Archive for the ‘Dance’ Category

I know what you’re doing this summer

Friday, May 17, 2013 by:Jonathan Lucas
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Where are the fans of summer plans?

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, area residents will have just about 100 days to find ways to enjoy what this “unofficial” stretch of summer has to offer. Will you stay to play or travel some distance away to find your bliss?

Do you plan to take a hike, stroll along a main street, take in the sun and surf, hike up a mountain, listen to some music or give outdoor theater a try? Will you be sailing into the sunset or scaling a rock wall? Will you take to the roads, the rails or the water to arrive at your favored destination?

We want to hear from readers about their favorite summer activities and destinations, whether close to home or within a day or two away. Do these activities or places have special meanings? Are they part of a family tradition? Do you have plans to try something new this year?

Send your suggestions to localnews@scni.com by Wednesday, May 22. Please include your name and phone number. We plan to publish the entries during the Memorial Day weekend, which begins Saturday, May 25. Memorial Day is May 27.

Here are a few categories to get you thinking — or daydreaming — about where you’ll be putting your beach blanket or just chilling out this summer. Hit the comments link below to share your suggestions.

Summer, in waves

Fairfield County residents have no lack of waterways in which to play this summer. From the broad expanse of Long Island Sound to the many rivers and streams that crisscross the area, be ready to get your toes wet.

Making a day of it

Connecticut features a multitude of attractions and activities, and there are even more beyond the state’s borders. Whether you take to the roads, the rails or the water to achieve your destination, where are people going?

Having some fun, naturally

Trails, forests, parks, campgrounds and other open spaces will be feeling the tread of visitors’ feet this summer.

Entertaining evenings

Summer nights will be alive with the sound of music, stage craft and cinema.

Youthful pursuits

When the inevitable complaint of boredom crosses your youngsters’ lips, you will be well served to know there are more than a few activities and venues that can turn that frown upside down.

Out and about: Things to see and places to be this weekend

Friday, May 17, 2013 by:Christina Hennessy
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There are other events, of course, too, some of which stretch into the next week.

Aspiring illustrators plan to gather in Westport to enjoy the town library’s first comics convention. Musical fans have several year-end concerts to enjoy, including a performance by the Stamford Young Artists Philharmonic. Christine Lavin will make a return to the Edmond Town Hall in Newtown. Jean-Michel Cousteau will be at the Maritime Aquarium early next week. James McCartney (yes, Paul’s son) will be in New Haven. And, Melissa Ferrick will feature songs from her new record during an appearance in Fairfield.

Like the “American Idol(s)” of today, Jenny Lind captured the attention of America back in 1850, during a tour of the country organized by P.T. Barnum. The singer’s influence continues today with Saturday’s Jenny Lind competition that is part of the Barnum Festival. Meanwhile, Danbury band Standby hopes to attract some attention during a release party at Heirloom Arts Theatre. The Connecticut Choral Society delivers some music, as well.

On stage, A.R. Gurney’s “Black Tie” will receive its Connecticut premiere this weekend in Stratford. And community dancers will take to the stage to raise funds for Curtain Call.

Phew! But, wait …

You can see Pilobolus at the Shubert Theater in New Haven. There will be a full weekend for endangered species at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. A parody of “Harry Potter” comes to Hartford. You can see the stars in Stamford or Danbury. Singer Summer Williams will entertain in Bethel. Westfair Singers will put on a concert in Greenwich. The Travelin’ McCourys and Karla Bonoff will be in Mamaroneck, N.Y. The Capitol Theatre will welcome Iron & Wine and Secret Sisters. Or, perhaps it is a spring doo wop you seek. Motley Crue anyone? Soundgarden? Rave On will be in Westport. And, Connecticut Playmakers will begin two weekends of popular hits.

