Indigo Girls coming to Merrill

PORTLAND – Indigo Girls will perform at Merrill Auditorium at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 16.

After two decades and eight studio albums, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, known to their fans as Indigo Girls, have played thousands of shows. Since 1987, Indigo Girls have played more than 1,200 shows across the United States and around the world, including tours with R.E.M., Neil Young and the Grateful Dead.

The folk/pop duo has sold more than 6 million albums and won many awards, including multiple Grammy nominations and a Grammy Award in 1994 for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

Reserved seats are $30 and $37.50, which includes a $2 theater restoration fee, and 50 cent donation to the Preble Street Resource Center.

Advance tickets may be purchased at PortTix from Monday to Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.; or by mail at the Porttix Box Office, 20 Myrtle St., Portland, ME 04101.

Tickets may be charged by phone at (207) 842-0800 or via fax at (207) 842-0810. They may be purchased online at www.porttix.com.

Show offers ballet and belly dancing

PORTLAND – Vivid Motion Inc. will present its first spring dance show at the Studio Theatre, Portland Performing Arts Center, 25A Forest Ave., June 3 to 6.

The company, which brought audiences “Nutcracker Burlesque” last December, will present an evening of original works appropriate for all ages.

Emily Zack, whose work has been seen in “Dance USM!” and “Nutcracker Burlesque” choreographs a piece about forbidden love in Nazi Germany.

Wendy Getchell’s piece about the struggle for control in a relationship will use the music of Leonard Cohen and the dancing of Kyle Bouchard and Patience Goodwin in a duet.

Liz Seekins adds a flair of the Middle East in a piece featuring three, veiled belly dancers, while Ellen Joyce’s “Meeting” is an energetic dance that blends dance and aerobics.

Jessica Means, of Naya’s Trance Middle Eastern Dance Troupe, has choreographed a piece that blends belly dance and modern dancing.

Goodwin adds some fun with “Recess,” featuring gothic kids skipping rope and playing hopscotch to nursery rhymes sung by the rap-metal band Korn. MJ Emerson rounds out the night with a flirtatious dance using old time jazz music in “Groovin.'”

Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 3-4; at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, June 5; and at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 6.

Tickets: $12, $10 and $5 for children 12 and under. Call (207) 773-1951. Tickets can be purchased at Casablanca Comics on Middle Street in Portland or online at http://www.vividmotion.org

Gospel singer will perform June 4

AUBURN – Diane Muise of Auburn will present a concert of gospel music Friday, June 4, at the Court Street Baptist Church. A professional singer for many years, Muise has toured across the United States and Canada.

She presents a varied program of different types of gospel music interspersed with humor, caring and the sharing of real-life experiences.

Winner of numerous national awards for both singing and songwriting, she has recorded nine solo albums in Nashville and a live concert album in Auburn.

Ten of her songs have been published in her songbook, “The Songs of Diane Muise.”

An acclaimed speaker for women’s conferences, retreats and seminars, Musie wrote a book titled “God Takes the Broken Pieces of Our Lives and Makes a … STAINED GLASS WINDOW,” released by DaLiMi Music Publishing in November of 1997.

The public concert will begin at 7 p.m. There is no admission charge; however, freewill offerings will be accepted for the Muise Music Ministry.