Put on your dancing shoes!

Two opportunities to learn some new moves and try them out this week:

Tonight! Wednesday, December 3: Salsa Night @ J Restaurant and Lounge

Free salsa class with Laura Canellias from 8:00 to 9:00 pm followed by live DJ sets until 1:30 am. No cover. 1119 South Olive Street (at 11th Street, downtown). For more info, click here or call (213) 746-7746.

Tomorrow! Thursday, December 4: "Keeping it Country" Night @ The Casting Call Lounge

Free country line dance lessons at 7:00 pm, followed by Justice Daniels and the Blue Lightnin' Band at 8:00 pm! Located in the Holiday Inn Burbank, 150 E. Angeleno Ave. (between San Fernando and 1st Street). No cover and free parking across the street on Angeleno Ave.

Festival of Sacred Music

First of all, apologies for abandoning this blog for the past two months. (Did anyone notice, I wonder? I suspect my readership is small, if not completely imaginary.) Between working 14-hour days, 6 days a week, not actually being in L.A. during that time, and having spotty Internet access at my hotel, it just became impractical to keep up.

But then, to add insult to injury, my laptop died a month ago. The truth is, it was murdered. I ran over it with a 15-ft. cube truck. Not on purpose, mind you--so it was perhaps more like involuntary machine-slaughter than outright murder.

But now I have a brand-new computer, and I'm slowly getting back to normal in terms of my Internet activity. I realize I have a lot of catching up to do, so I'd better get started!

The Festival of Sacred Music got underway this past weekend. This 16-day extravaganza of performing arts takes place all over the city, and only happens once every three years. Tickets range in price, but many of the events are free and open to the public.

For instance, tomorrow night, there is a concert at the Japanese American National Museum of traditional and contemporary world music by artists from Iran and Greece. Thursday, September 18, 6:30 pm. 369 E. 1st Street (Little Tokyo). Free. For more info, go to janm.org

The festival will close on Sunday, September 28 with a giant ceremony and celebration on Santa Monica Beach. There will be an opening procession of Oaxacan brass and Scottish drums and bagpipes, followed by a performance of traditional Hawaiian chant and hula. And that's just the beginning! Three hundred artists will present sacred traditions from seven world cultures. The event is free.

For more information about the closing ceremonies and other events, click here.

Chinatown Anniversary Party

Los Angeles' Chinatown was founded 70 years ago this week. Back then it was called "New Chinatown" because it replaced the original settlement, which was displaced by the construction of Union Station.

This weekend, Chinatown celebrates the 70th Anniversary of its birth with a free celebration in Central Plaza, located at 951 N. Broadway Street. There will be live 1940's style Big Band music, dancing, a costume contest, vintage cocktails, martial arts demos, lion dances and more.

Saturday, June 28, 7:00-11:00 pm. Chinatown. For more info, visit the Chinatown web site.

Free J.A.M. sessions at the Ford

Get your creative juices flowing at the Ford Amphitheatre’s FREE J.A.M. (Jazzed and Motivated) Sessions. Dance, sing, play your favorite instrument and engage in other activities guided by artists from the Ford season. Beginner, intermediate and advanced participants are all welcome.

The next one is called "The Groove Divine" with Viver Brasil Dance Company and takes place on Tuesday, June 17, at 7:00 pm. Come for an orixá dance movement workshop with live music and get a sneak peek at their upcoming performance.

If you've never been to the Ford Amphitheatre, it's a wonderful outdoor theater in the Hollywood Hills, on the other side of the Cahuenga Pass from the Hollywood Bowl. During the summer, they have a variety of programs and performances for the whole family.

Click this link or call the Ford Box Office at 323 461-3673 for more information and to make a reservation.