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Always wanted to learn the samba or tango?  Now is your chance!  Take a trip to downtown Saint Paul for some free dance lessons and a good time!

This free Summer Dance program is a weekly social event highlighting a different dance  every week on Thursdays through August 12.  Basic lessons are taught by professional dance companies and there is a live band to accompany you as you sway to the beat!  What could be better than dancing under the stars on a hot summer night in the heart of downtown Saint Paul.  Beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks are available for purchase, as well as food from restaurants such as Pazzaluna and the Saint Paul Hotel.  At 6 pm, the dance demos and lessons start, then, from 7:30 pm – 10 pm, there is live music from all different genres.

The Ordway Summer Dance teamed up with the Saint Paul Public Library to host a dance-themed movie every Friday night at 9:30 pm in the Central Library courtyard.

Get a group of friends together for a night of fun and creativity – don’t forget your dancing shoes!

Upcoming dance demos:

August 5th – Ballroom

6:00 pm – Dance instruction with Cinema Ballroom

7:30 pm – live music from Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra

August 12 – Reggae/Worldbeat

6:00 pm – Dance instruction with Kenna Sarge

7:30 pm – Live music by The New Primitives

Upcoming movies at 9:30 pm:

August 6 – “Mad Hot Ballroom”

August 13 – “Sabar”

For more information, go to www.ordway.org/summerdance

The Ordway’s got a sizzlin’ season of performing arts still ahead this Winter! From music to dance to opera, the Downtown Saint Paul performance center is the heart of what’s hot in this cold, frozen tundra we call home. Check out our picks for the upcoming couple weeks and check the Ordway’s site for even more!

HEART FOR HAITI BENEFIT CONCERT

Fri, February 12, 2010, 7:30 PM
Ordway McKnight Theatre

Ticket Price – $30

The Ordway joins forces with the greater Twin Cities’ theater community to help those affected by the recent Haiti earthquake. The special musical revue will feature over 20 arts organizations along with some of our most coveted local actors, singers and performers. The Heart for Haiti Benefit Concert, will be directed by Bob Neu (Minnesota Orchestra), Jake Endres (The Theatrical Music Company) and James Rocco (Ordway Center) and FOX 9′s Robyne Robinson is scheduled to emcee the event. All proceeds will be directly donated to Feed My Starving Children and The Clinton Bush Haiti Relief Fund.

VOCALESSENCE: SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK

Sun, February 14, 2010, 4:00 PM
Ordway Main Hall

Grammy-nominated a cappella vocal group Sweet Honey in the Rock teams up with the VocalEssence Chorus and conductor Philip Brunelle for an soulful meld of blues, spirituals, gospel, African chants, hip hop, ancient lullabies, and improvisation inspired by African American legacy and traditions.

DANCE BRAZIL

Fri, February 19, 2010, 7:30 PM
Ordway Main Hall

Artistic director Jelon Vieira busts out with a spicy contemporary dance extravaganza that will surely entice! For over 30 years DanceBrazil has been inspired by the traditional Afro-Brazilian Dance and Capoeira movement in choreography; a culturally significant style that marries contemporary dance and sound in a brilliant cacophony of grace, tradition, and seductive pizazz.

For more events at the Ordway, including a number of world music events, MN Opera performances and more visit www.ordway.org