Dancers from the Southwest Washington Dance Center leap into the air as they rehearse a selection from their performance in the Dance Festival Northwest last March.
The Southwest Washington Dance Center is getting ready to host the 26th annual Dance Festival Northwest. That assorted series of performances at the Centralia College Corbet Theatre will feature numerous dance troupes from round the region, as well as a special guest company from New England.
Dance Festival Northwest will take place on Saturday, March 24, beginning at 7 p.m. Dancers set to perform have trained together during master dance classes, and each company will perform a unique presentation. According to a press release from the Southwest Washington Dance Center, “This year you will see very diverse forms of dance performed; from contemporary and classical ballet on pointe, modern/contemporary dance, ballroom, Hip Hop and jazz.”
The Southwest Washington Dance Ensemble from Chehalis will perform under the direction of Danielle Brosco. That dance company has been performing for more than 35 years. Past performances have included the Lewis County Community Concert, Miss Lewis County Pageant, The Nutcracker Ballet, Northwest Wind Symphony and the Merce Cunningham Tribute. The company has also danced at Dancerpalooza in Seattle, Dance to Make a Difference Charity Gala, and the Olympia Dance Festival. Additionally, each spring the group tours local elementary schools in Lewis and Thurston counties in order to entertain the youth with their routines.
This year’s festival will also feature the Northeast Youth Ballet from Reading, Massachusetts. That group will be in the Northwest for another dance project and seized the opportunity to join the Lewis County dance tradition for a year.
Other companies on the Dance Festival Northwest lineup include Olympia-based groups Ballet Northwest, Johansen Olympia Dance Center, Olympic Ballroom Dance and Studio West Dance Academy and Dance Theatre, as well as Harbor Dance Ballet Company from Gig Harbor.
Tickets are available online at www.swwdance.org and in person at Book ‘n’ Brush in Chehalis. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors, students and children.
In order to make reservations for those with disabilities or mobility challenges, contact the Southwest Washington Dance Center at 360-748-4789.
Centralia College is located at 600 Centralia College Blvd.
