COLOR & MOVEMENT: Julie Becton Gillum, pictured, Jenni Cockrell and Constance Humphries comprise the Asheville Butoh Collective. The dance group will hold a fundraiser for its 2018 season on Nov. 3 at Revolve at RAMP Studios South.

Conscious Party: Asheville Butoh Collective

Posted on October 29, 2017October 27, 2017 by Edwin Arnaudin

The evening of sushi, saki and improvised performance takes place Nov. 3 at at Revolve at RAMP Studios South.

DEEP DARK DANCE: Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre’s new work, to be performed around Halloween, is ‘Death by Plastica.’ The production addresses postconsumer waste with humor and drama.

Halloween happenings around WNC

Posted on October 25, 2017October 26, 2017 by Alli Marshall

Here’s a selection of costumed capers, ghoulish gatherings and pumpkin-spiced parties. From autumnal festivities to puppet shows, there’s a celebration for nearly every reveler.

FLAG WAVING: Alexandra Joye Warren’s dance “For Love of Country” meditates on the intersection of modern-day politics and race. “I started on this piece in November during the election when no one was listening to one another,” says Warren. “I want the piece to give way to more inquiry. I want the audience to be more understanding as opposed to steadfast.”

North Carolina Dance Festival returns to Asheville

Posted on October 17, 2017October 18, 2017 by Lauren Stepp

In 1991, founder Jan Van Dyke introduced the festival as a traveling, statewide showcase of high-caliber choreography. Each season, two to three cities are selected to host concerts over the course of a weekend.

HIPS DON’T LIE: Asheville-based Trillium Dance Company will showcase its blend of modern, jazz and hip-hop for the eighth time at LEAF this fall. “What is unique about dance is the opportunity to go deeper into your body,” says troupe director Leslie Rogers.

Dance offerings at LEAF Festival and beyond

Posted on October 12, 2017October 9, 2017 by Carla Seidl

At LEAF Festival, there are plenty of opportunities for even non-dancers to connect with the art form. Fire dancers from Asheville’s Unifire Theater, acrobats from Imagine Circus of Raleigh and The Faerie Kin, a roaming performance troupe, routinely wow festivalgoers.

NEXT GENERATION: Student vocalists in the Brooklyn Youth Chorus will perform Black Mountain Songs. The commissioned work of choral pieces, composed by eight musicians, was inspired by letters and poetry from Black Mountain College alumni. The Asheville concerts are part of a new Performance Initiative by Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center and UNC Asheville.

ReVIEWING Black Mountain College conference looks at process and performance

Posted on September 26, 2017September 22, 2017 by Alli Marshall

As the annual conference attests, ideas and influences continue to ripple from the legendary school. This year’s theme is “Process + Performance.”

Smart Bets: Mountain Heritage Day

Posted on September 26, 2017September 22, 2017 by Edwin Arnaudin

The 43rd annual celebration of Southern Appalachian music, dance, arts and crafts takes place Saturday, Sept. 30 at Western Carolina University.

Smart Bets: Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival

Posted on September 25, 2017September 19, 2017 by Edwin Arnaudin

The 50th edition of the annual festival runs Oct. 2-7 on and around the campus of Mars Hill University.

Smart Bets: Fiesta Hendersonville

Posted on September 20, 2017September 14, 2017 by Edwin Arnaudin

The celebration of Latin American culture takes place Sunday, Sept. 24, in downtown Hendersonville.

MOOD INDIGO: Abbey Allen, left and Alan Malpass of Asheville Aerial Arts prepare for the Asheville Area Arts Council’s Indigo Ball — the organization’s multi-party fundraiser that features a wealth of local talent. The color ball launched in 2002 and was produced in less lavish iterations over the years. The Sept. 9 event returns to original form.

AAAC’s Indigo Ball celebrates local creativity

Posted on September 5, 2017September 1, 2017 by Edwin Arnaudin

If you’re in downtown Asheville on Saturday, Sept. 9, and see people dashing down the sidewalks in blue outfits and other formal attire, don’t be alarmed. These costumed folks are out reveling in the name of the Asheville Area Arts Council’s Indigo Color Ball, a sight unseen for two years — and in many ways, even longer.

FROM ARGENTINA TO ASHEVILLE: Karen Jaffe, left, and dance partner Tate Di Chiazza will offer several local workshops, classes, performances and dance parties this fall, including the three-day dance festival Sabores Del Tango.

Sabores del Tango celebrates the Argentine dance style

Posted on August 22, 2017August 17, 2017 by Emily Glaser

The three-day celebration of the evolution of tango includes workshops, classes and dance parties. It takes place Friday, Aug. 25, through Sunday, Aug. 27, at West Asheville church-turned-event space Center for Art & Spirit at St. George’s.

Smart Bets: Entanglements

Posted on August 8, 2017July 31, 2017 by Edwin Arnaudin

The multi-media presentation debuts at the Revolve Project Space on Friday, Aug. 11, at 8 p.m.

