VAA's Performing Arts program provides opportunities for island artists to perform and also brings high-quality off-island entertainment to Vashon Island.

Music    Dance    Drama    Classes

Vashon Allied Arts hosts local, regional, national and international performing artists year-round, such as world renowned guitarist, Alex de Grassi (above) who performed here November, 2009.

VAA New Works Series

New Works Series 2011

Performing artists who live on Vashon Island are invited to apply to join Vashon Allied Arts’ long tradition of New Works. This series provides the Blue Heron venue for artists from any performance discipline––music (all genres), dance, literary, theater––to premiere new work and/or new collaborations between January and November 2011.

An interdisciplinary panel of Island performing artists will meet in early October to review and select recipients. VAA New Works Series was established in 1989 for Island resident artists to present new work to the community at the Blue Heron. New Works performances have inspired performers and brought to the stage formidable talents of many islanders.

Application forms are now available at Blue Heron Art Center or you can click here to download. Deadline is 5 pm, Saturday, October 2, 2010.

For information, please call 463.5131, ext. 226, or email JaniceR@VashonAlliedArts.org.

Tickets for all performances are available at Blue Heron Art Center, Heron’s Nest, Books by the Way and brownpapertickets.com. Please call 206.463.5131 to purchase by phone.

VAA Panache Jazz Series

The Panache Series offers an elegant evening night out with some of the Northwest’s best jazz performers, complimentary champagne and desserts.

Watch this site, VAA's Island Arts publication and www.vashoncalendar.org for specifics.

VAA Family Series

In addition to our annual dance performances (Nutcracker in December and spring production in May) and Vashon Island Youth Chorus musical theatre productions (December and April), VAA also offers quality family programming designed to meet the needs of families with young children and adults who are young at heart! These programs are appropriate for all ages, although some may be geared more specifically to a particular age group.

Watch this site, VAA's Island Arts publication and www.vashoncalendar.org for specifics.

Sponsored by:
CenturyLink
Vashon Thriftway
Washington State Arts Commission
Arts Fund
4Culture

Summer Music Festival

Spend a mid-summer afternoon in the beautiful, waterside Camp Burton outdoor amphitheater enjoying a rich mix of local and international talent.  Multiple groups provide bountiful entertainment for all ages and sumptuous food is also available for dinner. 

Watch this site, VAA's Island Arts publication and www.vashoncalendar.org for specifics.

Click here for more information...

Concerts in the Park

Summer Concerts in the Park, free music for the whole family slated for Thursday evenings, 7 to 9 pm, in June, July, August and September is a committed collaborative effort between Vashon Park District and Vashon Allied Arts. All concerts take place at Ober Park. Bring the whole family, friends and family; see you there.

June 17- Rumor Has It
June 24 - Teresa Tudury
July 8- Too Slim and the Taildraggers
July 22 - Cyrano in the Park
July 29 - Craigmore
August 19 - Incendio
August 26 - Vashon Island Chorale & Portage Fill

Watch this site, VAA's Island Arts publication and www.vashoncalendar.org for specifics.

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Nutcracker Ballet

The Nutcracker Ballet is based on "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" written by E.T.A. Hoffman. In 1891, the legendary choreographer Marius Petipa commissioned Tchaikovsky to write the music for the Nutcracker Ballet. In 1892, the first showing of the Nutcracker took place at Russia's Mariinsky Theatre, home of the Kirov Ballet.

The Nutcracker made its way to Western Europe in the 1930's and to the United States by 1940;. The first U.S. full-length Nutcracker was performed by the San Francisco Ballet..

The Blue Heron Dance Company's production of the Nutcracker has become a treasured holiday tradition every December, as well as a rite of passage for young dancers. Sets designed by Michelle Berlin, costumes by Kate Guinee and the Ballet is choreographed by Director of Blue Heron Dance, Christine Juarez.

Images from Nutcracker 2009 can be seen here...
Images from past performances may also be found here...

Blue Heron Dance Company

Artistic Director: Christine Juarez

The Blue Heron Dance Company is an extension of the class program that stages  19th Century Classical Ballets, including: Swan Lake, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, La Sylphide, Midsummer Night's Dream and many more. Productions are enjoyed by over 1000 islanders every May.
Read more about Blue Heron Dance...

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Come out for original plays, one-person shows, theatrical readings, youth theater and community theater, all showing at the Blue Heron Art Center.

Vashon Allied Arts also brings in regional theater groups and individuals and collaborates with Drama Dock (Vashon’s community theater group) to present classic theatre for all ages. Check out www.vashoncalendar.org for advance calendar listings.

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Prefer to be on the stage instead of in front of it?  Look into VAA's Drama classes and workshops.  VAA offers over 150 classes each year to get you involved in the arts.  Read more...

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