Creative Alliance provides venue space for
Music, Performance & Film, Youth & Family, Festivals & Community, Exhibitions, Classes, Fundraisers, and Signature Events.
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Akua Allrich is a local musical treasure with a massive stage personality and vocal style that is fluid and ever-evolving. Her musical roots run deep into blues, soul, and rhythm and blues, with a clear grounding in jazz and Pan-African music.
Akua Allrich is a local musical treasure with a massive stage personality and vocal style that is fluid and ever-evolving. Her musical roots run deep into blues, soul, and rhythm and blues, with a clear grounding in jazz and Pan-African music.
Learn the art of commanding the stage and owning it like a true diva. This class is designed to teach you the essential elements that elevate a burlesque performance, combining charisma, confidence, and attitude to leave a lasting impression on your audience. In this class, you'll be guided through a 2-4 minute routine that covers aspects of a burlesque star performance. From learning choreography that complements your style to mastering the art of costume removal with flair, you'll acquire the skills and stage presence to captivate any audience.
Gilded Lily Burlesque presents the 12th annual Tassels & Champagne: Love is Love! Love is a rainbow of opportunity and a kaleidoscope of beauty! From self-love to love for others, love is a great many things! Throw aside your conventional ideals and join us in celebrating the freedom of sexuality and love! Enjoy an intimate journey beyond the red curtain, where anything can happen when we truly understand love is love!
Gilded Lily Burlesque presents the 12th annual Tassels & Champagne: Love is Love! Love is a rainbow of opportunity and a kaleidoscope of beauty! From self-love to love for others, love is a great many things! Throw aside your conventional ideals and join us in celebrating the freedom of sexuality and love! Enjoy an intimate journey beyond the red curtain, where anything can happen when we truly understand love is love!
Celebrate the music, life, and legacy of Ethel Ennis during an evening inspired by the Ethel’s Place exhibition at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Library.
Performances by acclaimed vocalist Charenée Wade and the Peabody Jazz Ensemble will bring to life some of Ethel’s signature songs. Between song sets, Ethel’s husband Earl Arnett and the singer’s longtime percussionist and friend Gaynell Colburn will share stories of how Ethel spread her love through songs, relationships, and even business ventures. This soulful evening of music, memories, and love is not to be missed!
Tap dancer and vocalist, Brinae Ali, and her bandmates of the Baltimore Jazz Collective celebrate the life and legacy of Baltimore's greatest tap dancer: Baby Laurence (February 24, 1921-April 2, 1974). Baby Laurence was the first tap dancer to record a jazz album—Dancemaster (recorded in 1959, released in 1977). Brinae will be sharing works in progress that reimagine his music, as well as original compositions and choreography.
Step into the vibrant and lively world of everyday people and places in Baltimore through the eyes of our former resident artist, Jason Austin. Baltimore In Repose invites you to explore the dynamic and diverse narratives of our city. Each piece serves as a window into the lives of friends, places, and loved ones, on a color spectrum that articulates the joy and vibrancy of Baltimore. As you navigate through the exhibition, you'll discover a modern twist to the traditional art-viewing experience. Way-finding QR codes are embedded in each painting, allowing you to seamlessly connect with the depicted locations around the city. This interactive element adds a layer of exploration, inviting you to embark on a journey through Baltimore guided by Jason's artwork. The color spectrum becomes a language, speaking volumes about the artist's connection to the community and his dedication to capturing the essence of everyday life.
Step into the vibrant and lively world of everyday people and places in Baltimore through the eyes of our former resident artist, Jason Austin. Baltimore In Repose invites you to explore the dynamic and diverse narratives of our city. Each piece serves as a window into the lives of friends, places, and loved ones, on a color spectrum that articulates the joy and vibrancy of Baltimore. As you navigate through the exhibition, you'll discover a modern twist to the traditional art-viewing experience. Way-finding QR codes are embedded in each painting, allowing you to seamlessly connect with the depicted locations around the city. This interactive element adds a layer of exploration, inviting you to embark on a journey through Baltimore guided by Jason's artwork. The color spectrum becomes a language, speaking volumes about the artist's connection to the community and his dedication to capturing the essence of everyday life.
