Ellen Bartel founded Spank Dance Company ten years ago and for the past seven, she and her dancers have presented Dance Carousel as part of FronteraFest. Billed as a “dance sampler,” this year’s show features forty one-minute dances, created by ten choreographers, and performed by soloists, duets, and groups accompanied by everything from commercial pop recordings to original scores. In short—and we mean that literally—Dance Carousel is spectacular. more ›

This might not technically be theatre, but it made for some great comedy. On Saturday's show [listen], the Car Talk guys repeated the name of Austinite and Puzzler-winner Quentin Fennessy eight times in a row.... more ›

Starting tonight and going through February 3, The Long Fringe portion of FronteraFest will showcase pieces up to 90 minutes at the Blue Theater. Max Langert's You're Happier Than You Think: Recalibrating Your Emotional Scale and Spank Dance Company's Dance Carousel 2008 kick off the shows with stories of downtrodden ocean liner passengers and innovative choreography. more ›

Fall finally arrived on Sunday, not that anyone would notice. However, autumn also brings a start to most theatre companies' 2007-08 season. Things are kicking on Austin's boards. Here're a few shows we're excited about. If you need to warm up, consider taking in Naughty Austin's Cellbloq. In the words of writer-producer Blake Yelavich, who says it best, "Yes, it's about a bunch of muscular guys in prison, but that doesn't mean it is strictly... more ›

Spank Dance Company and Refraction Arts are hosting a festival this month celebrating modern dance. Because most of you were probably out at that little music festival last weekend, you might have missed some seriously rockin’ dance performances during opening weekend. Don’t be sad, though, because there are two more weekends in September for you to get your contemporary dance on. Hot September Flurries is a massive collaborative event with involvement from Salvage Vanguard Theatre,... more ›

We hope that after seven other posts about Spot the Spank you are aware that Austinist has teamed up with Spank Dance Company to be the exclusive promotional outlet for their latest dance 4Red Lines. Prior to each performance, Austinist has posted a clue to help you determine its secret location. If you haven’t recovered from Eeyore’s Birthday been able to catch at least one of these performances, what are you waiting for? This is... more ›

This Thursday, Austinist presents another installment of Spot the Spank. By now, we hope you are already aware that Austinist has teamed up with Spank Dance Company to give you clues on where to check out their latest dance production, 4Red Lines. If you haven’t been able to catch the performance, what are you waiting for? Perhaps our clues have been just that good. Or maybe you were partaking in other recreational activities at Eeyore’s... more ›

As you're hopefully already aware, Austinist has teamed up with Spank Dance Company to be the exclusive promotional outlet for their latest dance production, 4Red Lines. The location for this Saturday’s two performances will be prime people watching and a perfect backdrop to observe the interaction between the dancers and the audience. If you haven’t been able to “Spot the Spank” guess the location of the upcoming performances from the clue listed below and come... more ›

What happens when you throw music, dance, poetry, photography, visual art, theatre, film, and -- why not? -- opera into a great big blue box and shake? You get an explosion of proportions that only the creative geniuses at Refraction Arts can contain. This year's Fuse Box Festival, featuring artists from Brooklyn to Portland and places in between, showcases works you've never seen before and aren't likely to see hence. Things start gearing up this... more ›

Spank Dance Company is conducting a social experiment on you. Have you noticed? Were you wandering around outside of the Convention Center during SXSW only to see four red clad dancers (and one whimsical ring leader) spontaneously break into dance? Maybe you were enjoying the epic day we had this past Thursday at Republic Square Park and caught a glimpse of them. According to Spank Dance Company's director and choreographer, Ellen Bartel, if you... more ›

Austinist is honored to present the second installment of Spot the Spank, an ongoing modern dance treasure hunt taking place throughout this great city we call home. As mentioned during the madness of SXSW, Spank Dance Company has partnered with Austinist to promote their original contemporary dance piece titled 4Red Lines. Performed in an outdoor public venue, the dance addresses the barriers between performer and audience, the concrete and the abstract. Ellen Bartel, choreographer... more ›

Spank Dance Company, with choreography by Ellen Bartel, will be presenting a series of public performances over the next few weeks. The guerilla-style dance performances are meant to bring art to the public by breaking the access barrier to fine art. Staged throughout the streets of Austin, the contemporary dance company will be performing in bright red costumes that will be hard to miss. Spank has partnered with Austinist to provide clues as to... more ›

FRIDAY [16] music •Of Montreal, Elekibass, DJ Jester the Filipino Fist at Emo's (outside) music •Those Peabodys, Ume, Oh, Beast!, El Paso Hot Button at Emo's music •Spank Dance Company, Hello Lovers at Emo's Lounge music •Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Reckless Kelly at La Zona Rosa music •Long John Thomas & The Duff, Bellfuries, Eddie Clendening & The Blue Ribbon Boys, The Aquasonics at Continental Club music •Bruce Robison at Cactus Café (9pm,... more ›

Just in case you’re on your way to Austin to check out some cool new bands or dig on a few great new movies and it suddenly occurs to you – wait! I hate good movies, awesome music and free beer. What in the hell will I do with myself whilst kickin’ it old skool in the A-burg? You could see some kick-ass new work from Austin fringe dance queen, Ellen Bartell. Bartell’s Spank... more ›