• May 3, Birmingham
  Children's Dance Foundation's upper school students present "Hidden Treasures from Grandmother's Trunk," a dance performance including modern, jazz, tap, musical theatre and excerpts from the ballet, "Coppelia." Saturday, May 3, 7pm at The Alabama Theatre, 1811 3rd Ave N, Birmingham. Admission is FREE. For more information, visit www.childrensdancefoundation.org, or call 205-870-0073.

• May 3, Huntsville
  Merrimack Hall is pleased to have Mary Katherine Smartt, Huntsville’s own Rockette, teaching four Master Classes on Saturday, May 3. Mary Katherine trained in Huntsville at North Alabama Dance Center, under the direction of Barbara Ellen Smartt, her mother, for 16 years and has been teaching at NADC since 2005. Mary Katherine auditioned and was hired for the world renowned Rockettes in August 2007. She performed 110 shows at Radio City Music Hall in NYC as a Rockette in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Mary Katherine’s Television credits include the 2007 Radio City Christmas Spectacular on NBC and an appearance on Food Network’s Ace of Cakes as a Rockette.
  
  The Master Classes will be for ages 10 and up. Mary Katherine has designed them to cover a variety of dance styles, such as jazz and musical theatre; she will also be sharing many of the "ins and outs" of being a professional Broadway dancer. The last class of the day will be for Adults only. If you have ever dreamt of being a dancer on Broadway, then this class is for you! Along with the four Master Classes, there will also be a showcase at the end of the day in the Performance Hall at 4:30. This showcase will feature the students from the workshops performing the routines they will learn that day. So put on your dancin’ shoes and come take class from Mary Katherine, a real Radio City Rockette!

  Master Class Times:
  Beginner (Ages 10 & up) – 10:00-11:00
  Intermediate (Ages 13 & up) – 11:15-12:30
  Advanced (Ages 16 & up) – 1:00-2:30
  Adult – 2:45-4:00
  
  Class Fee: $15 each
  
  Performance: 4:30 in Merrimack Hall’s Performance Hall - FREE
  
  Class spots can be purchased online at www.merrimackhall.com or by calling Merrimack Hall at (256) 534-6455. Contact Leigh Caruso, Merrimack Hall’s Director of Dance Education, for more details at lcaruso@merrimackhall.com.

• May 3, Birmingham 
  The Vulcan Performers would like to announce their new show, charity event, and free dance on May 3, 7:00 pm at the Birmingham Public Library. This is a free event benefiting Magic Moments. We ask that anyone attending the show or dance please make a small donation at the door to Magic Moments. "Vulcan Performers Go Hollywood" is the group's fifth professional show and will feature acts in ballroom, ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, breakdancing, swing, and more. All acts will feature music from Hollywood movies. The group would also like to announce that it will showcase local celebrities and their dance talents. Join the Celebrities for an actual red carpet entrance at the Birmingham Library at 7:00 pm at the start of the show. A free west coast swing, latin, hustle party will follow. Come join the VP on their new dance floor for their show, charity event and dance! For more information, visit www.vulcanperformers.com, or call TJ and Wendy Zito at (205) 792-4642.

• May 7, Birmingham
  Birmingham Southern College Dance Department presents "FREE AT LAST! May Dance" on Wednesday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m., College Theatre - Mainstage. This evening of experimental and traditional works set by student choreographers is a first for the BSC community. Student dancers are free to choreograph in any style they wish to music of their choice and will present these works on the last day of the spring semester. Come join us for this exciting event! Admission is free and seating is on a first come, first served basis. For more information, contact Ruth Henry at Rhenry@bsc.edu, (205) 226-4943, or visit www.bsc.edu/academics/theatre-dance/dance.htm.

