Downtown West Creekside Socials - Upcoming free classes

Downtown West's Creekside Socials programming is continuing into July. To me this gives hope that Google still has a foot in the door with San Jose. Their multi-million SQFT, mixed-use campus next to Diridon Station might be on hold, but the promised cultural activities and activation of the new neighborhood are still pushing forward.

The latest event is a series of West African dance classes on July 12, July 29, August 16th, and August 30th. This is hosted by Kuumba and is a energetic dance workout featuring live drummers and highlighting the dance and spirit of West Africa. All classes go from 6-7pm at 56 Barack Obama Blvd. in Downtown San Jose. 

There is also a sewing and upcycling event hosted by Chopsticks Alley Art from 5-7pm on Thursday, July 11th. This event will also feature live music by San Jose musician, Lucas Tecson.

Both events are free and you can RSVP to either over here.

sjDance presents the Spring DANCE Festival this weekend at Eastridge Center

WHEN: Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, 2024 from 12 Noon to 5:00pm. “Professional Programming” segments are 15-minutes each on the half-hour (1:30pm, 2:30pm, etc.), and free 15-minute dance classes are held every hour, on-the-hour (both days).

WHERE: Eastridge Center Mall, 2200 Eastridge Loop, San Jose, CA 95122, off Capitol Expressway and Tully Road. The festival stage is located on the main level of the mall.

WHY: Celebrating National Dance Week - and a cornerstone of Bay Area Dance Week.  The festival is also the kickoff to sjDANCEco’s 21st Season. Everything is free.

Over 60 choreographers and Bay Area dance organizations (from young children to professional companies and everything in between) present many styles of dance on the Eastridge festival stage during a free non-stop 5-hour program each day. The professional dance portions of the show are at 12:30pm, 1:30pm and on the half-hour all day long. Free dance classes will be offered at 1:00pm, 2:00pm, and on-the-hour throughout the day. The celebration is part of Bay Area Dance Week and National Dance Week (April 26- May 5, 2024) and showcases the diversity of the Bay Area dance community. 

Professional Dance Groups:

·      sjDANCEco   Contemporary

·      Rosangela Silvestre (from Brazil)  Afro-Brazilian

·      N'fungola Dance Company (New Orleans)  West African

·      Abhinaya Dance Company (San Jose)  Indian Classical Dance

·      Tachiria Flamenco (San Francisco)  Flamenco

·      Diablo Ballet (Walnut Creek)  Ballet

·      Monsoon Dance Company (Palo Alto)  Contemporary Indian

·      Magnetic Pole Fit (San Jose)  Contemporary Pole

·      Hermosura Dance Productions (Fremont)  Social Latin

·      Aboriginals (Manteca, CA)  Hip Hop/Breakdance

·      Kyleigh Brine (Arcata, CA)  Contemporary

·      Agua Doce Dance (Santa Cruz) African-Brazilian Contemporary

·      Los Lupeños de San José    Mexican Folk Dance

·      Jenni Hong Dance (Palo Alto)  Contemporary

·      Noorani Dance (Menlo Park)   Kathak

Other Dance Groups Include:

·      Calpulli Tonalehqueh of San Jose   Ancient Aztec Dance

·      Flying Colors Dance & Fitness (Hollister)  Jazz

·      Los Gatos Ballet (Los Gatos)  Ballet

·      New Ballet (San Jose)  Ballet

·      Monsoon Dance  (Palo Alto)  Contemporary Indian

·      Yerba Buena High School (San Jose)   Jazz

·      San Jose State University    Modern

·      Los Lupeños Juvenil   (San Jose)  Mexican Folk Dance

·      Cal Poly Humboldt (Arcata)  Contemporary

·      Lin HH School of Dance (San Jose)  Contemporary

·      SBCC Dance Company (Santa Barbara)  Modern

·       Lara Jean Choreography (Los Gatos)  Contemporary

·      Concept o4 (San Francisco)    Contemporary

·      Latizmo Hi Hop Productions (San Jose)  Modern

·      DBDC (Capitola)  Hip Hop/Breakdance

·       Veksler Academy  (Sunnyvale) Hip Hop/Breakdance

·      NDS Nijikko Dance School (San Jose) Hip Hop/Breakdance

·      IndepenDance (San Jose) Contemporary

·      Dance Academy USA (Cupertino) Jazz

·      The Ruby Slippers (Santa Clara) Kpop

·      Dance Expressions (Sunnyvale) Pom

·      East West Music and Dance (San Jose) Lyrical

·      Ace Dance (Sunnyvale) Jazz

·      Ako Ballet Dance School (Cupertino)  Ballet and Lyrical

Free Classes offered in various styles:

