The performance, which includes music videos, group dance numbers, live vocals, solos and duets will be held April 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Last year’s event on campus was such a success, the decision was made to move it to the Polk for an opportunity to present the showcase at a venue that “would do it justice” this year, said John Pierce, Southeastern’s Department of Communication chair.

“Our dance courses are fairly new, and moving the showcase to the Polk will enable us to accommodate a larger crowd- hopefully one that includes lots of members of the community,” said Nickolas Dixon, assistant professor of communication/theatre. “We plan to show how dance can touch lives, tell a story and even be used in ministry. My goal is always to create an experience that will move the audience and appeal to the human condition on many levels. ”

Southeastern began offering theatrical dance in 2006 as “Movement for the Stage,” which later became Theatrical Dance A. Theatrical Dance B was added to the curriculum in 2007.

“Nickolas Dixon has really made dance front and center here at SEU and we are so pleased to share this work right in the heart of Polk County,” Pierce said.

Tickets to the Theatrical Dance Showcase are $15 for general admission, $10 for students, seniors and alumni, and $10 for groups of 10 or more.

For more information and to buy tickets, call the Southeastern University Box Office at 863-669-4010 or visit the Arts and Events Calendar at www.seu.edu

Photo Credit: Sam Mooty

Much more than a concert, IN THE MOOD presents a retro 1940s musical revue featuring the IN THE MOOD Singers and Dancers with the sensational String of Pearls Big Band Orchestra. The music and the arrangements are as authentic as it gets. This was a time that all America was listening and dancing to the same kind of music.

In the 1940s, the combination of up-tempo big band instrumentals and intimate, romantic ballads set the mood for a future filled with promise, hope and prosperity. This was the time when the music moved the nation’s spirit!

TICKET SPECIAL: Get $15 tickets for $10 by phone or in person!

The office is located at 139 South Florida Ave.

Tickets are $35, $25, or $15
and are available at
www.polktheatre.org
or by phone at 863-682-7553
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Polk Theatre, Inc.
121 South Florida Ave
Lakeland, FL 33801

Florida Dance Theatre’s “Nutcracker”

7pm

Tickets are $28, $22, or $16
and are available at
www.polktheatre.org
or by phone at 863-682-7553
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ]]> http://www.downtownlakelandfl.com/2010/11/the-nutcracker-dec-10-11/feed/ 1 http://www.downtownlakelandfl.com/2010/06/summer-series-doo-wop-dinner-show-with-the-saints-july-17/ http://www.downtownlakelandfl.com/2010/06/summer-series-doo-wop-dinner-show-with-the-saints-july-17/#comments Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:28:37 +0000 The Avenue Hotel Lakeland http://www.downtownlakelandfl.com/?p=6459
Here’s your ticket to join us as we DOO WOP down memory lane… Relive the 50′s & 60′s as though it were yesterday. Holiday Inn Lakeland-South proudly presents The Saints Dinner Show on Saturday, July 17th at La Dolce Vita Restaurant & Lounge. Doors open at 5pm. Limited seating available. Dining Room Seats $52.90/couple and VIP Lounge Seats $62.90/couple (VIP Lounge Seats include meet & greet with The Saints and “front row” seats in the Lounge. Price includes buffet dinner (tax & gratuity) & Doo-Wop Show with The Saints. Reservations (863) 646-5731

First Friday is a free monthly celebration in Downtown Lakeland from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

May First Friday is Public Works! Plus we have dancing and comedy improv so keep reading for he details!

FAQ’s about First Fridays

Recurring First Friday features include:

• Live music and entertainment;
• VIEW ENTERTAINERS’ BIOs
• A Classic Car Show on Tennessee Avenue across from Munn Park;
• Art Receptions
• Shops and restaurants are open late!

Look for special events sponsored by various merchants during First Friday.

PLUS:

Dance Performances by Rae’s Retro: 6:45pm & 7:30pm (same show repeated)

Location: S. Kentucky Ave

Ghost/ Unchained Melody
Dirty Dancing/ I’ve had the Time of my Life
Short Break
Cry Baby/ Please Mr. Jailer
Cry Baby/ High School Hellcats
For more information visit www.raesretro.com.

