33rd San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival Continues--4th Weekend in SF June 24, 2011

Friday, June 24, 8pm; Saturday, June 25, 2 pm and 7 pm; Sunday, June 26, at 3 pm

The 33rd annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival presents its 4th weekend June 24-26, with energetic performances and participatory events celebrating the summer solstice, sultry latin dance and strength and empowerment. Chuna McIntyre of Nunamta Yup'ik Eskimo Singers and Dancers (Yup'ik Eskimo); Los Lupenos de San Jose (Mexican), Barangay Dance Company (Filipino); Kyoungil Ong (Korean); Nimely Pan African Dance Company (Liberian); Murphy Irish Dance Company (Irish); Collage Dance Ensemble (Eastern European); Natyalaya (Indian); OREET (Egyptian); and Te Mana O Te Ra (Tahitian) will give four performances at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts' Novellus Theatre on Friday, June 24, at 8 pm; Saturday, June 25, at 2 pm and 7 pm; and Sunday, June 26, at 3 pm. June 25 is a special Benefit Evening that begins at 6 pm and features an hors d'oeuvres reception by top Bay Area restaurants, guest appearances by beloved Bay Area artists and a champagne and artisanal chocolate reception.

The action-packed weekend also includes three participatory events. Saturday afternoon's "Solstice Celebration" begins at 3 pm and features summer solstice festivities with Lowiczanie Polish Folk Ensemble of San Francisco (Polish), Leap of Faith Longsword (English), Centeotl Grupo de Danza y Baile Mexican (Mexican), and Jubilee American Dance Theatre (USA). The same evening at 9:30 pm, "Pasion" becomes the focus in a sultry evening of dance that turns up the heat with El Tunante (Peruvian), Navarette x Kajiyama Dance Theater (Argentine), Ballet Pampa Argentina Folk Dance (Argentine), and Melissa Cruz (Spanish). On Sunday, June 26, at 1 pm, strength and empowerment take center stage with "Rising Up" featuring Ballet Folklorico Anahuac (Mexican), LIKHA - Pilipino Folk Ensemble (Pilipino), ABADA - Capoeira San Francisco (Brazilian), and EMES￈: Messengers of the African Diaspora (Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian). All participatory events take place at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum.

Official Website: http://www.worldartswest.org