Have you caught the dance spirit yet?
Ecstatic Dance New West is inviting people of all ages to join in their event this weekend.
The group is holding a special all-ages, family-friendly edition on Saturday, June 21 at Ammara Dance Studio.
Ecstatic Dance sessions are non-facilitated, freestyle dance sessions with no instruction or choreography.
Music starts with meditative pieces, followed by faster, more rhythmic pieces to get you moving, peaking with high-energy music to give you a chance to let go, and then gradually coming back to meditative stillness.
The music lasts about an hour, running from 10 to 11 a.m.
It costs $15, and for this special family edition, kids can participate (with an adult) for $5.
You can register through eventbrite.ca or pay cash at the door.
For information, email [email protected].
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Poetic Justice fans, take note of a change of venue for the June sessions.
The poetry reading sessions, which have been taking place at Heritage Grill, have moved to Renaissance Bookstore for June.
On June 22, the session will be hosted by Janet Kvammen, with featured poets Dominic DiCarlo, Navaro Franco and Franci Louann. On June 29, Alan Hill hosts a session with Sherry Duggal, Sonja Grgar and Janet Kvammen.
There is also an open mike time at each session.
The sessions run from 3 to 5 p.m.
And take note: the June 29 session is the last one until the fall, since it shuts down for the summer.
See www.poeticjustice.ca.
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And while we're on the subject of poetry, I promised a while back that I would bring you more information about Poetry in the Park as the season drew closer.
Since we're getting dangerously close to July (how did that happen?), now seems like a good time to follow up on that promise.
Poetry in the Park is presented by the Royal City Literary Arts Society on Wednesday evenings in July and August, running July 2 through Aug. 27.
People gather at the bandshell in Queen's Park to listen to featured poets and take part - if they want to - in a community open mike.
The sessions are hosted by Candice James, the poet laureate of New Westminster.
On July 2, you'll hear from Candice James, Dominic DiCarlo and Ariadne Sawyer. On July 9, the session features Alan Hill, Daniela Elza and Celeste Snowber, and on July 16, it's Kyle McKillop, Carol Shillibeer and Sonja Grgar.
And, yes, the event runs rain or shine - but in the case of rain, it moves indoors to the nearby Arts Council of New Westminster gallery.
For the full schedule, see rclas.com/poetry-park.
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A reminder for movie fans that June 30 marks the last screening of the Last Mondays at the Movies season.
Tim's Vermeer is showing at 7:30 p.m. at the Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave.
The film - directed by Teller of Penn and Teller fame - tells the story of Tim Jenison, a Texas-based inventor who attempts to solve the mystery of how 17th-century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer managed to paint so photorealistically some 150 years before the invention of photography.
It follows Jenison's journey to Holland and England is a quest to solve the mystery.
Tickets are $9, and you can buy at the door.
For all the details on the movie series, keep an eye on www.artscouncilnewwest.org.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment suggestions to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
