Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra
Student Showcases opener
Nov. 23, 11am, FREE
Center House
The country’s largest youth symphony organization performs the timeless sounds of the season for the traditional opening of Seattle Center Winterfest and the Student Showcase Series. Featuring some of Seattle’s most talented musicians, this orchestra is young in age but big on experience. www.syso.org
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©iStockphoto.com/AlexNikada |
Holiday World Market
Friday, Nov. 23, 11am – 6pm
Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 24 – Dec. 23
Saturday, 10am – 6pm
Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Center House
Search the world for unique holiday gifts without leaving Center House. This weekend marketplace offers goods and artifacts from Russia, Tibet, Hawaii, Africa, Istanbul and more. Presented by the Ethnic Heritage Council and Seattle Center.
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Holiday World Market
© Jal Schrof |
Winter Worldfest
Winterfest’s cultural festival
Nov. 23, 1pm – 7pm, FREE
Nov. 23, 7pm – 9pm, New England Contra Dance, FREE
Nov. 24 – 25, 11am – 6pm, FREE
Center House
Experience a vibrant celebration of world cultures! Winter Worldfest features the Northwest’s best ethnic entertainment and glittering costumes from countries including Germany, Brazil, China, India and Finland. Festivities begin Nov. 23 with Seattle Center Winterfest Opening Ceremonies and Tree Lighting at 1pm. Click here for a complete schedule. |
Winter Worldfest
©Jal Schrof |
| Presented by the Ethnic Heritage Council and Seattle Center, Winter Worldfest is generously supported by The Boeing Co., Western Washington Toyota Dealers Association, Safeco Insurance and the City of Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. www.ethnicheritagecouncil.org
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College Performance Series
All performances are FREE
Center House
Get a peek at the first-class talent being cultivated in Washington’s colleges and universities during this two-week series. Professional-level performances from regional college students include Big Band, jazz, Latin, swing and chorale music as well as Indian dance.
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©iStockphoto.com/Brian Jenkins |
Nov. 26, 11am, University of Washington Chorale (Canceled)
Nov. 27, Noon, Cornish College of the Arts Chamber Music Ensemble
Nov. 27, 1:15pm, Pacific Lutheran University Jazz Band
Nov. 28, Noon, Cornish College of the Arts Latin Jazz Ensemble
Nov. 30, 2:30pm, Pacific Lutheran University Choir
Nov. 30, 4:00 pm, Western Washington University Orchestra
Dec. 2, 11am, University of Washington Men’s Glee Club (Canceled)
Dec. 3, 10am, Central Washington University Jazz Ensemble (Canceled)
Dec. 4, 2pm, Shoreline Community College Jazz Band
Dec. 5, 2:30pm, Edmonds Community College Jazz Band
Dec. 9, Noon, Evergreen State College Orissi Dance Ensemble
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Seasonal Piano Favorites
Nov. 26 – Dec. 20, Monday – Thursday,
3pm – 5pm, FREE
Center House
Seasonal music and piano standards sooth the soul and give listeners a quiet moment away from the hustle and bustle.
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©iStockphoto.com/Elnur Amikishiyev |
A Wish to Dance with
Northwest Tap Connection
Nov. 30, 8pm, FREE
Center House
Tap, African, swing and square dance are just a few of the styles featured in this performance that is derived from the 12 days of Christmas. Created specifically for Winterfest, the story follows the quest of two teens who want to learn to dance.
www.nwtapconnection.com
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©iStockphoto.com/Andrew Parfenov |
Big Band Dance with Tuxedo Junction
and Arthur Murray
Dec. 1, 6:30pm dance lessons and demonstrations,
8pm dance, FREE
Center House
Learn to move like the pros with Arthur Murray’s expert instructors. Come early for the dance demonstrations and lessons, and then try out new moves with the Big Band sounds of Tuxedo Junction. Bring a partner or find one on the dance floor.
www.washingtondancesport.com
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©iStockphoto.com/Kenneth C. Zirkel |
Seattle Edge
Contemporary Dance
Dec. 1 – 2, Noon – 4pm, FREE
Center House
Contemporary dance, ballet, martial arts, theater and more come together as international and regional dance groups perform excerpts from their current works. Click here for complete schedule.
