Every time you turn around, there’s a social event where either you or someone you know is expected to dance. If it’s not a wedding, then it’s an anniversary party, a quinceañera, a bar mitzvah, you name it. Yes, there may be heartfelt speeches and special toasts for the occasion. But the moment that most of us have been waiting for is for someone to finally…HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! For that reason alone, it might be a…
The Elvis Festival in Lake George, NY is an unforgettable event that draws performers and fans from all across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and beyond, all to pay tribute to the King of Rock-n-Roll, Elvis Presley. Some people may believe that the artistic legacy and appeal of Elvis rests strictly upon the memories of an ever-dwindling older population. This assumption, however, could not be further from the truth. I recently got to see this…
Question: Do you see the photo to the left of the dancer doing the beautiful jete´? Do you find yourself wondering how could this miraculous collaboration between art and technology ever be possible? Answer: It’s the followspot operator! More specifically,… The followspot, also known as the spotlight operator, plays a crucial role in a performance by using lighting to direct the audience’s attention towards a significant focal point on stage. ________________________ The followspot’s job…
Just in time for Mother’s Day, we have the short film of Irish choreographer David Bolger performing an underwater dance with his 76-year old mother, Madge Bolger. This award-winning film, “Deep End Dance,” was directed by Conor Horgan and shot at the Marian College swimming pool in Dublin, Ireland. It is the same pool where Madge worked for many years as a swimming instructor and where she taught David how to swim. David Bolger is the artistic director and choreographer for CoisCéim Dance…
In every sense of the word, Laurie Johnson is truly a “Renaissance” woman. Not only is she an accomplished dancer, having worked with such artists as Gregory Hines and Savion Glover, but she is also a teacher, choreographer, drummer, painter, author, life coach, toastmaster, and motivational speaker. At this rate, Laurie can clearly accomplish more in one week than most of us can even think about doing in six months! We couldn’t wait to interview Laurie Johnson in…
Today, we recognize the beautiful dancers and costumes of Ballet Folklórico de México. DanseTrack would like to wish everyone a Happy Cinco De Mayo!
Performers are, by nature, versatile individuals and this is generally true both onstage and off. In the past, we’ve interviewed many individuals who have worked as dancers, but who also possess diverse skills and interests. Today, we’re excited to talk to dancer and author, Brian Sterling, who has just released the new e-Book titled “40 Days of Sterling Silver Linings”. “40 Days of Sterling Silver Linings”: The e-Book DanseTrack You have chosen a cool and interesting…
When most dancers think of The Dying Swan, we think of Anna Pavlova (image below), Natalia Makarova, or even “Maya Thickenthighya” of Les Ballets Trocadero (video) doing bourrées across the stage to Camille Saint-Saëns’s cello solo “Le Cygne”. Now here’s a version that you’ve probably never seen or even heard of before. Dying Swan Jookin’ Style This version of “The Swan” is performed by street dancer and member of Dance Magazine’s “25 Dancers to Watch”, Charles “Lil Buck” Riley. Lil Buck…
Hillbilly Days: April 18th – 20th, 2013 Festivals of every kind are held year-round in all parts of the country. However, if we had to pick just one to attend all year, our first choice for a hoot n’ hollerin’ good time would be the annual Hillbilly Days Festival in Pikeville, Kentucky. Nicknamed the “Mardi Gras of the Mountains”, Hillbilly Days celebrates the best of Appalachian culture. A brief history: Hillbilly Days of Pikeville began…
Some Background The Isadora Duncan Dance Awards (aka the Izzies) is an annual San Francisco Bay Area event that recognizes local dance companies, individuals who have made significant contributions to the dance community, and outstanding achievements in performance, choreography, design and musical composition. The awards ceremony honors achievements for the previous performance season. In other words this 2013 award ceremony recognized work from the 2011-2012 performance season. This Year’s Ceremony The 2013 Izzie Awards was held on…
Rudolf Nureyev - Born March 17,1938 Museum-goers in San Francisco were recently treated to a rare opportunity to celebrate the life and artistic legacy of renowned ballet dancer, Rudolf Nureyev (born March 17, 1938). This spectacular exhibit (Rudolf Nureyev: A Life in Dance) ran successfully at San Francisco’s de Young Museum from October 6, 2012 – February 17, 2013, and included many of the artist’s costumes. Below, are two splendid examples of the costumes on display. The…
Many years ago, I participated in a National Foundation for the Arts competition in Miami, Florida. Although I had entered the classical ballet category, I got the biggest kick out of watching the many other dance styles also represented ranging from modern to various ethnic styles. Of these other dance forms, I recall being most blown away by the one Irish step dancer who had also entered. At that time, not only was this style…