• May 10, Birmingham
  Latinsoul Productions presents Salsabor! Latin Dance Night at WorkPlay in Birmingham, AL this Saturday at 9:00pm. Free Salsa/Merengue dance lessons at 9pm. All ages welcome. 21 to drink responsibly! $10 cover, Dress to impress. WorkPlay is located at 500 23rd Street South. The WorkPlay building is located on the corner of 23rd St. & 5th Ave. South. For more info please call 205.301.7227. The party begins at 9pm with FREE Salsa/Merengue dance lessons. A dance partner is not required. Please arrive early to take advantage of the dance lessons.

• May 11, Birmingham
  The Stevan Grebel Center for Dance Spring Gala Performance - featuring students of Stevan Grebel Center for Dance and Alabama Youth Ballet Company, Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 4:00 PM, Pelham High School. All tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. The company will be performing a delightful favorite, "Paquita," and students will perform the "Polonaise and Mazurka," the lovely "Garland Waltz," from "Sleeping Beauty" and other pieces. Special Mother's Day items will be on sale in the boutique. Please call (205) 987-7234 for more information, or go to www.grebeldance.com.

• May 16-17, Andalusia
  Andalusia Ballet celebrates its 25th Anniversary Spring Showcase on May 16-17. The Showcase features the Sr. Company dancers performing "Paquita" and "A Western Tale". Students from the Academy at Andalusia Ballet, Pre-Ballet through level 6, will perform, "Impressions of Degas". The Showcase will also include original modern, jazz and tap works. The Andalusia Ballet Spring Showcase will be held at the Dixon Center on the campus of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Andalusia. Tickets are available at the Andalusia Ballet studios or by calling 334.222.6620.

• May 17, Birmingham
  Westwood Ballet is pleased to announce that the Spring Performance entitled "God's Masterpiece - A Work of Art," will be held on May 17 at 3:00 p.m. at Westwood Baptist Church in Forestdale, Alabama. Admission is free and a nursery will be provided. For more information, call Westwod Baptist at 205-798-0900 or email arts@wbclive.com.

• May 17, Prattville
  Young students of the Prattville Ballet and C.J.’s Dance Factory in Prattville prepare for their annual spring dance performance. The Theme of this year’s performance will be "Go Light Your World" for it is through reaching out to others that our purpose is fulfilled. The performance will feature excerpts from the classical "Cinderella", "Les Painteneurs", the opera "The Marriage of Figaro" as well as other contemporary ballet selections. The general public is invited to attend Saturday May 17th at the Davis Theatre at 7:00. For more information on summer classes, fall registration and the performance, please call 334-467-8603.

• May 23, Fultondale
  The Birmingham Swing Dancers Association will host a Swing Dance in Fultondale. The music will be provided by The Clay Swafford Band. This band provides powerful beats with their Memphis Blues sound that inspires the feet to dance. Cost is $11.00 for members and $13.00 for non-members. Directions: From I-65 take the Walker Chapel exit in Fultondale and turn up the hill toward Hwy 31. Turn right between the Fultondale City Hall and the Post Office. Go one block and turn right and the building is on the left at 1024 Old Walker Chapel Road, Fultondale, AL 35068. Call Pat Abbott at 205-427-3737. www.birminghamswingdancers.com.

• May 24-25, Huntsville
  Dance Theatre of Huntsville presents "Stormy Weather: A Rebirth of Legends". This performance tells the story of legends from the late 1930's classic movie "Stormy Weather" which featured Lena Horne, Bill (Bojangles) Robinson, Katherine Dunhamand her company, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, and many more. Dates: May 24 and 25. Times: 5:00 p.m. both days. Cost $10.00 Adults and $5.00 for children 10 and under. Location: Lee Lyric Theater (Lee High School). This show is sponsored by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

• May 27-29, Pelham
  Jazz Master Classes with Sara deFuniak - Stevan Grebel Center for Dance, 102 Commerce Parkway, Pelham (behind the Purple Onion). An intermediate/advanced level class will be offered in a special workshop with master jazz teacher Sara deFuniak as part of a 3 day jazz workshop. The fee is $60 for the full workshop, or $25 by the class. The workshop will be Tuesday - Thursday, May 27-29, at 5:00-6:00 PM at the Grebel Dance studios. Sara has taught at Edge PAC, L.A., Broadway Dance Center N.Y.C. and West Coast Dance Explosion to name a few. Her choreography has been performed by the Univeristy of Mississippi Rebelletes, at Dance Alabama at the University of Alabama, for The Pointer Sisters in their performance of "Jump" at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, and more. Sara is also available for solo and group choreography. We are so happy to have Sara back in Birmingham, where it all began! To register, please call 205-987-7234 or go to www.grebeldance.com. Please arrive 15 minutes early to register on the first day of the workshop.

