Dance in the District: Ballet Across America and Dance: Yes We Can

I have to hand it to ballet dancers, they are the epitome of determination. They have the strength of athletes and spend hours training and rehearsing but some how manage to look graceful while doing it.  Lucky for those of us living in DC, we have many opportunities to see a variety of dance styles and companies. From June 15-20, the Kennedy Center (my home away from home), will showcase ballet companies from around the country in Ballet Across America, an exploration of the breadth and depth of the art form. Nine popular ballet companies will present three programs of mixed repertory.

Opening night of the nine-ballet showcase featured the Houston Ballet, the North Carolina Dance Theatre and the Kennedy Center’s own Suzanne Farrell Ballet. The Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra accompanied all the ballets in a refreshing mix of Mozart, bluegrass and Stravinsky pieces. Although there is no consistent theme in the program, the showcase of different companies break up the monotony of otherwise sitting through a Balanchine ballet, for example.

Tickets for Ballet Across America are currently on sale for $29-$79 and can be purchased at the Kennedy Center box office or by calling Instant Charge at (202) 467-4600. Patrons living outside the Washington metropolitan area may dial toll-free at (800) 444-1324 or visit the Kennedy Center website.

If you’re a particularly dance-filled mood this week, be sure to check out Dance: Yes We Can this Thursday at the Lansburgh Theatre. The program is organized by the Dance/USA National Conference and features many of the region’s top companies, including The Washington Ballet, Step Afrika!, CityDance Ensemble, Dakshina, Gesel Mason, Coyaba and many others going head-to-head in a fast-paced showcase. Tickets are $25 and you can find out more information by going here: http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/plays/details.aspx?id=259&source=l

I’ll be seeing you there!