"Dance2Donate" Fourmile Canyon Benefit Concert on 11/11

Local Music Production Company to Hold Benefit Concert featuring Fresh2Death, FieVeL & LoLo, Eminence Ensemble, 2Dubaii and the CU Buff Gold Dance team

On Thursday, November 11, Souls In Action Entertainment along with Heydontjudge.com are putting on a benefit concert for the tragic Four Mile Canyon Fire, donating a portion of the proceeds to the Community Foundation of Boulder County. The concert is going to be held at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver, and includes a local line-up of great electronic music.

Souls In Action Entertainment is an innovative music production company founded in the fall of 2009 by Miss Lulu Clair, a Colorado native. The company strives to use music and artistic expression to help evolve popular culture into a uniting force around the world, especially in time of crisis. SIA is completely committed to their mission of bringing the latest in musical and artistic talent into communities and using them to raise awareness for various social issues, causes and movements. SIA lives by the notion that everyone in our world is connected somehow by one thing, and that is the love we all share for the arts and especially music.

FOUR GREAT ACTS

The night will feature Fresh2Death, a live musical collaboration duo from Boulder, CO. The duo including DJs Greg Fisk and Ben Samples, has performed alongside many up and coming producers/DJs such as Mimosa, Eliot Lipp, Ana-Sia, Lazer Sword, Savoy, Pretty Lights, VibeSquad, Boombox, and many many more. Opening for Fresh2Death will be; FieVeL & LoLo, an electronic DJ duo from Aspen, Eminence Ensemble, a progressive dance rock band based out of Boulder, and 2Dubaii, a 2 person Electro-Rock Music collaboration from Durango. All of the artists will be donating their time to the cause.

RIDE THE BUS TO THE EVENT!

The Basics Fund will be donating party buses to and from the event. The CU Buff Gold Dance team will be donating their time to perform at the event. Reserve your spot to ride to benefit with the Basics Fund on the Basics Fund website.

Tickets are being sold for $12 in advance at the Cervantes Masterpiece website, and $14 day of the show. The show is at 9pm, doors at 8pm. More information can be found on SIA’s blog.

Donations to the Fire Benefit can be made at Community Foundation website.

Cavalia: The New Big Top in Denver?

A Slow Start with a Strong Finish


As I headed toward the white, big top-style tents easily spotted from I-25 in Denver, my curiosity about Cavalia was piqued, to say the least. With its myriad of international performers and more than 60 horses—a good number of them stallions—the show has been touted as “Cirque de Soleil with horses.” The magnificent imagery enveloping the entrance and the enchanting melodies being piped through the tents set the stage for a stunning performance.

To open the show, a solo cellist played as images of spring were projected onto a 70-foot-long screen. The audience was primed to be wowed, yet the first few numbers left much to be desired, despite the rich colors and textures of the set, costumes and projections. Slow moving and with no real cohesiveness, the disjointed acts felt more like vignettes using the horses as props. The show itself felt as if it was holding back.

Things improved after intermission, as if the first half of the show had been a bit of a hustle before the big revelation. Even the simpler numbers, in which the horses almost seemed to be roaming freely, had a completely different feel. Witnessing some of the most spectacular horse breeds, including a variety of Arabians, calmly and naturally interacting on stage with no apparent cues from a trainer, was poetry at its very essence. The magnificence and beauty of the fantastical creatures revealed itself in even the most subtle movements and gestures. Imagine stepping into the enchanted forest of a fairy tale and you will get a sense of this simple yet breathtaking performance. This is what the audience was waiting for, with plenty of aerials and acrobatics coupled with expert lighting and consistently high-quality live music performed behind a scrim. The energy stayed high during what felt like an hour-long (yet very welcome) finale. Horse after horse charged across the stage, and the performers displayed endless energy while doing some truly jaw-dropping tricks. “Cavalia” ended with a bang that kept going for nearly the entire second half of the show.


