American Dance Institute’s Youth Ensemble will perform a shorter version, just an hour long, of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.

Children an experience the magic of the story and dance in  less intimidating setting and more relaxed environment.

The performances will be held in the intimate 140-seat world-class facility, where children can get a close up view of the performance by ADI students and instructors.

The Nutcracker
The American Dance Institute
1570 E, Jefferson Street
Rockville, Maryland  20852 (map it)
301-984-3003

Dates and Times – Saturday and Sunday, December 20 and 21, 2008, at 3:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.

Tickets – Adults – $20.00, Seniors and children 12 and under -$10.00. Contact the Institute at tickets@americandance.org or by phone at 301-984-3003

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Twinbrook Station – Red line, then a 10 minute walk, or take the Ride On #26 bus Glenmont – Montgomery Mall. 

Parking – Free

Image – Flickr
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As part of a 23 city national tour, the Rockettes, dressed in their famous Babes in Toyland outfits, will delight audiences with their precision chorus line dancing and signature high kicks.

I saw the Rockettes’ show in New York City a few years ago and it is a fun performance.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular
1st Mariner Arena
201 W Baltimore Street
Baltimore, Maryland  (map it)

Dates and Times – December 2 – 7, 2008, different show times depending on the day of the week.

Tickets – $29.00, $59.00 and $79.00 and are available online.

Parking – Paid parking is available.

Images – Flickr – saluting  _________________________________________________

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When she discovers his deceit and that he is betrothed to the daughter of the prince, she is driven mad and dies of a broken heart after her discovering the truth.

She later comes back to protect her former lover by helping him survive the evil spell cast on him by wicked ghosts.

The production of Giselle by the San Francisco ballet is complete with lavish sets and costumes, classic music and world-class dancers that set the standard for romantic ballets.

San Francisco Ballet’s Giselle
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Opera House
2700 F Street, NW
Washington DC. 20566 (map it)

Dates and Times – November 25-30, 2008. The performances on the 25th and 36th include a mixed repertory.

Tickets – $29.00 – $99.00 and are available online.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Foggy Bottom/George Washington University (23rd and I St.) – Blue and Orange lines, then a 3-block walk.

There is also a free Kennedy Center shuttle that runs every 15 minutes Monday – Friday from 9:45 a.m.- Midnight, Saturdays 10:00 a.m.- Midnight, and from Noon – Midnight on Sundays.

Parking - limited parking is available at the Kennedy Center for $17.00.

Images – Giselle, Russian production of Giselle, both – public domain ________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

I normally don’t write a review of a performance that has just two shows, the second being tonight, but David Dorfman Dance’s Underground was 60 minutes of intense, raw energy and primal passion intermingled with question about our existence and how, we as humans, interact with our fellow man. 

Would you kill another human?  Would you kill another human for your country? Would you kill another human to save your family? These are a few of the questions asked in this multimedia dance performance. 

The story is based on the radical 1960s group, the Weathermen Underground, a collection of college aged students who, during the Vietnam War, bombed over 25 building in protest against the war. Considered domestic terrorists by most, these young people, adopted the concept that peaceful demonstrations don’t work when change is needed and lives are at stake.  Their justification…would you kill 5 to save 25? Would you kill a hundred-thousand people to save a million? 

Underground is a modern dance experience where you follow the story of activism, revote, questions, group-think, and ambivalence through its powerful choreography.

If you have the opportunity, catch the only other performance,  tonight.

David Dorfman Dance – underground
Ina and Jack Kay Theater
University of Maryland
Route 193 (University Blvd.) and Stadium Drive (next to the football stadium)
College Park, Maryland  (map it)

For more information on tickets, check out my original post on Underground.

Image – Gary Noel – David Dorfman __________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

What makes this performance timely, is that it was inspired by the ultra-left, anti-Vietnam war militant Weather Underground Organization, an spin-off of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). formed in 1969 by Williams Ayers (of the current Obama controversy) and 10 others, the group believed that active militancy and violence would have more of an impact on ending the war than nonviolent protests.  Incidents included over 25 bombings that the group took credit for, including a bombing of the headquarters of the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C.  No people were reported liked in any of the bombings.

For some interesting declassified top secret FBI reports on the Weather Underground Organization click here.

In this multi-media riot of the senses, David Dorfman explores the boundaries between political activism and terrorism, begging the questions:

• Can we use violence to fight for peace?
• Is violence ever justified to win peace?
• Is your country or family worth killing for?

The performance includes his 10 member troupe, pus 30 local dancers from area dance programs, universities and dance backgrounds.

David Dorfman Dance – underground
Ina and Jack Kay Theater
University of Maryland
Route 193 (University Blvd.) and Stadium Drive (next to the football stadium)
College Park, Maryland  (map it)

Dates and Times – Friday and Saturday, November 6 and 7, 2008, 8:00 p.m.  A discussion with David Dorfman will be held after the performance.