Comedy Improv – 6:15pm & 8:00pm – Location: N. Kentucky Ave.

We are an Improv Comedy group that got our start in Winter Haven at a local pub. We star in an Improv Show much like you may have see on “Who’s Line Is it Anyway”. Every game or skit we do balances on the input we get from the audience and our “Improvational Fortitude”…so come on down and help us make a great show!  Read more about us and view our videos!

Before the show witness the amazing upside down art of Tony Trotti. (more info to come)

Merchant Happenings:

Home Essentials: T-shirt Trivia Contest! 10 Life is good T-shirts to be given away!  Enter tonight at Home Essentials, 314 N. Kentucky Av.  We have hints at the store if you’re not up on your T-shirt trivia. PS: T-shirts make great Mother’s Day gifts!

The General Store will be hosting Teresa Martinez, author of “Success in Exile”, for meet and greet and book signing.   The book features stories from 25 Cuban families, most of whom are now Lakeland area residents, and their valiant struggle to flee the island.  Artist, Carlos Luna, illustrates the struggle with his luminous and vivid work.  Luna’s work was recently featured by the Polk Museum of Art.   The book sells for $29.95 at The General Store.
Lemay Olano-James, former First Violin for Cuban National Symphony, now with Lakeland ISO, will perform from 6 pm – 8 pm at The General Store.

At Brooke Pottery, 223 N. Kentucky Ave., local mixed media artist Beth Foushee will lead a free make & take art session for kids from 6-8:30 PM. Come meet Beth and learn how she recycles ordinary materials into her Pencil Me In art collages. Also, musicians Hank & Paul play crowd favorite songs.

Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center is celebrating “Better Hearing and Speech Month” with free bottles of bubbles and fun activity ideas to encourage language development. COME BLOW BUBBLES WITH US!!!!

May 2010 Fine Arts Show at Arts on the Park 115 North Kentucky Avenue Juried by  Bryant Martinez Brandon, FL  Total Awards of $1,500 Best of Show receives $700 Reception – Friday, May 7th 6:00 – 9:00 pm

Photo by KilbyPhoto

Two downtown organizations, Florida Dance Theatre and Polk Museum of Art, are bringing you an evening of dance meeting the visual arts. Stop by PMoA on Saturday, March 27 at 7pm for a performance of dance pieces inspired by the artwork in PMoA’s current exhibition, Joseph Raffael. The performance will cost $10 for Museum and FDT Members or $15 for Non-Members. During the event, FDT’s Assistant Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer, Ferdinand “Freddie” DeJesus, will be talking about each piece. Afterwards, the audience can participate in a Q&A session and meet and greet the dancers.

The dancers at FDT have been working hard on this performance, so hop over and support two great downtown arts organizations! You’ve seen them at First Friday events, so you know how awesome they are. You have no excuse — we’ll see you there!

Greetings!

Florida Dance Theatre will present an evening of contemporary dance on Saturday, April 17th at 7:30pm at the Polk Theatre. The performance will feature the premiere works by Artistic & Founding Director Carol Krajacic-Erkes and Resident Choreographer Ferdinand De Jesus, along with other pieces choreographed by members of the professional company. This event is also a gala benefit for FDT, and a pre-performance cocktail party and after-party in the alley behind the theatre are planned to accompany the perfs

The highlight of the evening will be the encore performance of The Innocence Project,  a piece inspired by the story of James Bain. Bain was wrongly convicted of a rape and spent 35 years in prison before he was acquitted and released in 2009. The Innocence Project premiered at Platform Arts’ “Disorder in Court” in February, and was well received by the audience.

The performance will begin at 7:30pm, with doors opening at 7:00pm. VIP admission (RSVP required) is $50 and includes a pre-performance cocktail party at 6:00pm, reserved seating at the performance, and an Alley Party with music by The Sofa Kings afterwards.

General Admission to the performance only is $20 for adults, $15 for college students with I.D. and $10 for children age 12 and younger. Admission to the Alley Party is an additional $10.

Many of the restaurants will still be open and happy  to have you!  Brooke Pottery will be open late celebrating their anniversary  – so go enjoy cake and othe goodies!

