JAW Street Dance Showcase
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View Upcoming EventsJoin us as we kick things off for JAW weekend with this wildly popular yearly showcase, presented by DJ NorthernDraw and featuring street, club, and urban dance styles, performed by artists from a variety of local Portland area dance crews and institutions.
Featured Performers:
Malik Delgado aka B.Bandit is a Dance educator of the street dance and Afro Caribbean dance culture. Originally a PDX Bboy from the Portland City Rockers crew, he later found his passions for dance within the styles of Salsa and Bachata. He loves teaching and performing for the community and is excited to be sharing that love and passion for everyone at Portland Center Stage.
Donna Mation is a performance artist, choreographer, director and educator, is the artistic director and choreographer for Vivian Los Elementos and Bang Bang Boogie. Donna Mation specialized in club and street dances from the USA including: Hustle, House, Popping, and Hip Hop as well as sacred and secular dances of Cuba and Brazil.
Dano (Daniel Shinseki) is a freestyle dancer from Portland who blends house, breaking and old way into his own unique style. He’s been active in the freestyle scene in Portland since 2018 and is now teaching weekly house classes and hosting a monthly event called Bloom Room.
Papi- Originally from Veracruz Mexico, Daniel Giron aka “Papi Ada” is a well rounded entertainer and community leader featured on HBO Max hit show LEGENDARY Season 3. You may recognize Daniel from being immortalized as a meme with the floor performance in the sand heard ’round the world. Daniel uses his social media not only as a platform to educate on Ballroom culture, but to activate and create change through movement. Shattering gender norms while using their engagement as a means of resistance and equity within communities of Queer people of color.
2loc, with roots in Southern California, 2loc, aka Fierro, blends traditional street styles of popping, breaking, waving and furthermore is deeply involved in Portland’s Hip Hop community.
Steve Glavin is an OG Pacific Northwest dance pioneer, a native of Vancouver, WA, and an innovator in roboting since 1977. Steve got his start in Portland’s original street dance scene, founding West Coast Break Dancers and performing at Saturday Market in the early ’80s to fund a trip to NYC. He later joined the legendary Magnificent Force crew and won the 1985 Swatch Watch World Breakdancing Championship. Steve toured nationally with Run-DMC, Kurtis Blow, Fat Boys, and Whodini, and appeared in the iconic “Freaks Come Out at Night” video alongside a young Jermaine Dupri.
Akela has been studying dance for 20 years and teaching for 10. Her training is rooted in Hip-Hop, West African, Jazz Funk, Modern and various club styles. In addition to her training in Portland, she has studied in Los Angeles and Washington DC, where she learned about foundational styles of hip hop with Capital Funk. She has danced with Urban Arts Dance Company, Unseen, The Detail, House of Aquarius, Water Ways - and worked as a back up dancer and choreographer for local and national talent. Currently Akela is the creator and director of BASS, a multi-disciplinary artists showcase in Portland.
JAW New Play Festival FREE! July 25-27
A week-long assembling of artists and audiences to create new plays! Artistic teams, including playwrights, directors and actors, come together to rehearse — and a lot of times rewrite! — a play. The final piece of the process happens during the weekend, when we share “music stands readings” with audiences so the playwrights can hear their work, often for the very first time!
Current & Upcoming
Improvisation Classes for Beginners
Whether you're looking to get more confident in social situations, think quicker on your feet, or get in touch with your imaginative side, these "one-off" improv classes will set you on the path to success!
Pitch Black Showcase
Pitch Black Showcase returns to Portland for a one-night celebration of Black ideas and brilliance. Experience powerful live pitches from Black founders, makers, and creatives sharing the ideas they’re building, dreaming of, and fighting for. This isn’t a competition. It’s a stage for possibility. The evening will also feature live music by local Black artists, Local Black maker tables, themed drinks, and a chance to meet the founders and connect with the community.
Foundations of Improvisation: Monday Evening Series
Looking to expand your knowledge and skills of improvisation? Whether you did theater in high school and want to jump back in, are looking to find creative connections with others, or are a theater professional looking to deepen your training, this course is perfect for you!
Acting for Adults: Monologues
This class uses exercises and coaching to enhance the students' ability to act from a deeply personal and freely imaginative place. Learn to tackle new material, dissect scripts, and perform while developing the actor’s instrument and sharpening technique.
Acting for Adults Level IV: Advanced Scene Work
Participants will delve into the intricacies of advanced acting techniques and character development. Designed for seasoned artists who are ready to explore the depths of their craft.
Portland Center Stage is committed to identifying & interrupting instances of racism & all forms of oppression, through the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA).
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