Sun 6/23 @ 1-3PM
Recently, members of the northeast Ohio arts community were stunned to learn that GroundWorks DanceTheater, one of the area’s premiere dance troupe, was closing down after 25 years. Founding Artistic Director David Shimotakahara referred to the changed funding climate with greater competition for funding, similar to the reasons given for closing down of the CAN and FRONT Triennials. And Playwrights Local, which presented the work of developing, mostly local, playwrights, quietly slipped away last fall. Hopefully, there won’t be too many more casualties but COVID slashed audience engagement and much of it hasn’t come back.
So it’s a little bittersweet that GroundWorks’ director of education and community engagement Joan Meggitt is facilitating an interactive discussion at the University of Akron’s Cummings Center for the History of Psychology (73 South College Street).
Hosted by Groundworks, it will also include participants from Ohio Contemporary Ballet (Verb Ballets), Inlet Dance Theatre, Ballet Excel and Dancing Wheels to talk about how dance has an influence on the larger community beyond performances onstage, with each group sharing information about their outreach programs, with some representatives of those groups participating as well.
It’s free and open to all but reservations are required because seating is limited. Go here.
73 S College St, Akron, OH 44308