We are looking at the possibility of RESCHEDULING THE FIRST FRIDAY TO THE SECOND FRIDAY. We have to contact the dance groups and check availability. Please check back with us. 

First Friday is a free monthly celebration in Downtown Lakeland from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

FAQ’s about First Fridays

Recurring First Friday features include:

• Live music and entertainment;
• VIEW ENTERTAINERS’ BIOs
• VIEW FOCUS TV VIDEO
• A Classic Car Show on Tennessee Avenue across from Munn Park;
• Exhibitions by local artists (more info on participating is below); and
• Shops and restaurants are open late!

Look for special events sponsored by various merchants during First Friday.

FEBRUARY THEME: Dancing in the Streets

Enjoy dance performances throughout Downtown along Kentucky Avenue from Bay Street to Lemon Street.  There will be opportunities for the audience to participate!

Sapphires Dance Studio is performing salsa and swing. Plus Samira’s Belly Dancers will perform all night long as well.

Lakeland Montessori School will have a chorus and dance performance in Munn Park at 6pm.

Rae Bartley of RAE’s Retro presents LAKELAND’S 1^ST ANNUAL SWEETHEART DANCE, a Valentine’s themed event for February’s Downtown Lakeland First Friday.

Are you looking for something special to do with your sweetheart this February? You don’t have to go far to have a romantic and memorable night this year. It’s happening just around the corner: Downtown Lakeland. Rae Bartley, of Rae’s Retro: Vintage Fashions, Accessories & More located on the 2^nd floor of J. Rowan Galleries, Downtown Lakeland, has designed a special Valentine’s themed event.

This is your chance to get all dolled up and hit the town! Start your evening off with a corsage and boutonniere from Flowers by Edith (863-686-1134), located on South Florida. Vicki, the owner, has created a special price for all orders made in advance! Downtown has plenty of choices for fine dinning, so go ahead and make your dinner reservation: Harry’s, the Antiquarian & the Terrace Hotel, among others. Then take a stroll around Historic Downtown: Munn Park, Lake Mirror, Barnett Park & Hollis Garden. Next, grab a place on the dance floor, Kentucky Ave., for you and your sweetie to dance the night away.

There will be Sweetheart-themed dance performances on Kentucky Ave. presented by Florida Dance Theatre, Polk County’s only professional dance company. Dance breaks will be in between performances, so couples can take the floor. The evening will also feature a Rae’s Retro DIRTY DANCING-inspired ‘Fashion Performance.’ The performers will dance to “I’ve had the Time of my Life” in remembrance of the amazing dancer and performer, Patrick Swayze. The DIRTY DANCING performance will feature dancers, clad in Rae’s Retro vintage fashions, emulating the iconic choreography from the movie. Dancers will also have 50’s stylized make-up and hair designed by Lindsey Meeks of Spectrum Hair Studio, located in downtown Winter Haven.

The First Friday Downtown Lakeland Event is from 6PM to 9PM on February 5^th, 2010. People are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy dining and shopping at Lakeland’s local businesses. The event is FREE so dance spaces will fill up fast!

For more information call J. ROWAN GALLERIES (863-683-ARTS) and visit www.raesretro.com.

Other activities in Downtown during First Friday:

Brooke Pottery is celebrating 22 years with cake and gift certificate giveaways throughout the day. Additionally during First Friday enjoy a balloon artist, wine, cheese, and music.

Arts on the Park Member’s Show I Reception 6-9pm 115 N Kentucky Ave Phone (863) 680-2787

Perspectives Photo Artistry Photography Exhibit – jr. & sr. classes 6:30-9:30pm Open to the public 115 South Florida Avenue (near Polk Theatre) (863) 248-1534
Garden Bistro – Sofa Kings 7:30-10:30 P.M Full menu and surprize special 6:00 – 7:30 Reservations  686-3332   702 E. Orange StreetFIRST FRIDAY

First Friday is a free monthly celebration in Downtown Lakeland from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

FAQ’s about First Fridays

Recurring First Friday features include:

• Live music and entertainment; 
• VIEW ENTERTAINERS’ BIOs
• VIEW FOCUS TV VIDEO
• A Classic Car Show on Tennessee Avenue across from Munn Park;
• Exhibitions by local artists (more info on participating is below); and
• Shops and restaurants are open late!

