This June, dancers and dance-lovers are invited to participate in the first local dance festival celebrating dance, human-ness and connection through performances and classes over one long weekend in downtown Nevada City. Taking place over four days, the festival offers classes in a variety of dance modalities open to community members and dancers of all levels. In the evenings, local choreographers transform the Oddfellows Hall into an intimate performance space to showcase their own work. Responding to the intentions to enrich and enliven the community through the shared dance experience and to support and give purpose to local dance-makers, the festival celebrates this vital art form and the people who love it.
Produced by local dancers Trina Spiller and Azriel LaMarca, the Dance Because Festival was conceived in response to reactions from audience members at a performance held last December.
“Afterward people were so excited and they were coming up to me asking, how can I do that? How can I learn to move like that?” says producer Trina Spiller. “I started asking myself, how can we have an event where people can actually participate more and learn from the amazing teachers and choreographers that live in our community?”
The festival classes feature a rich variety of dance styles from modern dance, bellydance and hip hop to more exploratory forms like contact improvisation, Japanese butoh, and somatic healing movement. Some classes are designed for all levels including curious beginners, and some are oriented for the more experienced dancer. Participants are encouraged to purchase a 5-class pass or an all-weekend pass and explore new terrain! All teachers will be designing an experience of embodied expression, welcoming all students to enjoy their moving body. Dance classes take place at the Oddfellows Hall and at Fusion Fitness Studio, Thursday – Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM.
The festival features three evening performances open to the public on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM. Festival teachers and other local dance-makers will present new work in this curated showcase. Choreographers include Andrea Amdall, Linda Bair, Rebecca Bone, Lovie Bucknell, Alexandria Diaz De Fato, Jacarandà, Azriel LaMarca, Maya Culbertson-Lane (director of Fou Fou Ha!), Juliet Lin, Sister Magic, Mary McDonnell, Delana Motter, Dawn Hammonds Ryley, Trina Spiller, and Sedona Swan Soulfire. Advance tickets are recommended as seating is limited in the hall.
All classes and performances will take place at the Nevada City Oddfellows Hall. Entrance is at 212 Spring Street. There are stairs to get up to the hall. A lift is available. Friday and Saturday morning classes will also take place at Fusion Fitness, 578 Searls Avenue in Nevada City. This event is presented with support from The Community Players Trust and the Nevada County Arts Council. For tickets and more information, please visit dancebecausefestival.eventbrite.com.
WHAT: Dance Because – A Dance Festival featuring performances and classes
WHEN: Thursday – Sunday, June 27-30, 2024
WHERE: Nevada City Oddfellows Hall, 212 Spring Street, Downtown Nevada City
PRICE: $18 – $150
TICKETS & INFO: dancebecausefestival.eventbrite.com