From Wilma Solomon

So you think you can dance? You can! Celebrate National Dance Day at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, this Saturday, July 30, 5 PM. This is a “grassroots initiative to encourage the nation, young and old to move.”

Created by Nigel Lythgoe from “So You think you can Dance,” the annual Day has been supported by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton who introduced a national Dance Day resolution to promote dance education and physical fitness across the US.

This event occurs annually on the last Saturday of July.

Participants are encouraged to check out the Master Class routine, choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon, posted on the So You Think You Can Dance website.

At 5 p.m., interested dancers should gather at the Kelsey Theater, located on the campus of Mercer County Community College, to learn/review the routine as a group. Following a rehearsal period, we will take a video and submit our performance to join the hundreds of other taking place across the country. “13” choreographer John Buccanfuso, as well as selected cast members and others dancers and choreographers from the Kelsey community, will be on hand to instruct and assist. The goal is not to perfect the routine, but to enjoy the process of learning and dancing together. The cast and crew of “13” is very excited to share this celebration of dance and hopes that many of the participants will choose to stay and see that evening’s performance at 7:30 PM.



“13” is a grown-up story about growing up, featuring an all-teenage cast! The show follows 13-year-old Evan Goldman who moves from New York City to Indiana in the wake of his parents’ divorce. Evan just wants to make friends and survive the school year; easier said than done. The star quarterback is threatening to ruin his life and his only friend, Patrice, won’t talk to him. The school freak sees an opportunity for blackmail and someone is spreading the nastiest rumors. With an unforgettable rock score from Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown, “13” is a hilarious, high-energy musical for all ages about discovering that cool is where you find it, and sometimes where you least expect it.

“13” can be seen at Kelsey Theatre on Fridays and Saturdays, July 29, July 30 and August 5, 6 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays, July 31 and August 7 at 2 p.m.

From Marie Snyder: of Tangerine Dance Company.

Marie Snyder invites everyone to see two of her works at Dance New Jersey’s “Show Up and Dance” concert on Sunday, July 31, at 4 p.m. at the Loree Dance Theater, Rutgers University. Zero Effect, is a solo with Danielle Mondi and narration by Kelsey Burns from the text of 19 year old Zach Wahls’ eloquent speech to the Iowa House of Representatives. Encuentros is a rigorous wistful quartet with Danielle Mondi, Alonzo Hall, Carlo AntonioVillanueva and Phoebe Sandford exploring serendipitous meetings, parting, crossing paths again and moving on.

The 4 p.m. performance also features work by Big Sky Project, InSpira Performing Arts & Cultural Center, Kinetic Poetic Dance, New Brunswick High School, The Well Performance Project, Lara Michelle Friedman, Andrea Kron, Morgan Refakis, and Randy James.

An additional 6 p.m. performance will showcase Derling Dance Artsm InSpira Performing Arts & Cultural Center, Meagan Woods and Company, Performing Arts Ensemble, New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Summer Dance Program, Robert Burke, Sarah Lifson, and Andrea Mychaels.

The Lorree theater is on the Douglass Campus at 70 Lipman Drive, $7 suggested donation, children free. Call Macada Brandl at 973.222.8844 or mbrandl@dancenj.org.

On the following day, Dance New Jersey will hold its annual meeting, complete with a full day of workshops.

From Brinda Guha

I am writing on behalf of Kalamandir Dance Company to tell you about the Mosaic Dance Festival: An Exchange of Indian Culture with International Movement, coming up in Monmouth Junction on August 6, 2011 at the Funktion Dance Complex, 4260 Route 1, Suite 6. Several international dance companies are performing original pieces in their own styles of dance, but to Indian music. It’ll be a unique, exciting experience. Performances are at 2 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students with ID.

Performing companies include

Capoeira Maranhão (Central New Jersey)

COHAN/SUZEAU Dance Company (University of Kansas)

Flamenco NYC (New York City)

The FUNKtion Dance Complex (Central New Jersey)

Janete Silva (New York City) *will only be performing for 2pm show

Kalamandir Dance Company (Central New Jersey)

Nabanita Pal (New York City)

Shibani Patnaik (Philadelphia)

Vervet Dance (Philadelphia)

Read about the details of the festival and buy tickets here.