Arts & Entertainment
Dance: Lords of the dance
Gay creative energy abounds in season’s visiting performance troupes
A promo still from ‘The Rambler,’ a performance by the Joe Goode Performance Group. Goode, a gay San Francisco-based artist, will be in Rockville this weekend for two performances — Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at American Dance Institute (1570 E. Jefferson Street in Rockville). Visit americandance.org for details. (Photo courtesy Joe Goode Performance Group)
Last year at this time we were saying farewell to the famous D.C. Cowboys, but just because the Cowboys have performed their last dance doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other important dance offerings in the region this spring. Many feature gay performers, gay themes or gay directors, so make sure to mark your calendar for your favorites.
Bowen McCauley Dance, led by dancer and choreographer Lucy Bowen McCauley performs at the Atlas Intersections Festival tonight at 10 p.m. at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H Street N.E.). This performance will combine dance and rock music and a live performance by Half Brother. On April 5-6, Bowen McCauley Dance performs at the Kennedy Center (2700 F Street N.W.) at 7:30 p.m. They will be celebrating the centennial anniversary of “Rite of Spring” and other pieces. Tickets range from $36-40.
On March 7-8, gay dancer and choreographer Helanius J. Wilkins performs his powerful piece “Closer” two final times at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H Street N.E.) as part of the Atlas Intersections Festival. In this piece, Wilkins navigates his way from questions to statements while exploring newfound realizations of dance. For more information visit hjwedgeworks.com.
David Burkholder is the artistic director of The Playground, which performs “The Chemistry of Lime Trees” at The Mead Theatre Lab @ Flashpoint (916 G Street N.W.) March 14-24. This piece explores the impact of real and perceived boundaries in our lives.
Gay helmed VT Dance/Vincent Thomas celebrates 10 years of dancing with VT Dance Looking Back, Moving Forward on March 16-17 at the Theatre Project Baltimore (45 W Preston Street, Baltimore). For more information visit www.theatreproject.org.
From March 20-24, The Washington Ballet performs “Cinderella.” which combines magnificent beauty with ravishing costumes in the retelling of this classic romance. This piece is choreographed by gay director and choreographer Septime Webre and will take place at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theatre (2700 F Street N.W.). Tickets are available starting at $25.
The New York City Ballet performs at The Kennedy Center Opera House March 26-31. The company will dance two signature mixed reparatory programs accompanied by the New York City Ballet Orchestra. For more information or tickets go to kennedy-center.org.
At Dance Place (3225 8th Street N.E.) on April 6-7, Abraham.In.Motion performs Pavements, which is “Boyz in the Hood” re-imagined as a dance work investigating the state of black America.
On April 13, gay choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess and his company dance at Episcopal High School (1200 North Quaker Lane, Alexandria Va).
The 2013/2014 season marks the 10th anniversary season for the gay lead dance outfit Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company. On April 13 and 14 they perform a mixed show of Sokolow work, classical Indian dance and fusion at Dance Place (3225 8th Street N.E.).
On May 3-5 at the Davis Performing Arts Center at Georgetown University (3700 O Street N.W.) Derek Goldman presents “Once Wild: Isadora in Russia” written by gay award-winning playwright Norman Allen and choreographed by Cynthia Word. This progressive multidisciplinary production offers a bold new vision of Isadora Duncan. For tickets or more information go to performingarts.georgetown.edu.
From May 8-12 the Washington Ballet performs Septime Webre’s newest exploration into American literature with Heminway’s “The Sun Also Rises.” Tickets start at $25 for this Kennedy Center performance. For more information on to purchase tickets visit kennedy-center.org.
The Washington Ballet also performs “Peter and the Wolf” at the THEARC Theater May 18-19. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit thearcdc.org.
Gay choreographer and artistic director Josh Beamish of Move presents “Pierced” at the American Dance Institute (1570 East Jefferson St, Rockville) May 18-19.
Edgeworks Dance Theater, lead by openly gay choreographer Helanius J. Wilkins, returns to the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center (2700 F Street NW) on June 3. This predominately African-American Dance Company will dance a mixed repertory program featuring signature and new works.
Dance Place (3225 8th Street N.E.) has many additional offerings throughout the spring including Revision Dance Company, Karen Sherman and Idan Cohen among others. For more information and a full listing of performances visit danceplace.org
The D.C. Lambda Squares, an LGBT square dance/social club, has numerous square dance events and class sessions coming up this spring including a community dance on March 9 with a Mardi Gras theme. Monday night beginner classes continue until May 20 from 7:30-9 p.m.
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
The fourth annual Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 17.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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