Arts

‘Cirque du Grove’ offers free fun for the Fourth

Will Soto takes a deep breath and perfects his footing trying not to look down at the dozens of people who watch him as he balances a slack rope and the 7 feet of air below his feet.

The energetic wire walker from Key West has been mesmerizing crowds from the Caribbean to Europe with his ability to walk the tight rope, the tight wire and what he calls “the hardest of them all” – the slack rope. And over the Fourth of July weekend, Soto brought his stunts to Grand Avenue and Virginia Street for Coconut Grove’s first-ever “Cirque du Grove: A Busker’s Carnival.”

“We wanted to create an all-weekend celebration for the Fourth of July,” said Richard Issa, special events coordinator for the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District, the producers of the free event that heralds Great Britain’s 1860s when “buskers” – performers and musicians – entertained audiences for tips or just to socialize.

“With new stores, restaurants and the new movie theater opened, we wanted to take this opportunity to invite people back into the Grove and show them all the great things we have to offer,” Issa added.
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Lack of Funding Causes Dance…Just Beautiful Dance Theater to Close

Dance…Just Beautiful (DJB) Dance Theater, which featured a child and adult dance company and offered adult dance classes, wellness classes and free dance classes to children, has closed due to a lack of community funding.

In an email to parents, friends and community members, Artistic Director Dennis James Breedlove wrote that DJB Dance Theater, located at 3686 Grand Avenue, would remain closed. Breedlove had been looking into other methods of funding or relocating but was unsuccessful.

“The company will not be re-opening its doors in Coconut Grove nor in the city of Miami,” Breedlove said.
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Goombay Festival 2010

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Bahamian Artists Offer Honor, Beauty and Revitalization

Bahamian and local artists will transform Windisch-Hunt Fine Arts gallery into a tropical paradise in celebration of The Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival.

Through collaboration between Miami Bahamian Consul General Gladys Johnson-Sands, Executive Director of the Miami Host Committee Cornelia Dozier and artist AnnaMaria Windisch Hunt, Bahamian ceramic sculptor Joann Behagg is displaying her work at Windisch-Hunt Fine Arts until June 7.

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Junkanoo is being displayed at the Windisch Hunt Gallery in preparation for the Goombay Festival

Photo taken by Anna Windisch-Hunt Submitted by Renita Samuels-Dixon

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Preparations on their way for the 34th annual Goombay Festival

The streets of Coconut Grove will be flooded with traditional Bahamian food, arts and crafts, entertainment, and plenty of Junkanoos at the 34th annual Goombay Festival the weekend of June 3 – 6.

The festival, named after the traditional Bahamian drum music, was brought to the Grove in 1976 to commemorate the Bahamian people who had settled the area in the early 19^th century and as an effort to keep the culture in the area alive.
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Dance…Just Beautiful Dance Theater may ring down final curtain

Dance…Just Beautiful (DJB) Dance Theater, which offers free dance classes to children in Coconut Grove, could close their doors on May 31 as a result of countywide budget cuts.

Founded in 2005 by Dennis James Breedlove, who serves as artistic director, DJB offers adult classes, such as Pilates, West African dance and boot camp, and free classes for children.

Through collaboration between Breedlove and the City of Miami Police Department’s Miami Police Athletic League (PAL), 3686 Grand Avenue was established as a dance studio for DJB and Miami PAL dance classes, which Breedlove taught voluntarily. However, because of budget cuts, the city manager will not renew the lease on the property.
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The Kampong offers kids’ concert series

The favorite childhood tales of Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Little Red Riding Hood will highlight the Kampong’s upcoming Kids Concert Series.

The March 20 concert, performed by several musicians from Orchestra Miami , features classical musical instruments.  Different instruments represent the characters of the fairy tales.

“It’s such a great way to introduce children to instruments, to get them to listen and engage them,” said Kampong director Ann Parsons. “It really captures their attention.”
It is vital, she said, for parents to help their children find connections to music.

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Historic designation status of Ace Theatre could spark $2.3 million redevelopment plan.

Dorothy Wallace has spent 30 years trying to restore the Ace Theatre on Grand Avenue.

With the help of her daughter Denise Wallace, she is now trying to get historic designation status from the City of Miami’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board – a move that would likely draw in part of the funds needed to reopen the theatre, a popular Saturday night hangout for blacks well into the 1950s.

Built in 1925, the theatre was bought by Denise Wallace’s father, Harvey Wallace, from Wometco Enterprises in 1979. Harvey had plans to build a five-story Bahamian Market Place, but died a year later. Denise hopes that with historic designation the theatre will receive grants to fund a $2.3 million project designed by Victor Morales, an architect with Cityscapes Group.

The plans, which could change, would allow for the creation of a new theatre and would include a small catering kitchen, a lobby bar and courtyard area; a second story with a VIP room and an area for community groups to meet as well as a bar and stage on the roof.

The family believes the design will preserve memories while serving the community as a successful business.

“It’s a silent relic. And I would love for it to give voice again,” said Denise Wallace, who remembers watching Tom and Jerry cartoons in the now gutted theatre.

Archival footage courtesy of: Beverly Counts Rodrigues

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Grove residents offered discount for upcoming Coconut Grove Arts Festival

When the Coconut Grove Arts Festival gets under way Feb.13-15, Coconut Grove residents can attend for half price.

A discounted entrance rate of $5, with proof of a 33133 ZIP code, will be offered to help make the weekend more accessible and to “thank” the residents who support the project throughout the year, said the festival’s Chief Operating Officer Katherine Phillips.

More than 150,000 people are expected to crowd the streets of the Grove for the 47^th annual festival. Sponsored by Blue Shield of Florida, the festival invites art lovers from all over to come out and survey thousands of pieces of artwork, sample food and enjoy live music and entertainment.
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