• West African
• Flamenco
• Classical
• KPop
• Salsa
• Symbology of the Orixas
• Hip Hop

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE OPENING CEREMONIES:

Calpulli Tonalehqueh of San Jose will be presenting the Art of Ancient Aztec Dance to open the festival on Saturday from 12:00 noon to 12:30pm. The opening ceremony is a ritual with drums which calls the four elements (wind, water, fire, earth) and the four cardinal directions...North (Tezcatlipoca), East (Quetzalcoatl), South (Huitzilopochtli), and West (Xipe Totec) along with the Great Cosmos, Mother Earth, and the Center - Our Hearts. Traditionally, dancers carry the elements in the form of the atecocolli (a conch shell) which is played to call in the winds, popoxcommi (which carries fire), and copal (a sacred incense) is burnt which carries scented prayers on white smoke to the ancestors. The ritual is a ceremonial way to ask permission to be present and to call the gods of the directions to help guide and protect the space.  

This ritual is in deep respect of Mother Earth and the Cosmos, recognizing that we walk the Red Road (living life with purpose) and are of the elements. It is profoundly deep and important work in reconnecting us to our home - this planet.

ABOUT US: sjDANCEco is a year-round contemporary dance company based in San Jose, California that produces world premieres by its core and guest choreographers, and presents the very best of Contemporary and Classic Modern Dance and Masterpieces of the American Modern Dance Repertory. In addition to a full season of dance concerts, sjDANCEco also is a major participant each Spring in free outdoor dance presentations during National Dance Week, international dance festivals, and has a full schedule of contemporary dance classes for the advanced and professional dancer.   sjDANCEco ignites the spirit of dance.

sjDANCEco is a registered 501(c)(3)

sjDANCEco presents ABLAZE with San José Chamber Orchestra

Opening program for the 21st Season

October 6 and 7 In the California Theatre

The opening program of sjDANCEco’s 21st Season will celebrate new works including four World Premieres by company choreographers Maria Basile and Nhan Ho and guest choreographers, Kara Davis, Rogelio Lopez and Cathleen McCarthy. As the company looks forward to its next twenty years, this also marks the first program overseen by Maria Basile in her new role as sole Artistic Director, following the retirement of Gary Masters.

The season also marks the 12th year of collaboration with Barbara Day Turner and the San José Chamber Orchestra.

 

Who: sjDANCEco presents

What: ABLAZE

When: Friday, October 6 and Saturday, October 7 at 8:00 pm.

Where: The California Theatre, 345 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113,

 

Tickets: www.sjDANCEco. 408.520.9854

 

Pricing: $25 to $100

$25 Student - $45 Senior and $50 General Admission.   

$80 - $100. VIP Package

VIP packages include VIP seating and a Saturday evening reception with the Dancers and Choreographers, Guest Artists, Artistic Directors, Musical Director, and Board of Trustees.

 

The Passing of the Reins:

After twenty years as the Founder and Artistic Director of sjDANCEco, Gary Masters has formally announced his retirement and has passed the reins to his long-time Co-Artistic Director, Maria Basile. The two have worked together since the company’s inception when they were both part of Limón West Dance Project. Masters had this to say about her leadership, “As I step down from the artistic and administrative responsibilities of sjDANCEco, I feel confident in the future development and growth of the company under Maria’s artistic excellence and forward thinking. She has been, since the beginning, the company’s symbol of excellence through her extraordinary performances and stellar choreography. She believes in the power of dance to enhance, inspire, and change our world. I look forward to the next 20 years and beyond with her passionate leadership, keen eye, and devotion to Dance, the company and the community.” 

 

THE PROGRAM: (Still a work in progress)

sjDANCEco “Ablaze” is burning brightly into our next 20 years!

