Photo by T. Love Smith

What: Dark Follies Dinner Theater

When: May 24th, 7:00 PM

Where: Local Sprouts Collective, 649 Congress Street, Portland, ME

Cost: By Donation

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Dark Follies, Portland’s award winning vaudeville troupe, bring their unique variety show to Local Sprouts in Portland on May 24th at 7:00 PM. Join us for an evening of live music, song, dance, juggling, storytelling and flow performances while you enjoy delicious healthy and locally-sourced food. Featuring the talents of The Dark Follies Vaudevillians and The Dark Follies Not Just Rhythm Orchestra!

Donations to support the artists who entertain you are greatly appreciated.

Born of a love of street theater and a desire to bring together the talent in Portland’s goth community, Dark Follies began bringing its special brand of street vaudeville to life during Portland’s First Friday Art Walks in Autumn of 2008. Over the next four years they have produced multiple stage shows and have performed around the northeast at the Cape Cod Festival of Magic, The Steampunk World’s Fair, The Watch City Festival and the Shelburne Museum. They have won Best Street Performer in the Portland Phoenix Best of Portland Awards two years running (2011 & 2012).

When: June 22nd, 8:00 PM (Doors at 7:30)

Where: Bright Star World Dance, 496 Congress Street, Portland, Maine

Tickets: $12 Advanced General Seating/$15 Advanced Reserved Seating/$20 Door

Join us on a journey into the shadows of dance with an evening of dark theatrical performances featuring Aepril Schaile and dancers from around New England.

Aepril Schaile is an American priestess of the Dark Goddess working through the ancient and ever-evolving arts of Belly Dance, Music, Ritual-Theatre, and Divination. Aepril Schaile dances to make the archetypal Dark Feminine sacred again, and is recognized for her pioneering innovation in dark theatrical, ritual and shamanistic Belly dance  In performance, Aepril becomes Trickster, Warrior, Ghost, Storm, Grieving Mother, Killer, Snow Queen, Seductress… Her performances invoke the archetypal Feminine as a force of nature and magick.

The line up for this amazing show also  includes:

The Accaliae
Cait Capaldi
Heather Powers
Sarah Jezebel Wood
Selcouth
Solange
Belleme
Nathifa Shakti
Phoenix
Annabee
Anathema Steele
Leilah
BellaLisa
and more…

With a special musical performance by members of the Dark Follies (not just) Rhythm Orchestra!

Tickets on sale now!  This is an intimate show with a very limited number of seats so buy your ticket today.

Watch City Festival Flyer 2013

What: Watch City Festival

When: May 11-12, 2013

Where: Waltham, MA

Cost: Tickets available here.

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Join Dark Follies on our steampunk vaudeville adventures at the Watch City Festival!

photo by Dr. Payne

What: Dark Follies & Bella’s Bartok

When: April 21st, 8:00 PM

Where: Slainte Wine Bar & Lounge, 24 Preble St, Portland, ME

Cost: No cover!

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Dark Follies, Portland’s award winning vaudeville troupe, bring their unique variety show to their hometown at Slainte, in Portland, Maine on April 21st at 8:00 PM. Join us for an evening of live music, song, dance, juggling, and flow performances with The Dark Follies Vaudevillians: Selcouth, Solange, Petit Soleil, Miss Polly, the Lovely Janice, BellaLisa and The Dark Follies Not Just Rhythm Orchestra!

They will be joined by kindred spirits, the band Bella’s Bartok; a party that became a band. Varied percussion, bright pianos, scratchy guitars, scattered horn sections, and group harmonies give their dancy tunes a distinct bohemian vibe, and their raw sound gives them something of a punk edge. Seven piece, multi-instrumentalist groove-making extra-ordinaires from Northampton, MA. http://bellasbartok.com/

This is the second show of a double feature with Bella’s Bartok! Another great night of fun, surprises and entertainment.

