KC Ballet’s annual end-of-summer shindig
Photos by Brett Pruitt & East Market Studios
Late August offers celebrations of back to ballet as well as back to school, and it’s time for balletomanes from age three and up to make reservations. The daylong danse festivities are happening next week. For the sixth consecutive year, the Kansas City Ballet is presenting the prelude to its 2016-2017 season with KC Dance Day. Aug. 27 is the date; the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity next door west of Union Station in downtown Kansas City is the place.
“All are welcome to come enjoy,” said the artistic director of the Kansas City Ballet, Devon Carney in a statement. “And as a bonus, we’ll show a sneak peek of our company rehearsing Bruce Wells’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream for our production, which opens Oct. 7.”
Besides the preview to tempt guests into anticipating the complete performance in two months, the ballet company will direct 36 classes for children and adults in nine different types of dance, movement and family yoga.
There will be performances by youth dancers and accomplished adult dancers from “KC’s Best” dance companies and demonstrations of Filipino, Greek, Irish and Spanish dancing. The Kansas City Ballet and second company dancers will put on the closing performance of the day in an open rehearsal. It will precede a 15-minute “meet the artists” reception, which will be the final act of KC Dance Day 2016. Bonus features include prize drawings and giveaways.
Exercise or gym apparel and shoes are recommended for participating in the classes, and guests should check in 15 minutes before class time. Classes start at 9:15 a.m. and continue until 4:45 p.m. For the complete schedule of classes, visit the Kansas City Ballet Website at kcballet.org.
There’s no charge to attend KC Dance Day, but registration for the classes is required. Only one registration per family is needed. Register online at kcballet.org/performances-tickets/KC Danceday.
Lunch fare provided by 2 Guys & a Grill will be sold for $6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with meat and vegetarian selections. Since summer invites open-air dining, tables will be set up under a tent outdoors.
The Bolender Center will open at 8:30 a.m. A trolley will be available from 9:30 a.m.to 3:30 p.m. to shuttle guests back and forth from the Bolender Center to parking at Union Station.
More than 1,000 people are expected to attend KC Dance Day. To ensure a place, officials urge making reservations early.
“This is a day that is sure to delight families,” Carney said.
