Festival Fever: SaratogaArtsFest, 6/10-13

The fourth annual SaratogaArtsFest rolls in the Spa City on Thursday, transforming Saratoga Springs into a wonderland of arts, entertainment and culture through Sunday. Not just music. Not just film. Or dance, theater or visual arts. it’s a fest for all manner of art and for art that crosses boundaries from one genre to another, as well.

There are more than 75 events and exhibits – way too many for us to list them all – taking place all around town during the four-day festival, but we picked out a few promising events:

Thursday, June 10, 4:30pm: TAKE Dance Co. @ Skidmore Dance Theatre. Featuring “Sakura Sakura” (music by Mozart), “Footsteps in the Snow” (Arvo Part) and “Linked” (Pat Metheny)

Thursday, June 10, 8pm: Jose Limon Dance Co. @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Three classic pieces from the veteran company’s repertoire: “Into My Heart’s House,” “The Moor’s Pavane” and “There Is a Time”

Friday, June 11, 6pm: “Opening the Box: Cross-Genre Collaboration in Today’s Arts Scene” @ Skidmore’s Gannett Auditorium. Panel discussion with theater director Patricia Birch, composer Richard Danielpour, author Alix Ohlin and painter James Siena, moderated by Yaddo president Elaina Richardson

Friday, June 11, 8:15pm: Saratoga Acoustic Blues Society @ Center Stage (Broadway parking lot). Performances by Phil Drum, Ray Giguere and Dave Scheffel

Friday, June 11, 9:30pm: Warren Berhardt @ Putnam Den. The Woodstock-based jazz pianist-composer as been a member of the legendary jazz fusion band Steps Ahead. He’s also been the keyboardist for Simon & Garfunkel and the pianist-musical director for Steely Dan.

Saturday, June 12, 8pm: “Music for Film” @ Saratoga Arts. Matthew Carefully and a select group of local musicians perform improvised soundtracks to short films from Nippertown filmmakers.

Saturday, June 12, 8:30pm: Brandon Lee @ Skidmore’s JKB Main Theater. The noted, up-and-coming jazz trumpeter leads his band in concert in support of his latest album, “Absolute-Lee.”

Sunday, June 13, 1pm: Trashion Show @ Beekman Street. A full-force fashion show featuring outfits created from recycled materials.

Sunday, June 13, 2pm: “Assemblywomen” @ Putnam Den. No. 11 Productions presents Aristophanes’ classic Greek comedy, “The Assemblywomen.”

Sunday, June 13, 3:45pm: Veena Chandra @ Skidmore’s Zankel Music Center. Classical Indian sitar music.

SaratogaArtsFest passes are available for $35; seniors $25; students/military $15; children 4-12 $5; children under 12 free.

PREVIOUS FESTIVAL FEVER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Rhythm On the Ridge @ Maple Ski Ridge, Rotterdam, 6/12-13
Clearwater Great Hudson River Revival @ Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson, 6/19-20
The Old Songs Festival @ Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont, 6/25-27
Beacon Riverfest @ Riverfront Park, Beacon, 6/26
Freihofer’s Jazz Festival @ SPAC, Saratoga Springs, 6/26-27
The WGNA Countryfest @ Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont, 7/10
The Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival @ Walsh Farm, Oak Hill, 7/15-18
The Green River Festival @ Greenfield Community College, Greenfield, Mass. 7/16-18
The Solid Sound Festival @ MASS MoCA, North Adams, Mass., 8/13-15
moe.down @ Gelston Castle Estate, Mohawk, 9/3-5
Lake George Jazz Weekend @ Shepard Park, Lake George, 9/18-19/10