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Weekend Preview

Kettly Noel in Correspondences, part of Voices of Strength
this weekend at the Moore Theater
Photo by Eric Boudet
Seattle boasts a thriving and diverse dance community with the good fortune to have multiple shows to choose from each weekend. SeattleDances is pleased to begin its newest addition to the site, the Weekend Preview, to help the intrepid dance-goer decide what to see and when and where the curtains are rising. This weekend has much to offer: Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Cinderella, Voices of Strength at the Moore Theater, and Split Bill World Premier and Battle for the Dance Belt, both at VelocityDanceCenter.
Cinderella:

PNB performs weekend two of Cinderella as their opener for their 40th season. Full of glitter, lush costumes, and exquisite dancing, this is a ballet all ages will enjoy. Find a more in depth review here, or at the Seattle Times here. Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 pm, with a Saturday and Sunday matinee at 1:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.pnb.org/.

Voices of Strength:

This two-evening “mini-festival” features work created and performed by African women delving into political and social themes, surrounding the struggle for women’s empowerment. From traditional styles to dance-theater techniques, the tour provides a rare opportunity to see the diversity of contemporary dance across the African continent. Presented by MAPP International Productions, their Seattleperformances follow appearances in both New Yorkand Chicago.

Program One, on Friday, September 28, features Kettly Noel of Haiti/Mali and Nelisiwe Xaba of South Africa in Correspondences as well as Nadia Beaugré of Côte d’Ivoire in Quartiers Libres. Program Two, on Saturday the 29, presents Maria Helena Pinto of Mozambique in Sombra and Bouchra Ouizguen of Morocco in Madame Plaza. Both performances are at 8:00 pm at the Moore Theater. Tickets can be purchased at http://stgpresents.org/artists/?artist=1931#.

See what the New York Times has to say about the show here.


Split Bill World Premier:

Two emerging choreographers on the Seattle scene, Sean B. Cormack and Amanda Oie, present an evening of three new works, including two self-choreographed solos. Oie’s solo draws on both her Spanish and modern dance influences while Cormack’s hopes to tap into individual’s connections with one another and with society as a whole. Performances are on Friday and Saturday at VelocityDanceCenterat 8:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/256066.

Battle for the Dance Belt:

This second annual competition features nine local companies, duke-ing it out for the “platinum” dance belt. The lucky winner receives $100, a gift certificate for 5 hours of studio time at VelocityDanceCenter, and a case of PBR.  The brain-child of Xaviera Vandermay, director of 3rd Shift Dance (who will also be performing), the show boasts styles ranging from tap, to hip hop, to contemporary, and encourages loud, boisterous audience members to gauge the winning group. Companies performing include badmarmar dance, SerenDIP Modern Dance Company, DeadPan Monkeys, Electriq Dance, Kyle Scott, VJ Frijas, Lou Henry Hoover, The Boom-Katzz, and Marae. This is a 1-night only show on Sunday, September 30, at VelocityDanceCenterat 6:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased at http://redwhiteandbruised.brownpapertickets.com/