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Phffft! Dance Theatre Company
© Charlie Schuck |
Ice Sculpting
Dec. 1, 8 and 15, Noon – 2pm, FREE
Outside Fisher Pavilion
Master carvers Keijiro Miyata and Chan Kitburi offer a glistening tribute to winter as they take chainsaws and chisels to ice. Their incredible frozen sculptures are a magnificent showcase of artistry in action. Each carving takes about two hours to complete.
www.iceinaction.com
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Ice carver
© Chuck Tuck |
Senior Holiday Ball with Seattle Swing Band
Dec. 3, 1pm – 4pm, FREE
Center House
Swing and Big Band music set the tone for this holiday dance. Dancers are asked to bring a donation of non-perishable food or cash for Food Lifeline. Hosted by the Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens and the Seattle Parks and Recreation
Department.
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Senior Holiday Ball
© Seattle Center |
Womanipura
Dec. 7 with Grupo Tambo, 8pm, FREE
Dec. 8, 2pm, FREE
Center House
This awe-inspiring show is a celebration of sisterhood, flames and fearlessness. Womanipura’s three-member fire-dancing troupe uses dance, yoga, Brazilian capoeira and other forms of movement to dazzle the crowd with grace and strength. Also featured on Dec. 7 is Grupo Tambo with Tor Dietrichson, "JC" Johnny Conga, Francisco Median and Pedro Vargas in a dynamic percussion performance.
www.womanipura.com and www.tordietrichson.com
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Womanipura
© Carrie McEachern |
Movie Series
Dec. 8, 7pm, Edward Scissorhands
Dec. 15, 7pm, Narnia
Dec. 22, 7pm, Ice Age
All movies are FREE
Center House
Join your neighbors for free popcorn and movies. Showing: Director Tim Burton’s fairytale of a man with scissors for hands and his search for belonging in Edward Scissorhands; children enter a magical world and battle evil forces in the classic C.S. Lewis story Narnia; and prehistoric critters embark on a journey to reunite a human baby with his family in the animated Ice Age.
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Narnia © Swank |
Seattle Girls Choir
Dec. 9, 1pm, FREE
Center House
Elegance and artistry come together in performances by Seattle Girls Choir, Allegra and Cantamus. Holiday favorites, choral music and international songs by these nationally recognized choirs are emotive and inspiring.
www.seattlegirlschoir.org
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Seattle Girls
Choir Cantumus
© Chuck Moses |
Northwest Boychoir
Dec. 9, 2pm, FREE
Center House
With stunning solos and ensembles, Northwest Boychoir is considered the most acclaimed boys choral group in Washington State. Classic and seasonal songs are part of this group’s repertoire. Members, ages 6 – 18, are from 115 public and private schools.
www.northwestchoirs.org
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NW Boychoir
© LV Santiago |
Seattle’s Best Jazz
Dec. 14, 8pm, FREE
Center House
Experience a night of jazz greatness with the acclaimed Garfield High School Jazz Band directed by Clarence Acox. Other artists will include Earshot Jazz Artist of the Year Victor Noriega, Earshot Jazz Vocalist of the Year James Cadell, saxophonist Darren Motamady, and Neosoul singer Felicia Loud.www.garfieldjazz.org and www.earshotjazz.org
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Seattle’s Best Jazz
© David Walega |
Lelavision
Movement, music and sculpture
Dec. 15, 1pm, FREE
Center House
Music and motion come together with large-scale sculptures and dance in a performance unlike anything you’ve seen before. This distinctive group of entertainers uses ingenious sculptures as instruments to create organic, humorous movement unique to each performance. www.lelavision.com
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Lelavision
© Joi Studios |
Bonfire
Warm up with music and friends
Dec. 15, 5pm – 7pm, FREE
South Fountain Lawn
Get cozy by a crackling bonfire at this new Winterfest event on the lawn between the Ice Rink and International Fountain. Seasonal music, friends and community make this low-key, relaxing event one not to miss.
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Winterfest Bonfire
© Shutterstock.com / DRab |
Worlds of Storytelling
All presentations are FREE
Center House
Dec. 18, 11:30am, 12:30pm and 1:30pm
Dec. 19, 11:30am, 12:15pm and 1:15pm
Dec. 20, 11:30am, 12:30pm and 1:30pm
Dec. 21, 11:30am, 12:15pm and 2pm
The Northwest’s best storytellers share tales in this annual event. These multicultural stories are taken from world folklore and legends of the season. Get your kids ready to clap, sing and laugh as these interactive stories fire their imaginations. Click here for more information.
