Social Dance at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Orange County Opening
Social Dance at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Orange County Opening
We are excited to welcome social dance to the newest gathering place in Orange County to our neighborhood! On October 28th the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza and Center for Dance and Innovation opened at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts! The new plaza and center opened with an all-day party with free music, dance, and film performances.
Dance enthusiasts such as our Bella Ballroom dance instructors and social dance students are delighted to learn of the Segerstrom Center’s plans. The Center will host community events, dance training, and other workshops. The Center now hosts a 56,100 square foot public plaza with a large stage, a smaller stage, and a courtyard.
The Art Center of the Future
The Segerstrom Center’s president Terry Dwyer shared his thoughts at the opening. “We are transforming ourselves into the art center of the future. We are becoming a community resource that is inclusive.” The Center hopes to draw more of Orange County’s diverse cultures. The plans are to engage the underserved portions of the county. Dwyer shared that with providing regular programs, the Segerstrom Center wanted to “remove economic barriers to make sure it is contributing in every possible way to the future of the county.”
Perhaps most exciting for social dance students is the center’s opening of the Argyros Plaza and the Center for Dance and Innovation. They are equipped to provide a wide range of activities. Social dance enthusiasts should look forward to exploring a variety of dance events. In fact, the Argyros plaza already hosted a tango dance party! On November 18th, dancers fled to the plaza’s dance floor where a DJ played Tango music. Social dance and tango fans glided across the open space with Argentine flair. Next attendees enjoyed a performance by the Tango Buenos Aires in the Segerstrom Concert Hall. We hope that this event is just the tip of the iceberg of countless social dance events to come! The Segerstrom website advertises that free programming will span more than 30 weekends a year. This will include live music films, performances, and events highlighting local artists and cultural organizations.
Reaching Orange County Communities
In addition to providing a variety of activities and social dance for audiences, the Center for Dance and Innovation hosts classrooms. The five newly renovated studios will be home to the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School. It will also be home to the School of Dance and Music for Children with Disabilities.
Finally, the Center has launched A Center Without Boundaries. Though this program the Center acts as a civic, cultural and educational resource to the entire community. The program features partnerships with non-cultural service agencies county-wide to support these agencies. Current agencies include Alzheimer’s OC, Camp Pendleton Marine Base, Talk about Curing Autism, Canine Companions, United Cerebral Palsy, and many others.
All in all, the Segerstrom Center’s latest additions appear to be a big win for social dancers, music enthusiasts, and art appreciators. The Center already has a full calendar of music and dance events for December and into the new year. We’ll see you there!
