Grab your passport and pack a cooler for Dance of Asian America's Splendid China: Journey to the East, premiering on October 19-20, 2007, at The Miller Outdoor Theater. Chinese history will come to life in this cultural tour of China. Dance of Asian America and guest artists from Shanghai and New York will be your travel guides as you explore the rich heritage of China during this free performance.

The tour features Artistic Director Janie Yao's fresh take on Chinese dance. Her blend of modern movement and classical Chinese ballet creates a new vision for fusion dance choreography. Clothed in elaborate costumes and dancing to a mix of contemporary and traditional Chinese music, this unique performance is both entertaining and enriching for the entire family.

Performance Information
Miller Outdoor Theater, 100 Concert Drive, Houston, TX 77030
Friday, October 19 at 8:00 p.m. and
Saturday, October 20 at 8:00 p.m.
This concert is FREE!
For more info visit www.danceaa.org or send an e-mail to danceaa@gmail.com

As time unfolds before us, technological advances bring about big bangs of virtual worlds. Knowledge develops and communication evolves, but what gets left behind? Could we be losing more than we're gaining? Known for their theatrical creativity, Psophonia Dance Company proposes an answer to this question in Phantasia: Etched and Extracted. This concert premieres on October 26- 27, 2007, at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

At the heart and helm of Psophonia Dance Company are Co-Artistic Directors Sophia Torres and Sonia Noriega. These award-winning choreographers took the idea of The Nutcracker - a seasonal performance filled with fantasy and excitement - and made it cool. The result was Phantasia, a dramatic spectacle of dance with the spirit of Halloween as its muse.

Joining the creative team for Phantasia's latest rendition is composer Jeremiah DiMatteo. A former member of youth chamber orchestra Virtuosi of Houston, DiMatteo has created a soundscape of original works for this new production.

Though Phantasia is an annual concert, don't wait until next year to check it out because it changes every year based on a central thread. This year's concert examines the affects of technology on the human condition. The outlook is grim, but no need to worry: Psophonia will present the theme with their signature creativity and excitement. The company has performed at all of Houston's major theaters ranging from The Wortham to Diverseworks, and every concert turns new people on to the art of contemporary dance. Come to the Hobby Center on October 26th or 27th, and you could be next.

Performance Information
Hobby Center for Performing Arts/Zilkha Hall, 800 Bagby, Houston, TX 77002
Friday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m. and
Saturday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15-$25 with student, senior, and group discounts available through the box office
Contact the box office at 713.315.2525 or
www.thehobbyc enter.org
For more info visit www.psophonia.com

Last weekend the 11th Annual Third Ward Arts Festival featured performances by FLY KiDS and Second Generation Dance Company. Pictured here are FLY KiDS entertaining friends and family on a beautiful afternoon in the Children's Village.