 

Title: TBA  / To Be Announced  (World Premier)

Choreographer: Maria Basile
Music: Concerto for Marimba and String Orchestra mvt. III Rythmique, Energique
Music by: Emmanuel Séjourné
Dancers: Full company

This piece is about breaking free from things that keep us bound. Assisted lovingly by others to fully feel our expanded selves.

 (Time: 8 minutes)

 

Title: TBA (World Premier)
Choreographer: Nhan Ho
Music: original score
Music by: Zachary White
Dancers: Full Company

This piece ingeniously melds space and motion, creating a mesmerizing exploration of the interplay between physicality and environment that leaves viewers captivated and spellbound.

(Time: 7 minutes)

 

Title: El recuento de nuestra ultima conversacion   (World Premier)
Choreographer: Rogelio Lopez
Music: Newton’s Cradle
Music by: Einaudi
Dancers: Full Company

(Time: 9 minutes)

 

Title: TBA (World Premier)
Choreographer: Kara Davis
Music: original score
Music by: Alex Kelly
Dancers:  Full company

(Time: Not yet finished)

 

Title: Remembrances (Company Premier)
Choreographer: Cathleen McCarthy
Music: Elegies
Music by: Rachmaninov
Dancers: Kevin Gaytan, Maria Basile

(Time: 5 minutes)

 

Title: Sacred Places (Company Premier)
Choreographer: Fred Mathews
Music:  No Distance Falls
Music by: Ferdinand Maisel
Dancers: Luis Isidoria, Raven Bautista, or Kelly Barry, Danielle Noda

(Time: 5 minutes)

 

sjDANCEco. The Full Company: Kevin Gaytan, Kelly Barry, Wade Reynolds, Luis Isidordia, Raven Bautista, Madeline Takemori, Danielle Noda, Alexandra Sheppard.

 

 

ABOUT US

sjDANCEco is a year-round contemporary dance company based in San Jose, California that produces world premieres by its core and guest choreographers, and presents the very best of Contemporary and Classic Modern Dance and Masterpieces of the American Modern Dance Repertory. The company has also participated in International Dance Festivals in New York and Taipei and produces a FREE Spring Festival each year celebrating National Dance Week. sjDANCEco ignites the spirit of dance.

City Dance San Jose

CityDance is back for the summer! Head over to the Circle of Palms in Downtown San Jose from 6-9pm every third Thursday for free live music and dance lessons. This week on July 21st the genre is Bollywood. The August 18th session feature Cumbia. On September 15 K-Pop will wrap up the series.

Each session includes an hour of instructor-led dance lessons followed by live music and dancing until sunset on warm summer nights.

Better yet, admission to the San Jose Museum of Art will be free on these nights and Cafecito by Mezcal at the San Jose Museum of Art will be open in case you dance up an appetite. I would also recommend walking into the Hilton Signia next door (formerly the Fairmont) to see the new aesthetic. There is an excellent bar and Peruvian/Japanese tapas at the Signia to continue the night after dancing.

Great America 2020 Announcements

Last week I had the opportunity to learn more about Great America's 2020 plans for events and new attractions. The big news is the expansion and re-branding of the water park from Boomerang Bay to South Bay Shores. Just about everything in the existing park will be updated and they are in the process of doubling the size of the water park. There will be seven new water attractions this year: four drop slides, two tube slides, and a kid-friendly lagoon area with private cabanas. Admission is included

They also announced three new festivals:

• Spring Fiesta – This three-weekend-long festival celebrates Hispanic culture with authentic food, live music and entertainment. Each weekend brings a different focus: Dia del Nino (April 25–26) offers kid-friendly crafts, games and activities; Cinco de Mayo (May 2–3) brings traditional, folkloric dance; and Latin Music Festival (May 9–10) showcases Bay Area performers.
• Monster Jam® Thunder Alley™ – Popular Monster Jam® trucks roll into Great America this summer, offering a larger-than-life experience where park guests can get nose-to-grille, sit inside and even take an adrenaline-charged ride in a Monster Jam truck. Meet-and-greets with drivers, a themed kids play area and the Monster Jam garage round out the limited-time event, which takes place June 20–July 12.
• Carnivale at Orleans Place – Authentic New Orleans food, glittering floats and costumed street performers come together in a unique nighttime festival that marries the best of Great America’s fan-favorite Taste of Orleans event with the excitement and vibrancy of Mardi Gras. Highlighting the festival is the Spectacle of Color full-scale parade, with extravagantly decorated floats and performers who draw the audience into the action. The exclusive event takes place nightly July 18–August 2.

