You Can Dance–Outside!

By UMS

Every season UMS offers the You Can Dance series at the Ann Arbor YMCA, where dancers from our visiting companies lead a movement workshop that explores the company’s movement style. With the public safety issues and travel restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 crisis, our Education and Community Engagement (ECE) team adapted the You Can Dance series as an outdoor dance workshop highlighting the diverse and brilliant dance scene in Southeast Michigan.

For five Saturdays from August to October, this adapted series, called You Can Dance–Outside!, welcomed 79 dancers and “curious movers” from Ann Arbor, Commerce Township, Jackson, South Lyon, and Ypsilanti to Wheeler Park’s basketball court to engage with local instructors.

Penny Godboldo (Penny Godboldo Dance, Hamtramck), with live percussion from Marwan Amenwa, engaged the body, mind, and spirit of dancers by teaching them the foundations of Dunham Technique. Dunham Technique was created by dance pioneer Katherine Dunham and is informed by the traditional dances of the African Diaspora, modern dance, and ballet.

Jodie Randolph (Jodie Randolph Dance, Ann Arbor) and violinist Jane Bonner created a warm and welcoming space for dancers to express themselves through modern dance.

From El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil (Flint), Alejandro Quintanilla introduced dancers to ballet folklórico, which combines ballet with traditional Mexican folk dances from the pre-Columbian culture to the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

Alfred Bruce Bradley (Tapology, Flint) taught movers the foundations of tap dance and its historical significance in the dance world and the United States.

Detroit jit developed in the 1970s; Haleem Rasul (Hardcore Detroit), taught movers the quick footsteps and moves of this Detroit street dance form.

A special thank you to our generous sponsor for making it possible for us to bring the community together in person through the performing arts: