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LIbby Ballengee

Human Race kicks off 17-18 Season with Legendale

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The Human Race Theatre Company kicks off it’s 2017-2018 Season with a fun performance for the next generation of theatre fans! LEGENDALE, an exciting new pop-musical where reality and the digital world collide, opens September 7 and runs through October 1, 2017. 
The story is based on Andy, whose favorite way to escape his miserable job and humdrum life is the online game “Legendale.” He dreams of victory in its new tournament and winning the grand prize to become “the Lord of Legendale,” but is stuck competing as a lowly milkmaid. When things in the online world suddenly take a strange turn, Andy and his avatar must both discover their inner warrior. A blend of romance, adventure and virtual reality with a pop-infused score, it’s an inspiring tale like no other that’s sure to delight!
 
Human Race is offering fun ways to celebrate this first performance, and American Premiere of LEGENDALE! They have two very special upcoming nights that are extra special:
  • HRTC is hosting their very first COSPLAY CONTEST NIGHT  on September 11 with more than $1800 worth of prizes (full list of prizes and rules are posted on the FB event page). Comedian Jessica Graue is MCing the event. $10 for participants, $5 for general audience. Kids can compete too! Registration starts at 6:15pm, pre-judging at 7pm, and parade of costumes at 8pm. All participants ages 13 and up will receive a ticket voucher good for and show on our 2017-2018 Loft season.
  • Young Professionals Night is Saturday, September 16. The pre-show party begins at 5pm in the HRTC rehearsal hall on the second floor below the theatre. They have a massive selection of board games to play, a taco bar, margaritas and craft beer. We will also be giving away prizes donated from 2nd & Charles, The Human Race Theatre, and Sixteen 37. (board games, gift certificates, and more!) Tickets are available at www.ticketcenterstage.com by entering code YPGAME. A value of $70+ for $35!
Don’t miss out on this cutting-edge new musical, that’s perfectly timed after Game of Thrones finale, and during Renaissance Festival season. Fall is the perfect time to let fantasy worlds come alive! So please get your ticket for the first of many amazing productions by our own, Human Race Theatre Company!

How to go?
Performances run Sept 7th through October 1st (Mondays off)
Tickets start at just $12 and up! Special $10 any seat nights also available.
For more info on tickets, click here or call box office: (937) 228-3630
DMM Ticket Give Away:  We’ve got a pair of tickets and winner can pick the date they attend (based on availability).  To enter our drawing, just like and share this post and leave a comment below on why you deserve to win!
We’ll name our winner here Thursday, so check back to see if it’s you!
 

Dayton Ballet & DCDC Volunteers Duel Behind the Bar!

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Dayton is renowned for it’s incredible legacy in the history of American dance. In 1927, The Schwarz School of Dance (now Dayton Ballet School) was opened in Dayton, by the gifted Schwarz sisters, who returned home after performing professionally around the world. Ten years later, the sisters created “The Experimental Group for Young Dancers,” and staged a performance at the Dayton Art Institute. This was the first performance of what is now the Dayton Ballet, the second oldest regional ballet company in the US.

The Schwarz sisters instructed another pioneer of dance, Jeraldyne Blunden. In 1968, Jeraldyen went on to create her own school, Jeraldyne’s School of Dance. A few years later, she established the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, the first modern dance company in Ohio. The company regularly performs in Dayton, and around the world, including an upcoming trip to Russia and Kazakhstan next May as part of Dance Motion USA, a cultural diplomacy program organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

These incredible achievements and milestones are being celebrated with style over the next year or two. The Dayton Ballet celebrates it’s 80th Season, and next year DCDC hits their 50th Birthday! Volunteers from the Dayton Ballet Barre and DCDC Ambassadors are joining forces Tuesday, September 5th, 2017 at Brixx Ice Company to kickoff these spectacular seasons! They’ll be slinging drinks as dueling bartenders, and might even have a dance off or two!

Enjoy commradere, drink specials, and a fun way to support these historic arts organizations. Best of all – there will be random ticket giveaways for the exciting up-coming seasons! There will also be ticket discounts available to anyone interested. Tickets to these outstanding artistic events are perfect for date nights, girls nights, and gifts!

How to Go?

