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Dance: Lords of the dance

Gay creative energy abounds in season’s visiting performance troupes

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The Rambler, Joe Goode Performance Group, gay news, Washington Blade
The Rambler, Joe Goode Performance Group, gay news, Washington Blade

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.

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Out & About

This queer comedy show will warm you up

Catfish Comedy to feature LGBTQ lineup

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(Promotional image via Eventbrite)

Catfish Comedy will host “2026 Queer Kickoff Show” on Thursday, Feb. 5 at A League of Her Own (2319 18th Street, N.W.). This show features D.C.’s funniest LGBTQ and femme comedians. The lineup features performers who regularly take the stage at top clubs like DC Improv and Comedy Loft, with comics who tour nationally.

Tickets are $17.85 and can be purchased on Eventbrite

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Arts & Entertainment

Catherine O’Hara, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ star and celebrated queer ally, dies at 71

Actress remembered for memorable comedic roles in ‘Beetlejuice’ and ‘Home Alone’

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(Photo courtesy of Pop TV)

Catherine O’Hara, the varied comedic actor known for memorable roles in “Beetlejuice,” “Schitt’s Creek,” and “Home Alone,” has died at 71 on Friday, according to multiple reports. No further details about her death were revealed.

O’Hara’s death comes as a shock to Hollywood, as the Emmy award-winning actor has been recently active, with roles in both “The Studio” and “The Last of Us.” For her work in those two shows, she received Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series and outstanding guest actress in a drama series.

In 2020, O’Hara won the Outstanding Lead Actress in a comedy series award for her work in the celebrated sixth and final season of “Schitt’s Creek.” She was also known as a queer ally and icon for her theatrical and often campy performances over multiple decades. In “Schitt’s Creek,” she played Moira Rose, the wig-loving mother of David Rose (played by series creator Dan Levy). David is pansexual, but the characters around him simply accept him for who he is; the show was embraced by the LGBTQ community with how naturally David’s sexuality was written and portrayed. That show ran from 2015 to 2020 and helped bring O’Hara and her co-stars into a new phase of their careers.

In a 2019 interview with the Gay Times, O’Hara explained why the show got LGBTQ representation right: “Daniel has created a world that he wants to live in, that I want to live in. It’s ridiculous that we live in a world where we don’t know how to respect each other and let each other be. It’s crazy. Other shows should follow suit and present the world and present humans as the best that we can be. It doesn’t mean you can’t laugh, that you can’t be funny in light ways and dark ways. It’s all still possible when you respect and love each other.”

Additional credits include “SCTV Network” (for which O’Hara won a writing Emmy), “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Six Feet Under,” “Best in Show,” “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” and “Dick Tracy.” O’Hara also lent her voice to “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Chicken Little,” “Monster House,” and “Elemental.” O’Hara was expected to return for Season 2 of “The Studio,” which started filming earlier this month.

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Calendar

Calendar: January 30-February 5

LGBTQ events in the days to come

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Friday, January 30

Friday Tea Time will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Bring your beverage of choice. For more information, contact Mac ([email protected]).

Spark Social will host “RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Watch Party” at 8 p.m. This event will be hosted by local drag queens TrevHER and Grey, who will provide hilarious commentary and make live predictions on who’s staying and who’s going home. Stick around after the show for a live drag performance. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

Saturday, January 31

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation.  Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Sunday, February 1

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community and Conversation” at noon at As You Are. This event is for those looking to make more friends and meaningful connections in the LGBTQ+ community. Look for the Go Gay DC sign on the long table near the front window. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Monday, February 2

“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam (adamheller@thedccenter.org).

Tuesday, February 3

Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more information, email [email protected]

Wednesday, February 4

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older LGBTQ+ women can meet and socialize with one another. There will be discussion, activities, and a chance for guests to share what they want future events to include. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website

Thursday, February 5

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245. 

Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breath work and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.  

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