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April Charmaine of Sol Vida Dance! Studio teaches kids to dance in her Sol Vida Youth Tribe and Tribal Tots ensembles, helping them hone their skills all year long. But in the spring, when it’s time for them to show off what they’ve learned to their families and friends, Charmaine thinks they deserve more than the usual recital. This year’s second annual Festival de Vida II follows in the footsteps of last year’s inaugural event by expanding a recital into a full-fledged arts festival, complete with hip local vendor booths and homemade Mexican food. New this year, however, is the greater scope of entertainment, which includes special guests and troupes and other local performers from the community. “I want to give the kids I work with as much inspiration as possible,” Charmaine explains. “Not only is it an opportunity to perform, but they’ll also be learning from masters in the various art forms.”
Enjoy the fun from noon to 4 p.m. at Manmade Media Studio, 2352 Dayton Street in Aurora; guest performers include Ascential Dance Colorado, Spark Theater Denver, the High-Tops, Dread Knott Drummers and the Slam Nuba youth slam poetry team Minor Dis-turbance, among others, and it all culminates with a drum circle. “Everybody is invited to come experience the magic that is Sol Vida,” Charmaine says. “In the name of community, we hope to bridge the gap between different theater and dance companies and have them come together to collaborate and not compete on the broad spectrum.”
Admission is a $5 donation (children ages three and under admitted free); go to www.solvidadance.com for details.
Sat., May 21, 12-4 p.m., 2011
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