Picturesque dance & movement for all
The Kansas City Ballet is throwing open the doors of its artistic home Aug. 25 for a very special, admission-free, annual event. For the eighth year, KC Dance Day is happening at Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity. Everyone age two and older is invited to try out different dance and movement styles, enjoy performances by area groups and get an exclusive peep at the ballet’s upcoming season productions.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience the joys of movement in a multitude of ways that allows dance to be accessible to all of our community regardless of knowledge or experience level,” says the ballet’s artistic director Devon Carney.
The bonus, he says, is enjoying the day in the “amazing, award-winning Kansas City Ballet dance studios.”
“This community event has come to be recognized as celebrating the arrival of the upcoming dance season,” says Jeffrey Bentley, the ballet’s executive director. “In fact, more and more I think it’s becoming the signature event that punctuates the general public’s celebration of our community’s entire performing arts season.”
Kansas City Ballet School faculty will lead 33 45-minute classes and Dance with Me, special 30-minute classes for toddlers with an adult. Dancers age 12 and up of all skill levels can sample several classes. Options include ballet, contemporary, flamenco, jazz, modern, Pilates, tap and more. Class start times extend from 9:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
On the program for children ages three to 11 are age-specific classes in ballet, hip-hop and jazz as well as boys ballet (ages three to 8). There’s also a workshop for preschoolers and kindergarteners. Dance-a-story animates children’s stories through creative movement and music. Children’s classes start at 9:15 a.m., the final classes at 12:15 p.m.
Dance Day is open to everyone, including persons with special needs. Teachers will accommodate them, a spokesperson told 2Mas2KC.
Beginning at noon with starting times until 4:45 p.m., local youth and adult dance groups will present mini recitals. AileyCamp The Group, Kansas City Youth Ballet, Culture House and UMKC Conservatory Dance Ensemble take the stage first. Then, Olé, the Olympians, The Driscoll School of Irish Dance, Hula Hale O’Kiakahi, Raghsidad and Soundz of Africa emblazon the culture and dance of places around the world.
Dance ensembles Störling Dance Theater, Seamless Dance Theatre, Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Co., The Billie Mahoney Dance Troupe, KC Contemporary Dance and Kansas City Aerial Arts round out Dance Day, a medium celebrating dance’s expressive range.
At 5 p.m., Kansas City Ballet and second company dancers will tease guests with a 45-minute season preview. The ballet’s 61st season opens Oct. 12 with a world premiere, “The Wizard of Oz.“
Two Guys and a Grill will serve lunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For $8 each, guests can dine under a large tent on a hamburger, hotdog, veggie burger, or chicken breast with chips and water. The Tropical Sno Shaved Ice Truck will sell snow cones.
Dance Day parking is available in Union Station’s pay-to-park garage. A complimentary trolley will shuttle guests to the Bolender Center, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Register for Dance Day online (www.kcballet.org).
Last year, it drew some 1,400 students, guests and artists.
“Families and individuals of all ages come prepared to have a fantastic time discovering all the different types of dance movements that our world-class city has to offer,” Carney says.
