Baltimore transplant (from Brazil) Lola Manekin, speaking at TEDxHampdenWomen, June 2015.
Now teaching at The Movement Lab.
Alex Lewis, Dancing Raven
Sometimes, dance shows up in very unexpected places… today it’s a football field. Transplanted to Baltimore from Arizona, ESPN has this:
“When it comes to this offensive-line dancing, there’s really no better option than Lewis. After all, he took dance for 10 years at his mother’s studio.”
Just to be nice, we’ve added a link to mom’s studio.
Jessica Amber Pinkett and Courtney Celeste Spears in Ailey II
Fresh off a week of workshops and performances in Towson, a quick nod to Baltimore dancers Jessica Amber Pinkett (in her first season) and Courtney Celeste Spears (in her second season) touring with Ailey II. The Sun has a piece featuring the two and another with a short bit on Courtney Celeste Spears. And yes, Courtney is literally the face of the tour this season:
Ailey II’s Courtney Celeste Spears. Photo by Eduardo Patino.
For the rest of the world, catch these awesome performers along with the rest of the Ailey II company on their current season tour.
Theft from a Dance Studio – Columbia
On August 20th, cash was stolen from Arabesque Dance Studio in Columbia, Maryland. Slightly more detail at Patch.
I don’t know how much, and I don’t know if the perpetrator has been identified, but they do have an on-site store. If you need to buy dance-wear stuff in the near future, you might consider patronizing these dancers.
Jo Ann Grooms
Founder of Fusion Fit and Dance. The Frederick News Post as a brief obituary.
Featured Dancer – Lynne Bellinger
Part of the Baltimore Sun’s Fall Arts Guide, a brief profile of Lynne Bellinger, principal at Ballet Theatre of Maryland.
Autumn 2016 Dance Studio Construction Summary
As mentioned previously, things are afoot (ahem) in Baltimore dance space development.
Over the summer, Dance Solutions opened in Arbutus.
Baltimore City is working on Future Fitness and Wellness Centers.
Opening this fall (move in November), City Arts 2 is a $16 million 60-unit artists housing complex that features an on-site dance studio in the Station North arts district.
Not to be left out, Kevin Plank has put $5 million into the Living Classrooms Youth Development Center.
While it’s impossible to isolate the dollars committed to dance in these projects, multiple real estate projects in Baltimore this year include dance. This is good news for dancers throughout the city – developers recognize the lack of dance space and are actually doing something about it. There is still much, much more to do.
Know something I missed? Please let me know….
[update!]
Of course I missed something…. tucked away in R.House, we find The Movement Lab. This one is unique – R.House is a food incubator – 50,000 square feet and 10 chefs in Remington (a bit northwest of Station North Arts District). Details on classes and offerings require registration, but opening in October.
200 dancers turn up, show moves for ‘Hairspray Live’ auditions
The Baltimore Sun
“A line of around 200 colorful “Hairspray” hopefuls wrapped around the Hippodrome Theatre on Thursday morning, each waiting for a chance to be a part of a live televised production of the Broadway musical based on the 1988 John Waters film.
NBC was hosting auditions for “Hairspray Live,” offering one Baltimore-area resident a trip to Los Angeles and a dancing role in the show about a chubby Baltimore girl with hep moves — and a TV dance show in need of desegregation. Baltimore is the only city where the auditions will be held, according to an NBC spokeswoman, which gives local talent the opportunity to be a part of a production that is closely identified with the city.
The broadcast will air Dec. 7, with a cast including Jennifer Hudson, Harvey Fierstein, Kristin Chenoweth, Martin Short, Sean Hayes, Rosie O’Donnell, Ariana Grande and Andrea Martin.
Would-be stars were queuing up for the auditions by 6 a.m…” (Brittany Britto).
Continue reading:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/arts/bs-ae-hairspray-auditions-20160915-story.html
POET Companies: Online Audition Profile
POET Companies is an online organization composed of different branches, such as Theatricals Marine, which allows you to create a free online profile with your resume, headshot, and demo video. A variety of entertainment producers often sift through this website when looking to cast performers such as dancers, singers, actors, acrobats, and speciality acts.
POET Theatricals Marine is the cruise industry live entertainment production subsidiary of The POET Companies. Our team focuses on the design, development, implementation and maintenance of cutting edge spectacular live entertainment concepts aboard cruise ships. Since our first charter production in 2005, POET Theatricals Marine show productions have entertained over 6,000,000 cruise ship guests in over 5000 live performances at sea. Our cruise ship production experience includes charter cruise headline entertainment via customization of one of our land based productions as well as full cruise ship production show conceptualization, technical and artistic design, construction, show installation and ongoing show maintenance.
For more information please visit their website @ https://poet.co/poet-marine/casting/
Congratulations Noelle Tolbert
Noelle Tolbert is the new Dance Department Chair for Chesapeake Arts Center – Congratulations!
Previously noted, Chesapeake Arts Center is hiring dance instructors.
Classes start in September, so if you’re on the south side of Baltimore, there’s a new place to move. With the class schedule, Chesapeake Arts Center gets a new slot here in the Learn Something list.
Announcement follows: