Florida Renaissance Festival Debuts at Cauley Square Historic Village in Miami

Miami-area fans of the Florida Renaissance Festival can rejoice! For two special weekends, the Florida Renaissance Festival will be held for the first time ever at Cauley Square Historic Village in Miami. The festival weekend dates are March 31-April 1 and April 7-8.

“We are excited to return to Miami at our new location in Cauley Square Historic Village,” said Bobby Rodriguez, executive producer of the Florida Renaissance Festival.  “This year’s festival promises even more thrills and excitement for our loyal Miami fans.”

The featured entertainment will surely get the crowds going at this year’s Florida Renaissance Festival. Musical acts include local favorites, such as Celtic Mayhem, and nationally known acts like The Trouvaires. Also performing at the festival is Wolgemut, a colorful and energetic pipe and drum act, featuring talented musicians in traditional German Renaissance garb. Variety acts include the new Kamikaze Fireflies, The Duelists and the Washing Well Wenches. Fans will have the chance to interact with roaming entertainers, such as Gabriel Q, a creative puppeteer who works on stilts with elaborately costumed characters. And of course, the Florida Renaissance Festival would not be complete without its King and Queen, Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. The royal couple will be on hand to greet their royal subjects.

Guests can enjoy jousting tournaments, feast on hearty food and toast to the royal court with a tankard of ale or cider. The festival also will feature games of skill and chance that will challenge guests of all ages, including archery, the test of strength, Jacob’s Ladder and many more. Historical reenactments, sword fights and magical illusions are just some of the exciting events in store for this year’s festivities.

The Florida Renaissance Festival is produced by the nationally acclaimed Bobby Rodriguez Productions and strives to create an entertaining and cultural experience for adults and children alike.

The Florida Renaissance Festival at Cauley Square Historic Village will be open weekends (March 31-April 8) from 10 a.m. to sunset. Prices range from $20 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 to 11 years of age.  Children 5 and younger are free.  Group ticket rates are also offered.

The Florida Renaissance Festival has been seen by more than one million people in South Florida. This 16th Century production features more than 100 costumed performers and stage acts from around the world.

For additional information call 954-776-1642, visit www.ren-fest.com, follow on Twitter @flarenest, or on Facebook at The Florida Renaissance Festival.

South Beach Wine & Food Festival Unveils New Schedule of Events for its 11th Year!

Chef Bobby Flay at the 2011 Festival's "Burger Bash"

Festival Founder and Director Lee Brian Schrager is pleased to unveil the program for the 2012 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE magazine. Taking place February 23-26, 2012 the 11th annual edition of America’s favorite wine and culinary extravaganza will feature new events and programming guaranteed to please. All proceeds from the Festival benefit the Florida International University (FIU) Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center; monies raised to date total approximately $14 million.

"Celebrating the milestone of our 10th year at the 2011 Festival was truly extraordinary,” says Schrager, who also serves as Vice President of Corporate Communications & National Events at Southern Wine & Spirits of America, which hosts the Festival. “I believe the 2012 program features a number of fresh and exciting changes as well as those events that have become fan-favorites over the years."

Tickets for the 2012 Festival go on sale at midnight on Monday, October 24, 2011 at www.sobefest.com and via phone at 9 a.m. the same day at 1-877-762-3933. American Express cardholders can access an exclusive pre-sale starting at 9 a.m. on October 10, 2011. Fans can follow Festival Founder and Director Lee Brian Schrager on Twitter, or at the Festival’s official Facebook page.  

Don't miss The Q

Transformations to the Festival program are most evident on Thursday, February 23 with a new event that takes the place of the beloved BubbleQ. Promising even more fun, the Festival will kick-off with Moët Hennessy's The Q, hosted by Emeril Lagasse and Guy Fieri.  For those who wish to partake in a late-night experience, the best part of this change is that The Q will also feature its own after-party, The Q After Dark!

The Amstel Light Burger Bash, hosted by Rachael Ray moves to Friday, February 24; a night which is also home to the eighth annual Fontainebleau Miami Beach presents Wine Spectator's Best of the Best.

The 2012 Tribute Dinner keeps its long-standing tradition of honoring the world’s greatest wine and culinary talent by paying tribute to esteemed chef Charlie Trotter and celebrated winemaker Piero Antinori. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, Trotter's namesake restaurant in Chicago is regarded as one of the finest restaurants in the world. The Antinori reputation as innovators has grown throughout the centuries, woven through 625 years and 26 generations of winemaking, making it one of the leading Italian producers of fine wines. Author and host of the popular Travel Channel series No Reservations, Anthony Bourdain will serve as the evening’s master of ceremonies.

Capitalizing on the excitement surrounding last year’s 10th anniversary party, the Festival will again take over the stunning 1111 Lincoln Road space for Party: Impossible featuring Epicure Gourmet Market hosted by Robert Irvine. Also reinventing itself for 2012 is Food Network presents The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Late Night Bites, an event based of the hit primetime series.

Miami's own Michael Schwartz
of Michael's Genuine

Dedicated foodies will get an opportunity to savor all of famed chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author Bobby Flay’s restaurant concepts in one evening at the casual dinner The Flavors of Flay. The program is rounded out by highlighting the hottest trend in food at Trucks on the Beach hosted by Andrew Zimmern, which doubles as the official Festival closing party.

A fresh set of Wine Spectator Wine Seminars and Bank of America Lifestyle Seminars will delight everyone from the novice to the aficionado throughout the weekend. Additionally, in line with previous years, the 2012 Festival will also host an array of unique brunches and dinners to appease even the most discerning of taste buds. They include:

· Dining in the Dark hosted by David Burke with Market 17
· Conscious Bite Out with Geoffrey Zakarian
· Dolce Lunch hosted by Charles Phan at The Setai
· Farm to Table Brunch hosted by Michael Schwartz & Friends
· Interactive Lunch hosted by Anne Burrell
· Napa Style at the Mandarin hosted by Michael Chiarello and Joel Huff at Azul
· Interactive Dinner hosted by The Neelys
· Salsa @ Sea hosted by Douglas Rodriguez & Aarón Sanchez
· Sunday Supper by Meatball Shop

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Get Your Sheet Together Because it’s Going to Be Bed-Lam! The Great Grove Bed Race is Set for Sept. 4

In the mood for some mattress mayhem? Perhaps even a little bed-on collision? Then set your alarm for Labor Day Weekend and don’t hit snooze—because you’ll lose.

There’s no bedside manner required for this pajama party that’ll shake you out of your slumber and have you shedding your slippers and rippin’ your one-sies. This, Sleeping Cutie, is your wake-up call for the 2011 Great Grove Bed Race, where box springs will do battle. A tongue-in-cheek competition of racing homemade beds down the streets of Coconut Grove, the origins of the Great Grove Bed Race date back three decades.

Tireless teams consist of five members, with four ready-to-romp racers and one rider hitched to the headboard. Speed wins the ultimate exhale at the checkered flag, but awards also will be given for theme, creativity and décor (this being a consummate competition). Celebrity judges will be on hand to grade those looking to score away from home, and proceeds from this roll in the hay of hilarity benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade.

Said Daisy Lewis-Salazar, Coconut Grove Merchant Group Event Director: “Racers, sponsors and fans all raising money to benefit Boys and Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade—who wouldn’t get in bed with that?”

Miami residents, Coconut Grove merchants, and local clubs, businesses and organizations all are invited to pull back the sheets on this year’s affair, with festivities kicking off Saturday night (Sept. 3) of Labor Day Weekend with the Pajama Pub Crawl through participating Coconut Grove bars and restaurants.

Sunday (Sept. 4) is race day, with highlights to include Kids Storytelling Time; the Waiters/Waitresses Obstacle Course; a Pit Row Parade of decorated beds on display; and of course the 1/8th-mile trundle through the heart of the Grove Village. And to eliminate any awkwardness or hard feelings after the ontrack tryst, Grove merchants will host a post-race celebration complete with live music, interactive exhibits and perhaps even a little pillow talk—just no sleeping with the enemy...maybe....