Even amidst these heart-pumping theatrics, the favorite of the crowd was far and away the “Grande Liberté.” Both the performer and her horses put on a show that was not only artistically innovative but also so highly technical and well-executed that I could have watched an entire program of just her on stage, handling these horses with grace and precision, and the horses' reciprocal elegance and dexterity.


With a running time well over two hours, beginning at 8pm (earlier for the weekend matinees), and fairly high ticket prices (adult tickets range from $34.50 to $189.50), “Cavalia” is definitely an investment. While the higher-priced tickets include extras such as a visit to the stables after the show, going with a more economical ticket might be your best option. For the horses' well-being, no audience member visiting the stables is allowed to pet them. So, although seeing some absolutely beautiful horses is a nice extra, you can still get the full experience while saving a bit of cash.

In a time when movies often miss the mark and live shows repeat permutations of the same old thing, “Cavalia,” even with its slow start, injects much-needed energy into the entertainment scene.

“Cavalia” runs through Sunday, Oct. 17, at the Pepsi Center in Denver. For tickets, visit cavalia.net or call 1-866-999-8111.

Live Music and Dance of Bali, Indonesia

An Evening in Bali
at DecorAsian, Denver

Saturday, February 27
Concert at 7:30pm, Pre-concert at 6:45pm
DecorAsian, 1787 South Broadway, Denver, CO

Immerse yourself in the rich culture of Bali, Indonesia when Gamelan Tunas Mekar, under the direction of I Made Lasmawan, brings to DecorAsian's magical atmosphere authentic music and dance from the island of Bali. Enjoy the unique, tropical sounds of shimmering compositions and dynamic flurries of percussion performed on the exotic bronze instruments of the Balinese gamelan.

Balinese dancers Ni Ketut Marni and Luh Made Didik Dwi Wahyuni will perform the dances Taman Sari (Flower in the Garden), a contemporary welcome dance; and Margapati (Hungry Tiger), the popular dance-drama depicting the life of the ruler of the forest. Full costumes and world-class dancing give American audiences a true glimpse of this beautifully refined art form.

FINE THINGS ASIAN

Arrive early to enjoy DecorAsian's stunning collection of "Fine Things Asian". The "Asian" aesthetic embodied in DecorAsian's collection and sense of style adds peace and harmony to our individual lives and through that, in a small way, to peace and harmony within the world.

DecorAsian will kindly donate 10% of any purchases made during the evening of the performance to Tunas Mekar. You are encouraged to visit their showroom the week before the event so that you may finalize your purchase that night, and thereby facilitate a further donation to Tunas Mekar. DecorAsian is open every day, from 10:30am-6:00pm. Call 303-998-5632 for more information.

PRE- AND POST-CONCERT EVENTS

Pre-concert music will be performed on the sublime gender wayang by the quartet Catur Eka Santi. Gender wayang is an ensemble of instruments that traditionally accompany the shadow puppet plays (wayang kulit) of Bali.

Doors open at 6:45pm, music and dance performance starts at 7:30pm. A light reception will follow the concert, with an opportunity to meet the performers and see the intricately carved instruments up close.

TICKETS

Tickets are $15; $10 students, seniors & children 12 and under. Tickets may be purchased in advance at either the Denver or Boulder DecorAsian location, or online at Tunas Mekar's website.

DecorAsian is located at 1787 South Broadway in Denver. Visit their website to view their collection online and for more information: www.DecorAsianStyle.com

Photos: Top:Ni Ketut Marni performs Taman Sari welcome dance. Photo by Marc Sabatella. Above: Gamelan Tunas Mekar performs on the traditional gamelan angklung instruments at the Denver School of the Arts, Denver, Colorado.

Celebrate Good Times in Boulder County and Denver!

If you didn't get tickets to the sold out New Year's Eve Gala at the Hotel Boulderado, or to Leftover Salmon at the Boulder Theater, don't panic! There are lots of GREAT New Year's Eve events in Boulder County and Denver, tonight. Here's our quick run-down.

