Laurie Berkner to get kids on their feet and dancing

MORRISTOWN — Best-selling children's recording artist and preschool television favorite Laurie Berkner will bring The Laurie Berkner Band to New Jersey for a "Dance Party" concert for families at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22 at the Mayo Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $25 to $35.

Dubbed "one of the hippest children's artists" by FamilyFun Magazine, Laurie Berkner's original songs, albums, DVDs, music videos, and books leave no doubt.

The Laurie Berkner Band will showcase many songs from Laurie's newest album, "The Ultimate Laurie Berkner Band Collection," plus an array of other tunes that encourage kids to get up and dance.

The show will include such popular hits as "I Really Love To Dance," "Fruit Salad Salsa," "Let's Samba," and "Monster Boogie," along with fan favorites like "Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz)," "We Are The Dinosaurs," and "Pig On Her Head."

Kids should plan to bring their dancing shoes and a stuffed animal (for their heads). Laurie promises she'll even put up a disco ball. To give everyone a chance to catch their breath between high-energy dancing moments, the show will also include quieter interludes, with songs from Laurie's new album, Laurie Berkner Lullabies.

Berkner was the first artist to ever appear in music videos on Nick Jr. and was featured in nearly all of the episodes of the channel's "Jack's Big Music Show." She currently stars in the animated musical short-form series "Sing It, Laurie!" on the Sprout preschool channel and makes regular appearances on "Sprout's Sunny Side Up Show."

A former preschool music teacher by day and indie rocker by night, Berkner started selling her music more than 10 years ago out of her living room on her own label, "Two Tomatoes Records." The Laurie Berkner Band has received tremendous critical acclaim.

The Laurie Berkner Band features: Laurie Berkner, vocals/guitar; Susie Lampert, keyboards; Brady Rymer, bass; and Bobby Golden, drums/percussion.

The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For more information or tickets contact the box office at 973-539-8008 or www.mayoarts.org.