Thanks to all those who contributed photos and video on the lovely Milonga (gathering of tango dancers) at Odd Birds in St Augustine, FL, held this July 31st. A wonderful showing of dancers of Tango and Salsa, also thank you to Cesar Diaz of Odd Birds for his kindness and making Odd Birds available for this event. It went so well we are planning another on August 28th.
Category: Dance
The St. Augustine Community School of Performing Arts presented “Dancing Stars of St. Johns County,” a lively competition along the lines of the popular TV show, “Dancing with the Stars,” and featuring entrants from St. Johns County. The event took place on the stage of the Lewis Auditorium on Saturday, July 6, 2019, at 7:00 p.m.
Local celebrities teamed up with professional dance instructors and competed in front of a panel of judges for two awards: People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice.
The fundraiser benefits the community programs of the St. Augustine Community School of Performing Arts, whose mission is to give the community the gift of music through private vocal and instrumental lessons, ensembles, summer outreach camps, private scholarships, and more. Sponsors of the event include Arthur Murray Dance Centers and Murray Automotive Group.
Luis and Marta Caballero are bringing salsa to St Augustine. It is very affordable and their teaching technique is easy and stressful free. Marta also brings a display of lovely shoes for those salsa dancers that feel they need the best tools for the art of salsa. They are presently conducting beginners classes and hoping to start an intermediate class soon.
First Coast went to Arthur Murray Studio to see the first dancers to participate in the Dancing Stars of St Johns County 2019. They were all there to find out all that it entails to be a dancer in this event. Lots of positive energy, and they got a sample of the different styles of dance they can choose from for the event. The proceeds of this event is to benefit SACSPA (St Augustine Community School of Performing Arts, Inc) and help it to continue its current serving of hundreds of community members including St Augustine Youth Services (SAYS), THE PLAYERS Championship Unit of St. Augustine, Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Florida and Coquina Crossing Chorale. Their long term goal is to establish an educational organization where they can provide quality musical education to under-served youth through gifted interns and master instructors.
Dance came to Lewis Auditorium during the Romanza Festivale 2019.
The St. Augustine Ballet performs The Nutcracker every holiday season at Flagler College’s Lewis Auditorium. This year, there were four performances over two days: at 1:30 and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, December 22 and 23, 2018.
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker is a traditional thing to do during the holidays, and one of the most loved Christmas stories, based on E.T. A. Hoffman’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The St. Augustine Ballet production was directed by Artistic Director Luis Abella.
The St. Augustine Community School of Performing Arts presented “Dancing Stars of St. Johns County,” a lively competition along the lines of the popular TV show, “Dancing with the Stars,” and featuring entrants from St. Johns County. The event took place on the stage of the Lewis Auditorium on Saturday, July 7, 2018, at 7:00 p.m.
Local celebrities teamed up with professional dance instructors and competed in front of a panel of judges for two awards: People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice.
Participants in this year’s Dancing Stars of St Johns County included Julie Basham, Jonathan Birbal, Kalee Howell, Brian Kurz, Madeline Rivera, Natalie Swift, Noelani Taylor, and Tina Verduzco.
The fundraiser was to benefit the community programs of the St. Augustine Community School of Performing Arts, whose mission is to give the community the gift of music through private vocal and instrumental lessons, ensembles, summer outreach camps, private scholarships, and more. Sponsors of the event included Arthur Murray Dance Centers and Murray Automotive Group.
The St. Augustine Ballet presented the final year’s run of Alice in Wonderland on May 12-13, 2018. The Saturday performance began at 7 p.m. at Flagler College’s Lewis Auditorium. Starting time for the Sunday performance was 2 p.m. According to the Ballet’s assistant director, Emily Masson, this year’s cast was nearly a third larger than last year’s cast. She said an increased number of younger kids auditioned this year, possibly after having their interest piqued after attending last year’s performances.
Eléa Woodward was cast as Alice. Woodward was supported by a superb ensemble of both new and familiar faces.
The Sweetheart Gala is an annual Bellydance Festival. The event featured top notch instructors and Master Teachers.
The 2018 Sweetheart Instructors were:
Ahmed Hussien
Tarifa Salem
Ranya Renee
Omaris
Jennifer of Orlando
Lacey Sanchez
Alicia Bellycraft
Gina Marie
AND MORE!
The festival was held at Holiday Isle Oceanfront Resort. The 2018 Gala featured a lovely Friday night welcome Hafla with casual performances, amazing vendors, a Saturday evening showcase, raffles and more! The festival suffered severe set backs in 2017 due to damages sustained by Hurricane Matthew, but they are back on track and better than ever!
A group of locals gathered on Saturday, January 6th (Three Kings Day) at 7 p.m. at the St. Augustine Visitors Information Center (next to the downtown parking garage) to FLASH MOB. They then went to the Lightner Museum, and then to La Plaza de la Constitucion. Three Flash Mobs in about an hour!