Step into the vibrant and lively world of everyday people and places in Baltimore through the eyes of our former resident artist, Jason Austin. Baltimore In Repose invites you to explore the dynamic and diverse narratives of our city. Each piece serves as a window into the lives of friends, places, and loved ones, on a color spectrum that articulates the joy and vibrancy of Baltimore. As you navigate through the exhibition, you'll discover a modern twist to the traditional art-viewing experience. Way-finding QR codes are embedded in each painting, allowing you to seamlessly connect with the depicted locations around the city. This interactive element adds a layer of exploration, inviting you to embark on a journey through Baltimore guided by Jason's artwork. The color spectrum becomes a language, speaking volumes about the artist's connection to the community and his dedication to capturing the essence of everyday life.
Sak pase! Learn to build and decorate your very own Haitian kite in preparation for The BIG Baltimore Kite Fest on Saturday, April 6th! Kite-master Tetpwav Soley and Haitian cultural non-profit, Komite Ayiti, INC. lead us in this special annual workshop. Get hands on with the kite traditions of Haiti and create your own kite from scratch. This workshop consists of tying sticks together, stretching kite fabric, tying knots, and creative decorating to make beautiful traditional Haitian kites!
Sak pase! Learn to build and decorate your very own Haitian kite in preparation for The BIG Baltimore Kite Fest on Saturday, April 6th! Kite-master Tetpwav Soley and Haitian cultural non-profit, Komite Ayiti, INC. lead us in this special annual workshop. Get hands on with the kite traditions of Haiti and create your own kite from scratch. This workshop consists of tying sticks together, stretching kite fabric, tying knots, and creative decorating to make beautiful traditional Haitian kites!
Are you ready to finally take the leap and see what burlesque is all about? Or, are you a current performer who is thinking about reimagining your relationship to burlesque? Our team of experienced burlesque instructors will guide you through becoming a burlesque performer inside and out. We will progress through act creation from start to finish while incorporating mindful techniques for both on and off the stage. Essential Tease is the ideal starting point for truly transformative acts! This eight-week in-person workshop series is conducted at Creative Alliance in Baltimore, MD, and concludes with a ticketed, live student showcase!
QWANQWA uncovers lesser known traditional sounds from East Africa regions of Ethiopia and beyond—a trance-like chant of the Eritrean tribe of Blen, a psychedelic Somalian cover, an extended Amhara wedding medley, a Mahmoud Ahmed sing-a-long. With Selamnesh Zemene, the Azmari diva powerhouse, at the helm, QWANQWA is a conversation of virtuosos through tight arrangements and extended experimental moments. The live show ranges from intimate to wild, from whispery conversations to full blown rock show, and it is hard to believe these psychedelic sounds are coming from traditional harps, one string fiddle, and violin. Driving and powerful, QWANQWA proves we are living during another Golden Age of Ethiopian music.
Have you wanted to work with clay but haven't had the opportunity? Bmore Clay Series is a Black and queer-led program created to present an alternative to predominantly white ceramic spaces and provide work opportunities with clay. We host accessible, diverse, intro to hand-building workshops created for communities of color in Baltimore. This workshop is open to everyone.
Eroding History tells the story of two Black communities on the Deal Island Peninsula that are losing their land and their history due to the intersection of historical racism and modern climate changes. Andre Chung, an in-demand news and portrait photographer who won the 2021 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for Domestic Photography, directed Eroding History. West Baltimore filmmaker and journalist Sean Yoes co-wrote and co-produced it, and longtime Chesapeake Bay chronicler Rona Kobell produced and also co-wrote it.
Komite Ayiti presents Haitian Flag Day, featuring live performances, games, Haitian food, giveaways, and vendors! We can’t wait for you to learn about and share in Haitian history and culture!
Essential Tease instructors Jacqueline Boxx, Ruby Rockafella, and Tempete La Coeur are proud to welcome a bevy of brand-spanking-new burlesque performers to the stage! After completing an 8-week-long workshop that transformed them from the inside out, these students are ready to bring their acts and assets to the stage for the first time ever! Featuring guest MC Maki Roll and special performances by Essential Tease instructors! The show will stream virtually as well as being live on stage!
