Latest news with #CenterStage
Forbes
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Movie-Themed Dance Nights Arrive In New York City This June
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in a scene from the film 'Dirty Dancing', 1987. Two iconic New York dance films are coming to life at special events in Manhattan and Brooklyn this summer. A summer rooftop party will bring the Borscht Belt of Dirty Dancing to Brooklyn, while a studio class and dance along screening of Center Stage will celebrate the film's 25th anniversary in Manhattan. On Thursday, June 5th, Center Stage choreographer Susan Stroman is teaming up with Open Jar Studios to host a masterclass on the 'Jazz Class' routine from the film, followed by an interactive screening . 'You've heard of Sing-A-Long Sound Of Music?' says Jeff Whiting, president of Open Jar. 'This event will be 'Dance-A-Long Center Stage!' Stroman and her associate James Gray will will teach the iconic jazz class warm up and combo scene, followed by the viewing party. A Center Stage costume contest invites attendees to dress as a character in their favorite moment of the film. Special guests, activities, and surprises are promised. 'I think Center Stage remains beloved today because it was one of the first dance movies to give an honest depiction of the life of a professional dancer in New York City,' Stroman shared. 'Dance is the star of the movie. Much of the choreography is shot head to toe, so the camera takes the time to honor the body of the dancer. There are quick edits for energy, but dance is not sacrificed. As for the story, the characters are very real, authentic representations who reflect the heart and soul of a dancer. And it's a great homage to New York City, featuring plenty of quintessential city shots where, to this day, you could visit and immediately spot a dancer. For young people desperate to become dancers, this movie has it all.' Ethan Stiefel, Amanda Schull and Sascha Radetsky dance on stage in a scene from the film 'Center ... More Stage', 2000. Tickets start at $17 and are available online. And in the summer of 2025, fans who want more film-inspired dance in their lives can have the time of their lives at the summer rooftop party, 'CATSKILLS, BK: DIRTIER DANCING' on Tuesday, June 17 at the Moxy Williamsburg. Produced by The Neighborhood: An Urban Center for Jewish Life in partnership with Jewish nightlife mainstay FLAMINGGG, The Borscht Belt Museum, the Brooklyn Seltzer Museum, and more, the event will be headlined by a klezmer and swing band, plus live sets by DJ Party Girl and DJ Joco. Those thirsty from the dance floor can enjoy a make-your-own egg cream station from Brooklyn Seltzer Museum, sip on thematic cocktails, nosh on snacks from Lilistar and more Dirty Dancing themed fun. There will be a photo booth, so come dressed like you're on summer vacation at Kellerman's Ticket packages begin at $50 with optional merch and experience add-ons.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Baltimore Juvenile Justice Center uses theater to empower incarcerated teens
BALTIMORE — When the 18-year-old watched two friends participating in a Baltimore Center Stage workshop of theater games for incarcerated teens, he became visibly uneasy. As one of the young performers in the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center thrust a fist into the air to depict a power pose, the teen shifted from one foot to the other. When the other performer was asked to portray helplessness and curled into a fetal position, he looked away, allowing his long dreadlocks to partly obscure his face. But eventually, the teen met the eyes of the game's facilitator, Center Stage Artistic Director Stevie Walker-Webb. 'I am feeling stressed,' the 18-year-old said. 'It's not normal for me to play a game where you show your emotions. You don't want people to think you're weak.' He paused and then continued: 'I hate the fact that people won't say things to lift each other up. They bring each other down because they feel down themselves.' That insight is the whole point of the Juvenile Justice Drama Club, a pilot program run by Center Stage that works with boys ages 13 to 18. The Baltimore Sun isn't identifying the incarcerated youths because they are in the custody of the juvenile justice system for crimes they are accused of committing as minors, and those records are sealed by law. The theater games might look like, well, fun and games. But they have a deeper purpose — to help the teens develop empathy, master critical thinking and learn to take responsibility for their actions. 'I grew up in a low-income community in Texas, and from the ages of 18 to 22, I attended more funerals than graduations,' Walker-Webb said. 'The arts saved my life. So it's impossible for me not to feel for kids who are getting into trouble in this city and who could so easily slip through the cracks. It's impossible not to hope that giving them access to the arts could have some small impact for good on their lives. 'This is my way of trying to help other little Stevies.' The Juvenile Justice Center is a holding facility for teens who are awaiting sentencing for offenses ranging from firearms violations to assault and attempted murder. It is a serious place and looks like one, with windowless rooms consisting of beige cinderblock walls and overhead fluorescent lights. Visitors are searched for a long list of contraband items, including soft drinks, that they must leave behind in the lobby before being buzzed through a series of locking doors. The nine young men who took part in the drama club wore black slacks, maroon short-sleeved shirts and were monitored by at least four armed guards. And for 90 minutes, none of that seemed to matter. The teens played a game called 'Whoosh,' in which they passed energy around the room; a name-switching game; and 'Zip, Zap, Zop' in which they attempted to repeat a sequence of nonsense syllables in the proper order. They laughed and shouted, joked with Center Stage facilitators Erin Pettigrew and Hope Hynson, and disqualified themselves from further play when they messed up. 