Tampa Fringe brings more than 30 acts to Ybor City

TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Fringe is an event featuring more then 30 acts across more than 100 shows and four stages in Ybor City. The event runs through June 22.

One of the more interesting acts features a duet between a dancer and a coffee grinder.

“I really believe every single one of us is creative. And maybe we just quite haven’t found how to express that yet,” said Julie Leir.

Leir’s Percolate is one of about 30 unique acts at this year’s festival. She combines audience participation with dance interpretation. She adds randomly chosen suggestions to her movement board, and starts making choices on how speak the work in dance.

“From the very first Fringe Festival I ever did way back in 2015, immediately the feeling for me was I’m home,” said Leir.|

Trish Parry runs Fringe Tampa. Her official title is Festival Producer. She says by banding together, artists survive, and so do affordable art experiences.

“I think it’s important because it makes the arts more affordable for artist to put on their own shows,” said Parry, “and for real people to get to go and see shows and take risks on people.”

A lifelong performer, Leir doesn’t just duet with a coffee grinder. When she and the audience finish the performance, it’s time for coffee talk.