Performance Information
April 30 - May 2, 7:30pm
Hobby Center/Zilkha Hall
Tickets: $23.25, $36.25, $48.25, and $81.25, online or at 713-315-2525

Photo by Frank Atura.

Featuring a dynamic blend of dance styles including jazz and contemporary dance, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company presents Mixing it up. True to the Houston Met's core values, this performance features new works by internationally renowned and emerging choreographers while nurturing the creative talent from within the company.

The new works on the performance bill include Chambre Noir by Nina Bussion; Imbalanced, Detrimental, Overbearing Thoughts by Houston Met Resident Choreographer Kiki Lucas; and Not Yet Soaring (still confronting the ground) by Houston Met Too Director Jhon R. Stronks.

Internationally renowned French choreographer Nina Bussion took the foundation of a recent work, Chambre Noir, and expanded it for Houston Met. Originally a duet created for her company Nina Buisson Contemporary Move, added a second and third act for the company that highlights its soaring, athletic and technically precise style.

Performance Information:
Cullen Theater, Wortham Center
Friday, May 1, 2009 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $10 to $35 on-line at
www.houstonmetdance.org or call (713) 522- 6375

Photo by dGarson.

East and West will collide in brilliant harmony on May 30th, at The Miller Outdoor Theater.

Dance of Asian America, led by Director Janie Yao, will present all new, authentic, award-winning choreography from China. The evening's performances range from classical to cutting-edge contemporary. Many of the dances are inspired by nature, portraying a painted sky, willows in the wind, and blossoms in the rain. The presentation of Eastern dances will also include top dancers from Chinatown's Mitsi Dancing School in new choreography from the heart of China.

Representing the West are four of our favorite local dance companies. Revolve Dance Company, led by Directors Amy Cain and Dawn Dippel, will present two dazzling pieces. Ad Deum Dance Company will perform Prophet, choreographed by Steve Rooks of Martha Graham Dance Company. Set in classic Graham style, this piece is Rooks' memorial to his work with Martha Graham. Barbara King Dance Company will present an electrifying medley of Latin ballroom dances. Rounding things out for the West is Wyld Styl with their mesmerizing blend of hip hop and popping.

This exciting evening in the park will be fun for the whole family.

Performance Information:
Location: Miller Outdoor Theater
Concerts: Saturday, May 30 - 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Free!
More Info: www.danceaa.org or danceaa@gmail.com

On April 9, 10 and 11, 2009, the Dance Salad Festival was presented at the Wortham Center's Cullen Theater. This spectacular show presented a vast array of talented artists from across the globe. Over the three day span of the show, the eight companies were represented, each performing twice. Every night six companies took the stage, making each night slightly different than the last.

Since 1992, Nancy Henderek has brought the best and the brightest dancers from around the world to Houston. The 3 day, nearly sold out event kept dance critics on their toes, and audiences enchanted by arguable the best ever Dance Salad Festival yet. A rich, diverse community of world class dancers provided a great variety, and beautifully choreographed, pieces, that has made the Festival an absolute favorite among us.

Choreographers and dancers presented were David Dawson and Hans van Manen from English National Ballet (London, England), Mats Ek from Royal Swedish Ballet (Stockholm, Sweden), William Forsythe, David Dawson and Jiri Bubenicek, from Fresden Semper Oper (Dresden, Germany), Marie-Agnès Gillot and Kader Belarbi from Ballet de L'Opéra National de Paris (France), Kenneth Kvarnstrom from Goteborgs Operans Ballet (Gothenburg, Sweden), Hofesh Schechter and Carte Blanche from Bergen, Norway, Xing Liang from Hong Kong, China, and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui from Company Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui/Toneelhuis (Antwerp, Belgium).

Shooting Stars Summer Dance Camp is our newest offering of fun, enriching programs to aspiring dancers ages 8-11. It will be July 20 - 31st, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm at Barnevelder Movement Arts Complex. The students will perform the pieces they learn in concert at Barnevelder at the end of camp. Visit our website for a detailed list of courses and programming.

Shooting Stars will feature the outstanding teachers from our Young & Intense Summer Dance Camp for ages 12 - 17, yet instruction and counseling will be tailored to the younger age group. We are able to keep the cost very low ($5/hr) during these difficult times thanks to our generous donors and public funders.