Dayton Ballet Barre & DCDC Ambassadors

Dueling Bartenders / 2017-2018 Season Kickoff!

Tuesday, September 5th, 2017 from 6pm-8pm

Brixx Ice Company – 500 E 1st Dayton, OH

 

Experience Dayton’s First Ever Porch Fest!

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When the Collaborator himself, Peter Bekendorf, first approached me about putting on Dayton Porchfest, I thought he was crazy. Cleveland does it, he explained, involving 30 some porches all simultaneously playing free music throughout neighborhoods. That sounded like a tremendous amount of effort and energy. “Peter, I love the idea, but you’re crazy,” I’d say to him. He grinned with a gleam in his eye. “We’re going to do this,” he replied determinedly.

That was a year or so ago, and more recently, while perusing the interwebs, I stumbled across an article about International Play on a Porch Day on August 26th. I had no idea there was an international day dedicated to playing on porches! The IPPD website explained “Music goes beyond words. It can transcend the most difficult barriers. It ties us together like a thread through our hearts. Our skin is many colors but music is in our blood, our bones and our soul.” Given the current climate in our country and even community, it sounded like just the remedy we needed. I forwarded the info on to Peter, who immediately ran with it.

That is how Dayton’s first Porchfest was born. In just a couple short weeks, home owners in St Anne’s Hill, came together to support this idea in the most amazing way! What seemed like overnight the porches were lined up, as were the musicians, and schedules were being made. An after party at Fifth Street Brew Pub was also arranged. Kudos to Peter, the musicians, homeowners, and the entire team of ad hoc group of volunteers who are making these free concerts happen!

Come on out and enjoy the show Saturday August 26th, which is the official “Play on a Porch” day. Meet the St Anne’s neighborhood and support local music at the first of what will be an annual festival celebrating the quality and diversity of the Dayton music scene. All ages welcome! No cost! Bring a chair or blanket, and the whole family, for some summer fun!

How to go?

When: Saturday August 26, 2017 from 3:30pm – 10pm

Where: St Anne’s neighborhood. Starts at 4th and Henry Streets.

Cost: Free!

Ages: All!

Schedule:
Kickoff 3:30 – 3:45 TRSS Drum Corps at Fourth and Henry
Music Block 1 4:00 – 4:45 Craig Jackson Jazz Band, Charlie Campbell and Steve Makofka Accordion Duo, Nick Kizirnis and Firecreek.
Music Block 2 5:00 – 5:45 Harmonica Neil, Aaron Maheu, Spill The Wine, Sonny B. Gould and Blue-Eyed Grass.
Music Block 3 6:00 – 6:45 Berachah Valley, Skyp Krantz, John Dubuc, Andy Rush, Jack Ballengee Morris and Tim Spoores.
AfterFest 7:00 – 9:30 Nothing But Treble at Fifth Street Brewpub

 

Get your groove on at Hog Jam!

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Summer is quickly winding down, kids going back to school, and September nearly upon us. Where has the time gone? Luckily for us in Dayton, there is an end of summer festival that serves as a fantastic last hurrah: the annual Hog Jam music festival, running strong in it’s 12th year!

As the event has evolved over the years, the location has bounced around a few very special sites. This year’s event is back “home” – located just south of Dayton, in Franklin Ohio’s VFW campgrounds, right off 75. It’s a sprawling property with a covered stage, plenty of shade, and easy access to many amenities.

It’s no surprise Hog Jam is such a popular event for area music fans: it showcases the region’s best singer / songwriters, as well as amazing bands on the local, regional, and even national stage. Awesome bands including the up-and-coming sensation Dawg Yawp, Johnny Neel (formerly of Allman Brothers fame), local faves Subterranean, Electric Orange Peel, Great Northern String Band, Jah Soul, my fave for many reasons, Jack Ballengee Morris, among many others! The music runs late into the night, so camping is encouraged, and including in the ticket price.

Hog Jam started as a backyard picnic with a hog roast, so it serves as the namesake and the festival’s longest traditions. Organizers invite you to break bread, have some drinks, and decide who gets to take the pig ear home to the dog! Additional food vendors will be on site to ensure no one goes hungry. Speaking of hunger, this year’s proceeds benefit The Foodbank!

