Show Bizness - 12/01/11

KJ McKee-Hodges will open Just Dance Studios next month behind Universal Studios in Suite 103 at 5911 Turkey Lake Road in Orlando. With the tag line “For the Love of Dance,” the state-of-the-art studio employs faculty members who have dance degrees.

For more information or to register, visit www.justdancestudios.info on the Web.

Once again, Universal Orlando Resort guests can ring in the new year at Universal CityWalk’s New Year’s Eve celebration taking place Dec. 31 from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. The event will include live concerts by Smash Mouth and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, all-you-can-eat gourmet cuisine, dancing at seven of CityWalk’s nightclubs, and a midnight champagne toast. Tickets are $119.99 if purchased by Dec. 15 and $139.99 if purchased after that date (tax is not included).

For more information, visit
www.universalorlando.com/newyears on the Web.

Ballet South and The School of Performing Arts will co-present a benefit performance of Clara’s Nutcracker Dream on Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. in the auditorium at Trinity Preparatory School, located at 5700 Trinity Prep Lane in Winter Park. Proceeds will benefit Trinity Prep’s fine-arts department for student performances at the world-renowned Edinburgh Internation a l Festival, which takes place in Scotland. Ticket prices are $15 and may only be purchased at the door the day of the event. Reserved seating is not available.

For more information, call 321-282-2508, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.trinityprep.org on the Web.

Southwest Orlando Walmart customers met several actors from the Harry Potter series of films and had them autograph the new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 DVD that was recently released. About 500 fans showed up for the signing, which included actors Jessie Cave, who portrayed Lavender Brown; Katie Leung, who portrayed Cho Chang; Alfie Enoch, who portrayed Dean Thomas; and Devon Murray, who portrayed Seamus Finnigan.

John Baker, a Celebration resident and owner of JB Creative, will be involved in the pre-production, filming and final edit of Lindsey Leigh’s debut music video, Why Are You Blaming Me?

Baker trained in acting and directing at the University of East London, Film and Video Production at The Media Production Centre and at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He has written several plays, short stories and screenplays, as well as full-scale productions in his native U.K. and the U.S.

Baker has worked with Universal Orlando Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, American Theater Wing, BBC TV, Buena Vista Television, Orlando Playwrights’ Round Table, NBC, CBS and SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

Orlando Ballet School currently is accepting registrations for many classes, including Kindermusik and Mommy & Me.

The school maintains three campuses: South Campus, 7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Suite 28, Orlando, 407-352-9733; Central Campus, 1111 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, 407-426-1739; and Seminole Campus, 1811 W. State Road 434, Longwood, 407-834-8895.

For more information, visit www.orlandoballetschool.org on the Web.

Actors Dan Aykroyd and Cheryl Hines are slated to co-host An Evening at the Palace, the 19th annual fundraising gala for United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida. Scheduled for March 10, 2012, at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa, the event’s proceeds will benefit the support, education and therapy programs provided by UCP of Central Florida for children with and without disabilities. Sponsorships and tickets are available.

For more information, call 407-852-3306 or visit www.ucpgala.com on the Web.

Windermere resident and sixth-grader Julia Burgiel won the 12- to 17-year-olds category of the seventh annual Lisa Maile Talent Showcase. She won with her singing performance of I’ve Got the Music in Me. Her prizes included a full-tuition acting scholarship to Lisa Maile Acting School, a live performance at a future show, and an appearance in a commercial produced by WKMG-Channel 6.

Julia also placed in the top five of Kearney Publishing Corp.’s inaugural Southwest Orlando Idol competition.