The Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center: Night of the Living Dance Part 5
As Santa Cruz awaits Halloween next weekend, the Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center is warming up for their annual fundraiser on the dance floor, Night of the Living Dance Part 5. On Saturday, October 29th, the TWDCC will be opening its doors to the public with Halloween themed entertainment and activities celebrating the arts and world fusion through dance, music, and theater.
The TWDCC is a non-profit organization providing professional dance education programs for the community through its studio, performance, and cultural space located at the Tannery Arts Center. It provides a welcoming, accessible and dynamic environment where cultural awareness, collaboration, and creativity are fostered and fortified. While it preserves traditional forms of movement, it is the only one of its kind providing Santa Cruz students, artists, and audiences with unique opportunities to engage with world and contemporary dance.
Cat Willis, Founder and Executive Director of the TWDCC.
This vibrant cultural exchange is a reflection of TWDCC’s Founder and Executive Director, Cat Willis, who received the 2015 Gail Rich Award for her work through the Center. Through her background in dance arts research and education, travel, training, and performance, Willis has a passion and expertise for encouraging cross-cultural understanding and connection through the medium of dance. She has taught dance extensively throughout Santa Cruz, and serves on the Arts Council of Santa Cruz Grants Advisory Committee and Grants Panel. She was the 418 Project’s 2009 Artist in Residence, and the Theatre Bay Area’s CA$H grant recipient in Dance. Willis was a 2014 featured guest speaker for TEDX Santa Cruz, and was recently nominated for The Su Job Award for Education by Artspace. Her dance company, DIASPORA, has shown her work throughout Santa Cruz and the Bay Area.
Through the creative forces of Willis and TWDCC Artistic Director, Micha Scott, the Center presents programming that nurtures, supports, and promotes new and emerging artistic talent throughout Santa Cruz and the San Francisco Bay Area. Students are linked with renowned guest artists and instructors through performing arts education opportunities, including SCOPEDance (Santa Cruz Outreach Program and Enrichment Dance), pre-professional dance programs, and TWDCC dance companies.
The TWDCC also opens their Black Box Theater as a home for professional dance artists from around the world. Through the Center, world and contemporary artists have the opportunity to explore traditional artistic structures, discover innovative concepts that breakthrough established forms, and develop new styles of movement and presentation.
TWDCC invites locals and visitors to further observe and participate in dance by offering opportunities throughout the year for the community to experience classes, workshops, performances, artist talks, curated festivals, and special events – like their upcoming Halloween Bash. Night of the Living Dance Part 5 will present three stages with various performances including aerial artists, DJ’s, and freestyle MC cyphers. The event will also feature a costume ball, a chill zone, and a photo booth. All proceeds will go towards supporting TWDCC’s dance education programming.
Find out more about the Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center by visiting their website.
Night of the Living Dance Part 5: Saturday, October 29, 2016, 7:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Tickets are $15, available for purchase at eventbrite.
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