February 2012
Dance
Menu of this month's listings, stories and columns
Look Who’s Dancing 2012 — The celebrity dance event is 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at NMSU’s Pan American Center. Las Cruces community leaders and local personalities and their DanceSport partners compete against each other in friendly contest. DanceSport students choreograph the dances, instruct, and perform with the local celebrities. Tickets: $9-$14. (Ticketmaster). Information: (575) 646-1420 or dance.nmsu.edu/lookwhosdancing/.
Belly Dance Extravaganza 2012 — Dance Alive and special guests present an evening of dance and music at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Chamizal National Memorial, 800 S. San Marcial. Admission: $10. Information: 566-1742 or 544-0364.
Dance Alive is led by Lorraine Alvarez Portilla, local performer and dance instructor.
Lorraine will lead free workshops 10-11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 28-29, at the Chamizal on “Belly Dance Favorite Moves & Yoga for Belly Dancers.”
Six other dance workshops will be presented Jan. 28-29 at the Chamizal by guest instructors. Cost is $10 each or $50 for all six.
Saturday: 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Ginnina, “Zils”; 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Anala, “Ooey-Gooey Chifti”;1:45 to 2:45 p.m.; Selena Kareena, “Veil Combinations.”
Sunday: 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Nisreen, “Accents & Rhythms in Drum Solo”; 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Nancy, “Funky Fusion”; 1:45 to 2:45 p.m., Kareesha, “Total Requests Live.”
El Paso Youth Ballet auditions — The annual auditions for admission into El Paso Youth Ballet are 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, at 1060 Doniphan Park Circle, Suite H. Students age 11 to 13 should attend the Intermediate class 10:30 to noon and students ages 13-21 should attend the advanced class noon to 1:30 p.m. Current company members are required to audition for renewal of their contracts. Registration takes place 15 minutes prior to each audition. Proper ballet attire is expected, and female dancers must have pointe shoes in addition to ballet slippers. Information: 760-6062 (studio) or Director Marta Katz, 252-5601.
Those selected will be given the opportunity to work with Ballet Metropolitano of Monterrey in the Production of “La Fille Mal Gardée” as well as the production of “Swan Lake.”
Big Band Dance Club — The club sponsors dances at Court Youth Center, 402 W. Court, in Las Cruces. Dances are 8 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3 and 17, and Thursday, Feb. 9 and 23. Age 21 and older welcome. Beginners, singles and couples welcome; no dance partner necessary. Cost: $7 Fridays (CD music nights); and $9 ($7 members) on live music Thursdays with High Society Orchestra. Information: (575) 526-6504 or bigbanddanceclub.org.
Beginner’s group dance lesson at 7 p.m. led by John Giusto; free with paid admission.
The Feb. 9 dance is a semi-formal Valentine Dance.
Tango workshops — Paso del Norte Tango Club hosts tango workshops during February. Information: Cynthia, 422-3338 or pasodelnortetangoclub.com.
• Tango Valz Workshop — Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, at Shundo Dance Studio, 2719 N. Stanton. Learn basic tango steps in the Tango Valz musical style; no partner needed. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes with a leather sole (preferably); no mules or slingbacks. Cost: $25.
• Beginners II Tango Workshop Sacadas & Paradas y Mas — 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 and 24, at Shundo Dance Studio. Cost: $20 for one workshop; $30 for both. Information: 422-3338 or 532-2043.
• Milonga Tango Workshop — Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 4. Learn the basics of the Milonga style of dance and how to create your own combinations.
The club’s Bella Napoli Tango Night is 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, at Bella Napoli Restaurant, 6331 N. Mesa, with dancing, Italian food and live music. Information: 584-3321 or 422-3338.
‘Pachuco Zoot: A Tale of Identity’ - The UTEP Department of Theatre and Dance presents its spring dance performance Feb. 10-19 in the Fox Fine Arts Wise Family Theatre. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $12 ($10 UTEP faculty/staff, seniors, military, groups of 10 or more and non-UTEP students; $9 UTEP students and children age 4 to 12). Information: 747-5118 or theatredance.utep.edu.
The headliner piece for this year’s concert is a dance theatre work that traces the origination of the Pachuco culture from its origin in the El Paso/Juarez region to the creation of the highly theatrical Zoot Suit culture. To complement this piece, UTEP faculty and guest artists will present newly choreographed pieces highlighting various themes and dance forms.
Chinese New Year Celebration - Century Dance presents its first celebration of the Chinese New Year at 3 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Chamizal National Memorial, 800 S. San Marcial. This celebration of the Asian culture includes the Chinese Lion, Mongolian Chopstick, Ribbon, Flower Drum, Chinese Classical Ballet’s Butterfly Girl, Chinese Martial Arts and more. Admission is free. Information: 532-7273.
Contra Dancing — The Southern New Mexico Music and Dance Society’s monthly contra dance is 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at Mesilla Community Center, 2251 Calle de Santiago, Mesilla. This month’s band is the Bayou Seco & Fiddling Friends from Silver City; Theme is Mardi Gras. Callers are Lonnie Ludeman & Lewis Land. The dance begins with beginners lessons; no partner needed. Cost: $6 ($5 age 17 and younger). Information: (575) 522-1691 or snmmds.org.
The contra dances are old-time dances are done in long lines, accompanied by live, Appalachian-style music.
Pasion Flamenca — Gallegos y Baile Flamenco, one of the Southwest’s premiere Flamenco troupes, performs traditional flamenco guitar, song, and dance at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 17, Chamizal National Memorial, 800 S. San Marcial. Tickets: $15. Information/reservations: 755-1414.
Viva Tango Dance Social — The Viva Tango Club meets 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, at Mexico Lindo 123 S. Carolina. Everyone who enjoys tango music and dance with its traditions is welcome. No partner necessary; club members can help show beginners a few basic steps. Cost: $3 per person. Information: 592-9611.
Lessons and classes
Belly dance classes — Kareesha Willow, who has more than 10 years’ teaching experience, hosts belly dance classes for all levels 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays at El Paso Conservatory of Dance, 1060 Doniphan Park Circle, Suite H. Information: 585-6825 or kareeshawillow@yahoo.com.
Belly dance, Yoga classes — Dance Alive offers classes Monday through Thursday at 2120 Montana. Instructor is Lorraine Alvarez Portilla. Yoga classes are 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Belly dance classes are 6 to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, and 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Cost is $50 for eight classes ($10 for drop-ins). Information: 566-1742.
Introductory Flamenco — Linda Gallegos teaches exciting and beautiful Spanish dance in four lessons 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays at Shundo Dance Studio, 2719 Stanton. Information: 6755-1414.
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Roundup
Music
Dance
Here's the Ticket
Program Notes
On Stage
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Southwest Art Scene
At the Museum
History Lessons
Nature
Film Scene
Keep on Bookin'
Becoming Bicultural
Liner Notes
Stage Talk
Gallery Talk
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