“Connecticut Inventions and Innovations” will open in Bridgeport. Lidia Bastianich and Faith Middleton will be in Simbsury. And Boothe Memorial Park will mark the beginning of a season in style. You can help the Norwalk Seaport Association open its season on Saturday. You can check out Adopt-A-Dog and Westhill High School’s combined cause. Or, you can walk in support of breast cancer research.

Until next time …

P.S. The Bruce Hornsby show, originally scheduled for Sunday, May 19, at the Ridgefield Playhouse has been postponed because the singer is coping with a “persistent vocal issue,” according to the Playhouse. The show has been rescheduled to Sept. 29. A recent news statement indicated that previously purchased tickets will be honored.

Out and about: Things to see and places to be this weekend

Friday, May 10, 2013 by:Christina Hennessy
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Growing up, Lucie Arnaz did not have far to go to be surrounded by great musicians and great songwriters, she said recently. Early on, this daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz was exposed to the kind of music that teamed winning melodies with moving lyrics.

Arnaz, a Weston resident, is set to appear in Ridgefield on Friday to share some of these classics of the American songbook, but with a twist. She will deliver them with a Latin flavor, honoring her father’s roots. As she noted in a recent article:

He had such a great love of music that all he did was want us to enjoy it with him

Arnaz is not the only musical act set to entertain this weekend. The Fab Faux will be at the Capitol Theatre. Brian LaBlanc will bring out the Diamond on Saturday. Norwalk singer Tangela Smith gives a hometown show on Saturday, which happens to be the same day that Stanwich Congregational Church offers up a spiritual welcome to spring. Barry Manilow can be found at Mohegan Sun.

There’s plenty more music. The Sherman Chamber Ensemble performs Sunday. Nellie McKay comes to the Emelin. Huey Lewis and The News will be in Tarrytown, N.Y., along with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin. The Fairfield County Children’s Choir will share “The Miracle of Singing,” while Musicians from Marlboro will share their talent in Greenwich. There also will be a tribute to Chet Baker in Westport.

Robert Dean, Tom Shillue, Mike Epps, Donnell Rawlings, Nazareth, Lily Tomlin and Jodi Weiner are some of the comics making their way to stages throughout the state. On stage you can find “Cirque Ziva,” “Seascape,” “The Dixie Swim Club,” “30! TAW Celebrates,” “Of Mice and Men,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Showstoppers on Stage” all on area stages.

If you plan to go out, there is the Norwalk Regional Tree Festival and art exhibitions up on display at the Glass House grounds. There is a special evening of art and music planned at the site for Friday. Meanwhile, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is hosting a Mother’s Day event (consider this a reminder: Mother’s Day is Sunday.) The Bartlett Arboretum will be hosting a plant sale, too. Or, even if you plan to stay in, you can hear from someone who has his eyes to the outside. Audubon Greenwich will welcome Alvaro Jaramillo, senior biologist at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, for a talk about birder’s brains.

Dance events include the Center Stage showcase in Stamford, “Dance Across China” in Ridgefield and a performance of “Snow White” in Purchase, N.Y. The visual arts offer up a number of events, as well, including several openings and ongoing shows. These include new shows at the Loft Artists Association, New Canaan Library, Bruce Museum, and Flinn Gallery and Stamford’s Mayor’s Gallery.

If you are looking for a cool day trip, get yourself onto a train into Grand Central to check out the Parade of Trains, just one of many events scheduled this year to honor the terminal’s 100th anniversary.

Until next time …

 

 

Out and about: Things to see and places to be this weekend

Friday, April 26, 2013 by:Christina Hennessy
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For fans of the absurd and incongruous, the year 2010 marked a watershed moment. For it was in Madison, Wis., that purveyors of the found and forgotten came together for the first time. On Saturday, in Danbury, the two will come together again.

Heirloom Arts Theatre is hosting an evening of Found Vs. Found, which pits the creators behind the Found Footage Festival with the people behind Found Magazine. Found videos will go up against found notes and the victor will be determined by a jury. Get ready to see unusual clips of exercise videos and listen to missives that range from the mundane to the sublime.