The "Red, White and Brews" beer festival, Halloween Haunt, and WinterFest will all return this year. Halloween Haunt will get a brand new Asian-themed maze called Shadowlands. Oh, and several new food offerings will be available throughout the year such as fish tacos and sesame chicken on a crispy fried wonton. I hear Micheladas will be available as well inside the park.

It seems like an action packed year, I'm especially looking forward to Carnivale and Halloween Haunt this year!

For more info head over here.

sjDANCEco Opens 17th Season October 18 and 19, 2019 in San Jose

Photo by John Parencia

Features World Premiere, two West Coast Premieres, Company Premiere and Masterwork by José Limón.

Who: sjDANCEco presents

What: Etched in Time   

When: Friday and Saturday, October 18 and 19 at 8:00 pm.  

Where: California Theatre, 345 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113

Why: sjDANCEco’s 2019-2020 season opens with a World Premiere, two West Coast Premieres, a Company Premiere, and a masterwork by José Limón. The program is performed to live music by San José Chamber Orchestra.  

Tickets: $45 to $70.

Saturday night’s VIP tickets are $100 and include entry to the after-show Gala with sjDANCEco dancers and choreographers.

Available online at www.sjdanceco.org or 408.520.9854 

More: The 17th Anniversary of sjDANCEco opens with “Etched in Time”, a program of modern dance featuring two new works that premiered in March at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.  Included on the program are a World Premiere based on the experiences of a DACA/Dreamer, a 1950 masterwork by José Limón, and a revival of a piece inspired by Nelson Mandela. This season also marks the 10th year of collaboration with conductor Barbara Day Turner and the San José Chamber Orchestra.  

The Dancers: Mario Barron, Maria Basile, Kevin Gaytan, Kelisha Gardeen, Sarah Hernandez, Katherine House, Hsiang-Hsiu Lin, David Le, Gabriel Mata, Danielle Sullivant, Ryan Tucker, and Jazmyn Turner with guest artists, Fred Mathews and Gary Masters.

The Program:

José Limón’s powerful 1950 masterwork “The Exiles” is a male-female duet inspired by John Milton’s poem Paradise Lost, set to Chamber Symphony No. 2, Opus 38 by Arnold Schoenberg, an Austrian composer who emigrated to the United States in 1933 to escape the Nazis. (He began writing his Second Chamber Symphony in 1906 but did not complete it until 1939.) A version created by the composer will be played four hands on two pianos by Eva-Maria Zimmermann and Keisuke Nakagoshi (ZOFO). The piece will be danced by Kelisha Gardeen and Gabriel Mata.

A World Premiere from choreographer Gabriel Mata entitled “This is where/I Begin...” is set to JENUWINE FLOW by Michael Wall. It is a solo work performed by Mata which is inspired by the plight of a Mexican/American DACA/Dreamer immigrant living in the United States. The piece addresses the current sociopolitical climate and civil unrest while using humor to engage in levity, optimism and hope.  NOTE: Very nice piece just published by IN DANCE magazine about Gabriel here: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/240090/2/#zoom=z 

“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Hsiang-Hsiu Lin with music of the same name by Randall Thompson is based on the poem by Robert Frost, and performed by the San José Chamber Orchestra with the San José Choral Project.  It is danced by eight members of the company.  

Hsiang-Hsiu Lin will also present her Company Premiere of “Tomorrow”, set to ‘For All We Know’ written by J Fred Coots & Sam M Lewis. Danced by Katherine House.     

Maria Basile’s “Inner Edge” is a tribute to Nelson Mandela set to Piano Concerto by Michael Ching (1996) with piano soloist Michael Touchi. Danced by eight company members. 

“Etched in Time” is a group collaborative that explores the multi-generational experiences of the dancers. It is set to music by Jazon Escultura that was commissioned for the piece. The music was actually created AFTER the dance. It was a collaborative effort of Gary Masters, Barbara Day Turner and composer Escultura who together watched video of the dancers and then discussed how the music should sound. It was originally a “sound scape” computer-generated score, but has now been transcribed and will be performed live by the orchestra. Danced by Maria Basile, Kelisha Gardeen, Gary Masters, Gabriel Mata and Fred Mathews. 