This Labor Day weekend, Coconut Grove is the place to be for some laborious laughter! For event info please visit www.TheGreatGroveBedRace.com. Don’t sleep on it!

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade has been serving youth in the community since 1940. What once was a single building and site for boys has grown to five Clubs serving 10,000 boys and girls year round, providing programs in the areas of character and leadership development, educational enhancement, health and life skills, career preparation, cultural arts and sports, fitness and recreation. Club staffing, initiatives, and programs are designed to inspire and enable young people and provide them with the resources to succeed and share in the American Dream. For more information, please call 305-213-9760 or visit www.bgcmia.org.

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World-Renowned Jazz & Classical Musicians Gather in Coral Gables for the 26th Annual Summer Concert Series

This summer, June 9 through August 18, in a quiet Miami neighborhood and within the Coral Gables Congregational Church (CGCC) intimate, historic Spanish-revival style setting, concert goers will have the unique opportunity to be awed and entertained by the music industry’s most-talented and revered classical and jazz figures. These artists will perform and delight audiences on the CGCC Community Arts Program 26th Summer Concerts Series season! 


The Summer Concert Series has entertained more than 62,000 people since it began in 1985. The Series has grown into a valued tradition and, more recently, part of a Community Arts Program that also provides music education to children within its Conservatory for the Arts. 


“The Summer Concert Series is a rare opportunity to hear world-renowned artists in the intimate and beautiful Coral Gables Congregational Church,” says Shelton G. Berg, University of Miami Dean of the Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music. “The Conservatory for the Arts provides high-quality music education to children, many of whom would otherwise be denied access to the wonder of music and the beauty of the artistic spirit.”  

2011 Summer Concert Series Line Up:

June 9 - The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra

The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra

The Count Basie Orchestra is hailed as an American invention of the 20th century, and its sound is the "modern art" of music.  Today, the majority of its sound still swings from musicians hand-picked by Count Basie.  Join us for a very special evening with the Count Basie Orchestra, directed by Dennis Mackrel, and special guest vocalist Carmen Bradford. The Count Basis Orchestra appears under exclusive license of the William J. Basie Trust.


June 23 - James Ehnes, Violinist
James Ehns is hailed as "the Jascha Heifetz of our day,” and widely considered to be one of the most dynamic and exciting performers in classical music.  


July 7 - David Leisner, Guitarist
David Leisner is co-chair of the guitar department at the Manhattan School of Music and regarded as one of the world's leading classical guitarists, an extraordinarily versatile musician, electrifying performing artist, distinguished composer, recording artist and master teacher.  

Glen David Andrews

July 21 - Glen David Andrews 
Glen David Andrews is touted as one of the giant talents of New Orleans.  In his early-thirties, Glen David has a lanky, six-foot-four-inch body and a mercurial personality that touts his greatest loves: the brass-band music and traditional jazz on which he was raised.  


August 4 - The Shannon Powell Quartet Featuring Jason Marsalis and Steve Masakowski 
Shannon Powell is one of the most sought after drummers and percussionists in the world. His powerful technique is steeped in the drum beats that emanate from the streets of New Orleans and from his early influences that include neighbor James Black, Ellis Marsalis and the men at Preservation Hall.   


August 18 - Marlena Shaw, vocalist

Marlena Shaw

After becoming the first female vocalist ever signed by the Blue Note label, Marlena Shaw toured extensively with Sammy Davis Jr. and as a featured singer with the Count Basie Orchestra.  Ms. Shaw remains a true original, one of the most charismatic and versatile vocalists in the business, blurring the lines that separate jazz, soul, rock, pop and R&B.  


“We are very excited to again present a diverse and world-class line up of artists,” says Mark Hart, Executive & Artistic Director of the CGCC Community Arts Program. “It’s an honor to welcome concert goers from across the state and as far away as Europe, and rewarding to see the growth of our music education program for kids!  In all, we’ve come to provide exceptional cultural and educationally-enriching experiences for more than 3,000 children and adults each year!”


