by Madison Huizinga | Jun 28, 2020 | General, News, The Arts
Seattle, WA. Velocity Dance Center is offering online dance classes to the public and plans to continue doing so until its annual summer festivals starts on July 12th. Communication manager Vladimir Kremenović explains that Velocity is “offering a variety of online classes through Zoom.” There are classes on Velocity’s website for dancers of every skill level, from beginners to professionals. Single classes can be purchased, or packages of multiple sessions. (Photo above from pre-pandemic performance.)
Dancers explore floor work at Velocity Dance Center before the Covid pandemic.
Velocity Dance Center is located at 1621 12th Ave. in Seattle. It’s one of the largest centers for adult dancers in the Seattle area and acts as a source of creation for many individuals throughout the Pacific Northwest. Velocity’s resources include classes, workshops, performances, residencies, discussions, screenings, as well as two annual international festivals: Strictly Seattle and Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation. When Washington governor Jay Inslee announced the stay-home order throughout the state, many dance studios closed, and Velocity Dance Center was no exception. According to Velocity’s communications manager Vladimir Kremenović, Velocity staff “realized that to protect [their] community [they] needed to close down studios.”
Promotional photo for Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation 2018
Following its closure, Velocity partnered with local artists to stream its works online as a way to connect with the community remotely. These streams included commentary and conversations with artists via Zoom about their creative processes.
Velocity also offers classes for an array of dance genres including modern, contemporary, hip-hop, improvisation, and more. Payment for these classes is donation based. Kremenović states that it didn’t “make sense to charge for classes since many community members have lost their jobs” due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Velocity not only supports its community by providing access to dance resources but also through aiding local activists. Velocity Dance Center is located in Capitol Hill, a Seattle neighborhood amid Black Lives Matter protests. A couple of blocks from Velocity is the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP), otherwise known as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ). CHOP is one of the main sites of protests for the Black Lives Matter movement that ignited throughout Seattle following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Kremenović shares that Velocity “wanted to provide resources for people on the street” to support the activism transpiring throughout Seattle and the United States. In early June, Velocity opened its lobby to provide activists with access to restrooms, charging outlets, and water fountains. Velocity recognizes that they are a predominantly white-led organization and as a result decided to take a step back from self-promotion on Instagram to amplify anti-racist sentiment and highlight the voices of BIPOC activists and artists. Additionally, Velocity has partnered with Northwest Film Forum to stream the films, Aviva and Cunningham, through the next month. All proceeds from June film screenings will be donated to organizations that empower Black lives.
Through Velocity’s transition to remote work, Kremenović reports that the organization is “really proud and happy to have so many teachers in their community willing to make the jump” to online teaching. Through online classes and festivals, Kremenović wishes for Velocity to continue making dancers “come together, dance, and create beautiful art.”
From Velocity Dance Center:
There are many ways to support Velocity Dance Center now and throughout the summer. People can sign up for Velocity’s online classes, as well as register for its online summer festivals. Both Strictly Seattle and Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation will be conducted online this year. However, Velocity recognizes that there are more important organizations to spotlight other than its studio at the moment. Velocity encourages people in its community to direct donations towards cultural organizations that support Black lives.
Velocity is Seattle’s center dedicated to contemporary dance, and an essential incubator for new dance in our region. With artist-driven, community-responsive programming, Velocity provides vital resources and advocacy for one of the most active dance communities in the nation. Velocity’s programming includes classes, workshops, residencies, performances, discussions, and two annual international festivals.
by [email protected] | Jun 24, 2020 | General, News
Seattle, WA. An impressive group of performers joined forces for a virtual concert on June 24th. It was the “All In WA: A Concert for COVID-19 Relief” event and viewers pledged over $45 Million to Washington State COVID relief fund during the broadcast. Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson, and his wife Ciara also spoke during the broadcast. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for All In WA)
Dave Matthews performs during All In WA: A Concert For COVID-19 Relief. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for All In WA)
Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Courteney Cox, and Tatum Dahl speak during the concert For COVID-19 relief. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for All In WA)
Sir Mix-a-Lot performs during All In WA. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for All In WA)
Bill Gates joined the broadcast.