Look for special events sponsored by various merchants during First Friday.

FEBRUARY THEME: Dancing in the Streets

Enjoy dance performances throughout Downtown along Kentucky Avenue from Bay Street to Lemon Street.  There will be opportunities for the audience to participate!

Sapphires Dance Studio is performing salsa and swing. Plus Samira’s Belly Dancers will perform all night long as well.

Lakeland Montessori School will have a chorus and dance performance in Munn Park at 6pm.

Rae Bartley of RAE’s Retro presents LAKELAND’S 1^ST ANNUAL SWEETHEART DANCE, a Valentine’s themed event for February’s Downtown Lakeland First Friday.

Are you looking for something special to do with your sweetheart this February? You don’t have to go far to have a romantic and memorable night this year. It’s happening just around the corner: Downtown Lakeland. Rae Bartley, of Rae’s Retro: Vintage Fashions, Accessories & More located on the 2^nd floor of J. Rowan Galleries, Downtown Lakeland, has designed a special Valentine’s themed event.

This is your chance to get all dolled up and hit the town! Start your evening off with a corsage and boutonniere from Flowers by Edith (863-686-1134), located on South Florida. Vicki, the owner, has created a special price for all orders made in advance! Downtown has plenty of choices for fine dinning, so go ahead and make your dinner reservation: Harry’s, the Antiquarian & the Terrace Hotel, among others. Then take a stroll around Historic Downtown: Munn Park, Lake Mirror, Barnett Park & Hollis Garden. Next, grab a place on the dance floor, Kentucky Ave., for you and your sweetie to dance the night away.

There will be Sweetheart-themed dance performances on Kentucky Ave. presented by Florida Dance Theatre, Polk County’s only professional dance company. Dance breaks will be in between performances, so couples can take the floor. The evening will also feature a Rae’s Retro DIRTY DANCING-inspired ‘Fashion Performance.’ The performers will dance to “I’ve had the Time of my Life” in remembrance of the amazing dancer and performer, Patrick Swayze. The DIRTY DANCING performance will feature dancers, clad in Rae’s Retro vintage fashions, emulating the iconic choreography from the movie. Dancers will also have 50’s stylized make-up and hair designed by Lindsey Meeks of Spectrum Hair Studio, located in downtown Winter Haven.

The First Friday Downtown Lakeland Event is from 6PM to 9PM on February 5^th, 2010. People are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy dining and shopping at Lakeland’s local businesses. The event is FREE so dance spaces will fill up fast!

For more information call J. ROWAN GALLERIES (863-683-ARTS) and visit www.raesretro.com.

Other activities in Downtown during First Friday:

Brooke Pottery is celebrating 22 years with cake and gift certificate giveaways throughout the day. Additionally during First Friday enjoy a balloon artist, wine, cheese, and music.

Arts on the Park Member’s Show I Reception 6-9pm 115 N Kentucky Ave Phone (863) 680-2787

Perspectives Photo Artistry Photography Exhibit – jr. & sr. classes 6:30-9:30pm Open to the public 115 South Florida Avenue (near Polk Theatre) (863) 248-1534
Garden Bistro – Sofa Kings 7:30-10:30 P.M Full menu and surprize special 6:00 – 7:30 Reservations  686-3332   702 E. Orange Street

when || saturday february 5, 2011 – 5pm to 8pm
where || Oasis Community Church, 3330 Winter Lake Rd, Lakeland, FL 33803 || map it!
tickets || students: FREE (thru grade 12) | adults: $5 suggested donation
volunteers || GFWC Junior Women’s Club of Lakeland, serving the community since 1928.
sponsors || George W. Jenkins Fund within the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland, MIDFLORIDA, Florida Refuse/Republic Services and Magnify Credit Union.

Music, art, drama, dance, film teachers: Click here to learn more about how to get your students involved. Open to Polk County public, private, charter and home school students.  Need more information, email Platform.5 Coordinator Karen Grisham at grishamk@msn.com.