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​The Phoenix Suns announced yesterday that they would welcome a group of "high energy" youngsters to their entertainment crew, and today they announced their double whammy -- seniors. More >>

​Before you start drooling over the possibility of another handful of toned, tanned, and semi-clothed dancers being added to the Suns' popular entertainment lineup -- allow the basketball team to introduce The SunDance Kids. More >>

Photo by Rich Huston Campana, courtesy of Ballet Arizona

​On November 11, Ballet Arizona will reopen the doors of the old Walsh Brothers warehouse on Washington and 28th streets in Phoenix to celebrate its new home, a new season, and a new, Downtown audience. More >>

Photo Courtesy of Lisa Starry

​The Bram Stoker International Film Festival is a horror flick freak's wet nightmare. It's four days of indie blood splat, vampires, and sci-fi thrillers in the English town Count Dracula called home, Whitby. And for choreographer Lisa Starry, it's an opportunity of a lifetime.

Starry's Scorpius Dance Theatre has been selected to perform A Vampire Tale at this year's festival in October.

"There hasn't been a company [in Phoenix] that's had that kind of opportunity," says Starry. "It's kind of cool that we're known as the vampires of Arizona."

Here's the catch: before the 25-member cast and crew hop the pond, they need to raise some serious cash ... in the next 32 hours.

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The star of Footloose is in town this week for a little toe-tapping seminar at Dance Studio 111 in Phoenix.

No, not Kevin Bacon -- he's busy riding the wave of box office success from his turn as supervillain Sebastian Shaw in X-Men: First Class. We're talking about Kenny Wormald, the MTV's Dancelife performer who was tapped to replace Gossip Girl actor Chace Crawford in the upcoming remake due in theaters this fall.
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Wormald will host junior, intermediate and advanced level classes starting at 10:30 p.m. this Thursday, June 16. Cost is $50 each or $85 for two classes, and today is the last day to enroll.

In the meantime, we thought we'd give Kenny a few pointers on how to better replicate Kevin Bacon's star turn as Ren McCormack in the original Footloose. Because, though Wormald might have an edge in the footwork department, the flick won't be the same without a little bit of Bacon's signature '80s style.

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Nancy Miller

Scorpius Dance Theatre proves that "strange" can be fun.

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Last year, Lisa Starry's original fashion-meets-dance work, Catwalk, pranced into Phoenix Theatre's Little Theatre with a splash. The production featured fun, upbeat numbers set to familiar pop rock and classical tunes, with the dancers modeling clothing created by local designers. The idea was attractive enough to audiences that Starry was asked to remount the show this year.More >>

courtesy of Steven Fales

Missionary position: Steven Fales (Confessions of a Mormon Boy) tried hard to keep those good Catholics in Portugal from going to Hell.

​In our world of choreographed flash mobs and revolution-by-Twitter, it may seem odd that an arts festival takes time to grow and develop over the years. But it does. Ideas lead to plans lead to experience leads to word of mouth, which generates new plans and experiences, until something reaches a tipping point of rabid festivity and renowned cool.

PHX:fringe Festival is in its fourth year, and performers from out of state, let alone other nations, are still in a minority. Relatively easy-to-tour solo shows predominate, and I would say too many acts have ASU ties, except that's often a wonderful thing. (Not always.)

But the schedule is filling out nicely, and the number of participating venues is gradually increasing. Tipping point, here we come.

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A sign at Philthy Phil's.

​Last night, Philthy Phil's announced its last of last calls.

After more than eight years in business, the favorite neighborhood dive bar on 16th Street closed for good due to "unforeseen circumstances."

The bar got a face lift more than a year ago with the help of Craig Citizen and a Friday night dance party, Ransom, and has since been a hot spot for DJs and party promoters.

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Herr Klugbeisser/Wikimedia Commons

Capoeira being practiced on the streets of Brazil.

​When local group Axé Capoeira Arizona says "Bring your Axé," they're not referring to the bladed chopping instrument. Axé (pronounced AH-shay) is a Yourba word meaning "positive energy," and that's what Capoeira practitioners will bring to Scottsdale this weekend for the 10th Annual Batizado and Afro-Brazilian Dance Event.

Capoeira is a cross between dance and martial arts (video game geeks might remember Capoeira master characters from fighting games like Street Fighter III and Mortal Kombat). The art was developed in Brazil more than 400 years ago, and combines self-defense with acrobatics and Afro-Brazilian music and dance moves.

The annual Batizado and Afro-Brazilian Dance Event will showcase talented Capoeria artists from all over the world, along with a social dance and live music from local musicians Quetzal Guerrero and DJ Seduce.

Learn more about Capoeira and view a video after the jump.

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Wikimedia Commons

Tempe Center for the Arts will become a dance club for one night this weekend.

​What will be the hottest dance club in Tempe this Saturday night? If you guessed someplace on Mill Avenue, like Crave or Rula Bula, you wouldn't be too far off.

But how about Tempe Center for the Arts? Yes, that beautiful building off Rio Salado Parkway where they usually host things like fine art and chamber music will be turned into a big club with lots of booze, bumping beats, and beautiful people for a fundraiser called "Dance the Night Away" (a.k.a. DNA @ TCA). Planned by honorary event chair (and former Mayor of Tempe) Neil Giuliano, the evening will feature some of the most talented (and good looking) DJs in Phoenix, like the exotic DJ Brazilia and the suave DJ Madd Rich, along with live R&B music.

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