Presented by the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, this annual event brings together dance companies from a variety of cultures and traditions for three days of festivities throughout the city.
Join Ancient Rhythms for an afternoon of dance performance and audience participation!
The 7th Annual Dance DC Festival
Georgetown Student Orientation International Night, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, August 2006
“Get Fresh Festival” sponsored by Nutrition and Physical Fitness Bureau, RFK Stadium, Washington, DC, August 2006
Howard University Arabic Language Immersion Awards Convocation Ceremony, Howard University, Maryland, July 2006
“Night at the Casbah”, DC Dance Collective, Washington, DC, May 2006
Marvin Center Fundraiser for South Asian Earthquake Relief Fund, George Washington University, Washington, DC, November 2005
Taste of Bethesda Festival, Bethesda, Maryland, October 2005
Arlington County Fair, Arlington, Virginia, August 2005
Cherry Blossom Festival, Union Station, Washington, DC, April 2005
“Flamenco Arabie”, Montgomery College Black Box Theatre, Takoma Park, Maryland, March 2005
Tsunami Relief Benefit sponsored by Asian Fortune Newspaper, Ft. Meyer, Virginia, January 2005
Art-o-Matic gallery opening, Washington, DC, December 2004
Rakkasah Middle Eastern Dance Festival, Ukrainian Cultural Center, Somerset, New Jersey, October 2004
“In Celebration of Women” Benefit for the Tahirih Justice Center, National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC, September 2004
Benefit for Center of Multicultural Human Services, Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre, Arlington, Virginia, July 2004
Benefit for School of Hope and Children of Afghanistan, La MaMa Theatre, New York City, June 2004
“Under a Desert Moon”, American University Greenberg Theatre, Washington, DC, May 2004
Aid Afghanistan Benefit Performance, Washington Ethical Society, Washington, DC, November 2003
Langley Park International Festival. Langley Park, MD. May 3, 2009.
“Mesmerized.” DC Dance Collective, February 7, 2009.
Dance DC Festival, Washington, DC, September 2007, National Music Center and October 2008, Dance Place
TV feature for Cheza TV Show, Channel 30 Fairfax County, Virginia, August 2007
DC Dance Collaborative Arts Festival, American University Greenberg Theatre, Washington, DC, June 2007 and June 2008
Booz Allen Hamilton Corporate Cultural Arts Program, Arlington, Virginia, May 2007
Langley Park International Festival, Langley Park, Maryland, May 2007 and May 2008
Langley Park International Day. May 2, 2010.
“An Evening of Inspiration and Enchantment.” The Bethesda Center, January 9, 2010.
DC Dance Collective Collaborative Arts Festival. November 15, 2009.
20th Annual Taste of Bethesda. Bethesda, MD. October 3, 2009.
“Dancing to Ancient Rhythms” at the Capital Fringe Festival. July 2009.
Join Ancient Rhythms on an exhilarating and uplifting journey through dance inspired by the movements and mystery of the Middle East. "Dancing to Ancient Rhythms" is a show for all ages that takes the audience from the light-hearted to the provocative, from the whimsical to the melancholy. Questions are asked and answers offered through visually stunning dance vignettes drawn from the ancient wisdom of the East.
What critics are saying:
"You'll be instantly charmed by this enthusiastic Fringe Festival contribution from D.C.'s Ancient Rhythms Dance Company. The costumes are dazzling and the performers are all great showmen...[The dancers'] happiness was contagious."
-Monica Shores, DC City Paper
“...the costumes are exquisite, the performers are elegant and seductive, and the dancing is very, very good.”
-Mike Riggs, DC City Paper
"Middle Eastern dance and modern choreography combine in this brief and lovely show with gorgeous costumes and sensuous movements to create an exuberant celebration of life. The women in the troupe express a range of emotions, from the pain of oppression to the charming joys of flirtation, innocent and otherwise. The performers personalities and the power of their female energy shine through every dance.”
-theatremania.com
What audiences are saying:
"From the moment the lights went down, I was on the edge of my seat."
“Two hours of pure enjoyment."
"Eloquently timeless performance, truly satisfying."
“I'm still resonating and revisiting the magical evening of your show."
"...the lyrical and absolute precision of the dancers, the kaleidoscope of costumes and colors..."
"We were transported to another time and magical place."
"We were awed by the professional effort everyone gave."
"I loved the dancing and the emotion from the beautiful dancers who were graceful and full of joy."
"The costumes were divine creations, the story was charming and magical, the dancers were fantastic..."
Judith Lynn Hanna, PhD, senior research scholar in the Department of Dance at the University of Maryland, and critic for Dancer and Dance Magazine, gave this review of "The Oasis":
"Without a doubt, the six-year old Ancient Rhythms Dance Company presented a unique, first-rate theatrical embodiment of traditional and evolving Middle East dance movement and culture... McLane not only dances beautifully but instills the craft and art of Middle East dance in her students. Evidence shone through in the dance narrative and in the program's second part, "Weaving the Tapestry of Ancient Rhythms," feature company member solos... McLane creatively took a folk/cabaret dance genre to new heights to great audience appeal."
“The Oasis...An Arabian Fairytale.” American University Greenberg Theatre, Washington DC. May 31, 2008
