What's your day missing so far? How about a video of merengue-dancing dog? Okay? Okay! The dog, named Carrie, is actually headed to Los Angeles this week. She's just been added to the participating talent at the 14th Annual Los Angeles Salsa Congress.
Video: Because Your Day Needs a Merengue-Dancing Dog
Pencil This In: Moth GrandSLAM, Pinewood Derby Racing and a Taco Tournament
It's a jam-packed, event-filled Tuesday night in LA. There's Knotty Pinewood Derby racing at Bigfoot Lodge; The Moth crowns a new GrandSLAM storytelling champion; L.A. Taco commences its Taco Madness tournament; and songwriter Carole Bayer Sager talks about her music career—and her new artistic endeavor of painting. Read on for all the details.
Dancers Alliance Says After 30 Years, the Music Video Industry is Still the 'Lawless Wild West'
More than 30 years after MTV launched, the professionals in music videos who have danced alongside Prince, Madonna, Janet, Michael, Britney and Rihanna are trying to organize.
Nobody Puts Baby in a Remake: 'Dirty Dancing' Re-Do is Happening, OG Choreographer Will Direct
Clearly, Hollywood has run out of ideas, and is totally in love with dancing. Case in point: a remake of Footloose is about to hit theatres, and now the movie that launched a thousand hips, Dirty Dancing, is getting closer to its reboot, with its original choreographer Kenny Ortega serving as director, reports Deadline Hollywood.
Zombies Rise Again to Make Halloween a 'Thriller' Night
If you were at LA Live on Halloween night, whether to see the Michael Jackson concert-documentary film This is It or just enjoy the evening out, you may have thought for a moment you'd stumbled onto the set of a horror film or a cemetery in full uproar thanks to the assembled dancers participating in yet another dance-along to the late pop icon's mega hit. Just one week earlier a record-breaking 22,923 people danced in 32 countries as part of the Thrill the World annual event; some of those performers were back among the undead to entertain the crowd at the Clippers game Saturday night.
Latino Heritage Month Kicks off With Vibrant Sound and Colors
The 2009 Latino Heritage Month Celebration got off to a rousing start yesterday at City Hall as the annual event began with a ceremony that included food, music, dancing, and the presentation of awards to local legends.
Video: Laker Girl Auditions 2009
Over 500 dancers showed up in El Segundo this weekend to try out for the 2009-2010 Laker Girls squad ... but no more than 22 of these talented young ladies will make the final cut.
Big Top Tent Pitched for Cirque Berzerk 20-Show Run
If you've been by Los Angeles State Historic Park in the past week, you've likely noticed a gigantic red-and-white-striped big top tent. Perhaps you wondered why a tent would be necessary in LA, the stationary circus town in which you live.
Video of the Day: The Tastiest Street Battle Ever
It's food versus footwork in this video promo for Susan Feniger's newest food-venture STREET--an opening many folks have been looking forward to. Watch the famous LA-based Chef battle it out "street" style against the Instant Noodles Crew. Does Feniger dance away with a victory? Or will your tastebuds? There's only one way to find out...
TV Junkie: Top Gear's Project Sipster; 'Cupid' Returns
Our friends over at BBC America's "Top Gear" have really done it - they have achieved unprecedented success with "Project Sipster": the creation of a car that gets 84mpg , goes from 0-60mph in 7 seconds, and whose cost was to be $7000 or less. You can see more in this video. Suck it Tesla and watch "Top Gear" on BBC America tonight at 8pm.
TV Junkie: 'Extreme Ice' on PBS - Beautiful but Frightening
Last week NPR did a segment on tonight's "Nova" which even sounded cool - check out the photos, the video footage will be even more amazing, if not terrifying, as we have more proof of climate change (PBS @ 8pm).
Dancing With the Stars Preps 8th Batch of Celeb Talent
Fans of dance-reality television programming and gluttons for punishment alike, listen up: ABC's massive hit series Dancing With the Stars is warming up for a March 9 return to the airwaves, and the talent pool has just been revealed.
The Upside to Stripping: 'There is an art to what these girls do'
After last week's brutal attack on a Tarzana "gentleman's club" dancer, there's been murmurings in the news about the dark life of an exotic dancer. Today's Daily News gives readers insight into the unseemly underbelly of those who dance for dollars.
Downtown's Conga Room Opens to a Slamming Start
LAist was on hand to check out last week's opening ceremony for the new and improved Conga Room, which was once considered the "premier Latin music nightclub" by the LA Times.
Check It Out: LA Greek Fest
Looking for something to do this weekend that is the exact opposite of the LA Triathlon? Then head over to Saint Sophia’s Cathedral at Pico / Normandie for this weekend’s LA Greek Festival, a face-stuffing celebration of the heritage (and culinary prowess) of all things Hellenic. While last night was the free admission night, the greasy, delicious meat of the festival is still to come, with today and Sunday offering authentic Greek cooking demonstrations, Greek theatre, and enough ouzo and revelry to make Dionysus blush.