P.S. In case you weren’t aware, on April 20th both Dark Follies & Bella’s Bartok will be at the Oak + Ax in Biddeford. Click here for more info.

photo by Dr. Payne

What: Dark Follies & Bella’s Bartok

When: April 20th, 8:00 PM

Where: Oak and Ax, 140 Main St, Suite 107-Back Alley, Biddeford, ME

Cost: $8.00 (venue is cash only)

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Dark Follies, Portland’s award winning vaudeville troupe, bring their unique variety show to The Oak & The Ax in Biddeford, Maine on April 20th at 8:00 PM. Join us for an evening of live music, song, dance, juggling, and flow performances in one of Southern Maine’s most inviting performance spaces. With performances by The Dark Follies Vaudevillians: Selcouth, Solange, Petit Soleil, the Mighty Scavenger, the Lovely Janice, and The Dark Follies Not Just Rhythm Orchestra!

They will be joined by kindred spirits, the band Bella’s Bartok; a party that became a band. Varied percussion, bright pianos, scratchy guitars, scattered horn sections, and group harmonies give their dancy tunes a distinct bohemian vibe, and their raw sound gives them something of a punk edge. Seven piece, multi-instrumentalist groove-making extra-ordinaires from Northampton, MA. http://bellasbartok.com/

This is a double feature you don’t want to miss! It will be a night of fun and more than a few surprises.

Born of a love of street theater and a desire to bring together the talent in Portland’s goth community, Dark Follies began bringing its special brand of street vaudeville to life during Portland’s First Friday Art Walks in Autumn of 2008. Over the next four years they have produced multiple stage shows and have performed around the northeast at the Cape Cod Festival of Magic, The Steampunk World’s Fair, The Watch City Festival and the Shelburne Museum. They have won Best Street Performer in the Portland Phoenix Best of Portland Awards two years running (2011 & 2012).

Petite Soleil of the Dark Follies

What: Dark Follies Dinner Theater

When:  May 17th, 2013, 7-9PM

Where: Narals Restaurant and Bar, 34 Court Street, Auburn, Maine

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Dark Follies, Portland’s award winning vaudeville troupe, brings their unique variety show to Narals in Auburn on May 17th at 7:00 PM. Join us for an evening of live music, song, dance, juggling, and flow performances while you enjoy delicious food from the Middle East prepared by Narals. Featuring the talents of The Dark Follies Vaudevillians and The Dark Follies Not Just Rhythm Orchestra!

There is no cover for this event though tips are greatly appreciated. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Born of a love of street theater and a desire to bring together the talent in Portland’s goth community, Dark Follies began bringing its special brand of street vaudeville to life during Portland’s First Friday Art Walks in Autumn of 2008. Over the next four years they have produced multiple stage shows and have performed around the northeast at the Cape Cod Festival of Magic, The Steampunk World’s Fair, The Watch City Festival and the Shelburne Museum. They have won Best Street Performer in the Portland Phoenix Best of Portland Awards two years running (2011 & 2012).

When:  June 22nd & 23rd, 2013

Where: Bright Star World Dance, 496 Congress Street, 4th Floor, Portland, Maine

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Join us June 22 & 23 at Bright Star World Dance as we take a journey into the shadow side of  belly dance with Aepril Schaile.  Dark Luminosity is a weekend of  dark theatrical belly dance with three workshops taught by this spectacular dark dancer and a Saturday evening dark theatrical dance showcase featuring Aepril and dancers from around New England.

Anyone who takes a class or a workshop with Aepril quickly learns that she is teaching far more than just the technique and skill that are a part of belly dance.  It is Aepril’s gift that she not only has the ability to share her own vision of the dance, but through her style of teaching she gives her students the tools they need to find and communicate their own.  You don’t want to miss the chance to study with this visionary teacher and dancer.

Workshop registration information is below.  More information on the evening show to come soon!

Aepril Schaile:

Aepril Schaile is an American priestess of the Dark Goddess working through the ancient and ever-evolving arts of Belly Dance, Music, Ritual-Theatre, and Divination. She is founder of the Aepril Schaile Mysterie School of Dance, and is Artistic Director of Exquisite Corpse Dance Theatre in Salem, MA. An originator and innovator of darkly theatrical and shamanistic belly dance, Aepril performs and teaches at curated international belly dance events and throughout the U.S.

