Evergreen City Ballet presents its 2nd Annual Dinner Gala on April 10.  This year’s theme is “A Night at the Races” at Emerald Downs.  The evening will start with opening weekend races followed by a dinner and auction.  The last race is the “ECB Stakes.”  Eight lucky people will have their picture taken in the Winner’s Circle!

Enjoy a wonderful evening of food, wine and racing on 2010 opening weekend of racing at Emerald Downs.

Your Gala ticket includes free admission and free parking at Emerald Downs. Come early and enjoy the last three races of the day from our special private viewing room.  Place your wager at our private betting window .

There are one-of-a-kind auction items including:

• Tickets to the Oprah Show with a two night stay in the Omni Suites Hotel in Chicago

• Tickets to Pacific Northwest Ballet with one night stay in Pan Pacific Hotel , including a gourmet dinner

• A weekend at a luxury, private, waterfront cabin in British Columbia

Tickets are $100 per person or $680 for a table of eight.  For ticket or more information email Larry@evergreencityballet.org.

Earlier this month Evergreen City Ballet (ECB) moved into a new state-of-the-art facility on Lind Ave. in Renton. Along with the new building, the organization is offering new classes including:

• Mommy & Me
• Yoga
• Pilates
• Tap
• Ballet, Modern, Hip-Hop and Creative Movement

See the ECB flyer, or ECB’s website, for more information.

[Author's note:  As a writer for Renton Magazine, I had the privilege of touring the new facility before its grand opening. Watch for the October 2009 issue online or pick up a free copy at your local library.]

This evening I had the pleasure of meeting Joselito Castillo, owner and director of South Side Dance Force, a dance studio located in downtown Kent. Once a competitive dance studio, Castillo has transformed his studio into one that better fits the needs of the community. He does this by taking his love for performing and dance and transforming it into various art forms and media including jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, krumping and more. In addition to taking dance into local schools, Castillo focuses on performing original works rather than the traditional musicals like Oklahoma that so many dance companies perform.

“The community is hungry for more raw art,” Castillo says.

Castillo hopes that the community will continue to embrace dance as an art form, and that students and adults will learn new ways of expressing themselves through dance.

Upcoming events include:

Friday, August 14, 8 p.m.:  Open Art Forum
$3 for performers, $5 for observers

Local artists and performers are encouraged to come share their art with the community. All artists are welcome.

Saturday, August 15, 8:30 p.m.:  Tacoma vs. Seattle Krumping Competition

For more information about South Side Dance Force, visit the group online or stop by their studios at 704 W. Meeker St., Kent, WA  98032. Phone:  253-639-5829.