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Worlds of Storytelling
© Mrs. Mistletoe |
Bellevue Philharmonic
Dec. 21, 8pm, FREE
Center House
World-class performers, led by Maestro Fusao Kajima, celebrate the music of the season. East King County’s only professional orchestra, the Bellevue Philharmonic provides premier-quality classical music. www.bellevuephil.org
Bellevue Philharmonic is generously supported by Holland America Line.
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Bellevue Philharmonic
© Rick Linger |
Magic Mystery Show
Dec. 22, 1pm, FREE
Center House
It’s pure magic with award-winning performers Budd and Durgin. Levitation, doves, acrobatics, disappearances and other feats of illusion amaze and confound. These “bad boys of magic” bring enthusiasm and stunning skill to the stage every time. www.badboysofmagic.com
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Budd & Durgin
© Steve Dobson |
Klez Katz
Jewish klezmer music
Dec. 22, 2:30pm, FREE
Center House
Enjoy Seattle-based musicians and revel in the rich music of the Yiddish diaspora. Their klezmer music blends jazz, Israeli folk, waltzes and Middle Eastern sounds to create music evocative of the Jews of Eastern Europe. www.klezkatz.com
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© iStockphoto.com/Christian Carroll |
Seattle Winter Solstice
Celebrating the lunar changes of the season
Dec. 22 – 23, 3:45pm, FREE
Fisher Pavilion to International Fountain
This dynamic outdoor performing art installation combines words, movement, music, fire performances and luminaries to honor the return of the sun from the dark days of winter. The procession begins near the Ice Rink and moves at sunset to the International Fountain where it’s transformed into a stunning celestial wonder.
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Seattle Winter Solstice
© David Walega |
Peace on Earth
Interfaith celebration
Dec. 23, Noon – 4pm, FREE
Center House
Give new meaning to the season with an afternoon of interfaith and cultural music. Intiman Theatre’s Black Nativity Choir performs Christian gospel music in the true African-American tradition at noon, Hejira conducts a cultural discussion at 1pm, Klez Kidz play Jewish songs and klezmer music at 2pm, and Hejira Band takes the stage at 3pm with Middle Eastern-influenced music.
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Pastor Patrinell Wright
© Chris Bennion |
Kwanzaa Celebration
Dec. 28, 2pm – 4pm, FREE
Center House
Adefua African Music & Dance Company presents an All-City Kwanzaa Celebration. This interactive performance and cultural exhibit celebrates the African-American harvest festival. It honors family values and the principle of Ujima, community work and responsibility. www.planetafua.com
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Kwanzaa Celebration
© Therese Frare |
Circus Contraption with the Aerialistas
Circus Confection
Dec. 28, 7:30pm open dress rehearsal
Dec. 29, 7:30pm performance
Dec. 30, 6:30pm performance
Rehearsal and performances are FREE
Center House
Watch these performers turn the circus on its head with aerial feats, trapeze, dance, juggling and clowning around. For its fourth year at Winterfest, the troupe presents Circus Confection: a variety of old favorites along with a preview from their upcoming new show. Add acrobatic bears, pink poodles, trapeze artists and a juggler and it’s Seattle’s one-ring extravaganza that’s not just for kids. www.aerialistas.com and www.circuscontraption.com
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Aerialistas
© Carrie McEachern |
Keepin’ It Real
Dec. 31, 1pm – 5pm, FREE
Center House
These hip performers take to the stage for singing, dancing and the hottest urban dance “Krumpin.” See Kontagious Performing Company at 1pm, Breaking Point Dance Company at 2pm, a showcase of the new L.A. dance craze Krumpin at 3pm and singer Brizee at 4pm. www.kontagious.net, www.bpdc.net and www.myspace.com/brizeeandband
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Keepin’ It Real
© Breaking Point
Dance Company |
New Year’s Eve Celebration with Soul’d Out
Dec. 31, 8pm – 11:45pm, FREE
Center House
Dance away the last hours of 2007 with Soul’d Out. This electrifying band recreates dance music from the 1970s to 1990s. It’s pure energy as this seven-member band takes the stage with the beats of Blondie, Sister Sledge, Abba, Madonna and more favorites. www.souldoutshow.com |
SouLdOut
© Howard Petrella |