ABOUT US

sjDANCEco is a year-round contemporary dance company based in San Jose, California that produces world premieres by its core and guest choreographers, and presents the very best of Contemporary and Classic Modern Dance and Masterpieces of the American Modern Dance Repertory. The company has also participated in International Dance Festivals in New York and Taipei and produces a FREE Spring Festival each year celebrating National Dance Week. sjDANCEco ignites the spirit of dance.

sjDANCEco Opens Season 16 with “Flying” October 12 and 13 in San Jose

Who: sjDANCEco presents

What: Flying

When: Friday and Saturday, October 12 and 13 at 8:00pm

Where: California Theatre, 345 S. First Street, San Jose, CA 95113

Why: The 16th Anniversary of sjDANCEco is entitled Flying and will feature a collaboration with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Barbara Day Turner.

Tickets: $45 to $70. Visit online at https://www.sjdanceco.org/ or call 408.520.9854

More: The 2018-19 Fall Season entitled Flying returns the company to the beautiful California Theatre with two public performances, and again this year a free Youth Performance for under-served Title 1 schools. In its 9th year of collaboration with Barbara Day Turner and the San José Chamber Orchestra, the program will feature the Company Premieres of “Corvidae” by Limón Dance Company Artistic Director Colin Connor and “Flying Colors” by sjDANCEco’s Choreographic Advisor/Mentor Fred Mathews. The Program will also include World Premieres by company choreographers Maria Basile and Gabriel Mata as well as excerpts from José Limón “Mazurkas” which premiered in 2014. Saturday night's VIP tickets include entry into our aftershow Gala, with a chance to meet the dancers and choreographers of sjDANCEco. 

Artistic Director, Maria Basile, confronts ‘Parallel Universes’ with her World Premiere for sjDANCEco’s 16th Anniversary Fall Season. An abstract story about two people who have one foot in each reality creating a dynamic field between them. With two working titles…htaPReset or htaPParallel, the work is danced to contemporary composer, David Crowell’s Open Road – played live by the San Jose Chamber Orchestra.

Gabriel Mata, a company member since 2012, is a dedicated risk-taking choreographer who has been winning accolades across the country. Chosen at last year’s Minnesota Fringe Festival by the Twin Cities Arts Reader as “Best of the Fringe” and this year the “Audience Pick”, his current solo work Dreaming will be a Company Premiere. Reviewer Tim Wick wrote about this year’s sold out Fringe performances: "What I love about Gabriel Mata is his understanding of the ways dance doesn’t always succeed. At it’s worst, dance can be aloof and impersonal. The audience seems almost like an interloper – there to watch but not to interact. Mata breaks down the walls between audience and dancer. He joins them together in an experience that neither could have without the other. This is what binds together all good theater – an interaction between the audience and the performer. When that bridge is not built, the audience is left wondering why they are even there. Mata has a deep respect for what the audience brings to the equation. He wants us to appreciate his work for the story it tells and he takes the time to help us understand the story though movement but also, sometimes, through words. His stories may come from him but he wants to give them to his audience. More than most, he knows how to make that connection."

Gabriel will also present the World Premiere of In This Time which addresses the heteronormativity that is imposed on lgbtq dancers, their personal dreams, and aspirations. Set to Franz Liszt’s - Benedictus und Offertorium aus der ungarischer Krönungsmesse the work explores the idea of what a "perfect dance" would be for the performers, how they would like to perform the work, what roles they would like to take on and the kind of movement quality they would like to dance. Taking the choreography into their own hands, they begin to reset it while discussing their personal views on normalized gender roles.

Choreographic Advisor/Mentor Fred Mathews’ Flying Colors was originally commissioned by Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers and had it Premiere in 1978. It was a signature work of the Mathews – Masters Dance Company/New York, was the highlight of the company’s tour in France in the 1980’s and has been staged for professional and university Dance companies. 

Set to JS Bach’s Violin Concerto #2, the work has been staged for nine sjDANCEco dancers with Artistic Director Maria Basile in the Solo role.

