Upcoming Performances!

One down (EEE at the Ritz), several to go this Spring! Hope you can make it!
Erinn

The Eclectic Edge Ensemble with the St. Thomas Choirs 
March 13th
The University of St. Thomas
www.eclecticedgeensemble.com
Dance with live choral music? Awesome!

Blue Heaven, created by Lisa Conlin of Ballet of the Dolls
March 1-4 (7pm 1st and 4th, 8pm 2nd and 3rd)
The Ritz Theater (345 13th Ave NE, Mpls)
www.ritzdolls.com
A dance theater journey exploring the stages of grief/recovery.

Alternative Motion Project’s Premiere Show
March 23 and 24 at 8pm
Old Arizona Theater (2821 Nicollet Ave, Mpls)
Facebook Event
9 new dance works by Joanna Lees and Kristin How. Big, moving dance!

Patrick’s Open-Call Cabaret, Featuring New Choreography by Erinn Liebhard
April 13 and 14 at 8pm
Patrick’s Cabaret
www.erinnliebhard.com / www.patrickscabaret.org
New dance to the brilliant music of Tune-Yards. Groovy and physical movement!

Upcoming Performances!

The Eclectic Edge Ensemble presents Reeling Over Love 
February 16-19 (8pm 16-18, 2pm 19)
The Ritz Theater (345 13th Ave NE, Mpls)
www.eclecticedgeensemble.com
A campy, danced take on the differences between love in the movies and on the big screen. Should be pretty hilarious

Blue Heaven, conceived, choreographed and directed by Lisa Conlin of Ballet of the Dolls
March 1-4 (7pm 1st and 4th, 8pm 2nd and 3rd)
The Ritz Theater (345 13th Ave NE, Mpls)
www.ritzdolls.com
A dance theater journey exploring the stages of grief and recovery. This one will be touching

Alternative Motion Project’s Premiere Show
March 23 and 24 at 8pm
Old Arizona Theater (2821 Nicollet Ave, Mpls)
Facebook Event
9 new dance works by Joanna Lees and Kristin How. Big, moving dance!

Patrick’s Open-Call Cabaret, Featuring New Choreography by Erinn Liebhard
April 13 and 14 at 8pm
Patrick’s Cabaret
www.erinnliebhard.com / www.patrickscabaret.org
New dance to the brilliant music of Tune-Yards. Groovy and physical movement!

Awesome New Twin Cities Jazz History Book

I had the day off yesterday.

In that day, I managed to do several times one of the things I generally truly avoid; shopping. However, my first trip panned out to be quite enjoyable, in the fact that it was my first stop to Garrison Keillor’s book store, Common Good Books (located just around the corner from Nina’s Coffee Shop at the corner of Selby and Western in St. Paul). I have had a gift card for the store for about two years now, and finally got the chance to stop in. And am I glad I did; the store is carefully curated just like a great visual art gallery, so you know each book is bound to hold great value.

My hands eventually found their way to this book;

‘Joined at the Hip,’ written by Jay Goetting and published by Minnesota Historical Society press just last year. I have not yet cracked the cover, but am pretty excited for when I do. I am especially grateful to have stumbled over this book on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday celebrating a man who fought for the rights of black and African American people. The influence of these cultures upon music in our country were some of the most important building blocks for our jazz tradition. If you love both jazz and the Twin Cities like me, this book is likely for you.

I’ll let you know Groove on,

Erinn

Jazz really is all around!

So, most of this is indeed a direct steal from the most recent post written for Rhythmically Speaking. But hey, I wrote it, and it’s all stuff I want to get out myself, so what the heck. It seems that jazz really is all around! Here goes!;

1.) Rhythmically Speaking, Eclectic Edge Ensemble, Flying Foot Forum, Rhythmic Circus and several other rhythm-dancin’ friends have been mentioned in Dance Magazine! Linda Shapiro has furnished us with an excellent review of the Twin Cities dance scene. Check it out;  ‘An All-Weather Scene.’

2.) Mark your calendar for June 18th, 19th and 20th, and plan to head down to Dallas, Texas to participate in‘Teaching Jazz Dance, a Symposium,’ hosted by Danny Buraczeski! This is an excited opportunity to touch base with some of the country’s best jazz movement methodologists, so don’t miss it! For more info, email Heather Guthrie at hguthrie@smu.edu.

3.) Rhythmically Speaking’s Social Dance Meet-up is on Friday, and all are welcome, so bring your mother, sista, brotha and pet! Deets;

A Rhythmically Speaking Social Dance Meetup
Where: Loring Pasta Bar, Dinkytown (327 14th Avenue SE, Mpls, MN 55414)
When: Friday, January 13 | Drinks @ 8pm / Dancing @ 10pm – close
Cover: $8 (18+ with ID)
RSVP: Here (Facebook Event)

I hope you’ll come shake it with me Friday night!
Erinn

Rhythmically Speaking’s First Social Dance Meet-Up!

Happy New Year!

I am excited to step into this new year in my social dance pants and to get it shakin’ at Rhythmically Speaking’s first Social Dance Meet-up, being held at the Loring Pasta Bar on January 13th. I truly believe the professional dance community could stand to get out dancin’ socially a bit more, and am proud to Co-Artistic Direct an organization that can encourage this. Want to join? Come for the hot Salsa dancing, music by the Salsa Police, libations and good conversation.

A Rhythmically Speaking Social Dance Meet-up
Where: Loring Pasta Bar, Dinkytown (327 14th Avenue SE, Mpls, MN 55414)
When: Friday, January 13 | Drinks @ 8pm / Dancing @ 10pm – close
Cover: $8 (18+ with ID)
RSVP: Here (Facebook Event)

Come over to the Loring Pasta Bar starting at 8pm to grab a drink with your fellow dancers, and stick around for the salsa dancing. Come when you can, leave when you must. All are welcome!

Groovin’,
Erinn

Happy Holidays from The Duke!

Merry Swingin’ Christmas and Happy High-hat Holidays!

Check out this awesome video of the Ellington Nutcracker, featuring a little interview with the Duke himself. While these kind of sounds may be familiar now, they forged new artistic territory that many are capitalizing on today to create their own fresh, new sounds. Pretty amazing!

The happiest of holidays to you,
Erinn

Don’t Take My Word For It, Take Cathy Young’s!

What does jazz mean to dance these days? This is a question I ask and look for answers to as much as I possibly can, and in that process, I came across the video below. If you do not take my word for the fact that jazz if ever-evolving in dance, take the word of Cathy Young, long-time Twin Cities dancer with JAZZDANCE and Zenon, and now the head of the dance program at Boston Conservatory;

Well, said, Kathy. Well said.

Groovin’,
Erinn