dance

The opening sequence featuring clips of the semifinalists is trying to be all tense and dramatic and uber-competitive. Then the show starts and the troupe and pros are doing a goofy jive with a bowling theme. Tonal whiplash.

Almost 30 years after "Dirty Dancing" became a surprise hit movie, it's a successful stage show, guided by the original writer, Eleanor Bergstein.

Nearly 40 Reservoir High School dance students staged a 30-minute preview of their upcoming spring show for seniors with the North Laurel 50+ Center.

Welcome to a "Dancing With The Stars" results show! Haven't done one of these in a while, have we?

Apparently tonight is "America's Choice" night. I forgot to vote - I hope this doesn't mean I'm in danger of losing my citizenship. Tomorrow night is results night with a double elimination.

CNN host Mike Rowe visits Fort McHenry, dons swim trunks for CNN show "Somebody's Gotta Do It."

Older Americans Month, which has "Getting into the Act" as theme for 2015, will be observed by Carroll County Bureau of Aging & Disabilities

Tonight is "Eras" night, not that I have any idea what that means. I do know the opening number has the women dancers in evening gowns and the men in black tie. This works for me.

It was hard to tell exactly where the music was coming from — perhaps from the large yellow van at the corner of North Avenue and Monroe Street — but the song was clear and loud: Michael Jackson's "Man In The Mirror."

In an extraordinary display of community involvement, the city of Laurel's 1970 centennial celebration spanned eight days, was managed by a Who's Who of the Laurel business community, staged events in every corner of the city, raised tens of thousands of dollars from sponsoring local businesses and, most impressive, produced a massive stage play about Laurel's history that included a cast of almost 400 residents.

Manchester Valley High School is ready to get a little kooky this month. The school's drama club will present "The Addams Family" April 17 through 25.

It's Disney Night on "Dancing With The Stars," and some of the couples had very interesting choreography to go along with the Disney songs they were dancing to.

North Harford High School graduate Mindy Dalmas Cutcher, principal harpist with the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, will return to Harford County April 18 for a program called "Principally Harps!"

Gwendolyn E. Biddle, a retired dance and home economics teacher who called herself a "one person Peace Corps," died.

When last we spoke with Mike Rowe, he was talking about how he planned to use his new CNN show "Somebody's Gotta Do It" to try and improve Baltimore's TV image.

Tonight is "the most memorable year" episode of "Dancing With The Stars." Results, including which couples are safe, are sprinkled throughout the show.

The Great Dane Club of Maryland offers two shows on April 11 at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship.

It's Latin night on "Dancing With The Stars," which means lots of bikini tops and feathers. And for Suzanne Somers, a Carmen Miranda outfit. Of course.

Baltimore is a city of the arts. Walk through any neighborhood and it's not uncommon to notice a musician with a guitar strapped to his or her back or a paintbrush peeking from a bag slung over an artist's shoulder. If that neighborhood happens to be Mt. Vernon, those telltale signs of artistry might include tights and a "bun-head." This month, as we celebrate the Peabody Dance program's centenary (peabody.jhu.edu/dance100), we also commemorate its place in Baltimore history and in Baltimore's

Events taking place around Baltimore County

Tonight is "My Jam" Monday, where the stars will be dancing to their favorite songs. And the first of the stars gets eliminated.

Dance for dads, daughters will be held April 4 in Westminster to benefit Tori Chandler Foundation

Local family embraces Irish heritage through music, food, dance

Bel Air native Sarah Lapointe will find out next month if she has been selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, which means she will be one of 20 high school seniors from across the nation who will travel to Washington, D.C. in June for the recognition ceremony.

The opening credits tell us that 10 years ago a tradition began, and we see brief clips of some of the past winners. Then we're told tonight a new dance era begins, before this year's "stars" are introduced. This year more than ever it's hard to defend the show's definition of "star." I have no idea who half these people are.

Bagpipers, step dancers and green-clad Irish celebrants of all sorts marched the streets Sunday in Baltimore's 60th St. Patrick's Day Parade.

if you want to celebrate St. Patrick's Day by moving like an Irish man or woman, that'll take some work. Casey O'Connor will be glad to help.

Ellicott City resident Gabrielle "Gaby" Stratmann's journey with Irish dance began in 2006 and has taken her around the world for competitions. Recently, the 14-year-old won first place in her age group at the Southern Region Title for Irish Dance in Orlando, Fla.

Robert Irwin Epstein, a retired mechanical engineer who enjoyed traditional Irish dancing, died.

Corbit's Charge Civil War Ball to be held from 8 to 11 p.m. March 21 at the Old Armory Building in Westminster

Corbit's Charge Civil War Ball to be held from 8 to 11 p.m. March 21 at the Old Armory Building in Westminster

Taneytown Senior and Commuity Center offers equipment room, classes to encourage fitness

The run of "Chicago" at the Hippodrome (now through Sunday) represents a homecoming of sorts for cast member Robin Masella, who plays Liz, the condemned prisoner who shot her husband after he popped his gum one-time-too-many.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Howard County Public Library system went all out for its annual fundraiser, Evening in the Stacks. With the theme "Black Ties, White Diamonds," the event transformed the Miller branch — which closed early on Saturday, Feb. 28 to prepare — into an elegant party venue featuring several stations of food, open bars, glowing candelabrum and a dance floor.

10th-anniversary Seniors on the Go: An Aging & Disabilities Expo set for April 8 at Ag Center

Midway through its 2014-2015 season at the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Ballet Theatre of Maryland is continuing its Vote-Your-Choice season with performances picked by audience members.

At Mt. Hebron High School, some students are dancing their way to popularity on the school's breakdancing team.

Sandy Richmond, longtime president and executive director of Baltimore's Modell-Lyric Center heads to Detroit's Fox Theatre; search underway for successor.

Anne Arundel County datebook

Four Calvert Hall seniors have signed with colleges to play football. Kenji Bahar, of Parkville, has committed to Monmouth University. Other students who made college commitments included Dionte Austin (Wake Forest University), Lawrence Cager (University of Miami), and Bryan Marine (Bucknell University).