Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival celebrates 50 years: Performances to see

Akron has plenty to be proud of as it celebrates its 50-year legacy of presenting free professional dance performances in city parks this summer, starting July 26 at Forest Lodge Park in West Akron.

Here's the rundown for three weekends of dance performances in the parks.

Ohio Contemporary Ballet

Ohio Contemporary Ballet will take the stage at 8:45 p.m. July 26 and 27 at Forest Lodge Park, 260 Greenwood Ave. The troupe will perform Richard Dickinson's contemporary "Carmen," set to Bizet's music. Other dances will be the pas de deux from Gerald Arpino's 1981 "Light Rain" and Tommie-Waheed Evans' 2013 "Dark Matter."

GroundWorks DanceTheater of Cleveland

This year's festival is a milestone moment for GroundWorks DanceTheater of Cleveland, which will give its penultimate performances at Firestone Park Aug. 2 and 3 after 25 years creating contemporary dance in Northeast Ohio and beyond. Performances will be at 8:45 p.m. at 1480 Girard St.

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Dayton Contemporary Dance Company

Rounding out the festival, world-renowned Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) will perform at 8:45 p.m. Aug. 9 and 10 at Goodyear Heights Metro Park, 2077 Newton St. Works will include William B. McClellan Jr.'s "The Story Unfolds," the modern dance classic "Mourner's Bench" by Talley Beatty, Shonna Hickman-Matlock's "Moments of Indecision" and Crystal Michele's "Body Talk" excerpts, which weave literature, music, movement and African-American traditions.

Here are more related performances and events during the festival:

Inlet at the Akron Art Museum

In honor of the 50th anniversary of summer dance in the city, the Akron Art Museum will present Inlet Dance Theatre, Djapo Cultural Arts Institute (West African dance) and Polynesian dancers from Pacific Paradise at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 8 in the Bud and Susie Rogers Garden outside the museum. The performance is free.

Educational performances

Inlet, Djapo and Pacific Paradise Entertainment will collaborate for free, narrated dance performances at 10:30 a.m. July 30 at Mason Park Community Center, 700 E. Exchange St.; 1:30 p.m. July 30 at Joy Park Community Center, 824 James Ingram Way; and 1 p.m. Aug. 1 at Kenmore Community Center, 880 Kenmore Blvd.

Festival classes

Master classes: Classes will be Saturday mornings from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at University of Akron's Guzzetta Hall, 139 E. Buchtel Ave. Ohio Contemporary Ballet will teach July 27, GroundWorks DanceTheater Aug. 3 and Dayton Contemporary Dance Aug. 10. High intermediate level or higher technique is required.

Cost is $10 per person per class. Registration is required at https://tinyurl.com/2h2s2mv3 for Ohio Contemporary Ballet, https://tinyurl.com/3kffs9jt for GroundWorks DanceTheater and https://tinyurl.com/bdesw3cb for Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.

Yoga: Jen Garlando will offer free yoga classes at 10 a.m. July 27 at Forest Lodge, Aug. 3 at Firestone Park and Aug. 10 at Goodyear Metro Park. Bring a blanket or mat.

More park performances

The Akron Symphony Orchestra will perform free concerts on the city stage at 7:30 p.m. each Sunday on festival weekends, including Forest Lodge July 28, Firestone Park Aug. 4 and Goodyear Heights Metro Park Aug. 11. The program will include music by Vivaldi, Bach, Copland and Sting.

For more festival information, see akrondancefestival.org.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.