Arts & Entertainment
D.C. fall dance scene includes summits, festivals, nightlife parties and more
2017 Fall Arts Preview: Dance
A dancer with Company Danzante Contemporary Dance shows off her moves at the Kennedy Center. (Photo by Natalia Terry; courtesy VelocityDC)
Dance Loft on 14 (4618 14th St., N.W.) and Dance Metro D.C. hosts the D.C. Dance Summit this weekend (Sept. 15-17). Various dance genres from ballet and hip hop to Afro-Caribbean and contemporary will have workshops led by top local dance instructors in the field.
Vladimir Angelov, Steve Barberio, Cameron Bennett, Stephen Clapp and more will be featured speakers and workshop leaders. Performances, yoga, networking events, an “undoing racism” workshop and other actives will also be offered over the two days.
A full weekend pass is $75. Single day passes are $40. Evening-only passes for performances, talks and a party are $10. Undoing Racism workshop is $20 for non-members and free for members. Details at dcfirstdancesummit2017.com.
Light Switch Dance Theatre hosts “Importance of Touch: Fifth Anniversary Launch Party” at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (545 Seventh St., S.E.) on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. The Importance of Touch explores if people are more comfortable with touch technology than the human touch. There will be a performance and a party including food and drink from local businesses, an appearance by local artist Jade Essence and other activities. Tickets are $15. Details at lightswitchdance.wixsite.com.
Festival of South African Dance takes place at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts (4400 University Dr., Fairfax, Va.) on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m.
The Russian Grand Ballet presents “Swan Lake: at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall (4915 E Campus Dr., Alexandria, Va.) on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. The performance tells the story of Princess Odette who falls under an evil spell that Prince Siegfried tries to break.Tickets range from $35-85. Details at russiangrandballet.com.
The ninth annual VelocityDC Dance Festival is at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St., N.W.) on Friday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 7 at 2 and 8 p.m. Nineteen local dancers and dance companies representing a variety of styles such as contemporary, African, Indian, ballet, urban and more. Participating dancers will be Company Danzante Contemporary Dance, El Teatro de Danza Contemporanea, Farafina Kan, Gin Dance Company and more. The National Hand Dance Association will give free post-show dance lessons after the evening performances. This will also be the first year the festival will include a family-friendly matinee performance. Regie Cabico hosts the two-day event. Tickets start at $18. Details at velocitydc.org.
George Mason University’s Center for the Arts (4400 University Dr., Fairfax, Va.) presents “Pilobolus: Shadowland,” on Friday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m.The multimedia performance uses projected shadow play and acrobatic dance to tell the story of a teenage girl who wants to be independent. When she falls asleep, she enters the land of the shadows. Tickets range from $29-48. Details at cfa.gmu.edu.
D.C. Fall Salsa and Bachata Dance Festival is at Crystal City Hilton at Washington Reagan National Airport (2399 S Clark St., Arlington, Va.) Oct. 19-23. There will be more than 25 workshops, dance performances and five nights of theme parties with a salsa room, bachata room and zouk and kizomba room. Tickets range from $45-169. Search for the event on Facebook for details.
The Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) presents “DEMO by Damian Woetzel: Jerome Robbins–American Dance Genius” Oct. 20-21 at 7:30 p.m. Woetzel hosts a lecture, demonstration-style performance that honors iconic gay choreographer Jerome Robbins known for his work on “West Side Story,” “Fancy Free,” “The Cage” and more. Tickets range from $39-49. Details at kennedy-center.org.
Joy of Motion Dance Center hosts “Dreamweaver: Studio to Stage,” at the Jack Guidone Theater (5207 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. The modern dance performance inspired by dreams will be presented in the forms of hip hop, modern, tap and Horton technique. Details at joyofmotion.org.
Washington Ballet presents Septime Webre’s “The Nutcracker” at Warner Theater (513 13th St., N.W.) Nov. 30-Dec. 24. The classic tale takes place in a Georgetown mansion with historical figures such as George Washington and King George III. On Sunday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. Family Day will allow children of all ages to enjoy a matinee performance and then participate in crafts, a character meet and greet, an open rehearsal and more. On Sunday, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. the Nutcracker Tea Party will include tea, a photograph opportunity with the cast and other activities. Tickets range from $30-120. Details at washingtonballet.org.
And in a whole other kind of dance, the nightlife scene will be booming all fall as usual.
Distrkt C is at the D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) the second Saturday of every month from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. The next one is Sunday, Oct. 8 with Nina Flowers. Alto Voltagje is the fourth Saturday of each month at 9 p.m. The next is Saturday, Sept. 23. Details at distrktc.com.
DC Jane, a new party for women, is every fourth Friday of the month at 9 p.m. at the Eagle. DJ Rosie spins on Friday, Sept. 22. Details at dcjaneparty.com.
The next CTRL party is Friday, Sept. 23 at Town (2009 8th St., N.W.). Details at towndc.com.
The 13th annual Frederick Pride Festival was held at Carroll Creek Park in Frederick, Md. on Saturday, June 27.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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PHOTOS: Fredericksburg Pride March and Festival
LGBTQ celebration held in historic Virginia town
The sixth annual Fredericksburg Pride March was held in downtown Fredericksburg, Va. on Saturday, June 27. Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chair Deuntay Diggs led the march alongside Fredericksburg City Council Member Jannan W. Holmes. The Fredericksburg Pride Festival took place at Riverfront Park after the march. Bree Fram was the featured speaker.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Iran and Egypt on Friday faced off during the World Cup’s “Pride Match” in Seattle.
Iran is among the handful of countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death. Discrimination and persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity is commonplace in Egypt.
Friday’s match coincided with Pride weekend in Seattle. The Egyptian Football Association and the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran both objected to playing in the “Pride Match.”
Egypt and Iran tied 1-1.
FIFA, for its part, allowed Pride flags inside the stadium during the match.
“The FIFA World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds,” a FIFA spokesperson told the Washington Blade in a statement. “Fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome at matches and events. General statements of human rights, including rainbow flags and other flags representing sexual orientation and gender identity, are permitted under the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Stadium Code of Conduct and may be displayed inside stadiums provided they are used in a manner consistent with the code.”
Human Rights Watch welcomed FIFA’s decision to allow Pride flags inside the stadium. Outright International, a global LGBTQ and intersex rights group, distributed Pride flags in Seattle on Friday, which was Pride Match Day.
“Visibility matters,” said Outright International Executive Director Maria Sjödin. “Pride is now being celebrated in more than 100 countries, including this weekend in Seattle. For many LGBTIQ people, seeing a Pride flag in public is a reminder that they are not alone, and that their rights and dignity are recognized.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino earlier this year told Die Weltwoche, a Swiss magazine, that “there will be no ‘Pride Match’ at the (FIFA) World Cup.”
“There will be a FIFA World Cup match in Seattle, and on the same day, events organized by external organizations will be taking place in the city,” said Infantino. “But that has nothing to do with the match itself.”
Peter Tatchell, a long-time LGBTQ activist from the U.K. who is director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, was among those who traveled to Seattle for Friday’s match. Tatchell accused FIFA of not vetting World Cup teams — specifically Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Senegal, Qatar, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Uzbekistan, and Algeria — over whether they would allow gay players.
“FIFA is protecting LGBT+ visibility in the stands while failing to protect LGBT+ players on the pitch,” said Tatchell.
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