All World Dance: News for Lovers of Dance

Dirty Dancing Game Launches on Facebook

Dirty Dancing Game on Facebook [Source: Lionsgate]

The combined force of Lionsgate and Social Game Universe recently launched a Facebook game app based on the classic flick Dirty Dancing starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. The game includes music from the original soundtrack.

Though the Dirty Dancing game partly involves maintaining Kellerman's Resort, including dropping Cupid grenades to stimulate "Romance Waves" (lol), there is also a dance element:

"The main attraction at Kellerman's is the dance shows. Featuring a set of players' Facebook friends alongside characters from the movie, each show must be properly rehearsed before it is ready to be performed."

"The more dance shows a player hosts, the more romance waves they generate, all of which contributes to returning Kellerman's to its former glory. If they really want to put on a show for the ages, players must discover secret dance style combinations that give them bonuses."

This announcement follows the news that Dirty Dancing will be remade for a 2013 release to be directed by Kenny Ortega, the choreographer of the original movie.

On a related note, I just missed letting folks know about the 2nd Annual Dirty Dancing Festival at Lake Lure, North Carolina where much of the original movie was filmed. It took place September 16 through 18 but there's always next year!

Official Site: Dirty Dancing on Facebook

Miami Salsa Congress Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Miami Salsa Congress 10th Anniversary [Source: Miami Salsa Congress]

The Miami Salsa Congress is celebrating its 10th Anniversary August 3 through 7 in Miami Beach, Florida:

"Over 4,000 event fans are expected to travel from around the world to experience what has become 'The Ultimate Summer Dance Event' featuring the biggest names in Salsa. The event includes 3 nights of performances by local and international dance companies, 30 dance workshops with world-class dance instructors, music by the industry's top DJs."

"Event participants can also enjoy 4 live concerts with award winning Latin orchestras, a FREE Salsa Boot-Camp for beginners, and 5 days of non-stop Salsa dancing with pool-side parties, and South Beach style after-parties until 6AM."

Definitely a huge event with an impressive list of Instructors, Performers and Concerts.

Official Site: Miami Salsa Congress

Related All World Dance Coverage:
Bronx SalsaFest is Now in Progress!

Worldance 2011 Festival in Tel Aviv

Suzanne Dellal Centre Presents Worldance 2011 [Source: Suzanne Dellal Centre]

The Worldance 2011 festival kicked off today in Tel Aviv, Israel with a series of performances by international dance companies running through July 28.

Performers include:

Jacoby & Pronk - Contemporary
COMPAS & Miguel Angel Espino - Flamenco
The Israeli Ballet - Don Quixote
Victor Ullate Ballet - El arte de la Danza
Madridanza with José Porcel's Ballet Flamenco
New York City Dancers - NYCB 
Paris Opera Ballet Soloists & Dancers - Incidence Choreographique

Official Site: Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre

Zookeeper: Dance Scene & Interview w/Choreographers Marguerite Derricks & Jennifer Hamilton

Zookeeper - Full Wedding Dance Scene [Source: DanceOn]

Here's a humorous wedding dance scene from the movie Zookeeper. My favorite line - "He did a pushup!"

Choreographers Marguerite Derricks & Jennifer Hamilton [Source: DanceOn]

Zookeeper choreographer Marguerite Derricks and associate choreographer Jennifer Hamilton discuss the different approaches needed for working with different actors in the movie.

Official Site: Zookeeper

Bronx SalsaFest is Now in Progress!

Bronx SalsaFest Poster [Source: Bronx SalsaFest]

From tonight through Saturday, the Bronx, NY hosts Bronx SalsaFest, four days of salsa-focused events. Dance, music and related cultural activities make up the schedule of events.

Though many influences are found in salsa, the name had its origin in the Bronx:

"Angel Rodriguez, percussionist, educator, cultural historian and tour guide who will direct some of the musical events taking place during SalsaFest, specializes in the evolution of Latin music in New York City. 'The term salsa is an umbrella for a variety of Latin rhythms coming from the Caribbean,' he explains. 'The word originated with musicians in the South Bronx, mostly Puerto Ricans, who would tell somebody whose playing was especially hot, 'Brother, you played with salsa tonight!' In other words, you were cooking.'"