Order now; concerts sell out quickly! All concerts are Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. Free and convenient parking is available.  


INDIVIDUAL GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS: $30 each in advance, $35 each at the door (based on availability).  


INDIVIDUAL PATRON TICKETS: $45 each in advance; $50 each at the door (based on availability). (Individual Patron tickets include reserved general seating within the first 5-8 rows and catered pre-concert receptions.) Series Tickets First priority is given to Series ticket holders.


PATRON SERIES: $240 (Save $30 and receive prime seating to all concerts!  Patron Series includes opening night gala reception, reserved general seating within the first 5-8 rows, and catered pre-concert gatherings.)


MINI-PATRON SERIES: $170 (Save $10 and receive prime seating to four concerts! Choose four concerts. Mini-Patron Series includes opening night gala reception, reserved general seating within the first 5-8 rows, and catered pre-concert gatherings.)


Order tickets by calling 305-448-7421, Ext. 153. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. For instant processing and confirmation order tickets quickly, safely and conveniently on line anytime at www.communityartsprogram.org.   


The oral Gables Congregational Church is located at 3010 De Soto Boulevard (directly across from the Biltmore Hotel and five miles from Miami International Airport) in Coral Gables.


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Miami Reggae Festival Raises Awareness of America's Hungry

The people behind Rockaz MVMT, a premier event production company with more t 15 years successful events to date, understand the importance of using the transformative force of music to stir social conscience, to actualize social change.

That is precisely what they aim to accomplish with the launch of a national Feed the Hungry campaign, using free, first-rate concerts to incentivize people to help feed America’s hungry. The national initiative kicks off in Miami, with the Miami Reggae Festival, Saturday, April 30, 3pm, at Coconut Grove’s Peacock Park, 2820 McFarlane Road.


“It’s important we started in our own back yard,” said event organizer Alfonso Brooks. “It’s doubly important we not wait for a natural disaster to recognize the growing hunger epidemic, or to seek out ways to help our brothers and sisters.”


The concert, where the only admission is a minimum donation of two non-perishable food items per person, features a lineup as diverse as Miami itself. From Jamaica - Luciano | Puerto Rico - Cultura Profetica, Colombia - Ephniko, Haiti - Jahfe, Canada Bonnie Casey, Miami - Spam All Stars, St. Maarten - Connis, the musicians themselves represent a collective conscious of cultural awareness, of giving back.


“Hunger knows no color, no creed,” Brooks said. “That’s why it was critical for us to ensure we offer a lineup that reflects the Miami landscape.”


And it is just as important for the benefactor of the event to serve a diverse population, ensuring the core message of unity and humanitarianism. Event organizers chose Curley’s House because of its reach. Curley’s House services the needy across Miami-Dade County, regardless or race, creed, color, religion or sexual orientation.


For more information please call 305-763-4509 or visit www.miamireggaefestival.com and facebook.com/rockazmvmt.




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Food and Garden Festival at Fairchild Celebrates Fresh, Organic Food and The Joys of Gardening!

Come see what's cooking at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden during the celebration of fresh fruits and vegetables and the gorgeous gardens they grow in on Saturday and Sunday, April 30 and May 1.


Guests can gather new tips and recipes from our popular culinary and gardening demos taught by top chefs and gardeners. And don’t forget to shop our Farmers’ Market where local vendors showcase the best fruits, vegetables and herbs available in South Florida, as well as honey, jams and fresh baked goods and spices. Discover Fairchild's Edible Garden, lush and delicious with herbs, vegetables, fruits and ornamentals that can be grown in your home garden.


New this year, guests can listen in on Random Acts of Gardening, informal ‘pop-up’ lectures in the plant sales area covering South Florida gardening, environmentally friendly landscaping and more. Children will enjoy special hands-on and culinary activities in the KidWay including yoga, kids' cooking demonstrations and kitchen botany. And don’t forget to shop the 32nd Annual Spring Plant Sale with thousands of plants from Fairchild's nursery and local plant vendors. There’s something for everyone at Fairchild’s Food & Garden Festival!   

