Are you a Simon or a Paula?
Spoke the Hub puts the audience in the judge’s seat with its
"Winter Follies," featuring more than two dozen dance,
music and multimedia artists through Jan. 29.
"This annual showcase is kind of our own funky, downtown
dance/theater version of ’American Idol’ (without the public
humiliation and the mean-spirited Three Stooges panel of judges),"
explained Spoke the Hub’s Artistic Director Elise Long. "’Professional’
performers can sign up to perform five minutes of whatever it
is they do best, then the audience gets to vote on its favorite
artist or group."
Among the scheduled performers is flamenco dancer Sol Koeraus
(pictured), who will perform on Sunday.
The "Winter Follies" began on Jan. 27 and continues
Jan. 28 and 29 at 7:30 pm (with new seatings every hour, for
those who can’t stay for the entire performance marathon). At
the end of each evening, the audience votes on the artist or
group it would like to see more of in the coming year. The performers
with the most votes at the end of the weekend receive the grand
prize: 50 hours of free rehearsal space plus their own weekend
production at the Gowanus Arts Building in the 2006 season.
It’s not a record contract, but it ain’t shabby.
"Winter Follies" admission is $15 for adults, $5 for
kids. The performances will take place at the Gowanus Arts Building
(295 Douglass St. between Third and Fourth avenues). For more
information, call (718) 408-3234 or visit the Web site at www.spokethehub.org.
