Tending to dominate

News release

Cameron Park’s exceptional dance studio, West Coast Dance Arts, has recently moved to a new, larger space to better serve its growing student base of promising young dancers.

After a year on Merrychase Drive, WCDA opened on Flying C in a spot more than double the size of the previous facility with two dance rooms, a lobby and a patio for parent viewing, and a homework and cubby room for the students.

“Opening during COVID was tricky, but I wanted to create a space where dancers can begin or continue their dance training and get to express themselves while pursuing their goals.” Director Anelysse Keenan commented on the expansion. “By expanding into our new location, we are able to offer even more classes in a variety of styles to offer more opportunities for our community.”

WCDA’s mission statement is “To Move. To Live. To Inspire.” The studio offers many genres of dance, including tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and hip hop to students from age 2 to adult and for all skill levels, from the recreational student to the serious dancer. Students learn technique, showmanship, teamwork and dedication through dance, skills which will serve them for a lifetime. Dancers have the opportunity to perform in annual recitals, at community events and join the elite children’s and teens’ performance or competition companies that travel throughout the state. Auditions for the companies take place every May.

“This season we are excited for the opportunity to take our dance companies to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim to perform and learn from Disney choreographers,” said Keenan. “I was able to perform at Disneyland multiple times as a young dancer and I am very excited to share this experience with my students.

“Always listen to your teacher’s comments, even if they are addressed to another dancer. You never know what you can learn and improve on,” she added. Keenan has an extensive teaching background and love of dance. She also has an impressive performance résumé. It was a natural next step for her to open a school.

She tells her students, “Always give 100% effort. Don’t be afraid of failing. That’s how we learn and grow!”

West Coast Dance Arts will be participating in the Cameron Park Community Services District Boo Bash Oct. 21 as well as the Blue Oak Elementary Fall Fest that same day. You can also see them perform at the Folsom Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11, the Christmas parade in Placerville Dec. 4 and the studio’s Winter Showcase will be held Dec. 17.

For more information or to contact West Coast Dance Arts follow WCDA Cameron Park on Facebook, @ westcoastdancearts on Instagram, or visit westcoastdancearts.com.

Courtesy photo

West Coast Dance Arts teaches students from age 2 to adult and for all skill levels, from the recreational student to the serious dancer.

Power funk-soul trio to perform at The Center

News release

GRASS VALLEY — The Center for the Arts welcomes Ron Artis II & The Truth to the Marisa Funk Theater Oct. 23.

Hawaii’s best kept secret is out; Ron Artis II is a multi-instrumentalist who draws comparisons between Sam Cooke’s emotionally soulful voice, Jimi Hendrix’ guitar prowess and the funky, electrifying blues of Gary Clark Jr. — all with musicianship that is undeniably his own.

His band The Truth was originally called the Ron Artis Family Band and was composed of other family members and formed from Kanikapila, a style of Hawaiian music produced in an impromptu jam session, most commonly taking place at a beach or family gathering. His jazz pianist father, a wildly creative multiinstrumentalist and Motown session artist, was the glue that held the family together and taught his 11 children to play various musical instruments and styles of music. As Ron II began to develop as an artist, his father urged him to “always keep your ears open and always listen to the others because everybody’s saying something.”

Music is Artis’ language with faith and family as the backbone for the uplifting stories he crafts through song. He learned to play piano by the age of 4. Receiving a guitar for his 13th birthday was pivotal in his musical development. He draws inspiration from his favorite artists Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and James Brown, among others, writing songs that make people smile through the dark times and lift them up through the power of love — expressing life’s ephemeral beauty.

Artis’ energetic arrangements and positive, thoughtful messages have come through four studio albums since 2016, including an album he wrote with his brother, “Thunderstorm Artis.” Other musicians, including Booker T Jones, Eric Krasno and G Love, met Artis when they toured Hawaii and encouraged him to both collaborate with them and share his music beyond the shores of his island home.

Being on the road, from his home now in Portland, Ore., with his wife and daughters is a family affair.

“It’s so easy to lose touch with life and lose touch with the things that inspired you originally to write music and do things,” Artis shared. “I can walk off stage at a festival with tons of people having a great time and then I go backstage and change my daughter’s diaper. It keeps life really in perspective of what’s important — I really enjoy this … They really keep me grounded and keep my heart full.”

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. at The Center for the Arts Marisa Funk Theater, 314 West Main St., Grass Valley. For tickets and more information call (530) 274-8384 or visit thecenterforthearts.org.

Courtesy photo

Ron Artis II writes songs that make people smile through the dark times. Hear him live Sunday in Grass Valley.

Know Continued from B1

Miraflores Winery, 2120 Four Springs Trail in the Pleasant Valley area, serves its acclaimed Pairings Lunches on the Vineyard Terrace on Saturdays and Sundays with seatings from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2-4 p.m. Pairings 2022 combines a chef’s creativity with the beautifully crafted Miraflores wines. Diners will be able to talk to the chef du jour about the wine and food experience. On Oct. 22 & 23 chef Carl Williams is preparing a menu to Awaken the Senses. Call (530) 647-8505 or email info@mirafloreswinery. com to make a reservation.

