Elevate, Good Times, Come On!

The annual tribal-style belly-dance festival known as Elevation is "electric," according to host and promoter Elizabeth Ostteen (who also owns the Marrakech and Paprika boutiques in Evergreen and Golden, respectively, and dances as part of Tribe Marrakech). "We have teachers from all over the world coming to teach," she says. "It'll be huge. Last year we had people from twenty states and four countries come just to take classes."

This year will be the festival's fourth; the three-day exotic extravaganza features international teachers instructing students in everything from "Musicality for Dancers" to "Arab Folk Dance Intensive" workshops. Although several classes are sold out (you'll be sad to miss Zoe Jakes's "Pop and Lock Drilling and Stylization" session), there are still spots open in many workshops for all levels of dancer.

Elevation 2008 starts tonight and continues through Sunday; don't miss tomorrow night's gala event featuring performances by many of the teachers, plus a fashion show and wickedly danceable music provided by DJ Ricky the Island Boy. Workshops are $40; tomorrow night's party is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Check-in for workshops is at Paprika, 1112 Washington Avenue in Golden; most classes and the gala are at the Buffalo Rose, 1119 Washington Avenue in Golden. Visit www.evergreentribalarts.com or call 303-679-2814 or 303-278-8183 for information.
April 18-20, 2008