The City of Eugene Cultural Services division is pleased to announce the fifth annual National Dance Week. Oregon’s only citywide dance celebration runs from April 16-23 with events occurring throughout the city.
National Dance Week was formed in 1981 when a group of dance-related organizations began a grassroots movement to bring greater recognition to dance in the United States. Now, over four decades later, festivities are scheduled across the nation. This year’s local events include many accessible opportunities for participation, including classes that are available both in-person and online from Eugene studios and recreation centers. Community members can expect both new content and fan favorites from previous years.
These signature events are free and open to the public:
- 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, April 16 at Farmers Market Pavilion: the Dance Exchange kicks off the festivities with a full day of workshops that explore a wide range of dance styles. Community members are encouraged to stay for the whole day or select their favorite events to create their personal dance intensives.
- Noon-1 p.m. April 17-21 at Kesey Square: each weekday, a different local artist or dance organization will perform a unique lunchtime show, presented by Artistic Encounters.
- Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, April 22 in Downtown Eugene: multiple pop-up street performances will occur at popular locations in Eugene’s downtown core. Adam Kelly will tap dance in front of the Downtown Library, Carlos “Retro” Rasmussen will perform freestyle routines in Kesey Square and local flash mobs Eugene Hexenbrut and Thrill the World will roam the streets to surprise passers-by with spontaneous routines.
Dozens of other dance-related activities are scheduled throughout the Eugene area during the week. A complete listing of these events can be found in an online guide on the National Dance Week website: https://www.eugene-or.gov/ndw. Many workshops have limited class sizes and require registration, so participants are encouraged to sign up early.
New for 2023 is the National Dance Week Passport. Visitors can pick up a blank passport at any National Dance Week event or print their own from the website. Attending any event from the online guide earns a passport entry. After earning three or more entries, the passport may be submitted online or dropped off at the Downtown Library by April 27 to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win prizes from local businesses.
Cultural Services provides year-around programming to promote public art and cultural events throughout Eugene. The team utilizes responsible and catalytic leadership to support the public’s vision for a thriving arts and cultural sector that contributes to the community’s social and economic well-being.