Slice of Life LA: The Venice Beach Drum Circle
Every weekend, usually at around sunset, groups of people gather on Venice Beach to play and dance their hearts out. Yesterday's crowd was smaller than usual (around 100 people), but was still a fun and joyous time for everyone.
Photo Essay: Cirque Berzerk @ LA State Historic Park, 7/25/08
Cirque Berzerk, the LA-based, all-volunteer, DIY fire-dancing, contortionist, aerial daredevil, burlesque cabaret, clown troupe debuted its new show "Beneath" at Los Angeles State Historic Park last weekend.
"New" Chinatown Celebrated 70 Years with a Swingin' Party
Saturday night was hopping in Chinatown, from Hop Louie's to the Lindy Hop on the dance floor as the iconic neighborhood celebrated their 70th anniversary. A big band was on hand to provide the tunes, folks in 30s and 40s garb milled about, the shops were open, and the Central Plaza was abuzz with young and old alike celebrating Chinatown's history. To learn more about the area's features and stories (like why it's called "New" Chinatown!), check out LAist's Neighborhood Project: Chinatown.
Slice of Life LA: Partying at the All-Star Lanes
What happens when you put on a party at an Eagle Rock bowling alley with a famous UK band? Huge success. Fans at last Thursday night's Ladytron party at the All Star Lanes brought out the bowling balls and dance shoes for fans, who thought the event was a blast. And Ladytron didn't even go on until 1:20 a.m, reports LAist photographer Tom Andrews.
Pencil This In: Friday
Dance Downtown kicks up its heels tonight for the first installment of the summer-long Friday night series. Free admission to anyone who feels like trying a little salsa out on the Music Center Plaza. Beginner lessons are at 6:30, and a live DJ provides the tunes from 7:15-10.
LA Times Festival of Books: Just Too Damned Hot
The LA Times Festival of Books offered something for everyone this weekend. The many panels, author interviews and signing booths were exciting for bookish nerds like us. If you weren't into the bookish side of the book festival, however, there was plenty to whet your appetite. Literally.
A Sad, Slow Dance Party at La Cita
Sometimes one is in the mood for a gathering of people with great music, but instead of being happy and energetically dancing around, there is Give Up's "A Sad, Slow Dance Party" presented by dublab and Part Time Punks tonight at La Cita. Taking cue from the successfully subdued Give Up shows where DJs played gloomy music and devotees painted tears on their faces, this next installation takes on the lonely theme in time for Valentine's Day. What's interesting is the depressing music actually has the opposite effect and makes for a joyful time.
Pencil This In: Saturday
Okay, so Long Beach doesn't pack the same exotic pull as, oh, say, Rio, but they're going to put on a Carnaval and pull out all the stops. Get out your Carnaval costumes and get ready to samba the night away! This year’s theme is “Preservation of the Planet” featuring green and recycled decorations. At the heart of the 2008 celebration is renowned Bahiana Dandara, musicians performing vibrant and energetic Carnaval beats. Music and bare booties abound!
TV Junkie: Tuesday
Just read that one of Sid Caesar's writers, Mel Tolkin, just passed away at age 94, godlove'im. Instead of running vintage Leno re-runs they should be running some of this classic comedy that actually had great writing from way back in the day. The kids might learn something. 8:00pm A Charlie Brown Christmas ABC - If only this didn't have commercials, hmm, but if it didn't have commercials the show would be about 11 minutes...
Hollywood, Please Make A Bio-pic Of: The Nicholas Brothers
Every once and a while, a group of cinephile friends and I sit around and get into a heated discussion about all of the great artists we wish someone would make a movie about. Today that discussion centered on the fabulous Nicholas Brothers, maybe the two most dynamic tap dancers who ever lived. I was never a very starstruck person, even as a younger man, but Harold (d. 2000) and Fayard (d. 2006) Nicholas were...
Last Night at The Getty: Fridays Off the 405
Last night we headed over to the Getty Center to check out Fridays Off the 405, a monthly offering of evening hours in the museum galleries, with live music and a cash bar to boot. We got a late start, but stuck to our routine of taking Sepulveda, even though a quick glance told us that the 405 was moving free and clear. As the sun began to fade from the sky we pulled...
TV Junkie: Iggy Pop on Kimmel; New 'House' and 'Shield'; McCain on 'Daily Show'
A Word or 49: Iggy Pop redeems Jimmy Kimmel tonight. For petessake when is the stupid 'house' gimmick ever gonna end on House? (new one tonight) I'm rockin' the slot with the Shield tonight though - now that Vic seems to be in the clear perhaps we're just back to some stellar violence. Today - Tuesday - April 24th, 2007 Rita Hayworth Marathon (TCM, 5- p.m.) Starting with Pal Joey, then Salome, etc. Check...
Solla Solla Enna Perumai
Unpack your gold leather dancing boots and pick out your fro. This is everything that makes Bollywood great!...