No weekend babysitter? No worries! The entire family is welcome to this family friendly event, which includes bounce houses, arts & crafts, and a playground for the kids. So no excuses staying home this time! Get your summah on while you’ve got the chance! This is definitely one of the “don’t miss” local music events of the season!

How to Go?

When: August 25th-27th, 2017

Where: 8718 Claude-Thomas Rd, Franklin, OH 45005

How much: $50 GA Admission. $100 RV. Additional $25 to camp by car or to get in early. Click here to purchase.

Visit www.hogjammusicfestival.com for even more information about attending.

HeartFest: A Fun, Free & Family Friendly Wellness Festival!

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HeartFest takes place at the beautiful Natural Path Meditation Center in Beavercreek, Ohio

Stressed? Seeking some peace of mind? Aren’t we all! It’s not as complicated as we tend to imagine. Self care, through movement and meditation, can dramatically improve our ability to cope with an increasingly stressful world.

Lots of folks are unaware that we have a wonderful resource nestled right here in the Miami Valley! The Natural Path Meditation Center, a non-denominational center that teaches a heart-based form of meditation called Heartfulness, is located in Beavercreek, conveniently close to both Fairfield and I-35 (directions below).

This weekend the Center is hosting their 2nd Annual HeartFest event. It’s a FREE & fun wellness festival, with workshops and vendors for all ages! Organizers hope that by offering tools for self care and inner peace, people will be able to live a more balanced life. How wonderful would that be for our community?

Curious about meditation, yoga, and wellness? Looking for ways to cope with stress? Seeking inner peace? Something to do with the kids? All of the above? Then this is sure to be a wonderful day you won’t want to miss!

HeartFest features:

  • Heartfulness Meditation sessions all day
  • Kids Tent with Activities for all ages
  • Variety of Wellness Speakers & Vendors
  • Movement Tent offering yoga, qigong, & Melt classes + Music!
  • Food Trucks (Shakery Juice Bar, Harvest Mobile Cuisine, and Bella Sorella Pizza!)
  • For the full schedule of events, click here.

How to go?

  • 10am – 5pm on Saturday August 19, 2017.
  • Free admission!
  • Parking at St. Luke’s Parking Lot. For directions click here.

Join in the 5k for Kelli Run/Walk at Wegerzyn Gardens

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The 5th Annual 5k for Kelli walk/run takes place August 5th at Wegerzyn Gardens

The 5th annual 5k for Kelli run/walk is happening this Saturday, August 5th, 2017, which honors and supports women with breast cancer, and to remember those who lost the fight. This is a super fun event for the whole family. It is a 3.1 mile out and back course that begins and ends at Wegerzyn Gardens and winds along the beautiful Stillwater River.

This race is in memory of Kelli James who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2006, and is organized by her two loving sisters. Kelli loved fairies so participants are encouraged to wear tutus, wings, and flower crowns. No fairy gear? No problem! Handmade gear is available at the merchandise tent. They will also offer free fairy face painting from our friends at Princeton Management and free colored hair spraying from Great Clips.

Plan to enjoy a pre-race stretch and warm up from Day Yoga Studio and various massage therapists will be on hand offering free chair massage. The Shakery Juice Bar will be serving up delicious juices to enjoy before or after the race.
Bring a few extra dollars to buy some raffle tickets, with awesome prizes including cash, a 50” flat screen TV, mountain bikes, Kings Island tickets, Cincinnati Reds tickets, massages, spa treatments, yoga classes, restaurant gift cards and grocery shopping sprees. Organizers will present medals, pint glasses and gift cards to the Top 3 Male and Female overall and the Top 3 Male and Female in each age category.
5klogo

When: Saturday August 5th– Onsite registration starts at 7:30 am. Race starts at 9 am.