• May 27-July 3, Montgomery
  The Alabama Dance Theatre will be offering classes in classical ballet (pre-ballet to the professional level), modern, jazz, hip-hop, and tap May 27- July 3 on a new state of the art dance floor. Highlights of summer classes include classical ballet training and creative movement classes open to ages 4 to 7. Classes will be held at the Armory Learning Arts Center, home of the Alabama Dance Theatre located at 1018 Madison Avenue. For more information please call (334) 241-2590, or visit www.alabamadancetheatre.com.

• May 28-July 28, Birmingham
  Announcing Summer Ballet Classes with the AROVA Contemporary Ballet. You are invited to enjoy a unique classical training experience with AROVA. Our Company specializes in providing pre-professionals with career advancement opportunities that ease the transition into the competitive professional dance world. Our primary goal is to foster innovation in ballet performance by bringing together versatile young adult dancers with national dance creators. Our open summer classes allow you the flexibility to train with AROVA's Company Members and experienced instructors as your schedule allows. No pre-registration required. Classes are available May 28 - July 28 and open to ages 16 - adult. Inter./ Adv. Level. 4:00pm - 5:30pm Mon., Wed. and Fridays. $10 Drop-in Rate. Class Packages are available. E-mail alison@arova.org for location information.

• May 29 - June 1, Birmingham
  Sanspointe Dance Company presents LIFE_FORMS: 08 eclectic dances by 06 choreographers + visual art + preshow live music by the band Handwritten Letters. May 29-31, 7pm (preshow 6:30) and June 1, 2pm (preshow 1:30). LIFE_FORMS will be performed at CDF's Studio Theatre in Downtown Homewood (1715 27th Court South). Tickets, $10, will be available at the door. Seating is limited; make reservations now: tickets4dance@gmail.com. Sponsored by Andress Engineering Associates and Pilates on Highland. Visual artwork by Nancy Goodman, Jamie Harper, Amos Kennedy, Brooke Lancaster and Alex McClurg. Choreography including Apartogether Touch, by Michelle Whittington, recipient of Panoply Arts Festival's 2008 Choreography Competition BEST MODERN Award. For more information or to make a donation to Sanspointe Dance Company, visit www.sanspointe.org, email Sanspointe@gmail.com, or call 205-799-2602.

• June 1, Birmingham
  Join Sanspointe Dance Company for a Community Movement Improvisation in Homewood Park at 4:00 pm June 1st.  All ages can participate, and no experience is required.  FREE!

• May 30, Montgomery
  The Montgomery Ballet is excited to announce a 1-hour Lecture Demonstration, free to the public, Friday, May 30, 2008, 10:15am, at the E.L. Lowder Public Library Branch at 2590 Bell Road in Montgomery. The lecture will be led by Elie Lazar, Artistic Director of the Montgomery Ballet, with participation from the Montgomery Ballet Professional Company Members, and is designed to allow children and audience members to view the dancers up close and to realize how the magic is being created before their eyes. The demonstration will include an overview of a typical ballet class, an explanation of the exercises and disciplinary requirements, the development of a student dancer into a professional, and the differences in the roles of male and female dancers. Mr. Lazar will also discuss the history of ballet, the French terminology, and will give children the opportunity to participate in an open question-answer session. Feel free to bring a group to this very interesting and informative session. For more information on the Lecture Demonstration Series or the Montgomery Ballet School, please call (334) 409-0522 or visit online at www.montgomeryballet.org.

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