BlackRock Debuts DanceFest

DanceFest wraps up BlackRock's 10th Anniversary season with six performances, including site-specific modern dance, hip hop, step, ballet and modern Indian.

BlackRock Center for the Art's 10th Anniversary season will close with the inaugural BlackRock DanceFest, a series of eclectic performances by six professional dance companies this month. DanceFest is Friday, May 18, through Sunday, May 20, at BlackRock Center for the Arts. The venue was established in 2002 to serve as the cultural focal point of Germantown Town Center. For DanceFest, BlackRock Executive Director Charlotte Sommers, a former choreographer, brought in Karen Bernstein to be the artistic director. Bernstein is a dance educator, choreographer and consultant. The collaboration resulted in a line-up of inventive and diverse approaches to dance. “We were looking for artistic quality and a breadth of dance styles,” Sommers said. “…

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VIDEO: Fourth Annual Tribute to Fiber Art Juried Exhibition on Display at BlackRock

The March exhibit at the BlackRock Center for the Arts is now open to the public.

The BlackRock Center for the Arts is highlighting fiber art for their March exhibit. This is the fourth annual show that features artists from all around Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Gallery Coordinator Kim Marshall explains that Fiber Art is not just a quiliting exhibit, it is any type of fiber. Fiber art can be cloth, paper and can include weaving and sewing. The exhibit runs until the end of March.

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Alley II Comes to Germantown

World Renowned Dance Company Makes a Tour Stop at Germantown's BlackRock Center for the Arts on October 23.

Internationally renowned dance company, Alley II, will be bringing its talents to Germantown on Saturday. The group is fresh off the heels of a European tour, having visited cities in Germany, Austria, and France, and will be performing stateside as part of a 49-city tour. BlackRock will be hosting two shows on this date: one at 3 p.m., and the other at 7:30 p.m. "We are thrilled to have this exceptional company perform at BlackRock, and we are grateful for the help of the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation for helping to fund the program," said Charlotte Sommers, BlackRock executive director, in a press release. "The company will be performing their signature piece Revelations as well as some newer selections. This is a performance that is not …

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Music Trio GrooveLily Comes to BlackRock

Meet the music trio that brings a unique sound to the stage.

Pop singers, rock bands, orchestras and cinematic music: a mix of entertainment certain to move the soul and get you on your feet. Meet GrooveLily. The trio of three native New Yorkers includes Valerie Vigoda (vocals and electric violin), Brendan Milburn (vocals and piano) and Gene Lewin (vocals and drums). The three started in New Jersey in 1994.  GrooveLily's most recognized music project is the 2005 musical, "Striking 12," and adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson's fairytale "The Little Match Girl." The show has many adaptations and is performed around the world, including the current adaptation being performed in Zimbabwe. According to The New York Times' Charles Isherwood, "The most important ingredient for a successful musical, it …

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People You Should Know

Meet Marilyn Balcombe

Get to know the president and CEO of the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce.

Marilyn Balcombe is the president and CEO of the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC). As CEO of the GGCC, she is primarily concerned with issues of transportation, planning and economic development. Balcombe said her primary focuses this years are a strong economy, quality jobs, education and ensuring that Germantown and Gaithersburg are great places to live and work. Balcombe is also the current Chair of the Corridor Cities Transitway Coalition and played an active role in rallying support for the CCT's Light Rail. She is also a member of Germantown Alliance.  Balcombe previously served on the staff of the Upcounty Regional Services Center, on the board for Germantown HELP and as boardmembers and later executive director of…

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