Global Dance Party at Orcas Center

African Step Tap will be highlighted at the Global Dance Party performances on Saturday Feb. 27, and also at a workshop open to the public on Friday, Feb. 26. Photo courtesy Ben Kerns.

Orcas Center, in cooperation with Seattle Theatre Group, presents two performances of a highly entertaining and energetic dance concert featuring more than 60 teen performers on Saturday, February 27.

Global Dance Party is the culmination of a dance program hosted by Seattle Theatre Group, which promotes events in the historic Paramount and Moore Theatres in downtown Seattle. The DANCE This program offers intensive dance training in Seattle and Port Townsend for young artists, age 13-22, from diverse communities and backgrounds. Orcas Island’s Sabina Smith-Moreland, who participated in the DANCE This program last summer, says this about the program: ” It was a life-changing experience for me. I made some great friends, and I wouldn’t be the same dancer now if I hadn’t done the program.”

Global Dance Party features 12 different dance segments that are from Mexican, Irish, Indian and African cultures, as well as modern, hiphop and tap dance styles and R&B vocal numbers. The young performers are from throughout the Seattle area. The show is an energy-packed, colorful and fun 60-minute performance the whole family will enjoy.

There are two performances of Global Dance Party, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., on Saturday, February 27. Tickets are $17, $13 for Orcas Center members and $9 for students. Tickets may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or in person or over the phone during regular box office hours: Thursday-Saturday, noon-4 pm. 376-2281 ext.1.

Orcas Arts Education Project Sponsors School Workshop Feb. 26

As part of the Orcas Arts Education Project, which currently provides dance education to all public school students in grades K-8, two of the Global Dance Party performers will teach in the schools on Friday, February 26.

Hiphop will be taught to students in grades 5-8, and African step dance will be taught to students in grades 3 and 4. Each elementary and middle school student participating will be eligible to receive one free ticket to one of the Saturday shows.

The visiting teaching artists, Bryan Asuncion (hiphop) and Siya Manyakanyaka Kelly (African step) will also teach classes on Friday evening for teens and adults: hiphop at 5:30 p.m. and African step at 6:30 p.m. for teens and adults. The fee is $10 per class or $15 for both classes.