Of course, such a rich stew of human behavior may not be what you are looking for this weekend. If that is the case, your music offerings include visits by country rock pioneer Poco, cornet player Kirk Knuffke, The Fab Faux, Mystic Bowie and Anthem, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Max Creek and Tower of Power. Some classical performances are expected to be turned in, too, including a special concert, “Mozart and Constance: Love Letters” in Greenwich, “LIFE: A Journey Through Time” in Hartford, The Declassfied, and a Festival Chorus. You can even check out some bug music.

On stage, the “Fifty Shades of Grey” book series gets a send-up with “50 Shades! The Musical” in Waterbury. A.R. Gurney’s “The Dining Room” opens in Westport. And a 1978 film “In a Year with 13 Moons” inspires a live stage production at Yale Rep. Indian cultural traditions will take center stage in Stamford, while “Cole” continues in Westport. “The Twin Desperados” roll into Bridgeport and “Alice in Wonderland,” will be staged in Danbury.

Some big festivals are hoping to attract guests, including a women’s expo in Stamford and Meriden’s Daffodil Festival. Meanwhile, the Beardsley Zoo is encouraging families to come by to see what animals are out and about and what is in bloom. A singing duo hopes to draw families with children of all abilities to a concert in New Canaan.

The weekend, as per usual, is a chance to see some art. In New London, Canvases For a Cause will support research for cancer. And in Stamford, the Loft Artists Association is hosting its final open studios at its location on Canal Street.

Whatever you do, make sure to get on out there.

Until next time …

Out and About: Things to see and places to be this weekend

Friday, April 19, 2013 by:Christina Hennessy
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Music will mark this weekend in many ways, from live performances to a national celebration that honors independent record stores. Among the performers coming through the area are Holly Williams, Ian Parker, Jose Andrade, the What Up Funk Band, Jarrod Spector, Alex Moutouzkine, Declan O’Rourke, Marc Anthony, Barbara Cook, Fleetwood Mac, and Scotty McCreery.

In Bridgeport, they will  be honoring Gustav Meier’s 41 years with the Greater Bridgeport Symphony (you can see the group perform in the video above.) In Stamford, the symphony will be presenting “Passion & Majesty.” “Saxofestivus” blasts off in Danbury.

Meanwhile, a number of locations across the state will be commemorating Record Store Day with limited releases and performances, including one by Prester John in Brookfield.

Some Earth Day events have been planned, as well, including a book event at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk with two local authors Jay Walshon and Susan Hood. There will be an event designed to remove an invasive species off the grounds at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center. And the New Canaan Nature Center is having an Earth Day-Pitch in Day. Across the state, there are many events planned to honor the 43rd annual Earth Day.

On stage, “Les Miserables” stops for a few days in New Haven. “Cole” will close the season at the Music Theatre of Connecticut. On Monday, Curtain Call’s Musical Mondays series concludes the season with “Merrilee Mannerly.” In Bridgeport, performers take on the 70s in the musical revue “8-Track: The Sounds of the 70s.” “Guys and Dolls” continues in Elmsford, N.Y.. “The Mountain Top” rises in Hartford. While “The Complete History of America” gets under way in Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Rounding out the weekend will be a Premier Ballroom dance show in Bridgeport, featuring U.S. champions. The “Art of the Northeast” exhibition continues in New Canaan. “What Is It? ” looks at discoveries of the Victorian era in Norwalk. And the Alvarez Gallery will host an affordable art show, which opens on Friday.

The buds are starting to bloom and there is a bit of green and yellow to the trees, so make sure to get on out for a bit this weekend, too

Until next time …

By the way, I know it is not a huge milestone in light of all things, but today marks the 100th “Out and About.” So, I want to thank all the readers who check out this posting each week.