Montreal-born Grenadian-Canadian Kaia Kater's jazz-fueled voice and deft songcraft have garnered acclaim from NPR's Tiny Desk, The Guardian, Rolling Stone and No Depression. Through her artful banjo playing and lush songwriting, Kaia draws on influences rooted in Quebec, the Caribbean, and Appalachia, all of which reflect the diversity of her background; her ties to the Canadian folk music scene; her college years spent soaking up Appalachian music in West Virginia, her father’s experience growing up in Grenada, and her recent work in film composition. Joined by Black Assets, whose southern roots combined with her Baltimore Charm molded her into a powerhouse soul, funk, indie, rock songstress. Black Assets is soul personified and a shining example of how eliminating self-doubt can transform a once negative perception into positivity, she’s captivatingly passionate, and pure talent. This is a night not to be missed!
Be part of history! Tonight's concert will be recorded live for an album release. Join us for an enchanting evening as we pay homage to the unparalleled Duke Ellington, an iconic figure whose musical genius transcended boundaries, leaving an indelible mark on the fabric of modern music. A true pioneer in the realm of jazz, Ellington's compositions surpassed mere entertainment—they emerged as a compelling voice against racial inequality. Through his innovative and emotive arrangements, Ellington not only highlighted the struggles and triumphs of African Americans but also mesmerized diverse audiences with his unique ability to weave intricate stories through sound. His influence reverberates through time, traversing the infectious rhythms of the Harlem Renaissance to the soul-stirring melodies of the Civil Rights era and beyond, encompassing Jazz, swing, fusion, pop, and theatre. In commemoration of his 125th Anniversary, we are honored to be joined by four world-class solo pianists. Baltimore-based Lafayette Gilchrist and Marc Cary, along with Philadelphia-based Orrin Evans and James Hurt, will interpret and expound on Ellington's legacy. Together, they will guide us through the rich tapestry of Ellington's musical journey, bringing to life the enduring power of music to inspire change.
Be part of history! Tonight's concert will be recorded live for an album release. Join us for an enchanting evening as we pay homage to the unparalleled Duke Ellington, an iconic figure whose musical genius transcended boundaries, leaving an indelible mark on the fabric of modern music. A true pioneer in the realm of jazz, Ellington's compositions surpassed mere entertainment—they emerged as a compelling voice against racial inequality. Through his innovative and emotive arrangements, Ellington not only highlighted the struggles and triumphs of African Americans but also mesmerized diverse audiences with his unique ability to weave intricate stories through sound. His influence reverberates through time, traversing the infectious rhythms of the Harlem Renaissance to the soul-stirring melodies of the Civil Rights era and beyond, encompassing Jazz, swing, fusion, pop, and theatre. In commemoration of his 125th Anniversary, we are honored to be joined by four world-class solo pianists. Baltimore-based Lafayette Gilchrist and Marc Cary, along with Philadelphia-based Orrin Evans and James Hurt, will interpret and expound on Ellington's legacy. Together, they will guide us through the rich tapestry of Ellington's musical journey, bringing to life the enduring power of music to inspire change.
Have you wanted to work with clay but haven't had the opportunity? Bmore Clay Series is a Black and queer-led program created to present an alternative to predominantly white ceramic spaces and provide work opportunities with clay. We host accessible, diverse, intro to hand-building workshops created for communities of color in Baltimore. This workshop is open to everyone.
Presented in partnership with Komite Ayiti! Experience the vibrant fusion of African, French, and Caribbean flavors in this culinary workshop with Dassy Gaspard. In this unique and flavorful workshop, use bold spices and fresh ingredients that reflect the rich culture and history of Haiti. You’ll make dishes deeply connected to Haitian arts and celebrated in the country’s artistic expression and heritage.
In a special one-night only event, Chocolate Covered Rocky Horror debuts Gender Bender! Come up to the Lab as we premiere our first female Frank-N-Furter in a new interpretation that takes the tale to a whole new level. The Rocky Horror Picture Show will thrill you and chill you; the new theme is guaranteed to fulfill you! Dive into a wild night featuring a live shadow cast, innovative choreography, and crowd participation. Since 2015, Chocolate Covered Rocky Horror has been a tribute to the queer experience while showcasing and exposing minorities to liberating art forms.
Buy your tickets online, in person, or over the phone by calling 410-276-1651. Members save $3 on almost every show!
Our Box Office is currently open from Noon to 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays and one hour before all ticketed events. We accept cash, cards, and checks. Service fees are waived for in-person ticket purchases.