The Placerville Elks Lodge and the Shingle Springs-Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce present the Lee’s Boutique Fashion Show and Luncheon, an event benefiting Foster Children of El Dorado County, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 3821 Quest Court in Shingle Springs. For tickets and more information call Angela at (916) 804-3013. The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts the Pumpkin Patch Splash, 1-3 p.m. at the community pool. For more information and to register visit eldoradohillscsd.org. American River Conservancy hosts Ladies Valley Landback: Returning Native Lands to Native Hands, a fundraiser to transfer title of the 320-acre property currently known as Ladies Valley to the care and authority of the Miwok-Nisenan members of Cosumnes Culture and Waterways. Live event includes Native American music, storytelling, nature-inspired art auction, refreshments and local wines, 2-5 p.m. Find out more and purchase tickets for the event at app.donorview.com/X416J. The El Dorado Hills Community Services District hosts Punt, Pass & Kick, 3-6 p.m. at Promontory Park. Players ages 6-15 are invited to this free, friendly competition. Pre-registration is required. Visit eldoradohillscsd.org. Looking for a good scare? Trick or treat yourself to a spooky night at Union Mine’s Haunted Trail, 7-9:30 p.m. Open to all El Dorado County residents and guests, the trail begins behind the Union Mine football stadium and ends near the Union Mine baseball fields. Tickets are $5 for EDUHSD students and those younger than 13 and $10 for adults and non-students. Parking is free and the entrance will be on Koki Lane. Paco’s Tacos will have a stand for food purchases in the parking lot near the baseball fields. For more information contact Activities Director Lauren Gutierrez at lgutierrez@eduhsd.k12.ca.us. Mill Station Arts & Culture Center in Rancho Cordova hosts at Oreo Cookie Eating Contest at 1 p.m. in celebration of MACC’s fifth birthday. For more information and to sign up visit rmacc. org. Folsom Lake Symphony presents Brilliant Gems featuring Violinist Yi-Jia Susanne Hou at 7:30 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts on the Folsom Lake College campus. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net. The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera highlights the mythical “Firebird” by composer Igor Stravinsky for the opening night of its 2022-23 season, 8 p.m. at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center in Sacramento. For tickets and more information visit sacphilopera.org. In partnership with Runnin’ for Rhett nonprofit, the Midtown Association on behalf of Midtown Sutter district is proud to support Farm to Fort, an evening fundraising event happening at Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, 6-10 p.m. Additional details and ticket information is available at farmtofort.org. Music in the Mountains hosts a Halloween Masquerade Ball at The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley. For tickets and more information visit app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=143229.

Oct. 23

Active 20-30 Club presents Ninja Warrior, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville, featuring two courses for young adventurers. For more information email vjoellene@yahoo.com. Brickyard hosts a corn hole tournament, 1-4 p.m. at the Steven Young Amphitheater in El Dorado Hills Town Center. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com/upcoming-events. The Folsom Concert Association presents Amy Hanaiali’i at 2 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts on the Folsom Lake College campus. For tickets and more information call (916) 608-6888 or visit harriscenter.net.

n See KNow, page B8

CHURCH OF CHRIST Rescue

4200 Green Valley Road, Rescue Sunday Bible classes, 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning worship, 10:30 a.m. Sunday evening worship, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Bible study, 7 p.m . LIGHTHOUSE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

5441 Pony Express Church Pollock Pines (Across from Valero, Exit 57) Pastor Aaron Bryan Sunday Service 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Wednesday Evening Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Monthly Breakfast October 7th, 10:00 a.m. Church Fall Carnival October 27th, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 644-7036 or 621-4276

Worship D irectory

LIGHT OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN CHURCH, LCMS

3100 Rodeo Rd., Cameron Park Pastor Alan Sommer, Senior Pastor Pastor Kyle Weeks, Associate Pastor Sunday Worship 8:00 am and 10:45am Sunday School and Bible Study 9:30am 8am Service is live streamed. www.loth.org 530-677-9536

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Visitors Always Welcome! Sunday Meetings by Location: 3431 Hacienda Road, Cameron Park 8:30 10:00 11:30 1:00 3275 Cedar Ravine Road, Placerville 10:00. 1:00 4621 Pony Express Trail, Camino 9:00. 11:30 7280 Prospect Hill DR, Georgetown 10:00

THE EL DORADO COMMUNITY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

4701 Church St. El Dorado 530-622-8868 message phone Pastor George Turnboo Sunday Service 11:00 AM

SOLID ROCK FAITH CENTER DIAMOND SPRINGS

Pastor Don B. Pritchard 6205 Enterprise Dr., Diamond Springs Church 642-2038 Sunday Services 10:00 a.m. “Ministering to every need and every life the power of Christ’’