June 1, 2005

Turn up the volume: Dancin’ on the Avenue event set for June 18

By Carol Rosen
Editor

It’s that time of the year again, when spring wafts its breezes over the neighborhood and people get out their dancing shoes.

Get ready for this year’s Dancin’ on the Avenue event, set for June 18 from 5 to 10 p.m. as usual on Lincoln Avenue between Willow and Minnesota.

Get ready for this year’s Dancin’ on the Avenue event, set for June 18 from 5 to 10 p.m. as usual on Lincoln Avenue between Willow and Minnesota.

Four stages will feature bands including the Joe Sharino Band, which will perform at the Peak Travel Stage at the Stevens Building Lot at 1202 Lincoln. This band has played for Dancin’ on the Avenue for at least 15 years, according to Sharino, who is the lead vocalist and guitarist and also plays keyboard. Others in the band include Andy Morales, lead vocals, drums, percussion and guitar; Mark Belshaw, lead vocals, saxophone, guitar, keyboard, flute; Dave Petrucci, vocals, keyboard and guitar.

The Garage Band will play its music on the Comerica Stage located at Jamba Juice. NuDay Band will perform on the Countrywide Stage at Brace and Lincoln and Daddy-O will play its music at the WaMu Stage, which is located at Lincoln and Minnesota.

Half-hour performances will be featured at the Windemere Community Stage in the Wells Fargo parking lot. The Dance Theatre International will perform ballet at 5 p.m. followed by the Ester Dance team doing jazz at 5:30. Center Stage, a jazz showcase, will perform at 6 p.m. followed at 6:30 by Charsette. The East/West Dance Studio takes over at 7 p.m., followed by the Salsa Group Performance competition team at 7:30 and the Salsa Group Performance dance lessons at 8 p.m.

Fontain’s M.U.S.E. is back again for its third year. It will perform from 7 to 8 p.m., or longer depending on the crowd, in front of the Water Rituals Salon and Gallery, 1000 Lincoln Ave. at Coe. The group plays original pop, dance groove, world music and jazz. Performers include dancers, acrobats and multicultural performers, along with electronic dance grooves, Eastern instrumentation and Indian percussion. Vocals are sung in various languages including English, Persian, Hindi, French and Spanish.

This year, the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association has decided to add a Kids Court. Located in the Wells Fargo parking lot, it will be an area specifically designed for kids featuring various activities including a Hula theme tent, face painting and more. There will also be a baby changing station. Alchemy Hair Studio will be hosting a four (4) Carnival tents with games and prizes, including milk bottle topple, the lolly pop tree, mini golf and night glow jewelry. All profits to benefit Booksin Elementary School.
 
What would Dancin’ on the Avenue be without food and drinks? A number of local restaurants are planning to provide various tasty dishes to provide energy between bouts of dancing. Sushi Kazoo will feature California rolls, Edamanie, a chicken teriyaki bowl, gyoza and chicken nuggets. Pizza My Heart and Round Table Pizza will offer pizza. Casablanca Café will provide kufta kabab sandwiches, Gyros, falafels, falafel deluxe and lamb kababs.

Taiwan offers egg rolls, chicken salad, country ribs, fried wontons, broccoli beef and chicken chow mein along with rice. Willow Street Pizza’s menu includes garlic fries, BBQ sausages (Italian, Polish and Cajun), hot dogs, chicken kabobs, pork kebabs and roasted corn. Puerta Azul offers tacos and Jersey’s will provide cheese steak sandwiches. Kicks will sell handmade ice cream sandwiches and Olde Tyme Kettle Korn will offer Kettle Korn. Hot Dig A Dee Dogs will sell hot dogs, Cajun links, Dig A Dee Dog Burgers and Nachos.

Event sponsors include All Seasons Remodeling, Bank of America, Bob Lewis, Bottomley, the city of San Jose, Comerica, Countrywide, Gallery Framing, GMAC, GreenTeam, Gugliemo Winery, KB Home, Peak Travel, Prudential, SVCN, Trendwest, United Capital Title Insurance, US Bank, WAMU, Wells Fargo and Windemere.