The Dance Because Dance Salon series begins October 4 | Entertainment

WHEN: Friday evenings, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. on October 4th, November 8th, December 6th and Saturday, December 7th

WHERE: Nevada City Oddfellows Hall, 212 Spring Street, downtown Nevada City

Dance Because presents a series of dance salons held once a month on Friday evenings for the enjoyment of all dance lovers. The dance salons offer a fun dance experience – a combination of workshop and social gathering, a place to play and learn, a chance to stretch, move and express yourself. Building on the success of the Dance Because Festival in June 2024, this new monthly series continues the intention of celebrating dance, humanity and connection through the shared dance experience. Each salon takes place on Friday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Nevada City Oddfellows Hall on Spring Street.

The first event will take place on Friday, October 4th. Dancer Elizabeth Castaneda leads a voguing workshop followed by a DJ dance party. Originating in New York City’s vibrant ballroom culture, voguing is a dynamic dance style that combines elements of fashion, drama and self-expression. Inspired by the poses of models in fashion magazines, voguing is about confidence, attitude and being in the spotlight. In this workshop you will learn the basic movements, poses and techniques that make up voguing. You’ll be guided through a series of exercises designed to improve your grace, precision and stage presence, and learn the fundamental elements of voguing, including hand performance, catwalk strut, duck walk and floor work. No previous knowledge required!

Elizabeth has over two decades of experience performing, teaching and choreographing. Her Broadway jazz class and voguing workshop were hugely popular at the 2024 Dance Because Festival, as was her dynamic duet with her twin sister Melissa. Her company Sister Magic has produced several full-length rock opera and circus spectacles for the Burning Man Festival and has performed on stages across the country.

The series continues on November 8th with a workshop led by Trina Spiller. In this experience, dancers learn and create the Nevada City version of the 5 MOVES from the television series The OA. The idea is that when we perform these 5 movements together in perfect harmony, we open a healing portal, yes, a true Nevada City portal to the next dimension. Trina will teach you some movement sets and also encourage you to create movements through specific questions that have to do with being human, connection, healing, your soul, growth and peace.

On Friday, December 6, Davis-based choreographer Linda Bair will teach a class that will fill your choreographic toolbox. You create or learn a dance phrase and then explore the many, many ways to manipulate that source material. It’s amazing how much can be developed from so little. The restriction can actually be very liberating because it provides a clear playing field.

The culmination of the series will be an informal dance show with the Linda Bair Dance Company on Saturday, December 7th. Dancers who participated in the Friday evening salons will also be invited to perform the material created in the three workshops.

All classes and performances take place at the Nevada City Oddfellows Hall. The entrance is at 212 Spring Street. There are stairs to access the hall. An elevator is available. The cost for Friday night salons is $20. Pre-registration is not required, but you can pre-register at dbdancesalon.eventbrite.com.