Where: Wegerzyn Gardens 1301 E. Siebenthaler Avenue in Dayton.
Cost: 5k Run/Walk-registration only $25! You can register online at speedy-feet.com or download our paper registration form.
Age Divisions: Male & Female 19 and Under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 & Over
Awards: Overall top three male and overall top three female plus top three male and female in each category. No duplications. Medals, pint glasses, and gift cards to all winners.
Early Packet Pickup at George’s Family Restaurant 5216 North Dixie Drive in Dayton on Thursday and Friday August 3rd and 4th from 9a-7p
Proceeds to benefit: Breast Wishes Foundation
Questions or more information: [email protected] or breastwishesfoundation.org

Free Relaxation, Meditation & Yoga offered at Fairfield Commons Mall

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Recently I interviewed the three Dayton Police Majors, asking them what we can do to preventatively to help defeat the opioid crisis. “Teach people coping mechanisms,” was the resounding response. They explained that often they encounter good people who simply don’t know how to handle life’s disappointments, so they turn to drugs. It made me wonder what coping mechanisms are best, and really work?

In today’s heated and divisive political climate, again, people are searching for ways to de-stress and get perspective. Again, what is the best way to do just that? Turns out, whatever reason you may be seeking inner peace, meditation is far and away, one of the easiest and most effective ways to handle these difficulties.

In the Dayton area, accessing meditation and yoga (a physical form of meditation), just got a whole lot easier! The Heartfulness Institute, an all-volunteer non-profit organization associated with the United Nations, has expanded their facility to include a space in the Fairfield Commons Mall. There, they are offering free Relaxation and Meditation sessions and donation-based Yoga classes! This is the Institute’s first location inside a mall in the United States!

What is their motivation? To provide those coping mechanisms people so

desperately need. The Heartfulness group feels it is part of their service to humanity, to teach these relaxation and meditation techniques, so that each individual, and ultimately the world, can find peace.

Heartfulness Meditation is practiced in over 110 countries around the world. The Beavercreek center at 3153 Lantz Road has been open since 2000. This will be a 2nd location for them inside the mall in Beavercreek. Please make a point to stop out for either the grand opening this weekend, or anytime you need some relaxation, peace and harmony. This is the perfect way to unwind!

Agenda for the Grand Opening of the Heartfulness Center in the Mall at Fairfield Commons:

Saturday, July 22nd, 2017 from 12-6pm. Lower Level near Elder Beerman.

12:30pm Inauguration and Ribbon Cutting with Mayor Bob Stone and Vice Mayor Julie Vann

1:00pm Dr. Gary Huber from Cincinnati to speak on Benefits of Meditation

1:30pm Brian Jones, Cleveland Heartfulness trainer to present on Heartfulness

2:00pm Experience of Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation

4:00pm Yoga with Janae Christopher (Ayurveda Yoga style)

4:45pm Experience of Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation

PS… Mark your calendar for their upcoming Heartfest Wellness Event at the Lantz Rd location on August 19th! Free! For more info click here.

Dayton Musicians Remember Music Fan With Special Benefit Show

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Live music has a special way of bringing people together. Some refer to it as a scene, community, tribe, family, or simply “my people.” It’s a genuine form of self and group identity, that has a unique place in music lover’s hearts. When one of our people is tragically taken from us, it’s a ripple effect of sadness throughout the scene.

Sarah Vesey was a bright spot in the Dayton jam band family. She was a dedicated fan and friend to many in the area. This summer, Sarah died tragically, at the young age of 29, leaving behind a grieving family, parter and young son. Friends rallied together to pull together Stay Strong for Sarah Benefit Show to both remember Sarah, and help her family.

Sami Love, one of Sarah’s friends, and the organizer of this benefit described how the show came together. “Sarah’s passing has deeply affected us all. I wanted to put together this event in memory of Sarah. For all of us near and far to get together and show love for her, and for one another.”

The evening starts early, with music starting at 6:30pm, during the dinner hour with acoustic jams from Sway. A portion of dinner sales this evening will be donated to the family to help offset medical costs, and set up a college fund for Sarah’s son. What a great reason to stop in for food and fun with friends!

Music will be running on all evening, till 2:30am, with awesome local jam bands including Cheezcake starting at 9:30pm, followed by Subterranean and The Ohio All Stars. What an incredible line-up! This is certainly a don’t miss evening! Everyone will be feeling the love at this show!

While you’re there, check out the awesome raffle items they have gathered from various restaurants, tattoo parlours, music festival passes, art work, and surprise baskets donated from national to regional bands. Seriously, cool stuff they’ve gathered!

How to Go?

