Seattle International Dance Festival's Art on the Fly Outdoor Kickoff Event Set for Today

Art on the Fly kicks off ten days of international dance. Today, June 15th, the streets of South Lake Union become an arts playground featuring the Massive Monkees, a Brazilian parade, an Egyptian wedding procession (including a kazoo sing-along), a live interactive marionette exhibit (where the audience pulls the strings), a Bollywood Flash mob, and FREE open dance classes from Seattle's best studios. South Lake Union will be wall-to-wall events and it's open to all ages.

This free outdoor family friendly event from 12 noon to 9 pm will block off two city blocks on Terry Avenue from Republican to Thomas streets and include three stages with bands Shenandoah Davis, Exohxo, No Clouds, Si Limon, an indie craft fair, beer and margarita gardens and food by celebrated local restaurants. The festivities finish with the Dusk Dance Party hosted by KEXP DJ Will Myers playing world beats.

From June 14-23, the Seattle International Dance Festival will present emerging companies, collaborations, and new commissions from groups as far away as the Gold Coast of Ghana to the politically charged beltway environment of our nation's capital. The works address everything from women's issues to love and people's bedtime habits. Dance forms barriers will be trampled. Ballet and West African dance will meet while Hip-hop and traditional ethnic dances will brush shoulders.

ART ON THE FLY - June 15; 12 - 9pm

Dozens of FREE kid-friendly, interactive, surprise dance events will take over the streets surrounding Amazon's Van Vorst Plaza. There will be performances from the Massive Monkees, Idan Cohen from Israel and Kokoro Dance from Canada. Roving performances like the slo-mo Geisha's on a shopping spree, 14-foot Peruvian puppets by BQDanza will surprise and delight. Former PNB dancers will teach an all-ages dance class and there will be Salsa, Zumbatonic for kids, Bollywood, Yoga, hip hop classes as well.

ART ON THE FLY / DUSK DANCE PARTY - June 15; 6 - 9pm

Hosted by KEXP's favorite Latin DJ Will "Chilly" Myers. He will transport world beats to Van Vorst plaza for one very special outdoor dance party into the sunset.

ART ON THE FLY / DANCING WITH THE SEATTLEITES - FINALS - June 15; 4:30 pm

For several weeks, instructors and the eight final contestants have met in studios around the city to polish and prep for the final competition. On June 15th these self-proclaimed "non-dancers" will be ready to show their stuff and fight for the grand prize at the competition. A "Dancing with the Seattleites" winner will be announced on the spot at Art on the Fly and audience votes are encouraged.

INTER|NATIONAL ARTISTS SERIES June 14 - 23; Fri-Sat 8pm; Sun 7:30pm - Raisbeck Hall, 2015 Boren Ave.

Tere Mathern Dance (Portland OR), Idan Cohen (Israel) Yurek Hansen and Manimou Camara (Idaho and Guinea, Africa/Seattle ) Kokoro Dance (Vancouver Canada) Khambatta Dance Company (Seattle WA) Maida Withers Dance Construction Company (Washington, D.C.) Dancing People Company (Ashland, OR) Experimentus (Brazil), Jennifer McLeish-Lewis (Nanaimo, Canada) Wuza Wuza (Ghana, West Africa)

SPOTLIGHT ON SEATTLE - June 18-20; Tue-Thur 7:30 pm - Raisbeck Hall, 2015 Boren Ave.

Curators Amy O'Neal, Tere Mathern, Kiyon Gaines and includes artists like Allie Hankins, Kate Wallich, UMAMI Performance, Jody Kuehner, Ricki Mason, Ashani Dances and over fifteen other artists.

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