Related All World Dance Coverage:
Miami Salsa Congress Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Soul Train Dance Party for National Museum of African American History and Culture

Soul Train At The Smithsonian [Source: Pharoah Martin]

This weekend's Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, DC included a program on June 30th celebrating Soul Train and the donation of numerous artifacts from the show to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. Construction for the new museum is set to begin in 2012 with an estimated completion date in 2015. Until then, shows will be held at a gallery in the National Museum of American History.

Soul Train Dance Party [Source: carlylevsmith]

In the first video above a variety of people speak on the importance of Soul Train including one of the original Soul Train dancers, Tyrone Proctor. In the second video bits of the Soul Train Dance Party that closed the event are shared.

The Smithsonian has an extended video of Tyrone Proctor's participation on the panel including a dance performance by Proctor and members of Washington, DC's Urban Artistry dance group but, in their ongoing misguided attack on fair use, Warner Music Group has had the audio killed.

Boo!

A Capitol Fourth to Include Mark Ballas & Chelsie Hightower from Dancing with the Stars

A Capital Fourth on PBS [Photo: Tim Kelley/PBS]

Mark Ballas and Chelsie Hightower from ABC's Dancing with the Stars are joining in the PBS special, A Capitol Fourth on July 4th, 8 pm ET. The pair will dance a waltz to Jordin Sparks' rendition of Beauty and the Beast.

Also appearing:

"Jimmy Smits will host the all-star line-up that also includes...Steve Martin performing with the Steep Canyon Rangers; multi-platinum recording superstar Josh Groban; Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe nominated star of stage and screen who has just released his debut self-titled album Matthew Morrison (Glee); Rock 'N Roll legend Little Richard performing with the cast of the Broadway smash hit Million Dollar Quartet; three time Tony-nominated Broadway star Kelli O'Hara; and the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly."

Official Site: A Capitol Fourth

Weed Eater Inventor, George C. Ballas Sr., Passes Leaving a Legacy in Dance

Dancing With the Stars Finalists, Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas
[Source: ABC News]

George C. Ballas Sr., best known for his invention of the Weed Eater, recently passed leaving a legacy of dance and entrepreneurship. Though his Weed Eater established his reputation in the 1970s, it was during the 1960s that he created and ran the Dance City USA Studio in Houston, Texas. His wife, flamenco dancer Maria Louisa Ballas, also taught at Dance City as well as appearing in several films. Before selling the studio in 1964, Ballas grew the business to 120 instructors in a 43,000 feet facility that became known as the world's largest dance studio.

His son, Corky Ballas has built a career in ballroom dance with an emphasis on Latin dance competition. Corky's wife Shirley Ballas was his competitive dance partner for many years and many awards though, given the realities of modern fame, many people probably think of him as Cloris Leachman's partner on Dancing with the Stars.

His grandson, Mark Ballas, has also ridden the Dancing with the Stars train to fame.

Carla and Leo's World of Dance, A Children's Book

Carla and Leo's World of Dance [Source: Amazon]

Carla and Leo's World of Dance is a children's book about ballroom dance written by Agatha Relota and illustrated by Thierry Perez:

"Carla and Leo are ten-year-old best friends who chance one day upon a magical dance school. The dance instructor—the elegant Miss Paulina—invites them on a fascinating journey to Austria, the United States, the Caribbean, Argentina, and Brazil, where they learn about the dances and cultures of each. The most popular dances are all illustrated and explained, from the classic waltz to the foxtrot and swing, from merengue, mambo, cha-cha, and rumba to salsa, samba, and tango."

At a recent book signing, Agatha Relota had this to say about Carla and Leo's World of Dance:

"I decided to write a story to introduce children to ballroom dancing, the history, the culture, the music. To get kids interested and teach them it is something modern. They can learn geography, history, music, everything through the book."