It is that time again to “spring-jete” forward. Don’t forget to set your clocks an hour ahead this weekend! Daylight Savings Time begins March 10th, 2013
To kick off 2013, we’ve uploaded tons of new dance auditions and dance job announcements and here’s the link: Dance Auditions and Dance Job Announcements Yet, with so many exciting opportunities coming up so soon, how are we ever going to get back in shape in time! Well, one thing that we can all do involves the long-standing decision of whether to take the escalator or the stairs. Here’s a video that shows how some clever engineers…
People often dance in the most unexpected places—and we’ve all done it! Whether it happens down the aisle of the grocery store, in the hallway at the office, or even while waiting on the bus stop—when the mood is right—there is nothing to prevent us from busting out with some inspired dance moves! There are situations, however, where the floor that is available actually matters. In fact, for most dancers—whether rehearsing in a studio or…
Each year on Veteran’s Day we honor and recognize the enduring spirit of those who have served in the armed forces. It just so happens that some of those veterans also happen to be dancers. Today, we’d like to recognize Roman Baca, a United States Marines veteran from the Iraq War, and the Artistic Director of Exit 12 Dance Company in New York City. Mr. Baca served in Fallujah, Iraq from 2005 to 2006. Image: Video…
Thrill The World – Vancouver With all the “Thriller”-themed events that happen this time of year, it seems only appropriate for October to be the month for flash mobs. In recent years, flash mobs have popped up virtually everywhere. Some people speculate that these groups may just be taking over the world! Check out – http://www.helloloser.com . Flash mobs, mind you, are not just for dancers. Musicians can get into the act as well. Here are…
Celebrating its tenth anniversary on Saturday, August 18th, the Bay Area Tap Festival and Rhythm Exchange presented a wildly entertaining evening at San Francisco’s Herbst Theatre. The performance roster featured such incredible tap dance artists as Channing Cook Holmes (also Music Director and on drums), John Kloss (Founder and Director of Stepology), Mark Mendonca, Jason Rodgers, Terry Brock, and Sam Weber. The show also featured the ever-entertaining Barbary Coast Cloggers and the skilled musicianship of Maya Kronfeld…
DanseTrack Tip of the Day Have a creative project in mind? Try…Kickstarter What is Kickstarter? It is a website that allows you to obtain funding from the general public to complete your creative project. Here’s one of the many Kickstarter success stories: Versa Style Dance Company of Los Angeles Versa Style set its original goal at $5,000 to fund its biographical documentary film “Furious Beauty”. Through Kickstarter, 78 backers from the general public came together to…
Now… You can also contact us with any news, dance company information, audition notices, photos, videos or questions… On Twitter! https://twitter.com/DanseTrack
You are warmed up and ready to go onstage. The hair is done, the costume is on, and the makeup is flawless. You start counting off the phrases of the music, and right on cue, you step out into the bright lights. Fast forward to the end of the show. The curtain has gone down and you exit the stage, invigorated. You stroll leisurely to the dressing room while greeting your fans, then — exhausted–…
Voted one of the top 10 dance performances of the year: Don’t miss the Bay Area Tap Festival’s Rhythm Exchange! Now in its 10th year, the 2012 Bay Area Tap Festival (from August 14-19, 2012), will again feature a week of dynamic workshops hosted by KUNST-STOFF Arts and will culminate with a performance on Saturday, August 18th at 8:00 PM at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco. This performance, known as the Bay Area Rhythm Exchange, features festival…
The PULSE on Tour is a weekend dance event, featuring the top choreographers and instructors in the industry today. The faculty can be seen on reality television shows (such as So You Think You Can Dance, X Factor, America’s Got Talent, American Idol, Glee), directing the hottest music videos (Justin Bieber, The Wanted, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez: to name a few) and tours for leading recording artists, as well as producing and choreographing for headlining…
It is not unusual for a dancer to be stopped on the street and asked the question: “You’re a dancer aren’t you?” Whether it is the upright posture, the turned-out feet, the slim but muscular build, or the sometimes exaggerated use of the arms and hands when talking, there is something unique about the way dancers look and move in the everyday world that often gives them away. We can assume that the main reason…
In today’s world, it is difficult to find anything that causes us to stop and think to ourselves: “Now that was amazing”. In part, because it is so easy to look up everything imaginable on YouTube, we eventually start to feel as though we’ve pretty much seen it all. One dancer, on the other hand, who manages to reignite that magical feeling you get when you see something that is truly brilliant, is Sam Weber. Where many…
