9th annual Dance DC Festival Starts Friday

Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw

From a press release:

On August 24th and 25th, 2012, the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) will host its 9th annual Dance DC Festival – a festival which highlights the folk traditions of the world through live music and dance. The events will be held at various locations throughout the city and are free and open to the public. This year, the DCCAH will celebrate the foundation of rhythmic expression in every culture around the world – the drum.

“Dance DC Festival is one of our signature events each year,” said Lionell Thomas, Executive Director of the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. “It’s a great reflection of the diversity of Washington, and gives our residents a chance to celebrate one of the common threads that all cultures share – the art of dance.”

Beginning Friday, August 24th, the festival begins at the Atlas Performing Arts Center with an event entitled, The Drum. The opening will feature performances by the Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company, Grufolpawa, Flamenco Aparicio, Fiddle Puppet Dancers, Lesole’s Dance Project, Just Tap, and Nana Malaya

An interactive workshop series highlighting several dance forms, including Tango Bharatanatyam and Capoeira, will be held at the Atlas, followed by Dance Asia: Asia in Maskquerade at the Kennedy Center. This performance will present Asian masks and their roles in folk dance, traditional ceremonies, rituals and traditions.

The closing event, Move N’ Groove, featuring hand dancing, will take place at Twelve Lounge at 1123 H Street, NE. Hand dancing is a form of swing dance that can be traced back to the 1920s, from Lindy Hop, to Jitterbug and to the 50’s when D.C. developed its own version and named it “Hand Dance”. It is characterized by gliding footwork and continuous hand connection/communication between the partners, hence its name.

Schedule of events after the jump:

Friday, August 24, 2012

The Drum

6:00pm
Atlas Performing Arts Center,
1333 H Street, NE,
Washington, DC 20002

This performance salutes the staple that connects every culture around the world – the drum. Enjoy an evening of rhythmic percussive foot performances from countries across the globe!

This event will also feature a multicultural marketplace.

Featured performers include Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company, Grufolpawa, Fiddle Puppet Dancers, Flamenco Aparicio, Lesole’s Dance Project, Just Tap, and Nana Malaya.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Let’s Get Physical! – a series of interactive workshops.

Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002

1:00PM – Dr. Janaki Rangarajan – Bharatanatyam (classical Indian dance)
2:00PM – Pontitango

Argentine – Tango
3:00PM – International Capoeira Angola Foundation – Capoeira (a Brazilian
martial art that combines dance and music)

Dance Asia 2012: Asia in Maskquerade

6:00PM
John F. Kennedy Center
2700 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20566

Revel in the mystery and enchantment of Asian Maskquerade. The jovial, the forbidden, the divine, the sanguine, – masks are significant elements in many folk and traditional ceremonies, rituals and traditions and are often of an ancient origin. Witness the vivacity of movement and partake in the dance.

Move N’ Groove: An all out Hand Dance Party!

7:00PM
Twelve Lounge

1123 H Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Join us as we close out the festival with DC’s own native dance, lead by
The National Hand Dance Association.