 

 

 

Arthur Murray to get his day in Greenwich April 4

Tuesday, April 2, 2013 by:Christina Hennessy
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Above, dancers perfect their steps at the Arthur Murray Grande Ballroom of Greenwich. By official proclamation, April 4 will be Arthur Murray Day in Greenwich

Last year’s 100th anniversary of Arthur Murray’s entry into the world of dance instruction spun out multiple celebrations throughout the year, including a worldwide dance party that marked his birthday, which falls on April 4.

This year in Greenwich, it will be a quieter, but no less festive celebration of the man who brought dance into the lives of many people. Before he died in 1991, at the age of 95, Murray had built up the largest chain of dance studios in the world, which includes several locations throughout Fairfield County.

On the anniversary Murray’s birthday this year, the Arthur Murray Grande Ballroom of Greenwich will join First Selectman Peter Tesei in celebrating “Arthur Murray Day,” which will become official with the reading of the proclamation at a ceremony at 12:30 p.m. at the Town Hall.

Christine Georgopulo, president and owner of the Greenwich dance studio, said she is planning to have some dancers at the event, which is scheduled to be held outdoors, and has planned festivities at the studio located on Lewis Street.

Georgopulo, who also is a Greenwich resident, switched gears two years ago and opened the studio, after a 30-year career in real estate development. She said she was spurred to do this based on her experience of becoming a competitive dancer.

“I started as a student … and fell in love with it,” she said. She began dancing in earnest about four years ago.

“I always wanted to be a dancer and an entertainer, but that didn’t pan out,” she said, laughing. “This way, I have an opportunity to have a little piece of that.”

In addition to instruction, she said she has enjoyed community outreach programs, including a class for cancer patients at Greenwich Hospital. Georgopulo said its been a busy time at the studio. She and a couple of her instructors are participating in Curtain Call of Stamford’s Dancing with the Stars fundraising event on May 18 and her dance studio will host a bridal event on April 28.

She said for many, the process of learning about dance and sticking with it can be transformative, not to mention stress-reducing. She said there are other benefits, as well. For instance, she said it can help bolster social skills and ensure you will not be sitting on the sidelines when it comes to weddings, cruises or fundraising galas.

“It put me in the best shape of my life,” she said. “It was just a soul-changing experience. …. You have to be 100 percent present.”

Out and about: Things to see and places to be this weekend

Friday, March 8, 2013 by:Christina Hennessy
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Fans of film, fans of France and fans of festivals are in such luck this weekend. Focus on French Cinema (see trailer below) will run throughout the weekend at Purchase College in Purchase, N.Y. The festival, which is in its ninth year, offers a mix of documentaries, comedies, dramas and animated films. Throughout the weekend, there also will be featured guests, who will participate in a discussion on Saturday morning. There also are student workshops. Here’s some additional information on schedule and festival passes.

Maybe it is not films, but fumes that you are seeking. Make haste, then, to get over to the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport where Monster Jam will rev it up, big wheels time. Throughout the weekend, monster trucks will rumble through any number of contests.

This weekend also will offer a rich destination for those looking to learn how to spruce up their homes and yards. The Home & Outdoor Living Expo will take up shop at the Stamford Plaza Hotel in Stamford Saturday and Sunday. It is hoped those looking to learn more about indoor and outdoor projects make the stop to check out hundreds of exhibitors, as well special prize opportunities and giveaways.

If films, monster trucks and home improvement leaves you with a ho-hum feeling, don’t worry, the weekend is packed with other activities, too.

Music, a perennial if you will, once again delivers. Clint Black will be in Ridgefield on Friday. The sister duo the Nields will perform in Westport on Saturday. The Afro-Cuban All-Stars will be in Waterbury on Sunday. The Musicians from Marlboro will be in Greenwich on Sunday. Frank Mastrone will be in Stamford Saturday and Sunday. Andy Cooney will be in Elmsford, N.Y. on Monday. The Chieftains will be in the area on Tuesday. And, the Marshall Tucker Band will be in Ridgefield on Wednesday.