'These young people have already been adultified by society,' Walker-Webb said. 'We're here to let them know that it's OK for them to play, to laugh and to feel joy.' Art-based programs have been part of U.S. prisons since at least 1870, according to Danielle Rousseau, an assistant professor of criminal justice at Boston University. But they recently rose again to the forefront of the national conversation with the release of the acclaimed film 'Sing Sing,' which was nominated for three 2025 Academy Awards. In addition to professional actors, 'Sing Sing' featured real-life, formerly incarcerated men who were alumni of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at the maximum-security prison in Ossining, New York. Studies have found that former inmates who study theater or music or who take up painting are less likely to get into trouble while behind bars and more likely to stay out of trouble once they leave. In one widely cited experiment that was documented by the Prison Arts Resource Project, 177 randomly selected inmates who participated in arts programs in California prisons between 1980 and 1987 were 15.75% less likely than the general population of inmates to have violated their paroles six months after their release. One year after parole, the gap between the arts program participants and non-participants had widened to 24.6%. After two years, it had increased to 27.2%. It could be that the inmates were motivated to turn their lives around long before they joined the arts workshops and classes. Regardless, they seem to view these sessions as useful tools that can help them become productive citizens. As a former inmate named Gary told researchers at the Takoma Park-based Justice Arts Coalition: 'After nearly 30 years of incarceration, the feelings of being forgotten weigh heavily. 'We are the disenfranchised, the marginalized, the cast-aways. True, as I often tell others, I did this to myself. I blame no one but me. Yet I long for a second chance, the opportunity to be re-interwoven back into the fabric of America from which my crime ripped me. [The program] is like a seamstress, stitching me and other prisoners back into the tapestry of society.' Center Stage's Juvenile Justice Drama Club is paid for with private donations. It is a key aspect of the $1 million 'Next Act' fundraising campaign that the theater company launched in November. 'This program is an excellent example of how young people, even those charged with serious crimes, are responsive to creative outlets,' said Maryland public defender Robert Linthicum, chief of that agency's Youthful Defendants Unit in Baltimore City. 'Art is therapeutic, and rehabilitative programs like this not only help the young person but the community as a whole.' Now, Center Stage's drama club works only with young men. But Walker-Webb hopes to launch a second theater workshop next year for incarcerated teenage girls. Shauntia Lindsay, program services coordinator at the Department of Juvenile Services, said that the theater program 'empowers young people to see themselves as positive forces for change in their lives and communities.' 'Through the arts, we're giving them tools for expression, empathy, and transformation — creating meaningful pathways for young people to envision and work toward brighter futures,' Lindsay said. The Next Act campaign is also attempting to raise money for phase two, a workforce development program that will take place at Center Stage. 'Once the kids are released, we hope to get them into paid apprenticeships,' Walker-Webb said, 'where they can learn carpentry and marketing and other trades. This program is a powerful seed for the big tree we hope to someday grow.' Everywhere Walker-Webb looks, he sees undeveloped talent, young men with the potential to be a force for good in the world. The teen with the dreadlocks, for example, is so smart and self-aware, he said. Walker-Webb also pointed out another participant, a teen in a tan cap who demonstrated formidable focus. Generation Z is thought to be notorious for its short attention span. Not this member. When he plays 'Zip Zap Zop,' he quickly dispatches every other teen in the circle — and nearly all of the Center Stage staff — except for the more experienced Pettigrew. Even then, the outcome is so close that victory is only decided by a round of 'Rock, Paper Scissors.' (The win goes to Pettigrew.) After the workshop ended, the teen in the tan cap said that when he attended Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School, the atmosphere wasn't conducive to learning. 'People were getting stabbed and shot at school,' he said. 'I did not want to go there anymore.' He dropped out but drifted and ended up in jail on a weapons charge. Now 18, he hopes to put his time in juvenile detention to better use and has begun studying for his high school equivalency degree. He plans to enlist in the Air Force or Marines after his release. He said the stability of a career in the armed forces appeals to him in part because of the health care and educational benefits it provides. 'If I was in the military,' he said, 'the family I have now would be set up for life. So would my future family. 'They would be so proud of me.'
