Seattle celebrates dance Saturday night at “DANCE This …” at the Paramount Theatre.
This annual event brings together young dancers-in-training with professionals in a program that ranges from the high-stepping precision of youth drill teams to the sleek style of the Joffrey Ballet. The music, from funk sounds to tunes with an Afro-Caribbean beat, set the mood.
Six culturally diverse groups of young dancers have been training with dance professionals for Saturday’s performance. The youngsters get the benefit of learning from the pros and the opportunity to perform in one of the city’s great theaters.
“They learn what it’s like to be professional artists,” said Vicki Lee, director of education and outreach for the Seattle Theatre Group, which runs the Paramount and Moore theaters. “We really work toward that professional level.”
Seattle is a great dance town, and this year’s program pays tribute to dancers, choreographers and teachers who got their start in the Puget Sound region.
Among them are Seattle native Robert Joffrey, whose Chicago-based company is a special guest at “DANCE This …” and will perform two company works: “Pas Des Deeses” choreographed by Joffrey, and “Confetti,” choreographed by Gerald Arpino.
Seattle choreographer Pat Graney has created a work titled “March” that features dancers from three award-winning drill teams: the Electronetts High-Steppers, Filipino Youth Activities and the Chinese Drill Team.
Donald Byrd, artistic director of Seattle’s Spectrum Dance Theater, is contributing to the program with his dance “Drastic Cuts.”
Sonia Dawkins, a modern dance teacher at Pacific Northwest Ballet and artistic director for SD Prism Dance, has a created a dance that will feature 22 teen dancers and features guest artist Anthony Burrell, a former principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre who is currently touring with singer Beyonce.
Also on tap are the Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble, performing traditional Balkan dances, and the Ewajo Dance Workshop.
Jamel Gaines, a New York-based choreographer, returns for the second year to create the final dance number.
Charlie and the gang: Good grief, Charlie Brown. You’re a musical theater star.
Charlie and the gang take to the stage tonight when “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” opens in Seattle. Taproot Theatre Company presents the Tony Award-winning show through Aug. 7 at the company’s Greenwood theater.
Composer and lyricist Clark M. Gesner went straight to the source – the “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles M. Schulz – to create this show. Charlie Brown, Sally, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder and Snoopy are on hand, singing and dancing their way through 21 scenes, strung together with a light-hearted score.
Gesner’s musical premiered in 1967; this is the revised version, with new songs and scenes, and it won the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival in 1999.
Scott Nolte, Taproot’s producing artistic director, directs this production, which includes a cast of six and a small orchestra.
“DANCE This …” includes (left) Joffrey Ballet “Pas Des Deeses” and (below) representatives from the Filipino Youth Activities, Chinese Community and Electronetts drill teams.
Where to see it
“DANCE This …”: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle. Tickets, $10-$15, at Ticketmaster, 206-292-ARTS, www.ticketmaster.com.
“You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”: A Taproot Theatre production today through Aug. 7 at Taproot Theatre, 204 N. 85th St., Seattle. Tickets, $10-$28, 206-781-9707 or Ticketmaster at 206-292-ARTS.
Where to see it
“DANCE This …”: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle. Tickets, $10-$15, at Ticketmaster, 206-292-ARTS, www.ticketmaster.com.
“You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”: A Taproot Theatre production today through Aug. 7 at Taproot Theatre, 204 N. 85th St., Seattle. Tickets, $10-$28, 206-781-9707 or Ticketmaster at 206-292-ARTS.
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