DANCE

Dance Month at the Kaplan Theatre 2010 celebrates three decades of dance showcasing Houston’s talent as well as national dancers, teachers and choreographers. The Jewish Community Center of Houston will host a series of performances, concerts and workshops January 7 through February 20, 2010.

The festivities kick off with Celebrate Dance January 7 at 7:00 p.m. The event honors Houston’s premier presenters who have helped cultivate the Houston dance community. They are: June Christensen, Society for the Performing Arts, Andrea Cody, Dance Houston, Christina Giannelli, Dance Source Houston, Nancy Henderek, Dance Salad, Sixto Wagan, DiverseWorks, Jennifer Wood and Louie Saletan, Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex. Brad Marks, Champion Benefactor of Dance, will be honored for underwriting the I W Marks Master Class Series, which allows hundreds of students to take classes from dance masters.

Opening weekend of Dance Month is January 15-17. Workshops will feature Israeli folk dance. Ofer Alfasi, the young Markid (dance leader) from the south of Israel who has been making a mark both at home and abroad returns to lead Tirkedu Houston!  The Jewish Community Center Dance Month presents Houston Ballet II in Around the World in Seven Dances, as part of the Children’s Performing Arts Series being performed on Sunday, January 17.

LehrerDance is coming to Dance Month January 30 and 31. The contemporary dance company from New York is comprised of eight individuals who bring their own unique skills to dance including break-dancing, modern, ballet and gymnastics.

The Jewish Community Center is proud to bring back Triple Focus as part of Dance Month at the Kaplan Theatre February 6, featuring Ad Deum Dance Company, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company and Urban Souls Dance Company. Ranging in style from jazz to classical, these three professional local companies will premier one new work and one piece from their repertory.
Master classes and workshops continue to be an integral part of Dance Month. The artistic leaders of Triple Focus will come together to give a Contemporary Master Class on February 4.

Thursday, January 14, Dance Month will feature The Mark Morris Dance Group Master Class,  as part of the I W Marks Master Class Series. And on Sunday, January 24, X-Dancing Master Class with Alex Arizpe, a class for ages 13 and up.

And don't miss Dancing the Night Away, an evening of ballroom dancing, Saturday, February 20.

For more information on Dance Month including performance, concerts, master classes and workshops, please visit www.jcchouston.org , or www.spa.org .

You can call 713-729-3200 ext. 3223 or email Maxine Silberstein at msilberstein@jcchouston.org.

Dance Month at the Kaplan Theatre is funded, in part, by the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston. Continental Airlines, JCC Patrons of the Arts, a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Endowment Inc. JP Morgan Chase, Mid America Arts Alliance and RBC Dain Rauscher. Marriott Houston Westchase is the official hotel of the JCC.