May is Seaside Dance Month!
Three exciting Saturdays will feature dance performances by both local and national dance companies, with guest artists from all around the world in the Seaside Amphitheater, May 7, 14 and 21, at 6 p.m. Ballet Pensacola, the Joffrey Ballet Concert Group and professional dancers will perform ballet, contemporary, tap, hip hop, and more. There is no admission to attend the performances and guests can book accommodations at www.seasidefl.com/vacation/rentals/.
May 7, 14, 21
Join us for three weekends of dance performances featuring Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, Ballet Pensacola and “An Evening of Dance” as we establish May as SEASIDE Dance Month!
Performances in the Seaside Amphitheater:
May 7 | 6pm
Joffrey Ballet Concert Group
May 14 | 6pm
Ballet Pensacola
May 21 | 6pm
An Evening of Dance with Joffrey Ballet Concert Group
Mesmerizing the audience last year with its debut performance in Seaside, the New York City based Joffrey Ballet Concert Group is back in full swing on Saturday, May 7, at 6 p.m. in the Seaside Amphitheater. The one and a half hour show will include 30 Joffrey company members performing a variety of dances ranging from modern and jazz to classical ballet. The Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, the performance company of the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, is under the direction of DavisRobertson, choreographer and artistic director.
“After a magnificent performance and standing ovation last year, the Joffrey Ballet Concert Group is back to bring our community yet another outstanding dance performance filled with excitement, variety, and intrigue. This performance will be equal to a show one would see in New York, Atlanta, or Chicago, except it’s in the magical atmosphere of Seaside.” said Seleta Hayes Howard, Seaside Nutcracker Ballet Mistress and Special Projects Director.
The Joffrey Ballet Concert Group has dazzled audiences all over the world for more than 50 years. The Joffrey Ballet School has remained on the forefront of American dance education since 1953. The school’s most advanced students are chosen by audition to perform and the company serves as a platform for some of the nation’s best young dancers to launch their professional careers at major dance companies such as American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Miami City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and other companies throughout the United States and Europe.š
On May 14 at 6 p.m., Ballet Pensacola returns also for its second performance in Seaside. Featuring both classical and contemporary dance, Ballet Pensacola promises a repertory evening. “We like to mix it up,” says Richard Steinert, artistic director for Ballet Pensacola. “We’ll have some ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ moments, and choreography from our ‘Divas’ tour, which includes music by Billy Holliday and Beyonce.”
Steinert has worked in repertory companies throughout the United States and since his inaugural season as artistic director in 2007, he has held the attention of the ballet and arts community through a series of critically acclaimed performances and projects directed at broadening the experience of the dance enthusiast. The company will perform “Swan Lake’s” Pas de Trois also. And fresh off the company’s recent performance of “Swing, Swang, Swung,” Ballet Pensacola dancers will perform a lighthearted dance with original choreography by Steinert and Christine Duhon and music by the “King of Swing” Benny Goodman.
Drawing professional dancers from around the globe, Ballet Pensacola is known for its innovative, diverse and collaborative style of theatre and dance. Ballet Pensacola not only finds audiences in Northwest Florida, but also throughout the United States through its successful touring program. “What’s really cool about dance,” explains Steinert, “is that it really inspires the audience to get emotionally involved because there are no words. We cannot and do not prescribe anything about what they should be feeling. Unlike actors, we are interpreting with our bodies. With dance having such a resurgence now, performing in Seaside is a great banner of what this part of the artistic world means and how it is changing in society.”
On May 21, Seaside Dance Month culminates with an anticipatedgala performance featuring various guest artists from New York City Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Bad Boys of Dance, BARE Dance Company, Yin Yue Dance Company, Ballet of Canada and more. This is slated to be an electric, variety-packed performance filled with power, artistry and pure excitement—perfect for the serious dance lover or someone who simply loves performing arts entertainment.
The month of dance will also feature local area dancers. During the Joffrey Ballet Concert Group’s visit the first week of May, Seaside will host a dance workshop instructed by Davis Robertson of the Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, Tuesday-Thursday, May 3-5, from 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Local dancers, ages 13 and up, intermediate level and above, may participate by emailing the registration form to showard@seasidefl.com. The form can be downloaded from www.seasidefl.com/highlights/ . The cost of the workshop is $125 for all three days, or $50 per day if attending 1-2 days. Deposits are due by May 1 to Lori Smith in Seaside at 121 Central Square, 2nd floor, Suite I. “Mr. Robertson travels the world and teaches in countries including Russia and Italy, and we are so fortunate to have him here again to teach our local talent,” says Hayes Howard.
After putting in the hard work and enhancing their dance skills in the three-day workshop, participants will perform a demonstration on May 4, the final day of the workshop, at 5 p.m. in the Seaside Amphitheater. “It’s a wonderful way to feature Mr. Robertson’s teaching with our community, and for dancers to share their work with family and friends,” Hayes Howard says.
“With Seaside Dance Month, our goal is to engage the community in all forms of dance and offer local dancers educational opportunities with master teachers and directors from around the world,” said Hayes Howard. “This is a wonderful way to ignite a passion for dance in our community and continue educational opportunities for both recreational and pre-professional dance students of all ages,” she said. “It’s also a wonderful way for our community to connect and appreciate dance as art.”
