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The county is gearing up for the 6th annual Dance Bethesda, a weekend-long dance festival produced by the Bethesda Arts and Entertainment District and the Bethesda Urban Partnership slated for Feb. 26-27.

A top-four finalist on the hit television show "America's Best Dance Crew" will show off some of his moves during a special master class.

Bryan "Boogiemind" East, a founding member and choreographer of the Boogie Bots — featured on season two of "America's Best Dance Crew" — will lead a class for teens and a class for adults on Feb. 27.

Over the years, master classes have featured dancers from a wide variety of styles, including jazz and ballet, according to Stephanie Coppula, a spokeswoman for the Bethesda Urban Partnership. But classes featuring hip-hop dancers such as East are always popular, she said.

Registration is open for the master class. To register, visit www.bethesda.org.

The festival will include a dance concert featuring six dance companies selected through an audition process from among 40 troupes in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The performers — the ClancyWorks Dance Company, Janaki Rangarajan, Jason Garcia Ignacio, Karen Reedy Dance, Tappers with Attitude and Washington Reflections Dance Company — will take the stage at 8 p.m. Feb. 27 at Round House Theatre, 4545 East-West Highway in Bethesda.

Additionally, free lessons and dance parties will take place in downtown Bethesda dance studios from 8-10p.m. Friday, Feb. 26. Residents can choose from a wide array of dances including hip-hop, jazz, salsa, cha-cha, foxtrot, tango and line dancing.

For more information, visit www.bethesda.org

Explore the canal with the Kensington Historical Society

The Kensington Historical Society will host Roy Sewall, author and leading photographer of the Potomac River and the C&O Canal, Tuesday for a presentation of his photographs and his perspective of those historic waterways.

Sewall has published two books, "Our Potomac, from Great Falls through Washington, D.C." in 2005 and "Great Falls and Mather Gorge" in 2009, on the topic. His photos have appeared on the National Park Service Passport Stamp Set and on banners throughout the C & O Canal National Historical Park. He also worked as the project leader to scan C&O Canal National Historical Park's entire collection of historic prints.

Sewall's presentation will be Tuesday from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Kensington Town Hall, 3710 Mitchell St. A coffee reception will precede the talk at 7 p.m. and the KHS will have a brief business meeting following it. Sewall will have books available for purchase.

Come one, come all

Voice your feedback on the Gaithersburg West Master Plan and learn more about plans for a new recreation center in North Potomac at a town hall meeting hosted by the North Potomac Citizens Association.

The meeting will take place from 7-9 p.m. Monday at Quince Orchard High School, 15800 Quince Orchard Road in North Potomac. For more information, visit www.northpotomacnews.org.

Goings-on at PCC

The Potomac Community Center will host its inaugural daddy/daughter dance from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 6 at the center, 11315 Falls Road in Potomac.

Fathers and daughters are invited to take part in the evening, which will feature refreshments, games, and a D.J. Each father/daughter couple will also be able to have their picture taken and take the photo home as a keepsake. The cost is $20. To register, call the center at 240-777-6960 or stop by to pick up a flyer. 

Register in person at the Potomac Community Center for 2010 Summer Camps and Fun Centers. More information about summer activities for kids is available online at www

.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec, and summer camp registrations are also accepted online. Information is available by phone at 240-777-6900.

Shop for treasures,

benefit charity

Find some treasures and some bargains from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 14 and Feb. 28 at the Montgomery County Thrift Shop, located at 7125-27 Wisconsin Ave. in Bethesda. The five nonprofit groups that make up the shop will hold a half-price sale both days.

Everything in the shop — with an exception of "special items" like clothing, housewares, tapes, jewelry, knick knacks, and pictures — will be discounted 50 percent. Proceeds benefit the five groups which focus on the well-being of women, children and families.

Regular hours of operation at the shop are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 percent discounts are offered Mondays. For more information, visit www.MoCoThrift.org or e-mail MoCoThrift@aol.com.

Hit the right note

with someone special

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and one area organization is offering an opportunity to hit the right note with a loved one this year.

The Montgomery County Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society will send a costumed quartet to deliver a musical message to your special person anywhere in Montgomery County — home, office, school, hospital, nursing home, restaurant, you name it — on Valentine's Day or the day before. (Just a reminder: That would be Feb. 13 and 14.)

The recipient will get two songs — the "classic, sentimental" type, organizers say — a long-stemmed silk rose and a Valentine's Day card.

Members of the group say they enjoy the visits as much as the recipients.

Prices are $40 for visits made within a four-hour period, $50 for visits made within a two-hour period and $75 for visits made at a specific time, and all proceeds will help the nonprofit group, part of the Hometown USA Chorus.

Deadline for placing orders is Feb. 9. For more information or to schedule a visit, call George Martin at 301-929-3446.

This column is for you! Share your good news! Contact Jen Beasley at jbeasley@gazette.net or 301-280-3005, or Erin Donaghue at edonaghue@ gazette.net or 301-280-3007. Send information by fax at 301-670-7183, or snail mail at 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.