Cooking Demonstrations
Saturday, April 30
11:00 a.m.
Chef Michael Reidt, Area 31, Seared Tuna with Spring Greens
1:00 p.m.
Fairchild Challenge Green Cuisine Finalists, Homestead Senior High and Miami Central
Senior High, Veganoli Walfredo and Nacho Bean Casserole
2:00 p.m.
Ayesha D'Mello, Ayesha's Kitchen, Butternut Squash Vegetable in a Coconut Sauce and Muttar Basmati Pilaf
3:00 p.m.
Chef Carlos Cordoba, The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, Stone Crab and Ramps Stuffed Squash Blossom 


Sunday, May 1
11:00 a.m.
Monica Rios, Green Table, Gazpacho Andaluz (Andalusian Gazpacho)
1:00 p.m.
Chef Matt Duryea, Eden, Heirloom Tomatoes with  Burrata Cheese, Pesto and Aged Balsamic
2:00 p.m.
Loren Pulitzer, Meals That Heal, Cashew Pate Stuffed Mushrooms
3:00 p.m.
Chef Jeremiah Bullfrog, gastroPod

Lectures (Held in the Garden House) 
Saturday, April 30
10:00 a.m.
Ben Thacker, Troy Gardens and Alison Walker, FTBG, Urban Agriculture Programs in Miami, What's Happening and How You Can Help
10:30 a.m.
Leila Werner FTBG, Drying Bananas: A Demonstration
12:00 p.m.
Noris Ledesma, FTBG, Beekeeping, The Educational and Profitable Tool of Horticulture
12:30 p.m.
Jeff Wasielewski, FTBG, 10 Great Plants for South Florida 
2:30 p.m.
Jeff Wasielewski, FTBG, Natural Pest Control
4:00 p.m.
Brent Knoll, Brent's Organic Garden, The Healing Power of the Garden


Sunday, May 1
10:00 a.m.
Richard Campbell, FTBG, South Florida Backyard Gardening
11:30 a.m.
Jason Lopez, FTBG, Dr. David Fairchild's Trees, a Walking Tour
12:00 p.m.
Carolyn Coppolo, Redland Herb Farm, Tropical Summer Gardening
12:30 p.m.
Richard J. Campbell, Ph.D., FTBG, Proper Tree Planting


Random Acts of Gardening (Held in the Plant Sale Area)     
Saturday, April 30
10:30 a.m.
Leila Werner FTBG, Drying Bananas: A Demonstration
12:30 p.m.
Jeff Wasielewski, FTBG, 10 Great Plants for South Florida
2:30 p.m.
Jeff Wasielewski, FTBG, Natural Pest Control


Sunday, May 1, 11:30 a.m.
Jason Lopez, FTBG, Dr. David Fairchild's Trees, a Walking Tour
12:30 p.m.
Richard J. Campbell, Ph.D., FTBG, Proper Tree Planting
2:30 p.m.
Jeff Wasielewski, FTBG, Putting the Right Plant in the Right Place


Kids' Activities 
Join us for fun for the whole family as kids can learn about plants through hands-on activities, as well as composting, kitchen botany and a plant color match. 

Short Chef brings his humor and spirit to helping kids master the cooking and healthy eating at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Composting for Kids, use your food and paper waste to make the best soil possible for your garden, all while having fun! Also, learn how to make your own worm bins with Lannette Sobel of FertileEarth.org.

O, Miami
While you are enjoying the garden, take a moment to experience poetry as part of O, Miami, the inaugural month-long, county-wide poetry festival. Haikus by O, Miami poets are placed in various peaceful spots throughout the garden so that visitors may come across the works and have moments of reflection. 


Bike Valet
Green Mobility Network will be on hand Saturday and Sunday offering their unique bike valet service at the South Gate. If you walk or ride your bike to Fairchild, you will receive $5 off the admission price for adults and $2 for children. It's our way of thanking you for contributing to conservation. 


