Events - 29 Apr 16

We offer aerial silk classes to our community and visiting artists. Throughout the year, our dance classes provide a unique challenge and offer a creative way for students to develop strength and grace while exploring aerial movement.

Blue Lapis Light also offers aerial workshops for colleges, high schools and community organizations. These workshops are uniquely designed for every project, providing an exceptional dance experience for all participants. We can host master classes at our studio or visit your location to conduct site-specific work.

Austin’s original fine arts festival and national juried art show Art City Austin builds on 65 years of success with an improved location, new programming and 200 local and nationally recognized artists and galleries. This year’s dates have been announced for Friday, April 29, Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1, 2016. After the past seven years of calling Cesar Chavez home, Art City Austin, formerly known as Fiesta, has relocated to the beautiful and scenic Palmer Events Center along the shores of Lady Bird Lake downtown, located at 900 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, Texas 78704.

Admission will be available at the door and online (beginning in January 2016) and tickets are $10 for adults. Children under 12 and Art Alliance Austin Members get into the event for free. The Art City Austin Weekend Collector Lounge Pass is $75 and includes access to the Collectors Lounge where complimentary bites and drinks will be served. The Collectors Lounge and premium parking are available both days for free for Art Alliance Austin Collectors Circle Members. For more info and advance ticket sales, please see www.artallianceaustin.org.

This year’s festival will feature an indoor area called Art City Gallery. This curated contemporary art area will showcase local and regional art galleries displaying work on gallery walls with lighting, similar to national art fairs. Art City Gallery grows out of the Austin Art Pavilion that launched in 2015 and featured Austin galleries Wally Workman Gallery, CAMIBAart Gallery, Co-Lab Projects, Pump Project and Tiny Park Gallery. Participating galleries will soon be announced.

“As Art City enters its 66th year, the event is returning to its original location where it began in 1950 as Art Mart held at the old City Coliseum before it then moved to Laguna Gloria and eventually became Fiesta,” said Asa Hursh, Executive Director of Art Alliance Austin. “We’re very excited about this move. The Palmer is going to be a greatly improved location with ample parking, more shade, indoor and outdoor exhibitions, indoor restrooms and other enhancements in a convenient location downtown while still providing what our patrons expect – the best and biggest art marketplace in Central Texas complete with music, food and kids activities. This year we’ll have more exhibiting artists than in years past because we’ll have an indoor gallery component. The new venue is providing us with opportunities to showcase even more talent and spectacular art.”

Rude Mechs is proud to present the second draft of Field Guide, a new play that asks you to understand life the way a bird book tells you how to name the different species.

Rhythm: from the heartbeat of life we all share to the arhythmic noise of conflict, racial divide and miscommunication, Tapestry Dance Company takes a diverse and dynamic look at “The American Dream.” How does our individual uniqueness take this journey through the eyes of race, culture, gender identity and equal rights?  How do we seem to recycle this place of racial tension and prejudice? … how do we get to THE DREAM from here? This world premiere work by Artistic Director Acia Gray featuring the spoken word artistry of Zell Miller III,  poses these questions through a tapestry of unique individual voices.  Through historical traditions and new works of tap dance set to a diversified musical score of hip-hop, jazz and American classics, Tapestry sets a rhythm of communication, hope and healing in our “what’s politically correct?” world.

Special guests include vocalist Zein Al-Jundi among others.

*Sunday shows are only at 2PM. Matinee show also on Saturday at 2PM

Get Sprung this Spring with Shameless Dames

We don’t f***** care if you like this show. We’re not going to apologize. We’re not going to smile. If you’re not scared off yet, then let’s exchange Snapchats. You’re about to dive head first into the candid, sex positive world of Shameless Dames, where there are no sexual labels besides brand name condoms.

Shameless Dames centers around two best gal pals, navigating the world the only way they know how.  Adulthood sucks and these girls are prepared to suck hard. Descending from the Motherships of Broad City and Girls, nothing is off limits in this R-Rated improv show: live waxing, body piercings, and all too honest sex scenes. Be prepared to squirm, either out of shock or because it’s that familiar.

Special acts will also be performing including Cene Hall from Love Me Tinder, Ginger Snaps from Black Widow Burlesque, Drag Queen Toyota Lopez, Ukulele Heart Melter Arielle LaGuette, Stand Up Comedian Valerie Nies, and Rapper Versace Kolache. Each episode will feature a local Austin business sponsor including Torrid Boudoir, Swoff Style, and Cindie’s that will be incorporated in the show.

The cast features Nicole Oliver, Aspen Webster, Alex Walker, Torrey St. George, Margaret Hunsicker, Laura Lee Alcayde, Luke Wallens, Caeriel Crestin, Tim Brewer, Mason Pitluk, Jason Vines, and Claudio Fox. Directed by Sam Schak and Tess Hermes.

Shameless Dames comes to The Institution Friday at 10pm, April 29th through June 3rd. Tickets are $10 and available at theinstitutiontheater.com.