Tickets – $35.00, Seniors – $32.00, students with ID – $7.00 and are available online or by phone at 301-405-ARTS (2787).

Nearest Metro Subway Station – College Park-University of Maryland – Green line, then a 2-mile cab ride. The theater can call a cab for you to get back to the Metro.

Parking – Garage parking across for the theater is $5.00.

Images – Flickr – protester with peace sign, dance photos by Gary Noel – David Dorfman Dance’s multi-media "underground," inspired by a documentary on the Weathermen and exploring the boundaries between activism and terrorism, runs at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center Nov. 6-7, 2008.
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Over the centuries flamenco has evolved from folk dancing to a form of passionate performance art.

Ballet Flamenco José Porcel, from Spain, will perform a combination of traditional and modern flamenco works, which combine influences from Gypsy, Arabic, Jewish and Indian cultures.

Principal dancer José Porcel, has performed with some of the world’s greatest flamenco dancers.

Ballet Flamenco Jose Porcel
The Center for the Arts at George Mason University
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030 (map it)

Dates and Times – Friday and Saturday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 2008, 8:00 p.m.

Tickets – $22.00, 36.00, $44.00. Call the box office at 703-993-2787 or use the online order form.

Parking – Paid parking is available on the Visitor Parking Deck, located directly adjacent to the Concert Hall. Free parking is available in Lot K, across the pond from the Concert Hall.

Nearest Metro subway station – Vienna/GMU station – Orange line, then a 20-30 minute cab/bus ride.

Image: Flickr dancer _______________________________________________

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As part of the Festival of Building Arts, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange along with BMD (Bowen McCauley Dance), bring their high energy dance style to the National Building Museum in Washington, DC for three free performances on Saturday.

The dance performances express the relationship between movement, architecture, and the machinery used to build our community.

This revolutionary concept, dancing on and around earth movers should be a unique and fun experience.

And between performances, check out the National Building Museum.

National Building Museum
401 F Street, NW
Washington , DC (map it)

Performance will be at G Street between 4th & 5th Streets, NW.

Dates and Times – Saturday, October 11, 2008 – 11:00, 12:30, and 2:00 p.m. Each performance is approximately 15 minutes.

Tickets – Free

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Judiciary Square – Red line, then a 1-block walk or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Metered street and garage parking is available in the area.

Images – courtesy of BMD – Pas de Dirt – Photographer: John McCauley

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The company will present works from their recent New York season, at Dance Place in Washington, DC including Romantic Conversions danced to Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto # 2 in C minor.  They will also perform the highly physical Adele’s Skirt, a world premiere, which explores the intimacy of human interactions.

CorbinDances
Dance Place 
3225 8th Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017  (map it)
202-269-1600

Dates and Times – Saturday and Sunday, August 2 & 3, 2008 Sat. – 8:00 p.m., Sun. 7:00 p.m.

Tickets – Adults – $22.00, Seniors, teaches (K-12) & students with ID – $17.00, kids 2-17 – $8.00.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Brookland/CUA – Red line then a 2-block walk.

Parking – Free, adjacent to the studio as well as on the street.

Images – Courtesy of CorbinDances, by by Lois Greenfield

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One other notable Chicago icon that I have seen many times is the high-energy and always entertaining Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.  

I recall the first time I saw Hubbard Street perform, it was while I was still in college.  I knew little about modern dance and after watching that one performance, I was, from then on, both a big fan of modern dance and of Hubbard Street.   The physical strength and body control of their dancers was better than any professional athlete  I had even seen, yet they made it seem effortless.

Hubbard Street has historically delighted serious dance fans and converted the “not-so-interested in dance” into repeat fans, by their athletic strength, inventive choreography and great music selection.  They effectively combine all the elements of dance – ballet, jazz, modern with a bit of acrobatics.

The Washington Post reported “Take a deep breath—because Hubbard Street is going to take your breath away”.  I would whole-heartedly agree. The troupe’s performances are filled with pure energy, fun and they are just so easy to watch and enjoy. 

The performances will feature the East Coast premiere of From All Sides, a new work by the resident choreographer of the Boston Ballet, after it’s recent world premiere in Chicago.
 
The program will also feature additional pieces entitled Lickety Split, Gnawa with music from Marrakesh-born gimbri (three-stringed Moroccan lute) master Hassan Hakmoun, and Strokes Through The Tail with music by Mozart.   

Attending a Hubbard Street performance also makes for a great date.  

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
The Music Center at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda, MD 20852

Dates – Thursday and Friday, February 15 & 16 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets – $28.00 – $60.00

Nearest Metro subway station – Grosvenor-Strathmore station – Red Line.  Take the elevators to the 4th level and cross the sky bridge to the Music Center.

Images - Courtesy of Hubbart Street Dance Chicago, Todd Rosenberg/Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
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Post from: The DC Traveler