September 18, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rachel Campos, rcampos@alumni.haas.org
Animate Dance Festival coming to Alameda Point on October 27, 2018
On Saturday, October 27, 2018, West End Arts and Entertainment presents the inaugural Animate Dance Festival, the first free outdoor dance festival on the island. Bringing together over 150 performers and representing more than 10 different movement styles, the event is a celebration of dance in all its forms. The event runs from 11 am-5 pm and will be hosted at Alameda Point.
WHAT Animate Dance Festival, Alameda’s first free outdoor dance festival
WHEN Saturday October 27, 2018, from 11 am - 5 pm
WHERE West Red Line Avenue @ Todd Street, Alameda, CA
TICKETS The event is free and open to all. Attendees are encouraged to reserve a ticket: http://animatedancefestival.eventbrite.com
MORE INFORMATION www.animatedancefestival.com
MEDIA KIT PHOTOS https://app.box.com/s/3kcdnpc8uycft9hx3tnubsjindt3p4ra
Animate is a free festival intended for both dance enthusiasts and novices with outstanding performance presented in a relaxed, family friendly context. Many of the pieces are “site specific,” they are created and rehearsed on site, so that the choreography reflects and responds to the space.
Animate Dance Festival is the brainchild of British dance artist Tara Pilbrow. A recent addition to the Alameda community, Tara has almost 20 years of experience dancing with professional dance companies in France and the UK, and is Artistic Director of Tara Pilbrow Dance Company. “On my first visit to Alameda Point, I was immediately struck by the dramatic spaces, its vast buildings, and the eerie feeling of a hub of activity suddenly emptied. It made me want to create, to dance, to animate this space and to allow people to explore it in a new way.”
The program covers a range of different dance styles, from hip-hop to ballet, salsa to swing, with performances from award winning choreographers Lizz Roman and Katie Faulkner, as well as 2017 World of Dance winners Str8jacket. In addition to the performances happening throughout the festival site, there will be free classes, a kids zone run by Twirl, Alameda’s much-loved design lab and play gallery, and a ‘dance fair’ with vendors and food trucks.
Animate has been made possible through a generous grant from the City of Alameda as part of their first ever distribution of funds to support cultural public art around the city.
“The arts have been such an important force in the activation of Alameda Point,” stated Amanda Gehrke, who manages the public art program for the City of Alameda. “We are thrilled to help continue that tradition by supporting dance, movement, and creativity through the Animate Dance Festival.”
About the West End Arts & Entertainment District
West End Arts & Entertainment District is an alliance of creators, venues, and citizens with a shared goal — to promote more performing and visual art in Alameda. Through this shared vision, we hope to increase exposure for local artists and provide a platform to have their voices heard to create a more vibrant community. W.E.A.E.D are the masterminds of the popular Blues Brews and BBQ festival, the West End Night Market, and Taste of Alameda.
About Tara Pilbrow
Tara Pilbrow is a Hong-Kong born, British dance artist who moved to the Bay Area in January 2017. Tara has worked with dance companies in the UK, France, Dubai, and Argentina and founded her own company Tara Pilbrow Dance in London in 2011. She currently teaches at Roco Dance in Mill Valley and leads Animate team, a group of five brilliantly dedicated East Bay dancers: Julie Crothers, Carol Kueffer-Moore, Lisa Bush-Finn, Hilary Snider, and Alisa Rasera.
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