Admission
Members: Free for Fairchild Members and children 5 and under.
Non-members: $25 for adults, $18 for seniors 65 and up and $12 for children 6-17. 
Eco-discount: If you walk, ride your bike or take public transportation to Fairchild, receive $5 off admission for adults and $2 off admission for children. Members, remember to bring your Rewards Card to earn your gift passes! 
Military Discount: We are pleased to offer active military personnel free admission. In addition, admission for spouses is $20 and children $10. Please present Military IDs.


Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is dedicated to exploring, explaining and conserving the world of tropical plants. It is one of the premier conservation and education-based gardens in the world and a recognized international leader in both Florida and international conservation. Currently Fairchild has field programs in over 20 countries including support to protected areas in Madagascar and Africa and botanic garden development and renovation projects in South and Central America, the Caribbean and Middle East. 


Fairchild is located at 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables (Miami), just a 30 minute drive from South Beach. For more information, visit us at www.fairchildgarden.org and on Facebook and Twitter.

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The Great Taste of the Grove Food & Wine Festival

The Great Taste of the Grove Food & Wine Festival is celebrating 21 years of excellence in culinary arts and beverages, as well as Going Green this year with the addition of the ECO-Education Lounge. Come out and enjoy the beautiful Miami weather while enjoying great musical entertainment from all genres and tasting delicacies and beverages from area restaurants and hotels.

"Best of the Taste" awards are given out to participating restaurants annually based on outstanding taste and presentation, and are voted on by local dignitaries and celebrity chefs. Tasting tickets for food & beverage will be available at the event for purchase between $1 and $8.

Participating restaurants include Jaguar Ceviche Spoon Bar & Latin Grill, Atchana's East/West Kitchen, The Burgundy Room Bar & Grill, and many more!!

This year organizaers strived to broaden the event's scope by bringing in high-end, cutting-edge components such as TEKBOARD interactive systems, a full-scale "Sommelier Tasting Grove," "Connoisseur Spirits Lounge" and “Beans & Blends Coffee House,” to provide  guests with the opportunity to taste the best wine and spirits on the market as well as learn how to prepare cocktails & meals for special occasions via live demonstrations. Also included at this year’s event is the Kid’s Adventure Park with great activities & a Child ID station for thumb printing and making IDs to protect your children.

Event takes place April 16-17, 11am-7pm at Peacock Park, 2820 McFarlane Road, Coconut Grove.

FREE GENERAL ADMISSION!! VIP area tickets are $20 and include special tastings, butler service and giveaways! For more information visit the event website, www.thegreattasteofthegrove.com.

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The Barnacle Society Presents 'The Commodore’s Birthday Party'

Join The Barnacle Society as we celebrate the 160th birthday of Ralph Middleton Munroe on April 10 at 6 pm. Commodore Munroe was a pioneer and leading citizen of Coconut Grove. Each year The Barnacle Society gathers to celebrate his remarkable life.

"The Barnacle," Ralph Munroe's home

The party is held on the lawn of The Barnacle, Ralph Munroe’s home built in 1891. Included in admission is a barbeque dinner catered by Top Chef contestant Howie Kleinberg’s Bulldog BBQ, live music by American Celtic Rock band Three Jacks, and of course, birthday cake. Bulldog BBQ was named as one of Bon Appetite’s top 10 new barbeque restaurants in American in 2009. Three Jacks are a local band with international credentials. Expect a great night of food, music, and friendship on these historic and beautiful grounds.

The Barnacle Historic State Park is located in downtown Coconut Grove (Miami) at 3485 Main Highway, across the street from the Coconut Grove Playhouse.

Proceeds from this event support preservation of The Barnacle. Admission is $45 at the door; $10 children 10 and under. For additional information call 305-442-6866 or visit www.thebarnacle.org.

The Barnacle Society, Inc. is a volunteer nonprofit, citizen-supported organization created to generate public awareness, education, and financial support for the preservation and maintenance of The Barnacle Historic State Park.