Three exciting Saturdays will feature dance performances by both local and national dance companies, with guest artists from all around the world in the Seaside Amphitheater, May 7, 14 and 21, at 6 p.m. Ballet Pensacola, the Joffrey Ballet Concert Group and professional dancers will perform ballet, contemporary, tap, hip hop, and more. There is no admission to attend the performances and guests can book accommodations at www.seasidefl.com/vacation/rentals/.
May 7, 14, 21
Join us for three weekends of dance performances featuring Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, Ballet Pensacola and “An Evening of Dance” as we establish May as SEASIDE Dance Month!
Performances in the Seaside Amphitheater:
May 7 | 6pm
Joffrey Ballet Concert Group
May 14 | 6pm
Ballet Pensacola
May 21 | 6pm
An Evening of Dance with Joffrey Ballet Concert Group
Mesmerizing the audience last year with its debut performance in Seaside, the New York City based Joffrey Ballet Concert Group is back in full swing on Saturday, May 7, at 6 p.m. in the Seaside Amphitheater. The one and a half hour show will include 30 Joffrey company members performing a variety of dances ranging from modern and jazz to classical ballet. The Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, the performance company of the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, is under the direction of DavisRobertson, choreographer and artistic director.
“After a magnificent performance and standing ovation last year, the Joffrey Ballet Concert Group is back to bring our community yet another outstanding dance performance filled with excitement, variety, and intrigue. This performance will be equal to a show one would see in New York, Atlanta, or Chicago, except it’s in the magical atmosphere of Seaside.” said Seleta Hayes Howard, Seaside Nutcracker Ballet Mistress and Special Projects Director.
The Joffrey Ballet Concert Group has dazzled audiences all over the world for more than 50 years. The Joffrey Ballet School has remained on the forefront of American dance education since 1953. The school’s most advanced students are chosen by audition to perform and the company serves as a platform for some of the nation’s best young dancers to launch their professional careers at major dance companies such as American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Miami City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and other companies throughout the United States and Europe.š
On May 14 at 6 p.m., Ballet Pensacola returns also for its second performance in Seaside. Featuring both classical and contemporary dance, Ballet Pensacola promises a repertory evening. “We like to mix it up,” says Richard Steinert, artistic director for Ballet Pensacola. “We’ll have some ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ moments, and choreography from our ‘Divas’ tour, which includes music by Billy Holliday and Beyonce.”
Steinert has worked in repertory companies throughout the United States and since his inaugural season as artistic director in 2007, he has held the attention of the ballet and arts community through a series of critically acclaimed performances and projects directed at broadening the experience of the dance enthusiast. The company will perform “Swan Lake’s” Pas de Trois also. And fresh off the company’s recent performance of “Swing, Swang, Swung,” Ballet Pensacola dancers will perform a lighthearted dance with original choreography by Steinert and Christine Duhon and music by the “King of Swing” Benny Goodman.
Drawing professional dancers from around the globe, Ballet Pensacola is known for its innovative, diverse and collaborative style of theatre and dance. Ballet Pensacola not only finds audiences in Northwest Florida, but also throughout the United States through its successful touring program. “What’s really cool about dance,” explains Steinert, “is that it really inspires the audience to get emotionally involved because there are no words. We cannot and do not prescribe anything about what they should be feeling. Unlike actors, we are interpreting with our bodies. With dance having such a resurgence now, performing in Seaside is a great banner of what this part of the artistic world means and how it is changing in society.”
On May 21, Seaside Dance Month culminates with an anticipatedgala performance featuring various guest artists from New York City Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Bad Boys of Dance, BARE Dance Company, Yin Yue Dance Company, Ballet of Canada and more. This is slated to be an electric, variety-packed performance filled with power, artistry and pure excitement—perfect for the serious dance lover or someone who simply loves performing arts entertainment.
The month of dance will also feature local area dancers. During the Joffrey Ballet Concert Group’s visit the first week of May, Seaside will host a dance workshop instructed by Davis Robertson of the Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, Tuesday-Thursday, May 3-5, from 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Local dancers, ages 13 and up, intermediate level and above, may participate by emailing the registration form to showard@seasidefl.com. The form can be downloaded from www.seasidefl.com/highlights/ . The cost of the workshop is $125 for all three days, or $50 per day if attending 1-2 days. Deposits are due by May 1 to Lori Smith in Seaside at 121 Central Square, 2nd floor, Suite I. “Mr. Robertson travels the world and teaches in countries including Russia and Italy, and we are so fortunate to have him here again to teach our local talent,” says Hayes Howard.
After putting in the hard work and enhancing their dance skills in the three-day workshop, participants will perform a demonstration on May 4, the final day of the workshop, at 5 p.m. in the Seaside Amphitheater. “It’s a wonderful way to feature Mr. Robertson’s teaching with our community, and for dancers to share their work with family and friends,” Hayes Howard says.
“With Seaside Dance Month, our goal is to engage the community in all forms of dance and offer local dancers educational opportunities with master teachers and directors from around the world,” said Hayes Howard. “This is a wonderful way to ignite a passion for dance in our community and continue educational opportunities for both recreational and pre-professional dance students of all ages,” she said. “It’s also a wonderful way for our community to connect and appreciate dance as art.”
