San Jose steps up for third year of CityDance series
With TV shows like “World of Dance” wildly popular these days, it’s refreshing to find dancing isn’t just a spectator sport in San Jose. If you want proof, just check out CityDance, the weekly series that kicks off its third year Thursday at Plaza de Cesar Chavez.
Every week, about 200 or more people show up to take a lesson and dance the night away, with a food truck and beer garden on site for when it’s time to take a break. The secret ingredient to the series’ success may be the wide variety of dance genres offered. For this week’s opener, running from 5:30 to 9 p.m., Sandy Chao and John York from Redwood City-based Mambo Groovin’ Latin Dance Theater will provide Salsa instruction, with music by Orquestra Latin Heat.
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and Director of Cultural Affairs Kerry Adams-Hapner will be there to welcome the opening night crowd, but you’ll have to show up to find out if either of then will show off any dance moves.
The rest of the CityDance lineup features Country Line Dancing (Aug. 23), Bollywood (Aug. 30), Disco (Sept. 6), Electro Swing (Sept. 13), K-Pop (Sept. 20), Merengue and Bachata (Sept. 27) and Vogue (Oct. 4).
PARTY HELPERS >> Ewell Sterner, executive director of Hunger at Home, is lining things up for the nonprofit’s third annual Bridge the Gap concert fundraiser on Sept. 7. Grammy winner Tony Lindsay, known from his days as lead singer for Santana, and his band will headline the event at the Fairmont San Jose.
If you’ve been to either of Hunger at Home’s previous events, you know the music is just part of the draw. The evening includes small plates prepared by a dozen Silicon Valley restaurant and catering chefs, along with craft beer and wine from the region. And it all goes for a good cause, supporting Hunger at Home’s mission to collect surplus food from hotels, convention centers and big event venues and give it to nonprofit groups that feed the homeless and hungry, including Martha’s Kitchen in
San Jose, the event’s primary beneficiary.
Tickets are $175 per person, with tables of 10 available for $1,600. Go to hungerathome.org for details and tickets.
SIPPING AT THE ROW >> The fifth annual Santana Row Wine Stroll benefitting Bill Wilson Center is happening Thursday at the swanky San Jose shopping center. More than a dozen winemakers — including House Family Vineyards, Burrell School Vineyards and Testarossa Winery — will be pouring at various stops on the Row, like Ted Baker, Lululemon and Mendocino Farms. There also will be live bites and a silent auction in Santana Row Park.
It runs from 6 to 9 p.m. and tickets are $40, supporting Bill Wilson Center’s programs for at-risk and homeless youth in Santa Clara County. Purchase tickets online at www.santanarow.com or in person at the Santana Row Concierge Office.
BIRTHDAY BASH >> Susanne Wilson, who was part of the wave of women elected to office in San Jose during the 1970s, celebrated her 90th birthday over the weekend. Among those there to sing “Happy Birthday” to Wilson — who served on the San Jose City Council and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors — were former Santa Clara County Supervisor Rod Diridon, former U.S. Rep. Mike Honda and current Supervisor Ken Yeager, who first interned for Wilson when he was at San Jose State and she was on the city council.