Express Tribune
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistan offers UN members, other states for fair investigation of Pahalgam
Listen to article Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that Pakistan is ready to allow an international investigation into the recent Pahalgam incident, suggesting that experts from European and neighbouring countries be included. Speaking on the television program Center Stage, Asif reiterated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's offer for an impartial probe, emphasizing that Pakistan has no objection to international oversight. "Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made it clear: let the international community investigate the Pahalgam incident and verify the credibility of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claims," Asif said. He praised the Prime Minister's recent address as comprehensive, addressing all pertinent issues. Asif stressed that European nations, neighbouring countries, and even members of the UN Security Council could be invited to oversee the investigation process to ensure transparency. He also highlighted China's crucial role, noting that Beijing shares borders with both India and Pakistan and has stakes in the Kashmir issue. Asif pointed out that the Kashmir conflict is a colonial legacy left by Britain, suggesting the UK should also be involved in scrutinizing the matter. Criticizing the Indian government, Khawaja Asif remarked that even Indian citizens no longer trust Prime Minister Modi. "Modi's credibility is in tatters; he is manipulating the Pahalgam story for political gains ahead of elections," Asif said, noting that the Indian government has yet to provide any credible evidence regarding the incident. He accused Modi of fabricating narratives for electoral benefits, comparing the current situation to past false flag operations, including the Pulwama attack. Asif alleged that Modi had previously incited violence against Sikhs, Christians, and other minorities in India to consolidate support among extremist Hindu voters. The Defence Minister went further, accusing India of exporting terrorism to countries such as Canada and the United States. Concluding his remarks, Khawaja Asif asserted that Pakistan is fully prepared to defend itself against any aggression. "We are not only 100 percent but 200 percent ready to protect every inch of our land. We have no aggressive intentions, but any act of aggression will be met with a strong response," he declared.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
How to pre-order the new Apple MacBook Air M4
Among the slew of Apple announced news from the previous few weeks is a refreshed MacBook Air. The laptop still comes in 13- and 15-inch sizes, starts with 16GB of RAM and offers up to 18 hours of battery life. The big spec bump here is the new M4 chipset, and that's paired with a $100 price cut; the base model starts at $999. MacBook Air pre-orders are open now, and the notebook will be widely available starting March 12. Here's everything you need to know about the M4 MacBook Air. Apart from the new pricing, the marquee upgrade is the M4 chip. Although it isn't a massive leap over the M3, it still makes the 2025 MacBook Air up to twice as fast as the M1 model. (You know it's less than a generational breakthrough if Apple's comparing it to its first in-house silicon from 2020.) The M4 silicon in this model has a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU. The MacBook Air still starts with 16GB of RAM, but the top-tier configurations support up to 32GB — an increase from a maximum of 24GB in the M3 model. When combined with the faster processor, you should see a noticeable speed boost when upgrading from an M1 or (especially) an older Intel MacBook. In a welcome change for those whose laptop does double duty as a desktop PC, you can now connect it to two external displays while still using the built-in one. Last year's model only supported two with the MacBook lid closed or one with it open. The new MacBook Air also adds Center Stage, Apple's auto-centering camera feature, for the first time in the lineup. It's paired with a 12MP camera, which should make your video calls and selfies look much sharper. The last big upgrade is a cosmetic one. It now ships in sky blue, a light metallic color also found in the iPad Air and AirPods Max. It joins the carryovers midnight, starlight and silver. Elsewhere, it still supports Apple Intelligence (if you're into that), runs macOS Sequoia and has a pair of Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Yahoo
Here's how to pre-order the new Apple MacBook Air M4
Apple's new MacBook Air doesn't try to reinvent the wheel: It still comes in 13- and 15-inch sizes, starts with 16GB of RAM and offers up to 18 hours of battery life. But a few spec bumps — headlined by the faster M4 chip — paired with a cheaper price tag could still make it worth a look if your older model is starting to show its age. Here's everything you need to know about the M4 MacBook Air. The 13-inch MacBook Air now starts at $999, while its 15-inch counterpart begins at $1,199. (Both cost $100 less than last year's model.) They're available for pre-order now, ahead of their March 12 ship date. Apart from the new pricing, the marquee upgrade is the M4 chip. Although it isn't a massive leap over the M3, it still makes the 2025 MacBook Air up to twice as fast as the M1 model. (You know it's less than a generational breakthrough if Apple's comparing it to its first in-house silicon from 2020.) The M4 silicon in this model has a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core CPU. The MacBook Air still starts with 16GB of RAM, but the top-tier configurations support up to 32GB — an increase from a maximum of 24GB in the M3 model. When combined with the faster processor, you should see a noticeable speed boost when upgrading from an M1 or (especially) an older Intel MacBook. In a welcome change for those whose laptop does double duty as a desktop PC, you can now connect it to two external displays while still using the built-in one. Last year's model only supported two with the MacBook lid closed or one with it open. The new MacBook Air also adds Center Stage, Apple's auto-centering camera feature, for the first time in the lineup. It's paired with a 12MP camera, which should make your video calls and selfies look much sharper. The last big upgrade is a cosmetic one. It now ships in sky blue, a light metallic color also found in the iPad Air and AirPods Max. It joins the carryovers midnight, starlight and silver. Elsewhere, it still supports Apple Intelligence (if you're into that), runs macOS Sequoia and has a pair of Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports.
