Interview with Beth Ridley (no Studios) about the inaugural "Dance Fest" in Milwaukee. The festival features headline performances by Alvin Ailey 2 Dance Company (New York City) alongside six Milwaukee-based companies spanning diverse styles (African Caribbean–influenced modern, Irish/river-step styles, etc.). A reception at no Studio kicks off Friday; tech rehearsals are free and open to the public Saturday starting at 9:00 AM at Sherman Studios. The Saturday performance is sold out.
Questions this video answers
Yes, the Saturday performance is sold out.
Alvin Ailey 2 Dance Company.
Six local dance companies.
Friday at no Studio (reception at no Studio).
Saturday starting at 9:00 AM at Sherman Studios; rehearsals run all day until doors open; free and open to the public.
Chapters
Well, no Studios is bringing some of the best dancers in the country to Milwaukee this weekend. I'm joined now by Beth Ridley from no Studios to learn more about their dance fest. This is the first dance fest that you guys are holding. First one, how exciting. I hope that they're gonna be more. So we had a fantastic turnout. We are sold out. So that's a good sign. And who's all coming? So you have some local dancers, but then some who are based in New York City as well? We do, yes. So we are so fortunate to have Alvin Ailey 2 Dance Company from New York City come. So they're sort of the keynote performers, but they complemented with a group of six different dance companies right here from Milwaukee. So we have a real range in terms of diversity, the type of dance styles and also like iconic dance companies like Kothi Dance Company and the Irish Dance Company and new up and coming dance companies like Wolf Dance Studios. So it's going to be a variety. This is an opportunity for a lot of performers to shine, which is really cool. So tell us a little bit about the kickoff that's going on on Friday. What do we expect on that day? Okay, so on Friday we're having a reception at no Studio. So it's a great time to come. You can get up close and personal with the dancers, take pictures with them, you know, talk to the dancers including Alvin Ailey dancers, and then that leads to Saturday. So even though the performance is sold out on Saturday, tech rehearsals are open and free to the public. Okay. And so you have a chance to see the dancers warm up, practice and perfect what they're going to show later. Those rehearsals will be Saturday. Are they doing some on Friday as well or just Saturday? Just Saturday, yeah. Starting at 9am and they'll go all day up until doors open. So that's free and open to the public and. Yeah. At Sherman Studios. And so all the vendors at Sherman Studios will be open too. So there's like a lot going on for the senses, a little bit of everything. And I know you said that we're going to see a variety of different performers. What kind of dance will we be able to see? Oh, so you're going to see. It's going to be really international. So we have modern dance with African Caribbean influences, sort of that crisp dancing of like river dance. With the Irish Dance Studio, we have another dance company that is really great at bringing in all different body types and young people, old people. So a little bit of something for everyone. Absolutely. I love how you guys are utilizing the space. So, yeah. Thank you so much for joining us. Yeah, thanks for having me. Hope to see you there. It is a lot.
