If you want to see American ballet at its best, there’s nothing better than the choreography of George Balanchine. The Suzanne Farrell Ballet seeks to remind the audience of that with three of his works at The Kennedy Center. They’ll perform two different all-Balanchine mixed repertory programs the company will present over the remainder of the holiday week and weekend. Often referred to as the father of American ballet, Balanchine found a muse in Suzanne…

Written by DCist contributor Angela Olson. The Washington Ballet aims to engage families with young children in the world of ballet with its current production of Where the Wild Things Are. Undoubtedly, they achieved this goal with colorful sets and costumes ripped from the pages of Maurice Sendak’s book, and energetic choreography by Artistic Director Septime Webre. It is difficult to criticize such a worthy goal, indeed the children sitting near me were dancing in…

With monuments and museums, Washington, D.C. is a haven for history buffs. But what do most of us really know about Virginia? The Kathy Harty Gray Dance Theatre will combine a history lesson with dance with two performances of “Women in Virginia and Other Favorites” this weekend at Northern Virginia Community College’s Alexandria campus. The performance will include excerpts of the company’s touring program “Stories to Remember about Women in Virginia”, which covers 400 years…

Written by DCist contributor Meghan Welsh Though professional dancers train for years to achieve perfect technique, there is one rule that trumps everything else when it comes to performing: make it look effortless. CityDance Ensemble’s performance of “Eclipse” on Sunday evening at the Music Center at Strathmore more than accomplished this feat. The concert was part of the D.C.-based contemporary repertory dance company’s “In the Studio” concert series, which transforms a dance studio into a…

Franz Kafka ordered his friend Max Brod to burn his incomplete novel The Trial after his death in 1924; Brod edited and published it instead. Although written more than 80 years ago, the book was so prescient in its portrayal of a idly malevolent bureaucracy that it feels timeless. Christopher Gallu has written a new adaptation for Catalyst Theatre Company (where he is Producing Artistic Director), and here he steps into some mammoth shoes:…

Dr. Billy Taylor (pictured with his trio) is a walking history of jazz. He began playing professionally in 1944, and in that capacity he has composed over 350 songs, performed with legends such as Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and led his own trio for decades. The numerous awards Taylor garnered as a performer and educator include 23 honorary doctoral degrees, two Peabody Awards, an Emmy, a Grammy, and the National Medal of the…

Washington Improv Theater knows that it’s intern harvest season. By day, the twenty-somethings flip and flop in business casual around the Hill and by night, drunkenly attempt to figure out the Metro rail system. WIT has been studying the funny critters for their second (and final) installment of an intern-themed improv comedy night called “WIT Hot American Summer.” Ken Hays and Rich Nyman, the stars of the two-man show, aren’t actual interns, but they know…

The tango is a colorful, fiery display of passion and movement, with ballet being its more classical, astute and refined cousin. Now, imagine the two together, and toss some mariachi music into the mix. The Washington Ballet’s ¡Noche Latina! does just that, combining the classical, floating movements of ballet with the energy and boldness of tango. Not just a dance show, the night includes live music, including Mariachi Los Amigos, who come in through…

My mother has her own non-profit “recycling project.” It’s called the holiday gift closet, filled with girly lotion sets and hand-held electronic poker games, ready to re-gift. It’s perfect for those fake friends who are clearly not worth the shopping trip. These are just the kind of age-old holiday traditions that Washington Improv Theater wants to know about for their annual show, Seasonal Disorder. Each December, Washington Improv Theater hosts the yuletide-themed spectacle Seasonal Disorder,…

Written by DCist contributor Vince Wadhwani of BuyIndie.net. Despite the misperceptions of outsiders, we all know that D.C. has a ton to offer in the form of entertainment. Seems like almost every week there’s a new bar or restaurant opening up, ranging in scale, much like canned peaches, from regular to extra fancy. If you want to enjoy a play, however, the city’s options can sometimes feel greatly limited by your pocket book. Granted you’re…