Arts Briefs | August 1 edition | Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

Dance Classes

Nomadic Dance will offer two upcoming classes in the movement room of Open Space for Arts & Community.

Lead & Follow 101 will take place from 6-6:55 p.m. on Tuesdays, Aug. 6-20, and teach how to create connections in partner movement. Another class, Flashmob, will teach its participants a short piece of choreography for surprise performances at Vashon events. Find out when the class is scheduled, or register for Lead & Follow, by emailing sarah@nomadicedance.com.

Jam in the Atrium

Free-to-the-pubic, this month’s “Jam In The Atrium” at Vashon Center for the Arts will take place from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, with guests guitarist Brian Monroney and saxophonist Alexey Nikolaev.

Lauded by those in the know as a local treasure, Monroney is almost constantly on stage with many of the region’s top jazz artists. His duet performance with Bruce Phares a year ago on the island is still remembered by some as a highlight of 2023’s island jazz performances.

Nikolaev is also an in-demand player, performing in myriad upper-echelon ensembles around the region.

Stupid Bike Night

Vashon’s band of pedal-powered visionaries needs cash to keep the treasured tradition rolling down the road on Vashon.

The GoFundMe campaign, at tinyurl.com/uv8mjb8r, details the costs of the event, including storage space and necessary tools and other costs, for the next three years.

Another chance to support Stupid Bike Night will be “Barn Burner,” a micro music festival to take place from 3-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at Dig Deep Gardens. The fest will feature performances by The Duration, Twig Flicker and Croaker.

Studio Ghibli Festival

Friends of Mukai’s popular Studio Ghibli Festival will continue with two more screenings of masterworks by revered animator Hayao Miyazaki at 7 p.m. every other Tuesday.

Next up in the series are “My Neighbor Totoro” on Tuesday, Aug. 6; and “Princess Mononoke”, on Tuesday, Aug. 20. Both films will be shown in English.

Karaoke, starting at 6:15 p.m. at the theater, encourages earlier arrival as the concession line has been so long at the festival’s sold-out screenings.

Screenings are free to the public with a suggested donation of $5 per person at the door.

Visit mukaifarmandgarden.org for additional information about the shows.

Open Air returns

Enjoy an afternoon of drama and delight at the 13th annual Open Air Aerial Festival, at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, on the grounds of Open Space for Arts & Community. Bring family, friends, a chair or blanket, and a picnic basket to share while you ooh and ah to multiple presentations of choreographed acrobatic spectacle.

Admission is by donation online or at the door, with a suggested donation of $20 for adults, and $10 for ages 12 and older. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Service animals are welcome, but leave pets at home. RSVPs are appreciated at openspacevashon.org.

Red Tiger Tales

Vashon’s famed UMO Ensemble will go Zen, performing “Red Tiger Tales” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, on the the Great Lawn of Open Space for Arts & Community.

In the show, red-nosed-monk-clowns weave Buddhist, Zen and Sufi stories with masks, puppets, music, and physical comedy. UMO Ensemble members tackle life head-on, juggling and balancing, singing and clowning in this show meant for the whole family.

Admission is by donation online or at the door, with a suggested donation of $20 for adults, and $10 for ages 12 and younger. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Bring your favorite folding chair and comfy blanket, and a picnic. Service animals are welcome, but leave pets at home. RSVPs are appreciated at openspacevashon.org.