National Dance Day: Dance for Everybody

Date/Time: Saturday, July 25, 2015. 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Location: Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

Description: The Kennedy Center and the Dizzy Feet Foundation in conjunction with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton present National Dance Day: Dance for Everybody, part of the Kennedy Center’s 25/40 Celebration in honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the 40th Anniversary of VSA.  This FREE event on Saturday, July 25 will be hosted by Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer, runner-up on Season 9 of So You Think You Can Dance.

Performances in many dance styles will feature artists including Baakari Wilder, tap dancer famous for his Broadway role in Bring in ’da Noise, Bring in ’da Funk; Antoine Hunter, Deaf African American choreographer; Culture Shock, a D.C. based hip-hop crew; and Evan Ruggiero, one-legged tap dancer, singer, and guitarist.  Performances and dance lessons will be offered by companies from all over the country including AXIS Dance Company, one of the world’s most acclaimed physically integrated companies; ClancyWorks Dance Company, a D.C.-based contemporary group; and D.C. Bhangra Crew, Indian traditional dancers; as well as Move this World, a global non-profit using creative expression to fight violence and bullying. Site-specific performances begin throughout the Kennedy Center’s Grand Foyer at 4:30pm followed by a two-hour event on the Millennium Stage from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.

Launched in 2010 by So You Think You Can Dance co-creator and Dizzy Feet Foundation co-president Nigel Lythgoe, this grassroots campaign encourages Americans to embrace dance as a fun and positive way to maintain good health and combat obesity. National Dance Day achieved national recognition in July 2010 when Congresswoman Norton, a long-time proponent of healthy lifestyles, introduced a congressional resolution declaring the last Saturday in July to be the country’s official National Dance Day. For more information about National Dance Day, visit the Dizzy Feet Foundation website.

Dizzy Feet Foundation has produced instructional dance videos available on their YouTube channel featuring dance routines for the public to learn in advance of the day’s performance. Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer, runner up on Season 9 of So You Think You Can Dance, will be on hand for group lessons July 25. This year’s videos, accompanied by the track “Shut Up and Dance” by WALK THE MOON, include a “Beginner” routine featuring Twitch as well as an “Advanced” routine featuring Travis Wall for those who want to challenge themselves and are. The public is also encouraged to submit videos of themselves performing the routines.

Note: Happy Hour prices at the lobby bars will be extended from 4 to 6 pm.

Performance Timing: Approximately 2 hours