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Momentum Dance Company Presents The Miami Dance Festival 2011, April 2-May 15

Tickets for all ticketed events are available online at www.momentumdance.com. For festival information call 305-858-7002 or the specific event venue.

Festival Schedule of Events

Ballet Flamenco La Rosa, World Premiere of "Cesar y Cleopatra"

Colony Theater, 1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach

April 2 at 8pm & April 3 at 3pm

Ballet Flamenco La Rosa presents the World Premiere of "Cesar y Cleopatra" by award winning choreographer Ilisa Rosal. George Bernard Shaw's classic play is taken into a new realm of expression in this Flamenco dance/drama with guest artists from Spain.

General admission tickets: In advance $25/ Students $15/ Seniors $20. At the door: $30/ Students $20/ Seniors $25 For information contact PAN, the Performing Arts Network, at 305-899-7730 or panmiami@aol.com, and Ballet Flamenco La Rosa at 305-899-7729 or rosalpanmiami@aol.com

Florida Dance Theater in "Innovations"

Colony Theater, 1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach

April 8 at 8pm

Florida Dance Theater in "Innovations"

The Lakeland, Fla.-based Florida Dance Theater under the Artistic Direction of Carol Krajacic-Erkes last performed at the Miami Dance Festival to critical and audience praise in 2008. Highlights of the contemporary dance  performance include two new works by the company directors. Fallen Angel, choreographed by Krajacic-Erkes and set to original music by Leonard Levash, is a dark, moving piece about the struggle with outside influences. Red Moon, choreographed by Associate Director and Resident Choreographer Ferdinand DeJesus, is inspired by an idea that when inhabitants of the Earth see a lunar eclipse, astronauts on the moon would be bathed in red light and experience a solar eclipse.

General admission tickets: $20/ Students & Seniors $15. For tickets and information call 305-674-1040 or 305-858-7002

Dance Now! Ensemble Performs in Dade Heritage Days Event

Coco Plum Women's Club, 1375 Sunset Drive, Coral Gables

April 17 at 3pm

Dance Now! presents a moving evening of dance at the historic women's club in conjunction with Dade Heritage Days featuring Drawing Circles, Director Salterini's homage to Mimo Architecture in the theme of Dade Heritage Days.

Tickets: $20/$10 (Cash or check only at the venue) For information call 305-975-8489 or 305-858-7002

Festival Film Night at Miami Beach Cinematheque

Historic City Hall, 1130 Washington Avenue, First Floor South

April 20 at 7:30pm 

"Caligula," a high definition ballet presented in collaboration with Emerging Pictures. From the Paris Ballet, Paris, France, Composed by Antonio Vivaldi, Choreographed by Nicolas Le Riche.

Cast: Caligula: Stéphane Bullion, Lune: Clairemarie Osta, Mnester: Nicolas Paul, Chaerea: Aurélien Houette, Incitatus: Mathias Heymann, Caesonia: Eleonora Abbagnato

About the Production: Caligula is Danseur Étoile Nicolas Le Riche's first choreography for the Ballet de l'Opéra National de Paris, and is one of the most interesting and experimental productions in years. Intrigued by the complex and troubling personality of the Roman emperor, the choreographer evokes the torments of a frail man capable of loving the moon and idolizing his horse, a man impassioned by theater and constantly playing a role himself. Nicolas Le Riche overturns clichés and embarks upon an intimate exploration of a rich and complex personality. Built in the style of Racine's tragedy, the ballet is structured in five acts, three scenes with four pantomime interludes. The story conforms to the rule of the three units of time, place and action. Accompanied by Vivaldi's Four Seasons, which illustrates the irremediable passage of time, the dance, in all its depth and energy, translates the poetry and the violence inherent in a life consumed at lightning speed by excess. Running time: 1 hour 24 minutes, no intermission. The screening of "Caligula" is preceded by a discussion on the French-style of ballet.

