Throughout the year, Jersey City and other Hudson locales snap, crackle and pop with cultural events – art shows, plays, and dance performances – put on by the diverse and richly-talented artists who live in our local neighborhoods. Art is a huge part of Hudsonâ€s community and quality-of-life; so, from now on, in every issue of River View Observer, weâ€ll list this go-to guide to whatâ€s happening on the local ArtSCENE.

 313 Gallery at JC Art School

 

313 GALLERY, 313 –3^rd Street, JC, (732) 877-9116, www.jcartist.org.

Now through Feb 21: GENTRIFICATION, The Changing Landscape of Jersey City – A documentary art exhibition featuring Narciso Espiritu, Fabricio Suarez, Sam Pullin; curated by Allison Hall.

ART HOUSE PRODUCTIONS, 136 Magnolia Ave, JC, (201) 915-9911, www.arthouseproductions.org. A non-profit organization bringing multi-media arts programs to Jersey City including original theater, music events, visual arts, experimental performance, classes, video/new media and the citywide arts festival, JC Fridays. Feb. 12-14, 19-21 at 8 pm; Feb 15 and 22 at 7 pm: THE SHAPESHIFTER, A sensory play by Meg Merriet.

THE BRUNSWICK WINDOW, 158 Brunswick St, JC, (201) 978-8939, Artistic window displays 24/7.
EVENING STAR STUDIOS, 11 Monitor St, JC, (201) 388-7323, Handcrafted art pieces; pottery throwing demonstrations.

 

GAIA STUDIO 315 3rd St, JC, www.gaiastudio.org. Each month Gaia gallery exhibits the work of a Gaia member and colleagues. Openings are on the first Friday of the month, 6-9 pm.

 ”Wonder Woman” by Teresa Garcia at Grassroots Community Space

 

GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY SPACE, 54 Coles St, JC, (201) 500-5483, www.grassrootscommunityspace.com. Classes held in Bollywood Funk, Martial Arts, Drum Circles; the work of local artists exhibited throughout the space.

 

LITM (Love is the Message), 140 Newark Ave, JC, (201) 536-5557, www.litm.com. In February: SHIFTING REALITIES, works by Liz Defrain, Mumbot, Lau Gallico, Gail Boykewich and Andrea Morin. “These five artists, while having different aesthetic styles, create works that delve into the otherworldly. Some are subtle, leaving the viewer with an inexplicable eerie feeling or strange sense of wonder. Others take you straight into a realm of the fantastic. Come and step into their worlds.”

  

    Costumes from the Armitage at MANA now through March 13

MANA CONTEMPORARY, 818 Newark Ave, JC, (201) 604-2702, www.manacontemporary.com. Large art complex with exhibitions, artist studios, framing and restoration. Through March 13: MAKING ART DANCE: Backdrops and Costumes from the Armitage Foundation. “Curated by Jeffrey Deitch, the exhibit features sets and costumes created in the past 30 years by Armitage in collaboration with artists and designers including Jean Paul Gaultier, Jeff Koons, Christian Lacroix, David Salle, Peter Speliopoulos, and Philip Taaffe.” Now through April 24: John Newsomâ€s ROGUE ARENA, “Each of John Newsomâ€s arresting, kaleidoscopic paintings is a visual adventure. The New York-based artistâ€s super-sized canvases display a dense depiction of life-like animals and vegetation, which sit atop layers of abstract backgrounds comprised of impastoed textures, schizophrenic brushstrokes, and hard-edged, monochrome shapes.” Thereâ€s more to see; visit the website.

  Mary Benson Gallery, Jersey City

 

MARY BENSON GALLERY, 369 Third St, JC. For more info, visit their Facebook page.

PANEPINTO GALLERIES, 371 Warren Street, www.panepintogalleries.com; art@panepintogalleries.com. “Panepinto Galleries was founded by Stefania Panepinto in 2011 as a collective space to host gallery viewings, film screenings, theatrical performances, photo shoots, art exhibitions and events of all kinds, as well as build a vibrant community of artists. Located in the heart of the Powerhouse Arts District in Jersey City.”

  Local artists†work fills the walls at Port-O-Lounge, JC

 PORT-O LOUNGE, 286 1st St, JC. www.portolounge.com.

 

PRO ARTS, 135 Greene St, JC; 201-736-7057; www.proartsjerseycity.org; proarts@gmail.com.

Now through April 27: GESTURES IN ART, New Paintings and the Gimme Shelter Project, featuring works by Michele Vitale and Gail Winbury; curated by Eileen Ferara, and on view at Windows On Columbus on Columbus Drive between Washington and Greene Streets, and at the Lobby on Greene St, at 135 Greene Street off Columbus Drive. The exhibit is free and open to the public 24/7. “Pro Arts Jersey City is an organization of professionals in the visual arts, mainly from Jersey City and the surrounding metropolitan area, who are working to promote the arts and to better communicate Jersey Cityâ€s identity as a growing arts center.” Visit their website www.proartsjerseycity.org or call 201-736-7057 for more information.

 

RAVEN GALLERY AND BOUTIQUE, 304 Newark Ave, JC; (201) 565-3046; www.theravengalleryandboutique.com. Fri, Feb. 13, 6-10 pm: EAT YOUR HEART OUT! “Come to The Raven Gallery & Boutique to mend your broken heart, celebrate yourself, look at some great art from our Industrial NJ show, engage in some interactive anti-Valentine’s activities, check out our broken hearts curtain, drink some Cupid’s blood (hehe!), or just hang out! We will be open special hours for that special person- YOU!” Thereâ€s more to see; visit their website. Artists†works curated by Javiera Rodriguez and Andrea McKenna.

Sno-Balls by Pamela Talese at the Village West Gallery, downtown.

