Seattle International Dance Festival to Kick Off in June

June bursts with contemporary dance as the Seattle International Dance Festival (SIDF) brings its bold mix of global and local artists to the South Lake Union neighborhood for a 16-day dance profusion. For this eleventh anniversary year, the festival expands its footprint by adding Capitol Hill's Broadway Performance Hall as the venue for some of the Inter|National and Spotlight Series programs. The popular, and free, Art on the Fly moves to May 21 to sync with the SLU Market. This coordinated effort between SIDF, Amazon.com and the SLU Chamber is expected to enliven the evolving, vibrant neighborhood all day long. As in previous years, evening indoor festival performances kickoff at SLU's Raisbeck Hall; third week evening performances are inside Capitol Hill's larger Broadway Performance Hall.

Each year SIDF coordinates an astonishing array of 50+ indoor and outdoor performances by more than 100 local, regional, national and international artists. Dancers take over the streets of SLU and dazzle audiences at evening performances with artists from Israel, Lithuania, Japan and Switzerland. Shura Baryshnikov's (daughter of Mikhail Baryshnikov and Jessica Lange) presents her recently inaugurated Doppelgänger Dance Collective from Providence Rhode Island. A duo of former Spectrum Dancers living in New York City, Shadou Mintrone and Derek Crescenti return to Seattle. San Francisco's Blind Tiger Society, Lauren Edson (Trey McIntyre) with LED, and Wade Madsen are just a few more artists contributing to SIDF's Inter|National Series.

The popular Spotlight on Seattle Series returns with Spotlight: Artist's Perspective, Spotlight on Seattle Now and an expanded two-night program for Spotlight on Contemporary Ballet. Artist for these three separate events include: Julie Tobiason (formerly PNB) Stephanie Liapis (Formerly Susan Marshall/Doug Varone), Jason Ohlberg (formerly Hubbard Street Dance), Jade Soloman Curtis (formerly Spectrum Dance), Kim Lusk (Zoe|Juniper) and many others. Curators include: Erin Boyt, Donald Byrd, Cyrus Khambatta, Marlo Martin, Zoe Scofield, Eva Stone, Constanze Villines and Deborah Wolf.

The festival concludes with the popular cabaret-style dance themed Sanity Café. The 2016 Threshold Institute, in partnership with The Studios, offers aspiring dancers unique opportunities to study with guest teachers from the festival's roster. Together they will create a new work with Sam Picart (Cornish College alum, recently featured on Ellen DeGeneres).

Tickets to paid performances are $22 in advance, $27 at the door (Students are $18 in advance, $22 at the door). A 2-Show pass is $38, the All Festival Pass (9 shows) is $64 and the Premium Pass ($85, includes entrance to the closing night VIP party.) All details, including performance times, locations and ticketing information are available at www.Seattleidf.org.

ART ON THE FLY - May 21; 11am - 3pm

SIDF partners with the SLU Farmers Market to bring dozens of FREE all-ages dance events, food trucks and crafts to South Lake Union. Art on the Fly takes over the outside spaces on 9th Avenue from Denny to John Street. Contemporary dance springs to life in everyday environments with surprise/ roving performances, impromptu dance classes, flash mobs, arts & crafts vendors, music and food.

INTER|NATIONAL ARTISTS SERIES WEEKEND 1 - June 10-12 (Fri & Sat @ 8pm. Sun@7:30 pm)

At Raisbeck Hall Theater

Shadou Mintrone & Derek Crescenti (New York)

Doppelgänger Dance Collective (Providence, RI)

Blind Tiger Society (San Francisco)

T42 (Switzerland / Japan)

INTER|NATIONAL ARTISTS SERIES WEEKEND 2 - June 17-19 (Fri & Sat @ 8pm. Sun@7:30 pm)

At Raisbeck Hall Theater

Aura Dance Theatre (Lithuania)

Deboarah Wolf (Seattle)

Lauren Edson Dance (Boise ID)

Jovon Miller (Seattle)

INTER|NATIONAL ARTISTS SERIES WEEKEND 3 - June 23-25 (Thur. @ 7:30. Fri & Sat @ 8pm)

At Broadway Performance Hall

Khambatta Dance Company (Seattle)

Wade Madsen (Seattle)

Dafi Dance Group (Israel)

The Stone Dance Collective (Seattle)

SPOTLIGHT SERIES - June 14, 16, 21, 22 at 7:30pm

June 14 - Spotlight on Seattle Now

At Raisbeck Hall Theater

Curated by Cyrus Khambatta, Deb Wolf and Marlo Martin. Includes works by Liz Houlton, Jeremy Cline/Blair Elliot, Anna Conner and Lauren Linder / Adriana Hernandez.

June 16 - Spotlight: Artist's Perspective

At Raisbeck Hall Theater

Curated by Erin Boyt, Cyrus Khambatta and Constanze Villines. Includes works by Elby Brosch, Peter DeGrasse, Stephanie Liapis, Kaitlin McCarthy, Ethan Rome and Constanze Villines.

June 21 & 22 - Spotlight on Contemporary Ballet

At Broadway Performance Hall

Curated by Donald Byrd, Cyrus Khambatta, Zoe Scofield and Eva Stone. Presenting artists Jade Solomon Curtis, Julie Tobiason, Kim Lusk, and Alana O'Rogers. Includes a new commission by Jason Ohlberg for Coriolis Dance.

SANITY CAFE - date, time and location is a secret! Announced opening night of festival!

Alcohol served...discussion encouraged. This late evening cabaret-style event serves up a performance with a twist. Artists have seven days to create a work based on a theme given to them by the festival's opening night audience.

THE THRESHOLD INSTITUTE - June 13-18

A week-long intensive for intermediate and advanced dancers. Study with Jason Ohlberg (formerly of Hubbard Street) Julie Tobiason (formerly of PNB) Stephanie Liapis (formerly of Doug Varone & Susan Marshall,) and others. Create a new work with Sam Picart (featured on Ellen DeGeneres) for a festival performance.

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