Things to Do: The Phillips Collection August 2011

I went to the Phillips Collection for Phillips After 5 for the first time last month, see my post on it here. Usually, it only occurs the first Thursday of every month but during the month of August they are doing it, and doing it big, every Thursday all month long. See below for a listing of the upcoming Phillips After 5 events, all equally exciting.

Migrations
August 18, 2011
5:00 – 8:30PM
Critically acclaimed D.C.-based dance company Step Afrika! reprises two 15-minute excerpts from its performance series The Migration: Reflection on Jacob Lawrence. Find your own inspiration in Lawrence's The Migration Series during gallery talks about his artistic process. All evening enjoy global jazz by Project Natale and a rum tasting by Dan Searing.

Food Truck Fiesta
August 25, 2011
5:00 – 8:30PM
The Phillips, FoodTruckFiesta.com, and Hillyer Art Space team up to bring you a delicious and unforgettable evening. D.C. food truck favorites, including Red Hook Lobster Pound and DC Empanadas, line the streets around the museum. Go on an art scavenger hunt to be eligible for a drawing with great prizes and food truck coupons. A tequila tasting, jazz by Mark Marella, and gallery talks on Left Behind: Selected Gifts from the Heather and Tony Podesta Collection round out the evening.

Evening in Moscow
September 1, 2011
5:00 – 8:30PM
Celebrate Kandinsky’s native Russia with Eastern European music from the Alexandria Kleztet, gallery talks on Moscow's influence on Kandinsky, and Russian-inspired food and cash bar. Take a break in the auditorium, where oscar-nominated short films in animation will be screened throughout the evening. Enter the raffle for a chance to win tickets and all-access passes to the DC Shorts Film Festival.

Admission: $12; free for members. Cash bar.
RSVPs are required: http://tinyurl.com/savvypaf

The Phillips Collection
1600 21st St NW
Washington, DC 20009
202.387.2151
http://www.phillipscollection.org

Things to Do: Swing Dancing with Champagne & Cupcakes

On Friday, July 22, join the International Club of DC at Georgetown's Dumbarton House for Swing Dancing with Champagne and Cupcakes.

SWING INTO THE PAST - First ever swing dance night at Dumbarton House! Join us at Dumbarton house in Georgetown for an evening of jazz and swing dancing! Whether you come on your own or with friends this is a wonderful opportunity to make new friends while enjoying live music.

I've been to the Dumbarton House and it's a beautiful and historic home located in the heart of Georgetown. The lawn is expansive and it's a great place to just sit on the lawn and chat with friends or on a date while you enjoy the scenery, music and cocktails. My advice, bring a blanket or chairs if you don't like sitting on the grass.

It's only $12, but trust me it's well worth it. To learn more and to purchase tickets, click here.

Dumbarton House
2715 Q Street Northwest
Washington D.C., DC 20007
202.337.2288
www.dumbartonhouse.org

Step Afrika! Partners with The Phillips Collection to Celebrate Legendary Artist Jacob Lawrence

For Immediate Release
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Step Afrika! Partners with The Phillips Collection to Celebrate Legendary Artist Jacob Lawrence

The visual and performing arts come together to produce an innovative collaboration centered around Lawrence's The Migration Series

STEP AFRIKA! is partnering with The Phillips Collection to give birth to a new artistic experience inspired by Jacob Lawrence’s epic masterpiece The Migration Series. In an innovative collaboration between the visual and performing arts, Step Afrika!—Washington’s highly celebrated dance company and the Nation’s Capital first and only Cultural Ambassador—draws inspiration from Lawrence’s iconic series on view at the Phillips and its role as a center for its study and display. The dynamic new performance, featuring jazz, vocals, drums, dance, and visual imagery, premieres at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on June 15–26, 2011.

To Phillips Director Dorothy Kosinski, the project’s synergy is palpable: “This year we celebrate 90 years of creative innovation at The Phillips Collection. What better time to deepen our engagement with Lawrence by contributing to an endeavor that bridges artistic disciplines, builds community, and connects us to a partner as inspiring and cutting-edge as Step Afrika!.”

Step Afrika’s! new collaboration with The Phillips Collection will première during Step Afrika!’s Home Performance Series 2011 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center beginning June 15th thru June 26th. Step Afrika! will perform excerpts from the piece at The Phillips Collection on August 18 as part of the museum’s popular after hours series Phillips After 5. Deemed “a virtuosic performance” by Washington Post Pulitzer-winner Sarah Kaufman, the award winning dance company will unveil new stepping choreography chronicling the historic journey from South to North in the United States, emulating several panels of Lawrence’s legendary The Migration Series.

“The Phillips Collection has invested substantial resources in educating teachers and students alike, encouraging and bringing about a heightened awareness of the Great Migration of African-Americans and its significant place in America’s history, “ says C. Brian Williams, founder and Executive Director of Step Afrika!. “ Coupled with our own research into the dance and music of the late 1800’s along with the countless stories of Southern migrants, Step Afrika! will produce a performance unlike any other in our 17 year history. It is an absolute must see for lovers of dance, art, history and culture.”