Hsiang Hsiu Lin’s new work is inspired by the poem -The Road Not Taken -by Frost Robert. A World Premiere

The Road Not Taken

Dancers: Hsiang-Hsiu Lin, Maria Basile

Choreographer: Hsiang-Hsiu Lin

Hsiang-Hsiu Lin, one of the founding sjDANCEco dancers that is still with sjDANCEco today! He is the Director of Lin HH Dance Company of Taipei.

###

Fall 2018 Program Repertory

The 16th Anniversary Season entitled Flying will again be in collaboration with the San José Chamber Orchestra under the Direction of Barbara Day Turner.

Guest Choreographer Colin Connor (Artistic Director, Limon Dance Company/NYC)

            Corvidae Company Premiere 6 - 9 dancers – 8 min)

             Music: Phillip Glass (Violin Concerto #1, 1^st movement)

______________________________________________________________________________

Fred Mathews (sjDco Choreographic Advisor)

            Flying Colors (1977)

                         Company Premiere (7 - 8 dancers – 15 min)

                        Music: JS Bach (Violin Concert #2)

______________________________________________________________________________            

Maria Basile (Artistic Director)

            TBA -  World Premiere (duet)

                        Music: David Crowell (Open Road) 

Hsiang Hsiu Lin (Company DanceArtist/Choreographer)

            The Road Not Taken –World Premiere (duet) 

Gabriel Mata (Company Dance Artist) 

            In This Time

                        World Premiere (4 dancers - 16 min)

                        Music: Franz Liszt - (Benedictus und Offertorium aus der ungarischer Krönungsmesse)

____________________________________________________________________________

Gabriel Mata (Company Dance Artist)  

            Boundless Trajectory (2017)                                                            

           Company Premiere (Solo – 12 min)

                        Music & Text: Gabriel Mata (recorded)

______________________________________________________________________________

José Limón 

            Suite from Mazurkas (1958)

                        Revival (4 sections - 4 dancers – 10 min)

                        Music: Frederic Chopin

 ______________________________________________________________________________

ABOUT US

sjDANCEco is a year-round contemporary dance company based in San Jose, California that produces world premieres by its core and guest choreographers, and presents the very best of Contemporary and Classic Modern Dance and Masterpieces of the American Modern Dance Repertory. In addition to a full season of dance concerts, sjDANCEco also is a major participant each Spring in free outdoor dance presentations during National Dance Week, international dance festivals, and has a full schedule of contemporary dance classes for the advanced and professional dancer. sjDANCEco ignites the spirit of dance.

sjDANCEco’s ChoreoProject Spring Edition

Who: sjDANCEco

What: ChoreoProject, Spring Edition

When - Friday, March 23 @ 8:00 pm and Saturday, March 24 @ 10:30am, 4:30pm & 8:00pm

Where - Location: SJSU Dance Theatre. One Washington Square, San Jose, CA The theater is located in the Spartan Complex building on the San Jose State University Campus near 4th Street and San Carlos Street. (Nearby inexpensive parking at City of San Jose garage on San Carlos Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets.

Tickets - $20 (students), $25 (seniors), $30 (general)

BOX OFFICE: 408.520.9854   www.sjDANCEco.org

Why: Since it’s inception in 2005, sjDANCEco has given opportunity to more than 100 choreographers from the Bay Area (and beyond) the chance to present their dances to audiences in the ChoreoProject programs.  

This year’s Spring edition of the ChoreoProject is geared toward Youth Groups. "For Youth - By Youth." Young dancers (age 13 - 18) from around the Bay and beyond are brought together in an unique program dedicated to the future of dance in an opportunity to share vital and vibrant dance by aspiring youth dancers and choreographers. 

More Information: Groups are still be added, but the following are currently confirmed: Los Gatos Ballet, Independence High School (San Jose), New Ballet School (San Jose), East West Music and Dance (San Jose), Spector Dance Youth Group (Marina), Xiaopei Dance School (Pleasanton), Westlake School for the Performing Arts (Daly City), Urmila Vudali Bharatanatyam (Palo Alto) and Northern California Dance Conservatory (Roseville). Other groups expressing interest are from San Francisco, Berkeley, Monterey, Dublin, and Oakland.

sjDANCEco presents program of World Premieres with “On The Edge” Feb 16 & 17 in San Jose

WHO: sjDANCEco presents

WHAT: "On The Edge"

WHEN: Friday, February 16 and Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 2:30pm & 7:00pm 

WHERE: SJSU Dance Theater; SPX 216. 