Lesson #1 for any performer: Always be good to the stage crew. We often use the terms “stagehands” and “stage crew” interchangeably, but is there a difference? The Urban Online Dictionary says it best. Definition: Stage Crew: “The people behind any play you see; creating and moving out the set, working the lights, babysitting the actors…you name it, they do it. They are really the only reason the show actually happens, yet they are terribly…
Maybe it was having been late for the tour bus just one time too many — (been there, done that)— or too much goofing off onstage during the serious moments of Romeo and Juliet. Whatever the reason, somehow, now — You’re Fired!! So, knowing you’ve been canned, now you still have to go onstage. What are you supposed to do? This dancer must have thought: “If this is going to be my last performance, I’m…
The Audition Listings have now been updated! Just click on this link to find your geographic region : http://dansetrack.com/audition-and-casting-information/. Also, be sure to email us at our Contact Page if you have any auditions to add to the list! Now, here is a video that shows just what can happen when a ballerina is forced to go onstage wearing someone else’s shoes! Video by Bolo Productions Links: Ballet
There often exists a close relationship between dancers and other artists. From musicians and singers, to photographers and other types of visual artists, often, their careers are closely intertwined with those in the dance world. One such artist is Nate Giorgio. Nate Giorgio is one of today’s most respected, influential and award-winning fine artists. Known for his masterful paintings and stunning portraits, Nate was born in Binghamton, New York, began his professional art career in…
It is impossible to look at photos by Oliver Endahl without being reminded of something we are very well aware of here at DanseTrack: Yes, dancers are amazing! A former dancer himself, having studied at the San Francisco School of Ballet for 10 years, Oliver now works as a professional ballet photographer. His current, ongoing fine art project is titled Ballet Zaida. This project is essentially a showcase for the finest display of ballet technique…
We were fortunate to catch the San Francisco Ballet’s one-night only performance in beautiful Sun Valley, Idaho on July 8th, 2012. Held in the open-air Sun Valley Pavilion, 17 dancers from the company (shown in the photo) along with 14 members of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra conducted by Music Director, Martin West, performed for a wildly enthusiastic, sold-out crowd. According to one reviewer from The Valley Sun (a news blog from Sun Valley Resort…
The 2012 R-16 World Finals were held this past weekend on July 8th and 9th, 2012, in Seoul, Korea. R-16, which started out as a single World Championship-level B-boy tournament to encourage the development and creativity of urban youth in Seoul, South Korea, has since evolved into a worldwide movement. Link: http://r16usa.com/ In this championship event, where contestants battle in 4 categories of Popping, Locking, B-Boy, or B-Boy Crew, 16 countries from around the world were…
On Broadway This evening will include the most EXCITING male dance moments from the Broadway stage, danced by the SF Bay Area’s HOTTEST male dancers! Dances from old Broadway, including clips from Fiddler on The Roof to West Side Story to NEW Broadway, including contemporary settings from Cabaret and Chicago. Female Guest Star: Connie Champagne will be featured as Judy Garland in the Original Get Happy and La Jazz Hot! Main website for Man Dance…
It’s funny how a dancer can watch a TV show or a movie, and while it may be filled with brilliant acting, an incredible script, beautiful scenery, action, suspense, or whatever, all you have to do is throw in a few dance steps (especially if it’s not technically a musical) and that will be the thing that a dancer remembers most. Take that movie “13 Going On 30” from 2004 starring Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo,…
As dancers, like professional models or athletes, we are hyper-aware of age. For most jobs, the age of 65 is the benchmark for retirement, but in our profession, “old” is often used to refer to anyone over the age of thirty! That is why these individuals are so amazing! 94-Year-Old Woman (Matilda Klein) Wows Judges With Her Ballroom Quick-Step Here’s another one: 84 year old Bette Calman teaches 11 Yoga classes a week: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-2365/83YearOld-Yogi-Teaches-11-Yoga-Classes-Week.html …
For the ballerina or ballet lover who has everything, what else could you possibly need? How about a ballet shoe manicure!! While there are many variations of this nail art design, what makes this one really work are the square-tipped edges on the pointe shoes! Speaking of tips, we have just updated the information on our Casting and Auditions page. There, you’ll find current audition listings as well as links to other resources for additional audition…
Answer: They will share the same stage when Aerosmith comes to the Oracle Arena in Oakland on August 4th, 2012. Update: August 2, 2012, Wobbly World (with guest: Rebecca Vasile) will open for Aerosmith in the next leg of the Global Warming Tour and will not perform at Oracle Arena on August 4th, 2012. In this concert, Rebecca Vasile (dancer, choreographer, instructor) will perform with the popular San Francisco Bay Area band comprised of internationally recognized…