Revels Houston Celebrates A Wake E'ening 2/12
Each year, Revels Houston holds a "wake" - to celebrate the death of winter. This year, the group will depart from their traditional activities to present "A Wake E'ening," which will fuse early music with ballroom dancing.
Event chair Ella Forel explained, "I wanted to combine the cultural antiquities of Revels Houston dances and songs with ballroom dancing."
The A Wake E'ening is scheduled for 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, February 12 at D'Amico Dance, 11151 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77042.
The evening will feature performances by the Revelry ensemble as well as ballroom exhibitions by Houston USA Dance. Local dance team Robert and Sandra Timmermans and the Terpsichorean Society will be the featured performers.
In addition, a professional dance instructor will teach basic steps to several ballroom dances, including the Hebridean Weaving Lilt, the Scottish Salsa, Renaissance Rumba, Welsh Waltz and Tudor Tango. Audience members will be invited to try out their new moves on the dance floor.
Houston USA Dance is the local chapter of the nationwide nonprofit. The group's volunteers provide opportunities for the public to engage in affordable social ballroom dancing and competitive dance activities.
The group's president, Lydia Cascio, said the nonprofit hopes to get more people involved in ballroom dance. "I think everyone will be surprised and delighted to see a variety of dances performed by our high level competition dancers," she said.
Revels Houston Board president, Paul Woldy, said he looks forward to working with the ballroom dance group. "This is something new for us, and we think it will be exciting to our supporters," he said.
"Revels Houston promotes diverse cultural traditions in music, song, storytelling and dance, and this is a unique opportunity to support ballroom dance as part of that tradition," Woldy added.
The nonprofit's outreach group, Revelry, performs at schools, retirement homes, hospitals, community organizations and local festivals.
Proceeds from the A Wake E'ening will help fund outreach programs and the 2011 Christmas Revels.
Forel hopes the community will support Revels Houston by attending the dance. "There's something wonderful about moving to music with a partner," Forel said. "It's just fun."
Reservations are required, and tickets will go on sale on January 10. Tickets are $ 35 per person. For more information or to make a reservation, call Peggy Curtis at (713) 668-3303 or go to www.revelshouston.org.
Revels Houston is a 501(c)3 community-based performing-arts organization committed to the preservation of multi-cultural traditions through family-oriented productions, celebrations, and educational outreach programs. They celebrate cultural traditions through the medium of music, dance and drama. In addition to their annual large stage production, The Christmas Revels, their outreach performances reach schools, retirement homes, hospitals, community organizations and local festivals. Revels Houston is funded in part by a grant from the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. For more information, please visit their web site at www.revelshouston.org.
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