$16 General Admission/ $15 Miami Dance Festival and Miami Beach Cinematheque members. For information and ticketing contact 306-67-FILMS (673-4567) or visit www.MBCinema.com   

Dance Now! and Little Haiti Cultural Center Present "Little Haiti Neighborhood Nights"

Little Haiti Cultural Center, 212 NE 59th Terrace, Miami

April 29 at 7pm

A preview of the upcoming season finale at the Byron Carlyle featuring audience favorites from the 2010/11 season including work of renowned West Coast Choreographer Tandy Beal.

Tickets are $20/$10 (Cash or check only at the venue). Call 305-960-2967, 305-975-8489 or 305-858-7002 for information.

Dance Now! And the Bass Museum of Art present "EKPHRASIS2: More Art from Art as part of Miami Museum Month"

Bass Museum of Art, 2121 Park Avenue, Miami Beach

May 1 at 12:30pm & 2:30pm

Dance Now! returns to the Bass Museum to present a site-specific, roving performance event created directly with the current exhibitions. FREE with museum admission

Information: 305-673-7530, 305-975-8489 or 305-858-7002

Critics Roundtable Panel Discussion

Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach 

Free Admission

May 5 at 7pm

Noted writer and dance historian Dr. Andrea M. Seidel (Florida International University) will moderate a panel discussion with audience interaction that focuses on how critics look at and write about dance, what criteria they use, their responsibilities in writing about dance in a young arts community, and their audiences. Critics include: Celeste Fraser Delgado from the Knight Arts Blog, Orlando Taquechel from El Nuevo Herald, and writers from the newly launched Artburst media service.

Brazz Dance Theater, Artistic Director Augusto Soledade, presents an informal performance immediately following the discussion. Soledade will comment on his creative process, field questions from the audience, and seek feedback as he exhibits Cordell, a new work in progress. 

Dance Now! Program III: Best of Now! Decade 2 

Byron Carlyle Theater, 500 71 Street, Miami Beach

May 7 at 8pm

Celebrating the first year of its second decade, Dance Now! presents an evening of audience favorites from the 2010/11 season including work of renowned West Coast Choreographer Tandy Beal.

Tickets: $35/$30/$15/$10. Colony Box Office: 305-674-1040, Ext., 1, 305-975-8489 or 305-858-7002

CORE Performance Group/Corazon Abriendo (Heart Opening)

Byron Carlyle Theater, 500 71 Street, Miami Beach

May 13 at 8pm

Atlanta based CORE Performance Group returns to the Festival with a multi-media dance and theater work that expresses the struggles and triumphs of the Maya peoples. Corazón Abriendo (Heart Opening) is a portal that transports the audience into the vivid, lush atmosphere of the highlands and rainforests of Chiapas, Mexico through a multimedia 'cloth' of dance, sculpture, video, and music skillfully woven together. Echoes of ancient civilizations overlap with the energy of modern life as the artistic sensibilities of contemporary dancers meld with the traditional weaving arts of the Mayan people. CORE Performance Company weaves music, dance, storytelling, videography and the sights and sounds collected from Chiapas into this exceptional performance piece. 

Tickets: $30 in advance/ 35 at the door/Students & Seniors $15/ Groups $10. Colony Box Office: 305-674-1040

Momentum Dance Company Spring Season 2011

Byron Carlyle Theater, 500 71 Street, Miami Beach

May 14 at 8pm & May 15 at 7pm

Miami Dance Festival's host company offers a repertory concert that features two new works. The program includes Doris Humphrey's historic 1928 work Water Study, considered a breakthrough work when it was created, and which still looks very contemporary 78 years later. Also, Artistic Director Delma Iles brings back Window. Originally created in 1987 to an original score by Dr. Dennis Kam, it is inspired by paintings by Joan Miro. Last season's premiere, Cobia, returns with a fresh new original score by Dr. Devin Marsh. Iles will premiere a new work, Pots and Pans, about pots and pans, ingredients, appetite, hunger and wanting more than you should have.

Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door/Students & Seniors $15 Groups $10. Colony Box Office: 305-674-1040 x1