VILLAGE WEST GALLERY, 331 Newark Ave, JC. www.villagewestgallery.com; robinsonholloway@gmail.com. Opening Feb. 18 and running through March 8: BREAD AND CIRCUSES. “The term dates back to ancient Rome (‘panem et circensesâ€), when “bread and circuses” were deemed enough to keep the population distracted and undemanding – our modern day equivalent might be ‘corn syrup and Kardashians.†Twenty eight artists have tackled the theme, both literally and politically. Village West Gallery is located in the Village neighborhood of Historic Downtown Jersey City.  Aside from receptions and special events, it is open by appointment only.

If you have an art opening or performances coming up including visual arts, performing arts and street arts, send an email to:  Riverviewobserver@gmail.com or call 201-776-9222 and weâ€ll list it in ArtSCENE.

Compiled by Sally Deering and Fermin Mendoza.

The post ArtSCENE: ART SHOWS, PLAYS AND DANCE PERFORMANCE LISTINGS first appeared on River View Observer.

Sally Deering

1, 2, 3, 4 – thatâ€s all you the time you have before your hips are swinging, wrists are flicking and you are caught up in the joyful dance known as Bollywood Funk.

Professional dancer and teacher Ayesha Khanna blows the roof off the Grassroots Community Space in Jersey City when she turns on the music and her students take to the dance floor for her one-hour Bollywood Funk dance class.  Bollywood Funk encompasses a mix of jazz, hip-hop and fusion dance moves choreographed to the beats of Bollywood movie soundtracks with an added sexiness that takes Bollywood dance to a whole new and exciting form of expression.

“Bollywood is not a dance form, itâ€s a Hindi film industry,” Khanna says. “Bollywood films can have any type of plot, but in every Bollywood film there are 4-5 songs and each character is introduced through their song.”

And in Bollywood, every song is a concept – love, anger, revenge, patriotism – and has its own dance number. It may be a patriotic song, but when Khanna choreographs it Bollywood Funk-style, itâ€s a new and energetic presentation. The 12 dancers at a recent Saturday class were learning steps to a routine to the Bollywood song “Indiawale” (the electronic version) by composer Vishal Shekhar – and seemed to be having a blast.

Khanna, who is a classically trained dancer and studied Kathak in India, was a member of Ashley Loboâ€s Danceworx dance troupe and on the verge of a Bollywood career when she landed a role in the 2004 film “Dhoom”.  Instead of staying in India, in 2005 Khanna decided to move to New York and marry her fiancé. She started Bollywood Funk NYC in 2007 and teaches in Manhattan and Jersey City.

“I had the privilege of learning from the best,” Khanna says. “Itâ€s important to learn technique, discipline and the respect the dance floor demands – and respect for your guru. In India, they are second to your parents.”

The Bollywood Funk NYC dancers have performed Flash Mobs at the Grove Street Plaza in Jersey City; and in Times Square, New York City, the New York Governorâ€s Ball, and just recently at Madison Square Garden where they performed at the opening ceremony for the NBAâ€s Liberty basketball team.  In October, they perform at the South Street Seaport in Manhattan.

“Dance needs to come from your soul,” Khanna says. “Every movement needs to mean something.”

A student at Bollywood Funk for 1-1/2 years – and a member of the troupe – Abhishek Shivkumar says he enjoys learning from Khanna and that dancing has helped him in his work as an IT Consultant.

“Itâ€s so enjoyable to dance with Ayesha,” Shivkumar, 29, says. “The creativity that goes into the dancing is so great. We go from jazz into hip-hop – itâ€s so many forms of dance and even after two hours, she gives the same energy. I loved Bollywood dancing as a kid, and now dance has driven me better into my IT world. It helps me in my work. Ayesha teaches me a step that challenges me. I go to work and there are challenges.”

Zenobia Dotiwala, who works as a project manager for a research consulting company is one of Khannaâ€s Bollywood Funk instructors and also takes class with Khanna.

“I feel like Iâ€m most myself when I come to class,” Dotiwala says. “It gives me the chance to express myself. I like Bollywood Funk because it has a Western influence on Bollywood music which I love so much.”

Each class is a progression of a choreographed dance that the students perform for friends and family at the student performance night. Fees are 5 classes for $89; 10 classes for $160 and 20 classes for $260.

“We exist, hence we express,” Khanna says. “Give dance a chance. Whatever youâ€re feeling, instead of bottling it up, use dance as therapy.”

Bollywood dancing delivers a special message, too. Khanna says: “The message is whoever you are, you can dance with us. Thatâ€s why Bollywood is so popular in America.”

After class, Grassroots Community Space director Chelo Mercado swept up and got the space ready for the next group. At Grassroots, there are weekly classes in Zumba, Pilates, Egyptian Dance, Martial Arts, Yoga and even a Cute Ukes ukulele class for kids. And every 3rd Friday of the month, Mercado hosts a Drum Circle. Founded by artists and supporters of the arts to enrich the communityâ€s quality of life, the venue provides a meeting place for people who want to convene, share ideas and explore different aspects of the human experience.

“This is an arts incubator,” Mercado says. “You bring your art, your energy and your love, and weâ€ll support you.

For info:

Bollywood Funk NYC in Jersey City

www.bollywoodfunknyc.com

jc@bollywoodfunknyc.com

(212) 502-7997

Class Schedule:

Tues: 6-7 pm, 8-9 pm

Thurs: 6-7 pm, 7-8 pm

Sat: 12-1 pm

Grassroots Community Art Space

54 Coles Street

(Downtown) Jersey City

www.grassrootscommunityspace.com

The post Dance like a Bollywood Star -Bollywood Funk Dance Dance Classes Rock Grassroots Community Space in Jersey City first appeared on River View Observer.