The theater is located in the Spartan Complex building on the San Jose State University Campus at One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95112 near 4th Street and San Carlos.

Inexpensive parking is available at the City garage on San Carlos between 2nd and 3rd Streets.

WHY: The South Bay and the East Bay come together in sjDANCEco’s winter offering, “On The Edge”, a shared bill of contemporary choreography. "On the Edge" was initiated to give greater opportunity to sjDANCEco's seasoned and aspiring company choreographers. It brings together an evening of World Premieres by Company dancer/choreographers Hannah McNany, Kelisha Gardeen, Katherine House, Jazmyn Turner and Danielle Galvez. Diablo Ballet's Resident Choreographer, Robert Dekkers, presents the touching duet "No One Does It Like You" performed to music by Department of Eagles.  The ballet, originally created for Arizona's NovaBallet premiered in July of 2010 at the Tempe Center for the Arts in Tempe, Arizona. 

TICKETS: $30 General, $25 Senior (65 & up). $20 Student (w/student ID) - plus fees for all tickets levels.

BOX OFFICE: 408.520.9854   www.sjDANCEco.org

PHOTO CAPTION: sjDANCEco1.jpg.  

ABOUT US: sjDANCEco is a year-round contemporary dance company based in San Jose, California that produces world premieres by its core and guest choreographers, and presents the very best of Contemporary and Classic Modern Dance and Masterpieces of the American Modern Dance Repertory. In addition to a full season of dance concerts, sjDANCEco also is a major participant each Spring in free outdoor dance presentations during National Dance Week, international dance festivals, and has a full schedule of contemporary dance classes for the advanced and professional dancer. sjDANCEco ignites the spirit of dance.

sjDANCEco is a registered 501c3.  Fed ID 61-1446985

Photo Clockwise from Top Left: Dancer/choreographers Hannah McNany, Frankie Reviera, Kelisha Gardeen and Katherine House. Photo by Thomas Hassing.

ROOTS & WINGS opens sjDANCEco’s 15th Anniversary Season

Now celebrating 15 years in Downtown San Jose, sjDANCEco is proud to kick off their anniversary season with "ROOTS & WINGS." The performance will pair contemporary and classic modern dance with live music by the San Jose Chamber Orchestra. The company will do three performances in San Jose at the Hammer Theater, followed by two performances in San Francisco. All of the details and links to ticket sales are in the press release below.

ROOTS & WINGS opens sjDANCEco’s 15th Anniversary Season

Performances to be held in both San Jose and San Francisco

WHO:  sjDANCEco presents

WHAT: ROOTS & WINGS (Season Opening Program shown in two different venues)

WHEN: October 12 and 14 in San Jose.  November 3 and 4 in San Francisco

WHERE:

The Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio in downtown San Jose, CA 95113

Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 8:00pm

Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 2:30pm and 8:00pm

Tickets Available August 1st 

Single Tickets: $25 to $90

$25    Student

$35    Senior

$40    General

$60    VIP Thursday evening & Saturday matinee includes bests seats in the house and reception with the dancers in the lobby following performances.

$90    VIP Saturday evening includes bests seats in the house and Gala Reception with dancers on Theatre Roof Top Garden

ODC Theater, 3153 17th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

Friday, November 3, 2017 at 8:00pm

Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 8:00pm

Tickets Available August 1st

Single Tickets: $25 to $40

$25    Student

$35    Senior

$40    General

Box Office: 408.520.9854   www.sjDANCEco.org

WHY: sjDANCEco, San José’s contemporary dance company, celebrates its 15th Anniversary Season with multiple world premieres and expanded venues including the Hammer Theatre Center in downtown San Jose (October 12 and 14), and ODC Theater in San Francisco (November 3 and 4.) According to Artistic Director Gary Masters, “this is only the second time in our fifteen years, that we have brought our company to these two marvelous venues. We are so very excited to be back. Our Season-Opening program, entitled Roots & Wings, will explore the diverse inspirations and contributions that have been the foundation…the roots of creativity...for our resident choreographers and which have made and continue to make sjDANCEco’s repertory so distinctive.”