The extensive lineup of entertainers also included Dave Matthews, Macklemore, Pearl Jam, Ciara, Allen Stone, Ben Gibbard, The Black Tones, Joel McHale, Mary Lambert, Pete Carroll, Bill Nye, Candice Wilson, Chad Charlie, Courteney Cox, Dove Cameron, Edouardo Jordan, The Head and the Heart, Jeffery Dean Morgan, Jessica Dobson, Prometheus Brown, Joshua Karp, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark Diamond, Mimi Jung, Nancy Wilson, Noah Gundersen, Rainn Wilson, Ryan Lewis, Sleater-Kinney, and Travis Thompson. Presented by Amazon and produced by Anonymous Content and Done + Dusted, the All In WA: A Concert for COVID-19 Relief was streamed on Amazon Music’s Twitch channel (www.twitch.tv/amazonmusic and through www.AllInWA.org.
From All In WA:
All In WA hopes to help all Washingtonians find a way to give back. You can support the All In WA fund, created to fill the gaps in funding across the state and governed by an advisory board you can see here. You can also support a Cause Fund, focused on issues of most need, or donate to a Community Fund near you to support a place you love, or use the PowerOf tool.
Please donate today and join us in celebrating the strength of this state by tuning in to All In WA: A Concert for COVID-19 Relief by Presenting Sponsor Amazon, a virtual event to bring attention to our state’s needs and resilience. This concert will be broadcast live here and on Twitch, KREM, KING 5, KONG, and KSKN.
by Laine Baumgarten | Aug 16, 2019 | General, News
Seattle, WA. Over 200 people attended ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery’s RED Auction and Gala on July 27th. The event was held in the Canvas Event Space, with decorations inspired by the color red. Patrons Todd Green and Jim Loder posed with smiling dancing girls at the gala which raised over $200,000. The proceeds support ArtsWest’s work producing artistic events that provoke conversation, incite the imagination and use live theater as an agent of change. ArtsWest is located at 4711 California Ave in West Seattle. (Photo credit, Michael Wallenfels)
Sandy Adams, BJ Buller, Jim Guenther, Katy Hannigan
Ivonne Ward
ArtsWest Patrons
Shannon Flora, Todd Green, Jim Loder
Walter Reese, Gary Ambrose
The annual auction and gala featured performance art inspired by the color red. To ArtsWest, red symbolizes life, love, desire, and determination. The event began with a full hosted bar, wine, and hors d’oeuvres. Guests also received three dining options for a meal at the gala. The auction involved bidding on silent auction items and live auction items and experiences such as decadent desserts and exciting vacations.
From ArtsWest:
ArtsWest produces artistic events that provoke conversation, incite the imagination and use live theater as a powerful agent of change.
Theatre
ARTSWEST | MILK LIKE SUGAR
Each year, ArtsWest presents a full mainstage theatre season in our 149-seat space. We selectchallenging, progressive plays designed to spark conversation about relevant topics. Your support helps us offer pay-what-you can preview performances for all mainstage productions, free or discounted tickets for other nonprofit organizations and individuals in need, and general ticket prices that makes the ArtsWest theatre experience accessible to everyone! Your support also helps produce our FIRST LOOK events, which are free and open to the public. Click here to see our current theatre offerings.
Gallery
THE EPIC AND THE PUNY | LAUREN BOILINI & PATTY HALLER
The Runnings Family Gallery at ArtsWest provides community members, theatre patrons, and art enthusiasts with an opportunity to experience high quality, contemporary visual art. Each year, ArtsWest produces exhibitions featuring professional Pacific Northwest artists, providing these artists with an opportunity to showcase their work. Your support helps ensure the Gallery remains free and open to the public.ArtsWest hosts receptions and Artist Talks with each exhibition, and participates in the West Seattle ArtWalk the second Thursday of each month. Click here to learn more about our current exhibition season.
Education
ArtsWest is well known for its Theatre Education Program and is one of only three arts organizations in the United States to receive three successive grants from the National Endowment for the Arts in support of the Arts’ Summer School in the Arts program. Students in ArtsWest’s Education program learn more than how to sing, dance, and act. They learn how to think creatively, take calculated risks, and work as a team. Students with this kind of training become the leaders of tomorrow, and your support helps nurture these young people into becoming community leaders. ArtsWest also offers comprehensive, full-time and part-time apprentice programs for high school, undergraduate, graduate students, and recent graduates from around Seattle and the country. ArtsWest is dedicated to creating apprenticeship opportunities that maximize an apprentice’s specific skill set and developing future professionals in their chosen field. Click here to see our current education offerings.
