Whether you've been hoofing it at the Century Ballroom for the last decade or you're just curious about Capitol Hill's version of an old-time dance hall, be sure to drop in and join the fun this weekend.
For the Century's 10th anniversary celebration, owner Hallie Kuperman has invited longtime crowd pleasers to pack the weekend with swing, salsa, tap and all the other types of dance. Bands like Pearl Django and the Solomon Douglas Swingtet will be there as well as such local favorites as the Total Experience Gospel Choir.
"It was important to me that everyone involved has a history with the Century Ballroom," said Kuperman. "I didn't want to just bring in people who had never played here before. It's going to be lots of old friends and people who have worked here coming back to celebrate."
The long weekend of dance begins a special salsa session with Congo-born singer Ricardo Lemvo and his band Makina Loca on Thursday. Like most Century Ballroom dances, the night begins with a lesson at 9 p.m. and the dance at 9:30 p.m. Lemvo's music combines Latin and African rhythms and his songs encourage people to cut loose and dance the night away. This is the most expensive event of the weekend, with tickets $20 at the door ($15 in advance). It is also a 21-and-older event as the bar will be open at the Century Ballroom.
For the rest of the weekend, the dances will be the usual $5 cover charge for the dances at the Century Ballroom, the all-ages HaLo and the all-ages Velocity dance venue (Sunday only).
A free art show called "Dancers Capture Dance" will be up at HaLo, 500 E. Pike St., Second Floor. At the Century Ballroom, a continuous slide show of past dances at the venue will be playing throughout the weekend.
"Encouraging people to dance is really the goal of Century Ballroom and HaLo, especially to develop that next generation of dancers," said Kuperman. "I think the social dances for young people are one of the most important things that we can do."
Whether it is the growing popularity of such old-time dances as swing or Lindy Hop among younger dancers or the number of people who come from all over the city to sample the Latin dances, Kuperman finds it "pretty amazing to me the number of people who take classes and the number of people who come here to dance."
A complete list of all the bands and singers expected for the event will be posted this week at www.centuryballroom.com or drop by the venue to pick up a schedule. The Century Ballroom is located at 915 E. Pine St., Second Floor of the Oddfellows Temple building.
Tudor at Town Hall
The Tudor Choir moves from St. Marks to Town Hall for a special performance of "Fireworks," a program of choral works that "put the human voice on brilliant display," according the choir director Doug Fullington. Expanding to 24 singers for this event, the Tudor Choir presents modern works by Arvo Part and John Tavener along with Renaissance composers Nicolas Gombert, Antoine Brumel and others.
The "Qui habitat" (first eight verses of Psalm 91) of Josquin Desprez, who composed for the papal choir from 1486 to 1499, requires all 24 singers with a quadruple cannon written for six equal voices. This work for six sopranos, six altos, six tenors and six basses is extraordinary for its time due to the number of passages with all 24 parts being sung at the same time.
"Fireworks" begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave. (8th and Seneca). Tickets are $25 for general admission with discounts for seniors and students.
Also, inspired by the late conductor Hans Wolf, Seattle's Gilbert & Sullivan Society has launched a winter series of operettas. A Seattle resident, retired chorus master of Seattle Opera and fierce champion of operetta, Wolf would stage a concert version of a classic from his native Austria each year. The Gilbert & Sullivan Society opens their first tribute to operetta with one of the most frothy and enduring works, Franz Lehar's "Merry Widow."
This production will be given for two performances at Town Hall on Friday, Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 25, 2 p.m. Tickets are $26 at the door with discounts for students and seniors or call for more information: 206-682-0769.
Depending on audience response, the Gilbert & Sullivan Society hopes to make this an annual event.
[[In-content Ad]]