THE PROGRAM:

sjDANCEco’s 2017-2018 season-opening program will feature four World Premieres by; sjDANCEco Artistic Director Maria Basile, sjDANCEco Choreographic Advisor & Professor of Dance at San Jose State University Fred Mathews, Company Choreographer and dancer Hsiang Hsiu Lin, and by former company dancer Nhan Ho. Each new work will explore the choreographer’s Roots and the inspirations that give them Wings to excite and motivate their creativity. Also on the program will be a revival of Journey Through the Labyrinth originally created in 1994 for the Limón West Dance Project/San José and Idance of Independence High, with choreography by Artistic Director Gary Masters and set to a new commissioned score by Michael Touchi, Creative Consultant for the San Jose Chamber Orchestra. The revival will include a new section with choreography by Los Lupeños de San José Artistic Director Sam Cortez. The “Classic Offering” for these performances will be the Company Premiere of Doris Humphrey’s masterpiece, Day on Earth (1947) set to Aaron Copland’s “Sonata for Piano.” 

Collaboration with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Barbara Day Turner continues to highlight the company’s signature brand of contemporary dance and classic works of the American Modern Dance Repertory.

Photo Clockwise from Top Left: Hannah McNany, Frankie Reviera, Kelisha Gardeen and Katherine House, Photo by Thomas Hassing.

City Dance 2017

Free outdoor dance classes are returning to Downtown San Jose. Every Thursday between August 24th and October 12th, a different genre of dance will be taught at Plaza de Cesar Chavez. You have everything from Salsa to Hip Hop to Disco. Even Bollywood and Zydeco are on the list this year.

Classes begin at 6pm and the lessons go for about an hour. Then between 7-9pm you can practice what you learned to live music. All are welcome and again, these classes are completely free. If that isn't enough to entice you, there will also be a beer garden and street food.

For more info, head over here.

Loving Day 2017 - June 10th, 11-3pm in SoFA

One of San Jose's biggest strengths it its diversity. In fact, we are statistically the most diverse metro in the United States. It gives us a unique culture with a better perspective of challenges around the globe as well as the wonderful opportunity to access traditions different than the ones we grew up with. The more diverse we are, the stronger our culture and society will be.

Loving Day is a celebration of the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized interracial marriage in the US. Shockingly, this happened only 50 years ago with the case Loving v. Virginia.

San Jose's first event in honor of Loving Day will take place on June 10th at Parque de los Pobladores from 11am-3pm. There will be music, dancing, arts and crafts, a food truck, and plenty of good times. For more info, head over to the San Jose Loving Day Facebook page.

CityDance San Jose starts tonight

CityDance San Jose is a series of free professional dance instruction at Plaza de Cesar Chavez. The first lesson is this evening and the party continues every Thursday for the next seven weeks. Music will be provided by local bands and there will be plenty of dancing and good times after the lessons. An added bonus is a beer garden and food trucks from 5:30pm to 9pm.

Each week features a different type of dance--from Salsa to Bollywood to the Argentine Tango. Check out the schedule below:

• Sept. 1 – Salsa, instruction by Eddie Valdez and music by Los Boleros.
• Sept. 8 – Country Two-Step, instruction by Michelle Crozier and music by Country Cougars.
• Sept. 15 – Hustle, instruction by Eddie Valdez and music by Alfie and XS.
• Sept. 22 – East Coast Swing, instruction by Lesley McIntosh, music by The Fabulous CruiseTones.
• Sept. 29 – Bollywood, instruction by Joti Singh, music by DJ Puran Singh of KGS Entertainment featuring Gagan Singh Dholi, Dhol Player.
• Oct. 6 – Argentine Tango, instruction by Conor McClure and music by Tangonero Trio with Claudio Ortega and DJ Steve.
• Oct. 13 – Foxtrot, instruction by Hans Schmidt and music by The Serenaders.
• Oct. 20 – Rumba/Merengue, instruction by Michelle Crozier and music by The Alison Sharino Band.

Oh, and while you are at Plaza de Cesar Chavez don't forget to try out The Swings.

Source: SVBJ