La La La Human Steps is one of the more thrilling dance companies today. I saw them perform last month and their sexy urban chic style was thrilling.

Their piece entitled New Work, one of their more conservative dances, explores power in relationships. It comment on the male gaze, as well as gender relations. The dancers’ movement often seemed mechanized, with the men frequently manipulating their female partners’ motions. It’s a beauty!

Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, is a New York based troupe that whose dancers are one of a kind…limitless range and possibilities! This past weekend, they performed at George Mason University’s Arts Center.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/cedar-lake-contemporary-ballets-dexterity-on-display-at-george-mason/2012/03/11/gIQAzmNv5R_story.html

PINA is a feature-length dance film in 3D with the ensemble of the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, featuring the unique and inspiring art of the great German choreographer, who died in the summer of 2009.

PINA is a film for Pina Bausch by Wim Wenders.
I hope you like it.:)

Doug E. Fresh, the very first beatbox pioneer in the history of rap/hip-hop, teaches about the history of beatbox, his personal style of delivery and generally amazes with his world class, inimitable flow.

If you don’t yet know how to DOUGIE… now you know… dance lesson time! :)

Los Angeles Dance Festival to debut in a busy April:

With the goal of highlighting local dance, Diavolo Dance Theater and Brockus Project are co-producing a new Los Angeles Dance Festival, April 14 and 15, at the Brewery Arts Complex. So far, 16 contemporary dance companies have signed up to participate, including Barak Marshall’s dance company, Oni Dance, Kybele Dance Theater and Lula Washington Dance Theatre.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2012/02/los-angeles-dance-festival-debut-april.html

The festival is geared not only for audiences but also for local dancers — especially college students — looking to become better acquainted with the area’s professional companies.

Happy to see the dance scene in LA expand! Here’s a piece by LA’s Diavolo Dance Theater. I like them a lot.

Hong Kong’s biggest arts festival in 40th year:

The 2012 Hong Kong Arts Festival is currently underway, with more than 170 performances over five weeks by international superstars as well as local acts.

http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20120201-hong-kongs-biggest-arts-festival

The festival, which runs from 28 January to 8 March will include a series by the Lyon Opera Ballet that pays homage to three great choreographers: George Balanchine, Maguy Marin and Benjamin Millepied.

The 15th Alabama Dance Festival, which started Friday and continues through Jan. 30, reveals examples of a sweeping move toward globalization in modern dance:

A Korean choreographer sets a piece about Muhammad Ali, working with hip-hop dancers.

http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/01/alabama_dance_festival_explori.html

A Japanese artist works with an Urban Bush Women choreographer in New Orleans, along with artists from Burkina Faso and Jamaica.

Ronald Brown, director of the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Evidence, A Dance Company, has incorporated dance from the Senegambia region of West Africa in his own choreography.

The dance scene in Alabama has grown to become very vibrant!

Not many people can move Lady Gaga to tears with their dancing. Marko Germar did. His talent is so powerful and passionate. Here’s a look back at how it’s done.

Spoleto Festival USA is fast approaching. The festival will take place in 14 venues across the country, in theaters, churches and open-air sites from May 25 through June 10. there’s an amazing line up of concerts, chamber music, visual arts, acrobatic performances and dance. 140 shows in all.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/spoleto-festival-usa-new-season-lineup-includes-kd-lang-premiere-of-glass-opera/2011/12/31/gIQAq3UTSP_story.html

The Philip Glass opera “Kepler,” will have its American premiere during the Festival. The opera is about astronomer Johannes Kepler…awesome!

The dance lineup includes performances by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet….always beautiful!

The internationally known arts festival was started in Charleston in 1977 by composer Gian Carlo Menotti as a companion to his Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy. Here’s the performance line up: http://www.spoletousa.org/home/