Ailey II dancers are coming to Westport to help raise funds for Neighborhood Studios, which are located in Bridgeport. And the Russian National Ballet Theatre will be in Fairfield. And the Juan Siddi Flamenco Theatre Company will be in Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Sandra Bernhard will be in Tarrytown, N.Y., while other celebrities will be on stage in Danbury.

For kids, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is hosting a Slither into Spring on Saturday, featuring some of the reptilian education ambassadors. Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk will be welcoming families of children with special needs for a special morning program that features free admission. The Berenstain Bears will be performed in Ridgefield, while young people will get a taste of the orchestra in Stamford. A WACky Family Day is set in Westport. In Greenwich, the Bruce Museum will host the Diane W. Darst Family Art Appreciation Day.

On stage, you can “Play With Your Food,” on Tuesday, or catch “39 Steps” in Darien. “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” opens in Stamford.

The forecast looks good, so those looking to check out late winter vistas should get themselves on out there. Spring, to the relief of many, I suspect, will arrive soon enough.

Until next time …

Out and about: Things to see and places to be this weekend

Friday, February 22, 2013 by:Christina Hennessy
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The Harlem Globetrotters will be dribbling, dunking and causing mayhem up and down the court when the team comes to the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport Friday night. The team is currently on a four-month North American tour that asks the fans to make the rules.

After 87 years, they gang remains as spry and fleet of foot as ever. They go up against the Washington Generals at 7 p.m. Just be prepared that at any moment you may become part of the action.

From basketball to blooms, this upcoming weekend and the days ahead feature diverse programs and activities to keep all ages entertained.

The Connecticut Flower and Garden Show brings spring’s colors and scents to Hartford, while bluegrass will be in the air when Del McCoury and Sam Bush visit Norwalk. Local musicians will come together to raise funds for Newtown. And the Rennie Harris Puremovement dancers will bring a dynamic performance to Fairfield.

Comics from throughout New England will be trying to rise to the top of the ranks at Mohegan Sun.  Lewis Black promises to bring the rant when he performs in Stamford. And, Linda Belt brings her humor to a spirited lunch.

Music, as always, will sound from across the area. The Nutopians will be in Bridgeport as will Kung Fu, Buddy Guy and Jonny Lang. Gunsmoke, The Grapes and Mars Project are in Stamford.  Meanwhile Stamford’s Richard “Cookie” Thomas will be in Westport. John Corbett will be in Fairfield. John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey perform in Purchase, N.Y. The Pears come to Pawling, N.Y. And, Fairfield’s Brian Dolzani travels to Pound Ridge, N.Y.

Maroon 5 and Chubby Checker perform two separate nights at Mohegan Sun. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals will be at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y., this weekend. Tickets remain for the Sunday show (Bridgeport-based The Stepkids are the opening band.)

Gospelfest takes place in Fairfield and the Walkingwood Mandolin Quartet performs in Milford. Connecticut Master Chorale will have a concert this weekend in Newtown.

Western Connecticut State University hosts the final film in its African Film Festival, while the New Canaan Library screens “Searching for Sugarman.” The Avon Theater in Stamford will host an Oscar night on Sunday, as will Milford’s Center for the Arts and the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook..

For kids, “Freckleface Strawberry the Musical,” plays at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, and the Fairy Wedding Tea event at the Barnum Museum celebrates the 150th anniversary of Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren’s wedding. And, in Trumbull, a Purim Carnival is set to go on Sunday.

Several art exhibitions have opened or are currently in their run. “Aesthetic Expressions” is now on view in Danbury. New exhibits open at Silvermine Arts Center.

On stage, “The Curse of the Starving Class,” continues its run in New Haven (see the trailer below). The Ridgefield Playhouse hosts an evening with Stephen Sondheim. “In The Heights” is featured at the Westchester Broadway Theatre. “Adrift in Macao” will be staged in New Milford. An interactive murder event is revealed in Stamford (there is one in Southbury, too.). And the Town Players of New Canaan bring a story about love and golf to the stage.

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