Join downtown merchants and performers to celebrate autumn with Kent’s first ever Autumnfest 2010. Set for Friday, September 24 (4 to 8 pm), visitors to downtown Kent will enjoy live music, performances by South Side Dance Force, wine and beer tastes, tasty snacks, a scarecrow decorating contest, kids’ activities and much more!

Stop by the KDP information booth at Kherson Park (corner of 2nd and Gowe) to get your event invitation, passport and map and to have your ID checked (wine and beer “tasters” must be 21 or older to participate). Place your vote for your favorite scarecrow and get your passport stamped to be eligible to win a $100 shopping spree in Kent’s Historic District.

Participants to date include:

Airways Brewery
Cheryl’s Unique Boutique
Creamery Art Gallery & Frame Shop
Earthworks Gem Design Studio
Edward Jones
Fig & Feather
Kent Downtown Partnership
Intimate Pilates
Lemon Drop Skincare & Massage
Management Accounting Specialists, Inc.
NW Electrology
Pat’s Bar & Grill
Perk-Up Place
Petrik Photography
Pottery-fic
Rainy Day Treasures
South Side Dance Force
Titusville Trading Company
Treasures
Vitality Chiropractic

Call KDP at 253-813-6976 or visit Cheryl Wright at Cheryl’s Unique Boutique, 406 W. Meeker St., for more information or to learn how YOU can participate!

[Volunteers needed to work the KDP booth and to pour "tastes" at participating merchants.]

Sponsors include Kent Downtown Partnership, Umpqua Bank, Cheryl’s Unique Boutique, Virtually Yourz and Lemon Drop Skincare & Massage.

Last night SSSCo (pronounced Triple S Co) rocked the house with “Sweethearts, A Valentine’s Tragedy,” written and choreographed by Joselito Castillo.

Set in a 1920s speakeasy, this dark valentine show centered around the life of Delilah Jones (played by Shayda Abab) and her love affair with Sam (Castillo), a traveling trombonist after her money. With an eight-member cast, the performance included music from Tommy Dorsey, Eddie Cantor and the McGuire Sisters as well as a half a dozen or so playful dance numbers including a flirtatious piece performed on a portable mattress. The show concluded with Sam’s tragic-but-expected murder, Delilah’s subsequent arrest and a dance number performed by the entire cast.

Performed at South Side Dance Force, this clever production was entertaining to watch and a fun mix of different dance styles for all ages. In addition to the lively, energetic and spirited dancing, the cast members created an interesting synergy and were flawless in their execution of stage direction, prop movement and audience engagement. Having written a story on Castillo and SSDF, it was delightful to watch Castillo in action. His high energy and passion for dance – as well as those of his dancers – filled the studio. What a fun Valentine treat!

SSS-Co & Friends:

Sam – Joselito Castillo, writer, choreographer and owner of SSDF
Delilah Jones – Shayda Abab
Stanley O’Malley – CJ Conrad
Joe – Ryan Hayes
Herby – Eric Chapman
Betty – Denise Weitz
Myrna – Lori Stephens
Squeeky – Maria Crain

Featured music included the McGuire Sisters, Irvin Kauffman, Tommy Dorsey, Amy Serrata, Trumpet Jam and Eddie Cantor.

For more information on SSDF, see my article in the back cover of the February 2010 issue of Kent Magazine.

Kent’s South Side Dance Force
presents
“Sweethearts, Thieves & Their Lovers”
on
Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 7 p.m.
704 W. Meeker St., Kent, WA

Set in a 1920s speakeasy, this artistic performance features the South Side Sundays Company in “Sweethearts, Thieves & Their Loves.” Creator, director, producer and choreographer Joselito Castillo describes this performance as “a dark Valentine show” about gossip at a speakeasy. Don’t miss this wonderful show! Some mature content.

Call SSDF at 253-639-5829 for more info. and to purchase tickets. Tickets are only $10.00!

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.