STANCE

The Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble (STANCE) will perform a concert, “Forever Here, Forever Queer,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 13, at Vashon Center for the Arts.

The concert will joyously feature the works of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC composers, highlighting the history of queer music and resistance from across the musical ages.

“STANCE is a one-of-a-kind choir,” said Parker Dean, of The Evergreen Echo, “certain to leave you moved and empowered to keep fighting for trans joy every day.”

Get tickets and find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Folklife Fridays

In a new partnership with Seattle’s famed Northwest Folklife festival, Open Space for Arts & Community will launch a new series, “Folklife Fridays,” with a performance by the Seattle-based Djeliyah Band, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 20, at Open Space, located at 18870 103rd Ave SW.

Led by the Djely Aboubacar “Boka” Kouyaté, from Guinea in West Africa, the band fuses traditional Griot music, afro beat and modern Guinea music in a high-energy soundscape that invites both deep listening and joyful movement.

Find out more and get tickets at openspacevashon.com.

Dance Academy

Vashon Dance Academy students will soon take the stage in a production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” a candy-fueled journey of dance and magic.

Charlie is danced alternately by Gerrit von Roekel and Lorien Buffington.

Willy Wonka is danced by Calliope deSmet and Gerrit von Roekel, while additional golden ticket winner Veruca is danced by Abigail Furr and Mabel Pekoz. Gloop, a tough kid who can’t get enough candy, is a role shared by Neve DeVoght and Sabine Jorge.

Always a mix of drama as well as dance, this year’s show will include hip hop, classical ballet, modern dance and cameo appearances from dance moms and dads.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 20, 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21, and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 22, at Vashon High School’s theater. Tickets are available on eventbrite.com by entering Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Black Cat Cabaret

The third annual Black Cat Cabaret — a night of one-of-a-kind song, dance, physical comedy and burlesque — will be performed at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at Snapdragon.

Hosted by the mischeivious Vixy Post, the cabaret will include performances by Penny Banks, Bone Deep Belly Dance, Taryn Luce, Indigo Love, Tout d’Lou, The Naked Folksinger, Martin Feveyear, Daisy Disco, and a boisterous appearance by the island’s marching band, VashHonk.

Snapdragon’s intimate Black Cat Cabaret venue can accommodate just over 60 attendees per show, which ensures an up-close and personal experience for audience members. But given the size of the room, and the success of past editions of the Black Cat Cabaret, tickets are expected to sell out quickly.

Find out more and get tickets at blackcatcabaret.brownpapertickets.com.

Youth film and Free Willy

A short documentary film by Vashon third-grade students of Marjorie Butcher, “Save Our Southern Residents,” will premiere at 12 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at Vashon Theatre, followed by a screening of the now-classic film, “Free Willy.”

The documentary is the culmination of this year’s edition of Butcher’s longtime learning model, Action Network. This year, her students chose to study endangered orcas and create a project based on what they had learned. They wrote and shot their film after interviewing seven orca experts, advocates and activists including Amy Carey, from Sound Action, and Marla Smith, for Orca Network.

All donations to the June 21 screening will go to the nonprofit organization, Orca Conservancy. The students also urge those who cannot attend to donate at tinyurl.com/yrk69fhy.

Celtic music concert

Masters of Celtic music will take the stage Music at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, at the Vashon Havurah, located at 15401 West Hwy SW, with an evening featuring Sean Gavin on Irish pipes and whistle, Johnny B. Connolly on button accordion and Cary Novotny on guitar.

Founder and director of the Irish Music Institute, Gavin tours regularly with his acclaimed new concert series, “From Shore to Shore,” as well as with the groups Téada and Irish Christmas in America.

Connolly, born in Ireland, moved to the U.S. in 1996, eventually finding himself in Portland, Oregon — where a friendship with Kevin Burke, legendary Irish fiddler, led to his signing with Green Linnet Records in 2001.

Novotny, born in South Dakota, moved to Kentucky at the age of 12, where he received early classical guitar training and also absorbed the sounds of country, folk, and bluegrass music. After moving to the Northwest, Novotny began a career in the folk and popular music scene in the Portland and Seattle areas. Since 1995, he has performed in “Cul an Ti,” a traditional Irish band.

The suggested donation for the show is $25, cash or check. Reserve a seat by calling Jan Strolle at 206-228-0730, or emailing janstrolle@comcast.net.

Doing Better

John Jay Koriath, the local author of a newly released book, “Doing Better: Activate Your Power and Potential in Daily Life,” will read from his book at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, at Vashon Bookshop.

The book synthesizes the last 50 years of Koriath’s work exploring learning and healing in the mind/body relationship, teaching leadership and personal development, and utilizing some of the deeper aspects of mystery in the human journey. It presents much of the innovative curriculum Koriath and his colleagues developed and tested with over a decade of cohorts in the Leadership and Personal Development course at Bainbridge Graduate Institute.

Find out more about the book at doingbetterbook.com.

Kat Eggleston and Joe Jencks

In an upcoming concert, beloved Vashon singer/songwriter Kat Eggleston will be joined by her friend Joe Jencks, a 25-year veteran of the international folk circuit, award-winning songwriter and celebrated vocalist based in the Chicago area.

A dual US-Irish citizen, Jencks has also served as a cultural ambassador with the U.S. State Department. From Carnegie Hall to coffeehouses across North America, he has become a folk favorite, winning praise from Pete Seeger, who said of Jencks, “The spirit of folk music is people working together. Joe is a fantastic singer who carries on those traditions.”

The concert will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at the Vashon Havurah, at 15401 Westside Hwy SW. There is a suggested donation of $20.

Chicago folk artist Joe Jencks will play a show with island singer and songwriter Kat Eggleston on June 28, at the Vashon Havurah. (Courtesy photo)

Gerrit von Roekel as Willy Wonka and Lorien Buffington as Charlie, in Dance Vashon’s upcoming production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” (Courtesy photo)