Zombie Ballet

By Nicolosa Tessitore 

E very year North Coast Dance hosts their annual Membership Gala event, and in recent years it has become a tradition to perform a Zombie Ballet.  Yes, the event is October 24th, so it seemed irresistible to enjoy a Halloween theme while attending a fabulous party at the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts.

The Zombie Ballet takes a different form every year, so even if you have seen the zombies dance in past years, you will still see some new surprises this year. Rima Greer, who heads the Costume Department at North Coast Dance, tells the Emerald Magazine that this year they’re upping the ante. “This is the Costume Shop’s opportunity to go really crazy, because we’re not recreating a classic. The sky’s the limit!” says Greer. “So this year we went nuts with a couple of new characters. I’m not telling all, but I will drop the hint that at least one of our new characters will be 10 feet tall and deliciously scary!”

In addition, this year NCD is featuring special guest artists Ya Habibi Belly Dance Company, who will also perform in the spooky spirit.

The Gala serves as a fundraiser for North Coast Dance, which is a non-profit organization serving the community. NCD offers classes in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, modern, hula, and ballroom. NCD also operates the North Coast Dance Company, which presents at least three productions a year, including a full-scale Nutcracker at the Arkley Theater. This year, NCD has also developed a Schools to Dance program, which provides dance education outreach to local schools, and NCD has offered a scholarship program for young dancers for several years. Kris Marquez, Executive Director of NCD explains, “North Coast Dance’s main purpose is to provide our community with opportunity, so that every child who wants to can dance!” In fact, some of NCD’s scholarship students have gone on to dance professionally with companies such as the San Francisco Ballet.

You can attend the North Coast Dance Gala by calling 707-442-7779, or by visiting www.northcoastdance.org. Your Gala ticket includes a one-year membership (which helps fund NCD’s scholarship program), AND VIP tickets to the Nutcracker, as well as the gift of a fabulous Gala Party.

Friday, Oct. 24, 2014

6:00pm-8:00pm

Arkley Center for the Performing Arts

$75/person includes:

 North Coast Dance membership, 

Nutcracker ticket with VIP seating, commemorative gift, 

lovely hors d’oeuvres & “spirits.”