Available on Amazon: Carla and Leo's World of Dance

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2011: Ballet Genève, Carte Blanche, Laboratory Dance Project, Tangueros del Sur +

Keigwin + Company [Photo: Matthew Murphy]

The 2011 season at Jacob's Pillow features quite an array of international contemporary dance companies.  This selection of companies and special pairings is impressive in both its depth and breadth!

The season opens Wednesday with Switzerland's Ballet Genève and Keigwin + Company followed by Carte Blanche from Norway.  A selection of performances follows:

LDP/Laboratory Dance Project in No Comment [Photo: Yong Hoon Han]

Laboratory Dance Project from South Korea:

"The dancers of LDP perform...Are You Happy to See Me? by choreographer Mi Sook Jeon, which explores social conventions and points to a lack of communication in modern society. Modern Feeling, an accomplished duet crafted from contact improvisation, breakdance, and martial arts...The program concludes with the high-octane hip-hop and martial arts infused No Comment, in which seven suited men leap, lunge, flip, and fall in acrobatic euphoria."

Kyle Abraham and Abraham.in.Motion [Photo: Steven Schreiber]

Kyle Abraham and Camille A. Brown:

"Kyle Abraham and Camille A. Brown, two of New York's most talked-about choreographers and both breakout hits of Festival 2010, are brought together in this exclusive engagement...Both choreographers perform with their own sensational ensemble of dancers and then join forces for the world premiere of an Abraham/Brown duet commissioned by the Pillow. "

Louise Lecavalier and Patrick Lamothe in Children [Photo: Massimo Chiarradia]

Louise Lecavalier:

"In the duet Children, choreographed by DV8 Physical Theatre's Nigel Charnock, Louise Lecavalier is a vision of fervent physicality, opening a window into a relationship at its breaking point...In A Few Minutes of Lock, Lecavalier revisits the athletic choreography of Édouard Lock, including excerpts from the signature works 2 and Exauce/ Salt, to a soundscape of Iggy Pop music."

David Dorfman Dance in Prophets of Funk [Photo: Adam Campos]

David Dorfman Dance:

"In his newest project, Prophets of Funk, David Dorfman and his company make sure audiences feel part of the vitality and revelry of the 1970s. This exuberant work is set to the irresistible funk music of Sly and the Family Stone, including 'Turn Me Loose,' 'I Want to Take You Higher,' 'Dance to the Music,' and nine other songs."

advanced beginner group [Photo: Richard Termine]

Jodi Melnick and David Neumann:

"Bessie Award-winner Jodi Melnick's Fanfare is a sophisticated dance of rhythm and gesture, set against a kaleidoscope of light and sculpture designed by visual artist Burt Barr. David Neumann and his company advanced beginner group perform works with signature wry humor and 'startling creativity'..including Hit the Deck and tough, the tough. The evening culminates in a world premiere duet commissioned by Jacob's Pillow and performed by Melnick and Neumann, two truly original artists."

Tangueros del Sur [Photo: Eric Balano]

Tangueros del Sur:

"The stage is alive with passion as Artistic Director Natalia Hills, an original member of the Broadway and London hit Forever Tango, leads an ensemble of the world's best tango artists in Romper el Piso (Break the Floor). The expert performers of Tangueros del Sur showcase the intricate footwork, sensuality, and drama that comprise this classic Argentinean dance style, from its traditional beginnings to its modern ballroom interpretation."

Jonah Bokaer in Why Patterns [Photo: Robert Benschop]

Jonah Bokaer:

"Jonah Bokaer and Daniel Arsham appear in RECESS, a site-specific collaboration based in the exploration of language, space, architecture, and improvisation. In the U.S. premiere of Why Patterns, a single ping-pong ball initiates choreographic games and unpredictable events such as 10,000 more ping-pong balls cascading from above."

Lar Lubovitch Dance Company in North Star [Photo: Todd Rosenberg]

Lar Lubovitch Dance Company:

"Lar Lubovitch's North Star was one of the first contemporary concert dances set to music by Philip Glass. North Star was first performed in 1978, and in this revival dancers command the stage with grace and boundless energy, delivering a 'trance-inducing aesthetic at its purest and most satisfying' (Boston Globe)."

Official Site: Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival