Southern California has always been known for its beautiful beaches and scenic Pacific Highway, but what about the dance scene? As it turns out (pun-intended), dancers and choreographers alike are developing a new scene in the Orange County area.
From Long Beach to Laguna, dance festivals and performances seem to be spreading like wildfire. Just this past weekend, the National Choreographers Initiative brought together 20 choreographers and dancers from across the country to collaborate and perform their new works. And soon the 10th annual Gala of the Stars will take place, which hosts professional ballet stars such as Misty Copeland and Alexandre Hammoudi. After you're done seeing the pros perform, you can perfect your own moves at the new Millennium Dance Complex location in Anaheim. Opportunities to see performances and to take classes are now readily available in SoCal.
Back in the day, if you wanted to dance professionally you had to move to the big apple, but now dancers and choreographers are paving the way for new opportunities all over the U.S.! Dance capitals now include Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and Miami, just to name a few. And just like the growing scene in Southern California, new dance communities are appearing throughout the nation. So if you’re planning on visiting sunny Southern California, make sure to pack your sunscreen and your dancing shoes!