  • Stay Strong for Sarah benefit show at Jimmie’s Ladder 11
  • Thursday July 7th, 2017. Music from 7pm – 2:30am
  • Donations graciously accepted any time. Cover charge of $5 after 10pm.

 

Subterranean’s April 22nd album release is getting national attention

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Subterranean, a band who got it’s start downtown at the old J-Alan’s club, has evolved into one of the hottest bands in the region. Their debut album, Loom, which releases on Saturday April 22nd, is already garnering attention from multiple national music publications, as one of the emerging acts to check out.

The members of Subterranean describe their music as “improv with intent.” There is no succinct way to describe them, as they genre-bend not just from song to song, but within songs themselves. I asked guitarist Chris Coalt how they manage to pull that off so seamlessly.

Subterranean. Photo by Libby Ballengee

 

“I think it starts with consuming music without boundaries. I’ve never liked titles or categories. Why can’t things just be what they are? So as a songwriter, I’ve always naturally blended different genres together, because it felt natural to me. As a band, we’ve wanted the freedom to do anything, so we have never let ourselves get pigeon-holed into one style.”

As an avid fan of their live music, I wondered how that improve sound would translate into recorded music. Would it alter or evolve once they got into the studio? Chris further explained that for the most part, the nuts and bolts of the songs remained. “Gary King (Refraze Recording Studio) is a great engineer, so he was able to give us some nice ideas on harmonies and vocal arrangements, but the majority of the songs were already in place. Although I will say, one song got created spontaneously in the studio!”

Subterranean’s debut album “Loom”

A song developing naturally and unexpectedly in the studio doesn’t surprise me. These veterans of the Dayton music scene schooled themselves on improv during tireless jam sessions all over the city. Replacing a rhythm guitarist or keyboardist with sax, proved to be their winning combination. Breaking the rules of the traditional 4-piece rock arrangement helped this band find their voice: a sound is extraordinarily dynamic, bouncing from moody jazz to funky jams to what borders on heavy metal.

Check out what all the buzz is about, and celebrate the release of the debut album Saturday April 22nd at Gilly’s Jazz. Cover $5. Parking is validated. Doors 8pm. Show starts at 9pm. Electric Orange Peel opens the show, followed by Subterranean.

Read Between the Lines with DCDC March 4th & 5th

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Photo by Paul B. Goode

Last year, the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company was awarded the highly-coveted Bessie award for Outstanding Revival, for it’s revival of Donald McKayle’s iconic “Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder.” The Huffington Post listed it as one of the top 10 dance performances for 2016.

Daytonians have the opportunity to see this work, along with two others, as part of DCDC’s newest production “Vantage Points: A Read Between the Lines,” March 4 & 5 on Dayton’s historic Victoria Theatre stage.

 

 

“It is very interesting that a piece choreographed in 1959 — by a master choreographer — is still very resonant, and unfortunately very relevant, today,” DCDC Artistic Director Blunden-Diggs said. Alastair Macaulay, dance critic for the New York Times wrote “Rainbow evokes how much there was for many African-Americans to transcend. It’s a strong piece of American dance history; I’m grateful to have seen it.”

The concert lineup also includes the world premiere of a new work by Ray Mercer, a longtime cast member of Broadway’s “The Lion King.” Mercer’s new work pulls the viewer into the choreographer’s mind to experience dance from the choreographer’s vantage point.

 

 

The concert doesn’t quite fall in Black History Month, but the audience could extend the celebration into that first March weekend with the show, Blunden-Diggs said. “To be able to put these works on stage that have been created by us, for us, makes a really strong statement,” she said. “Come celebrate black history with us, because DCDC is black history.”

The show is sponsored by the Dayton Power & Light Foundation with media sponsor Synchrony Financial. Catch it at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 4 and 4 p.m. Sunday, March 5. Individual and group tickets are available at ticketcenterstage.com or by calling the box office at 937-228-3630.

For more information on DCDC and our upcoming shows, visit dcdc.org, and connect with us on social media: follow @daytoncontemporarydancecompany on Facebook and Instagram or @DCDCLive on Twitter.

How to Go? Vantage Points: A Read Between the Lines

Saturday, March 4, 2017 | 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 5, 2017 | 4:00 pm
Victoria Theatre, 138 North Main Street, Dayton, Ohio

Tickets start at $24.50 +