Friday, July 28, 2017
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FREE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | WWW.THEEASTSIDESCENE.COM | AUG 2017
Swing dance group stomps on Eastside Eastside Stomp swing dancing group gives back to community
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by MADISON MILLER
Ben White, owner of Eastside Stomp, swing dances during a recent event in Redmond.
I
t all began with an old VHS dance tape from a Goodwill in Spokane. This is how Ben White, owner of Eastside Stomp, first got interested in dancing. “I was probably 18 years old,” he said. “My friends and I decided to learn off of the dance tape and then we started traveling. We found Lindy Hop and moved to Seattle to do more.” After moving to Seattle, White met Peter Flahiff, a swing dance teacher from Los Angeles who was looking to open a swing dance venue on the Eastside. “He saw a need for people to be themselves and dance on the Eastside,” White said. “He needed someone who was fired up enough to promote it for him, and he pulled me in as his promoter guy and we started it up.” Eastside Stomp was launched in 2008 and is held at the Aria Ballroom in Redmond. Since then, it has developed a large following of people, from those who are professional dancers to those who are beginners.
Photo courtesy of Eastside Stomp
‘EASTSIDE STOMP’ CONTINUED ON PG 15
The Don’t Miss List By Carrie Rodriguez
EXPERIENCE | FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS
Village Theatre’s 17th Annual Festival of New Musicals continues the theatre’s dedication to the development of new work. This year, the festival’s five readings will include “Nikola Tesla Drops the Beat,” an electronic pop musical about one of the world’s greatest inventors; “Hart Island,” a look at social justice and the people society has forgotten; “Afterwords,” a tale of art and love; “Howl’s Moving Castle,” based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones and animated feature by Hayao Miyazaki; and “ZM,” a hilarious romp through a zombie-filled future by
the authors of Urinetown. For more information, visit www.villagetheatre.org. WHEN: Aug. 11-13 WHERE: Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah
ENJOY | KIRKLAND SUMMERFEST
Kirkland Summerfest is the city’s premiere summer festival of art, music, food and family fun on the waterfront. Kirkland’s largest festival features three days of visual and performing arts, more than 50 performances, spectator sports, family rides and entertainment, more than 150 vendors and food trucks on downtown streets. Bring the family for the day, and then dance the night away at the beer garden stage. For more information, visit www.kirklandsummerfest.com.
WHEN: Aug. 11-13, times vary WHERE: Various locations in Kirkland
WATCH | ‘ALICE IN WONDERLAND’
This delightful play includes all your favorites from the White Rabbit to the Mad Hatter. The show includes actors of all ages and is suitable for the whole family. Enjoy family theatre this summer with the classic tale. This play has three casts. If you are coming to see someone in the play, ask the box office which weekend they are performing. Tickets are $10. For more information, call 425-452-7155. WHEN: 7 p.m. Aug. 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19; 2 p.m. Aug. 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20 WHERE: Bellevue Youth Theatre, 16051 NE 10th St.