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The Oklahoma City Ballet dancers want you to come dance, groove and move with them and others this weekend for a day of community and connection centered around dance.
You can drop by and see performances, take a dance class, play outdoor games and more for its third annual and free Dance Day for all ages from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its facility, 6800 N Classen Blvd. There are activities for children, food trucks, photo opportunities with the ballet dancers and more.
“You could literally show up at any time of the day and find something fun to do,” said Erica Portell, the OKC Ballet‘s director of community engagement in an interview. “There’s space for everybody to come participate in dance.”
Portell said organization leaders have two goals for the Dance Day as a leader in the arts community – to elevate other community dance groups and to people know they are part of the dance community, whether they come as an audience member or to take a class.
“They’re sort of essential to our long-term success, and that we want their voice, their experience, integrated in what we do,” she said.
In addition to performances and classes from members of the Oklahoma City Ballet dance company, other groups involved include more visible dance groups and studios like the RACE Dance Collective, Perpetual Motion and students from the Classen School of Advanced Studies, Metropolitan School of Dance and the Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department’s Northwest Optimist group.
The day will also feature smaller dance companies and those from Oklahoma City’s different cultural scenes.
The friends and alumni of Yúmare Folklorico will showcase traditional Mexican folkloric. Kapwa Oklahoma City, with its roots in the filipino culture, will bring its traditional Banga dance. Aspiring Attitudes is a dance studio for students of all abilities, whether they have mental or physical limitations. Hula ‘O Nani is showcasing the Hawaiian hula dance. The Mavka Ukranian Dance Group is based in Olathe, Kansas, and performs regionally. The Mocuepani-Xocitl Bax-Toh features an indigenous spiritual dancer. The Sainrithya Dance Academy will showcase Bharatanatyam dance from India. The Groovemeant Company will host fun street dancing moves outside with a DJ.
As she talked about these groups, I realized I hadn’t heard of several of them and was excited to learn more.
“That makes me so happy to hear. That’s the goal,” Portell said.
Portell said she always looks forward to the first class from 9 to 10 a.m. – the family dance class.
“It is just my absolute favorite to see people of all different ages and situations just having an absolute dance party together,” she said.
Funding for this fun day is possible because of OK Let’s Dance, an initiative of the Kirkpatrick Family Fund with a mission to increase the quality, accessibility, appreciation and awareness of dance in central Oklahoma. For information go to okcballet.org.
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