A recipient of the Mayor's Arts Award for "Outstanding Contribution to Arts in Education" and "Innovation in the Arts", Step Afrika! has been repeatedly recognized as one of the region’s most exciting arts organizations, also receiving a feature in Catalogue for Philanthropy as one of Greater Washington's “Best Small Charities.”

For tickets, call the Atlas box office at 202.399.7993 (press “2”) or purchase on line at www.stepafrika.org.

Things to Do: Gentleman Jack Art, Beats + Lyrics

Let me just begin by saying I'm not a huge fan of Jack Daniels but I went to their Gentleman Jack Art, Beats + Lyrics Urban Art Exhibition last year and had a great time. I’d been to your typical wine and hard liquor tastings that happen frequently in the Washington, DC area but this event is so much different. The Art, Beats + Lyrics event truly lives up to its name.

This year’s event will be held on Friday, April 1, 2011 from 7:00PM – midnight at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium on Constitution Avenue. They feature paintings, photography, and mixed media pieces of artwork created by urban designers. Last year, there was also a DJ as well as a few musical performers and dancers. Additionally, you were given the opportunity to try out Gentleman Jack in a number of cocktails or straight-up along with plenty of heavy hors d’oeuvres. The best part of this event is that it is completely FREE!!! Space is limited, register today! Hope to see you there!

For more information, visit http://www.gentlemanjackabl.com/

Gentleman Jack Art, Beats + Lyrics Urban Art Exhibition Andrew Mellon Auditorium 1301 Constitution Avenue Washington, DC

Things to Do: American Ballet Theatre (Discounted Tickets)

I just came across this promotion in a Travel Zoo email I received.  In case you don't already receive their deals on everything from travel packages to nearby cultural and sporting events, click here.

Here's the Travel Zoo description...

Snag Orchestra level seats to see American Ballet Theatre perform at the Kennedy Center, and save up to 60%. This deal includes 7:30 p.m. performances Jan. 18-20.

The ballet company, recognized as one of the greatest in the world, will be performing a special program featuring some of the Kennedy family's favorite works in honor of the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's presidency. Works include Balanchine's "Theme and Variations," Tudor's "Jardin aux Lilas," Balanchine's "Duo Concertant," and Robbins's "Fancy Free."

 

The following seating options are available for all three performances:

• Side Orchestra (price level 4) ... $24.50 (reg. $59)
• Rear Orchestra (price level 3) ... $31 (reg. $62)

To purchase tickets:

ONLINE
Click here to book online at The Kennedy Center.
Scroll down to the calendar and select "Tickets" next to one of the applicable dates. On the following page, select the Orchestra level of the map and select seat marked Price Level 3 or 4. Click "Move to Cart." Click "Checkout."  (Fees: $2.43-$3.07 per ticket)

PHONE
Call The Kennedy Center at (800) 444-1324
Mention Offer Number 57133 to receive your discount.

Things to Do: FREE Salsa Classes at The Salsa Room

Just wanted to share with you the best deal I've found this week, so far.  When you create a FREE account on What's The Deal DC, you can get FREE dance lessons at The Salsa Room.

When you click on the link below, you will get a $5 credit off of your first purchase.  Since the class is only $2, you'll be getting it for FREE.  What could be better?  I've provided more information from their website and posted it below.

$2 Dance Lessons at the Salsa Room

Thursday, January 13, 2011 from 7:30 - 9:30 PM

Let the expert dance instructor be your guide

Beginner and intermediate dancers welcome

Grab some friends (and drinks) and do something fun on Thursday night

JOIN WHAT'S THE DEAL (FOR FREE)

Things to Do: Step Afrika at the Kennedy Center (FREE)

Join Step Afrika and the Washington Performing Arts Society for a free show at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts on Sunday, August 15th at 6:00PM. See the flyer posted below.  For more information visit, http://www.stepafrika.org/.

Things to Do: Step Afrika

Tomorrow, June 16th marks the official opening of Step Afrika in Washington, DC.  The show runs through June 20 and will be held at the Harmon Center for the Arts, in the Lansburgh Theatre located at 450 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004.

Step Afrika was originally created to showcase an artform made famous by members of African-American sororities and fraternities.  Since then, stepping has evolved into a specialized form of dance featuring performers of all ethnicities whose choreographed movements create an exhilarating, rhythmic beat.

The Step Afrika performers have danced their way all around the country and around the world, including stops in North & South America, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. General admission tickets range from $29.50 - $39.50.  In addition to their regular performances join them on Saturday, June 19, 2010 for the "Step Afrika V.I.P. Experience".  The VIPs will be treated to a pre-performance wine & cheese reception at 6:30pm, show at 8:00pm and post-performance dessert reception at 10:00pm. Tickets are $100. 

Discount Offer
For a limited time, receive 20% off of general admission tickets by using code '7837' at checkout. Note: The code doesn't work for the VIP experience, I tried it.

Website: http://www.stepafrika.com/
Follow them on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/StepAfrika