Laguna Dance Festival Announces An Exciting Seventh Season Of Events & Performances

Sept. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- LAGUNA BEACH, CA –Returning to the Laguna Playhouse in spring 2012 for its seventh season, The Laguna Dance Festival will present an eclectic schedule of events and performances on four nights in April and two nights in September. Featured artists will include BalletX, River North Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Alonzo King LINES Ballet, as well as the Festival’s Stars of Dance gala performance showcasing guest dancers from leading ballet companies as well as outstanding local artists.

The Laguna Dance Festival is regarded as one of Orange County’s major annual cultural events and continues to be an important showcase for new and established dance companies and artists. The Festival transforms Laguna Beach into an annual happening where choreographers and dancers stretch their imaginations and spirit, providing top-quality performances as well as fun and stimulating dance activities.

“Get ready to see spectacular performances in an intimate setting where there’s not a bad seat in the house,” said Jodie Gates, founder and artistic director of the Laguna Dance Festival.  Formerly a principal dancer with the renowned Joffrey Ballet, Gates has curated the Festival for the past seven years and is currently a professor of dance at the University of California.  

“During the next 12 months, we will bring amazing dance to Orange County, and we hope that everyone who loves dance will come out to support the season,” Gates said.

2012 Season Highlights include:

River North Dance Chicago (April 12): Highly skilled and emotive dancers, stimulating music, and bold, commanding choreography are the hallmarks of this jazz-based contemporary company, led by Artistic Director Frank Chaves.  

BalletX (April 13): BalletX is an intensely innovative and adventurous company that produces sophisticated, striking choreography, expanding the vocabulary of classical dance for all audiences. Performances will include three works by America’s hottest choreographers, Matthew Neenan, Edward Liang and a world premier by Jodie Gates.

An Evening with the Stars of Dance (April 14-15): Including guest artists from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and appearances by BalletX and outstanding local artists.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Alonzo King LINES Ballet (September 8-9): These two contemporary dance companies will share two evenings of masterful repertory dance. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, under the artistic direction of Glenn Edgerton, presents performances that inspire, challenge and engage audiences worldwide. Alonzo King LINES Ballet of San Francisco is a celebrated contemporary ballet company. Alonzo King’s visionary choreography is renowned for its ability to connect audiences to a profound sense of shared humanity -- of vulnerability and tenderness, but also of furious abandon and exhilarating freedom.

In support of its upcoming season, the Festival will be hosting the first of its signature fundraising events on Thursday, October 6th from 6 to 9:00 p.m. at the Surf & Sand Hotel in Laguna Beach. Combining the art of good food, great wine and invigorating dance, the night will begin with ArtWalk performances at both the Dawson Cole Fine Arts Gallery and the Salt Fine Arts Gallery. Tickets for the fundraiser can be purchased online or by calling 949.715.5578. For more information regarding the upcoming season, call 949.715.5578 or visit http://www.LagunaDanceFestival.org.

ABOUT LAGUNA DANCE FESTIVAL
Laguna Dance Festival's mission is to support and promote the development of dance creation, presentation and education and to engage public appreciation of the art form in Orange County and beyond. Laguna Dance Festival is committed to facilitating education, entertainment and outreach programs that enrich the lives of the greater community, inspiring the next generation of creative thinkers and artists. Laguna Dance Festival is a California non-profit corporation as well as a 501(c) 3 organization.

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Laguna Dance Festival's mission is to support and promote the development of dance creation, presentation and education and to engage public appreciation of the art form in Orange County and beyond.