EVERY AGE ONSTAGE: “The longevity of this festival comes from the wonderful ancestry that has evolved out of the mountains,” says Asheville-based Folk Heritage Committee chair Loretta Freeman. “You’ll have up to five generations in a family that are still playing music.” This year’s Mountain Dance and Folk Festival will focus on award-winning artists from throughout the Southern Appalachians.

Mountain Dance and Folk Festival turns 90

Posted on July 31, 2017July 27, 2017 by Daniel Walton

“The longevity of this festival comes from the wonderful ancestry that has evolved out of the mountains,” says Loretta Freeman. “You’ll have up to five generations in a family that are still playing music.”

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY: In 2016, Folkmoot welcomed Imani Milele from Uganda. These cultural dancers were among 250 international guests who toured almost 40 venues across Western North Carolina. Pictured, the Ugandan collective takes part in the Parade of Nations in Waynesville.

Folkmoot returns for its 34th year

Posted on July 18, 2017July 14, 2017 by Lauren Stepp

This year’s iteration, running from Thursday, July 20, to Sunday, July 30, features folk dance collectives from India, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Argentina, Russia, Israel, Taiwan and Wales. Traditional Appalachian and Cherokee groups will perform, too.

Smart bets: For Rumbough

Posted on July 18, 2017July 18, 2017 by Emily Glaser

The full evening of dance takes place at The Academy at Terpsicorps on Friday, July 21, and Saturday, July 22.

OH WOW POWWOW: “This action-packed weekend includes colorful regalia, jaw-dropping dances and music made to move you,” says a press release for the 42nd annual Fourth of July Powwow, held in Cherokee. Tribal foods and crafts are also part of the three-day celebration.

Independence Day events around WNC

Posted on June 28, 2017June 23, 2017 by Molly Horak

Whether you favor pig pickin’ or watermelon, live music or a dramatic reading of the “Declaration of Independence,” there’s something for everyone this holiday, and Xpress has all your pie-flavored, freedom-filled needs covered.

IN THE FLOW: This year’s festival, organized by multipercussionist River Guerguerian, left, includes free Saturday workshops, open to the public. “Regardless of what instrument you play, when you get to the level where you can express your life and emotions through that instrument, beautiful things are spoken,” says kalimba player Kevin Spears, right.

Asheville Percussion Festival creates community around rhythm

Posted on June 21, 2017June 15, 2017 by Daniel Walton

Many of the festival’s participants come from places where the arts may be overshadowed by political controversy. This year’s lineup includes the Turkish multi-instrumentalist Omar Faruk Tekbilek and his son Murat Tekbilek, the Iranian percussionist Naghmeh Farahmand and the Lebanese drummer Yousif Sheronick with his wife, violist Kathryn Lockwood.

TIPPING POINTE: Wanting political liberals and conservatives to find middle ground after last year's election, Heather Malloy organized Together We Stand. The night of dance includes performances by Terpsicorps dancer Elena Bello, pictured.

Terpsicorps presents a unifying performance in election’s wake

Posted on June 20, 2017June 15, 2017 by Lauren Stepp

Compassion, and possibly shared frustration, is the basis of Together We Stand, a series of dance performances onstage at the Diana Wortham Theatre Thursday-Saturday, June 22-24.

Smart bets: Hola Asheville

Posted on June 20, 2017June 15, 2017 by Emily Glaser

The family-friendly festival takes place on Saturday, June 24, from noon to 8 p.m. at Pack Square Park.

OLD-TIME TRADITION: Local filmmaker David Weintraub's new documentary, 'A Great American Tapestry,' delves into the multicultural roots of old-time music and dance, from early African and indigenous influences to present-day performers like Rhiannon Giddens, pictured.

New film explores the multicultural roots of traditional music and dance

Posted on June 19, 2017June 29, 2017 by Max Hunt

The film’s world premiere is set for Thursday, June 22, at Blue Ridge Community College. Subsequent screenings will take place at the Fine Arts Theatre on Thursday, June 29, and at White Horse Black Mountain on Friday, June 30.

PUTTIN’ ON THE FRITZ: Local funk band The Fritz will take the stage at Xpand Fest on June 10. Other performers include indie-rocker Ian Ridenhour and 1960s-inspired Carpal Tullar.

Three free summer festivals worth visiting

Posted on June 6, 2017June 2, 2017 by Lauren Stepp

This season, two new events — the Better Dads Festival and Xpand Fest — are launching in downtown Asheville. A little further out in Hot Springs, ballad singers and hikers are coming together to celebrate the Bluff Mountain Festival’s 22nd year.

Smart bets: The Color of Dance

Posted on June 5, 2017May 30, 2017 by Emily Glaser

Three performances will take place on Thursday and Friday, June 8 and 9, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, June 10, at 3 p.m., on The BeBe Theatre Stage.

Dance