Aepril Schaile dances to make the archetypal Dark Feminine sacred again, and is recognized for her pioneering innovation in dark theatrical, ritual and shamanistic Belly dance  In performance, Aepril becomes Trickster, Warrior, Ghost, Storm, Grieving Mother, Killer, Snow Queen, Seductress… Her performances invoke the archetypal Feminine as a force of nature and magick.

First described as a “Gothic Belly Dancer  in 2001, Aepril has been a leader in the development of Theatrical and Gothic Belly Dance for a decade. Her work has inspired, influenced and challenged Gothic and Theatrical Belly Dancers throughout the world.

Aepril teaches ongoing belly dance classes in the Boston area, and teaches traditional, Theatrical, Gothic and Shamanistic Belly Dance workshops internationally. Aepril is also a musician and composer, writer and mythologist, Astrologer, animal rights advocate and Witch.  Aepril is an AFAA certified Group Fitness Instructor and she holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Art.

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Saturday Workshops

Eerie Serpents and Ethereal Grace 

11:00 – 12:30 – $50

Techniques for creating inhuman, ghostly appearance for belly dance  We will work to create liquid arms and body, the appearance of “floating” across the floor, otherworldly locks and isolations. We will explore how to use space and time – unusual level changes, theatrical blocking and staging, eerie traveling steps. In addition to form, the importance of dramatic technique is emphasized – facial communication, striking pauses and dynamics, energy and power direction and intention. All will be integrated at the end in a haunting choreography.

Creating Choreography for Theatrical Belly Dance 

1:00 – 3:30 – $60

Create a Theatrical Belly dance choreography from the ground up! Balancing theatre and dance technique, Aepril will guide you step-by-step to your very own choreography for comedic, dramatic or ritual-theatre belly dance  You will build your dramatic dance skills through the use of theatre exercises, moving meditation and improvisation, identifying rules and boundaries – and creatively crossing lines. Explore the possibilities!

We will cover:

-Costuming and make-up

-Story arc

-Staging, use of space, energy projection

-Creating a stronger and clearer “voice”: learn to release inhibitions and blocks

-Character development: work with“sub-personalities”, active archetypes, inner voices

Basic belly dance skills required.

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Sunday Workshop

Shamanic Belly Dance Intensive

11:00 – 3:30 – $90

Explore the tribal and theatrical roots of Shamanism through dance through Soul-work, deep moving meditation, totem identification techniques, a choreography, and more. The Shaman is a magickal being engaged with her tribe in the liminal role of the sacred trickster, shape shifter, prophetess, magician, and healer. In this workshop, we will work with metaphysical power and shamanic journeying to add spiritual, emotional and creative depth to our belly dance  and to also use belly dance as a healing medium. Through dance and ritual-theatre we will call upon the spirits of nature and divinity, journeying into the psychic Underworld to retrieve lost parts of the Self. Come away with a greater sense of power and authenticity in your belly dance.

Registration:

Bonus!!! - The first five students to register for the workshops will be offered a spot in the Saturday evening show!

Advance registration for the workshops is required.  Two part payment plans are available for those who wish the register for the entire weekend with a 50% deposit to hold your spot. You may request a payment plan by sending an email to
darkfollies@gmail.com.

Classes are structured to build on one another but each may also be experienced as a stand-alone class. Class topics will be announced monthly and cover such things as:

• Learn to use common belly dance moves to convey a wide array of emotions or to create a character
• Explore how to establish stage presence and connect with your audience
• Discover and connect with what motivates you to dance
• Create and share stories through dance and movement
• Laugh, dance and have fun!

Beginning in mid-April we will also begin working on co-creating a performance piece to be shared at a very special show taking place in June.

Whether you want to create a stage persona to slip on before a show, explore your reasons for dancing or add just a bit of dramatic flair to your performance this class is for you!

Preregistration is encouraged but drop-ins are always welcome.

When: Thursdays – February 21st – June 20th

Time: 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM

Where: Bright Star World Dance, 496 Congress Street, Portland, ME

Cost: $15 Drop-in/six weeks for $60 -

Email darkfollies@gmail.com to register

We will not be accepting walk-in auditions. Thank you and best of luck to everyone who applied!

The auditions are not open to the general public.

