The Spin

Work Dance Co.
Work Dance Co.

Xcape Dance Company presents The Freak Show! with a red carpet and pre-show at 7:30 pm and show at 8:30 pm Friday, April 1, at the Hi Fi Music Hall, featuring “Non Stop hip hop, street jazz, tap, music, side shows, tricks, treats, circus acts and show stoppers,” says the group’s artistic director Vanessa Fuller. Tickets xcapedance.com; $10-$13.

Lane Community College’s The Works Student Dance Concert auditions will be held 4 pm Thursday, April 7, in Studio 136. And later this month, LCC lead dance faculty Bonnie Simoa will present Blessings to Saraswati, a Balinese dance ritual created and presented in collaboration with musician Christian Cherry, videographer Ian Coronado and several dancers in the community, at the multimedia festival (sub)Urban Projection’s April 21 at the Hult Center.

The Eugene Ballet Company [EBC] premieres The Great Gatsby 7:30 pm Saturday, April 9, and 2 pm Sunday, April 10, at the Hult. The show promises “a trip back in time to the extravagant 1920s for The Great Gatsby, based on the popular novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald,” writes EBC’s Kylie Keppler. “This dazzling, dramatic production transports the audience nearly 100 years into the past with glittering costumes, classic cars and lavish parties set to the music of acclaimed jazz musician Wynton Marsalis and performed by Orchestra NEXT.” Tickets at eugeneballet.org; $15-$59.

“Fresh from a sold-out show at the Wildish Theater, MEDGE [Middle Eastern Dance Guild of Eugene] returns to Cozmic on Apr. 15 at 8:30 pm to present their annual International Dance Day Show,” MEDGE member Denise Gilbertson says. “The show will feature folkloric dances of Egypt by the Saidi Sisters as well as several guest artists from other dance genres, including a hula performance, African drum and dance group Denbaya and flamenco artist Antonio Fernandes.” All ages, $5 at door.

UO Repertory Dance Company presents new work 8 pm Friday and Saturday, April 15-16, in the UO Dougherty Dance Theatre, Gerlinger Annex. The performance features Kyle Sorensen and Gina Bolles Sorensen, alumni choreographers and founders of the San Diego-based somebodies dance theatre. $8-$12.

Work Dance Co. presents its annual show, this year Neon Jungle, April 30 at the Hult. “Work has 22 strong and multi-talented dancers that truly love what they do and do it with honesty and passion,” says the group’s founder Nate Boozer. “Work Dance Co. uses everything from old-school to new-school urban hip hop and jazz-funk styles and techniques, while also adding theatrics and much needed expression to the dances.” The performance features guests from Kings Krew, The Dance Factory, Xcape Dance Company, Zapp, Dance Northwest, Flex Studios, the UO Dance Team and Love of Motion Dance Co. The performance is a benefit for local dance scholarships. Tickets at hultcenter.org; $20.

In studio news, Dance With Us! studio offers a First Saturday Dance, April 2, at Trinity United Methodist, featuring a mix of swing, ballroom and Latin music with West Coast swing, nightclub two step and hustle as well as open social dancing: Lesson at 7 pm, dancing 8 to 10 pm; $8. Spring classes are also underway — it’s open season for wedding dance lessons.  More info at danceeugene.com.

DanceAbility International offers creative dance classes for people across the full spectrum of abilities and disabilities. Their spring session runs Thursdays with youth class from 4 to 5 pm and adult class 5 to 6 pm, March 31-June 2, at the Hilyard Community Center, 2580 Hilyard St. More info or register at danceability.com

The Eugene Youth Ballet hosts the Northwest Dance Festival April 15-17. “The annual master dance series event brings together more than 150 dancers, choreographers, teachers and artistic directors from around the state,” writes EYB’s director Sara Lombardi. “This spectacular weekend event offers educational and inspirational workshops, master classes and performances for aspiring dancers. Guest teachers include dance professionals from the community and Eugene Ballet Company.” A dance performance 7 pm Saturday, April 16, at the Hult culminates the daytime workshops of eight Northwest youth dance companies.

And Eugene Ballet Academy continues its new class for boys, ages 10-14 (some dance experience required), Saturdays 1 to 2 pm at Eugene Ballet Academy, instructed by EBC company dancer Cory Betts. For more information visit eugeneballetacademy.org.

In Summer Camp news, Ballet Fantastique is already registering dancers ages 2 to adult summer 2016 day camps, workshops and intensives. Find details at balletfantastique.org.

And in boogying-down news, EZDC, the Eugene Zydeco Dance Community, in association with the Eugene Folklore Society, presents A Zydeco Dance Party featuring Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys from Opelousas, Louisiana, Sunday, April 17, beginning with a zydeco dance lesson at 6 pm, then stomp, swing and waltz dancing till 10 pm at Dunn School, 3411 Willamette Street in Eugene; $15-$18