As Boulder sadly says goodbye to one of the best venues in Boulder, the b.side lounge, the b.siders have turned it into a reason to celebrate all the good times and ring in the New Year. Join COMMUNIKEY featuring Vancouver's NOAH PRED (Native State, Thoughtless) and DJs Royals, Papyrus, Josh23, Brandon Brown and Story for what should be the dance party of the evening. "Crazy drink specials! Body pounding music, intelligent beats, and LOVE LOVE LOVE." 9pm. $15 includes access to the entire building. 2017 13th St., Boulder.

New Year's Eve at the Lobby - James Bond Style. Don your slinky red dress and button up your tux when The Way Down Low rocks Denver for a night of 007 fun. Come dressed as your favorite Bond, Bond Girl, Villain, or Bond inspired character for "Shaken, not Stirred," and catch this up-and-rising Denver band – a breath of fresh air in the Denver music scene. 7pm. Tix from $10-$50. 2191 Arapahoe St., Denver.

New Year's Eve "Silver Screen Ball" at BMoCA. Celebrate art and music Boulder-style, and help support BMoCA as well as One World Running. Wear your best black, white and silver cocktail attire (red accepted, as well) and enjoy video art installations, jazz-influenced soundtrack by DJ Josh Haimes & DJCJ, live music by Fellow Citizens, and ElephantJournal.com's Red Lounge with neo-noir cinema, drinks and comfy chairs. 9pm. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door. 1750 13th St., Boulder.

For those of you who love nothing better than a good Broadway Musical, ring in the New Year in style with the lovable classic "Singin' in the Rain" at Boulder's Dinner Theatre. Tonight's special event includes not only a show and dinner, but is followed by an evening of dancing and a champagne toast at midnight. 5:30pm. Tix starting at $80/person. 5501 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder.

Many Boulder restaurants are hosting their own special evenings, including DaGabi Cucina in North Boulder. Join Noah Westby and his extraordinary staff for live music with Wonderlic, dancing and of course, a midnight toast. Last dinner seating is at 8pm; live music starts at 10pm and runs until 1am. 3970 North Broadway #101, Boulder.

Events are also planned at CBC Drafthouse, Johnny's Cigar Bar, the Fox Theater and more! Visit our Calendar page for a complete listing, with more events coming in throughout the day.

And from all of us at Brock Media, have a safe, happy and prosperous New Year!

Get Eco-Chic with Antiques

The World Wide Antique Show brings Eco-Chic to the Denver Merchandise Mart at I-25 and 58th Avenue on October 23-25, 2009. As communities and homes are steadily becoming more environmentally conscious the World Wide Antique Show is announcing this is a fantastic way to shop green this fall season. The show features a diverse selection of vintage pieces and collectibles from around the world that timelessly integrate form and function all without depleting our current environmental resources, all under the idea that vintage items are “designed in the past, desired in the present.” This Eco-Chic theme even transcends into the World Wide Antique Show’s promotional development, printing all the show cards on recycled paper using soy inks, which are better for our environment.

Over 150 dealers from across the country come together to display amazing pieces that fit a wide-range for any collector’s tastes. Unique items can be found everywhere at the World Wide Antique Show, starting with exquisite 19th century jewelry, to superior antique oak and finely made walnut furniture, to rare china and superb-caliber art. While many dealers have exhibited for years and have a committed following, the show always includes new dealers presenting a variety of vintage items and collectibles. You can also find books, dolls, postcards, one-of-a-kind art glass, quality linen and bedding items.

“With many people looking to invest in something tangible, this show is ideal with the selections we have from vintage jewelry to English silver,” commented Christine Guedea, World Wide Antique Shows Manager. “And the fact that they can feel good about the recycling of “history” becomes the true definition of eco-chic.”

As a special service glass repair will be done on-site by “The Glassman.”

SHOW HOURS are Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is $8 and good for all three days. Parking is free. Food and beverages are available onsite. For more information call 303-292-6278 or visit the website.