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Over the past five years Dark Follies has grown from being a monthly summertime 30-45 minute street performance  to an award winning 20 member  troupe comprised of singers, comedians, dancers, jugglers, flow artists and musicians. The troupe has produced multiple successful stage productions in Portland and taken the show on the road around New England. This evolution has been possible because of the amazing people who make up the Dark Follies troupe.

On March 24th, 2013 Dark Follies will be holding auditions to add new members to the troupe. We are looking for individuals who are not only talented in what they do but who are also willing to push the boundaries of their performance, to collaborate with other troupe members on new show creations and who want to have a great time doing it.

You must be 18 years of age or older to audition and be prepared to make a one year commitment to the troupe.  

We are open to all types of performers (dancers, jugglers, fire dancers, comedians, singers, etc.). We are also seeking to add more instruments to our band and though we love our drum section we do want to increase our melodic possibilities.

For more information or a copy of the audition guidelines and an application form, please send an email to darkfollies@gmail.com.  Please specify if you are requesting a musician or performer application.   If you wish to audition you must submit an application as walk-in auditions will not be accepted.

Date: March 24th. 9:00 AM
Where:  Bright Star World Dance, 496 Congress Street (4th Floor)

Performer Requirements:

You must be 18 years of age or older.  You must be able to attend Dark Follies rehearsals which are held weekly on Sunday mornings as well as additional rehearsals that may be scheduled for upcoming events and shows.   Dark Follies generally has a minimum of one show booked per month though this is often more during the summer season.  While performers are not required to attend every show you should be able to keep those you commit to taking part in.

We are a vaudeville inspired variety style troupe and thus open to any kind of performing:  dance, juggling, hooping, comedy, singing, etc.  as long as it is suitable for all ages.  While Dark Follies is not a children’s show we do keep our shows family friendly.

Dark Follies is a collaborative effort.   While each performer brings their own special talent to the troupe we also work together to bring new ideas to life.   Our best sketches came not from the mind of a ‘creative director’ but from the troupe members themselves.  We believe everyone has something to contribute and ask that any troupe member be willing to try new things.

Performer Audition Guidelines:

Please fill out the Performer Audition Form (you may request one by email) and return it by email by Friday, March 8th.  If you wish to audition you must submit an application as walk-in auditions will not be accepted.

The performer audition has three parts:

1 . Arrive with a prepared two minute performance piece that showcases your special talent.  If you have music please bring it on CD or an MP3 player.

2. The audition also includes a short improvisation exercise.   While we won’t reveal in advance what this exercise is, it will be short and simple.

3. An interview with troupe members.

Musician Requirements:

You must be 18 years of age or older.  You must be able to attend weekly Dark Follies rehearsals which are held on Sundays as well as additional rehearsals that may be scheduled for upcoming events and shows.

Dark Follies generally has a minimum of one show booked per month though this is often more during the summer season.  While all musicians are not required to attend every show you should be able to keep those you commit to taking part in.

The music used in Dark Follies performances spans a wide range including Middle Eastern, Balkan, klezmer, Roma, Dixie, vaudeville and more.  While we don’t require that new musicians have experience with these genres of music we do ask that you bring a willingness to learn them.

You must be able to read music.

The Dark Follies (not just) Rhythm Orchestra operates under the guidance of a director but just like the rest of the troupe, it is a collaborative effort.   Our band members contribute not only musical ideas but often have suggestions, and take part in, other Dark Follies acts.  We seek individuals willing to step outside the box.

Musician Audition Guideliness:

Please fill out the Musician Audition Form (you may request one by email) and return it by email by Friday, March 8th.  If you wish to audition you must submit an application as walk-in auditions will not be accepted.

The musician auditions has three parts:

1. Upon approval of your application you will be emailed the sheet music for one of our regularly played songs.  Arrive prepared to play that song on your particular instrument.

2. A prepared three minute piece of your choice that showcases your particular instrument and talent.  You may play solo or bring accompanying music.  If you bring music please bring it on CD or an MP3 player.

3. Interview with troupe members.

If These Hips Could Talk: Theatrical Belly Dance at Bright Star World Dance

Class information and registration can be found here.

photo by Shannon Bryan