Join us for FREE Chili tomorrow, Saturday, June 27 from 5pm-7pm at Higher Grounds Coffee — to find out how you can help create Pagosa’s First Annual Dance Festival!
Do You Love to Dance? Swing, Jitter-Bug, Two-Step, Jig, Stomp, Clog, Boogie, Twirl, Whirl, Pirouette, Cut-a-Rug, Skip, Bounce, Allemande, Waltz, Polka, Reel, Cha-Cha, Jig, Shimmy, Shuffle, Jive, Twist, Tango or Bop?
We envision a 2010 Festival where we close Lewis Street, host Workshops and Demonstrations from regional dance groups, food, beer garden, vendors, etc. with the evening culminating in a large, live-band, dance-music Street Dance. But we can't do it by ourselves. We need your help. Whether you're part of a dance group who may be interested in providing demonstrations or workshops or you just love to dance and want to help organize the event, join us on the 27th to find out how you can participate.
“So what’s a land trust got to do with dance?” I’ve been asked.
 As Communications & Special Projects Coordinator for the Southwest Land Alliance, last Fall I discussed plans for 2009 with our Executive Director, Michael Whiting. We knew it was going to be a tough year for fundraising, so decided to focus on our relationships with local business partners and fun, no- or low-cost events for the public. One of these business partners is Nicki Alley of Higher Grounds Coffee who has supported the Southwest Land Alliance by providing coffee for many of our events and with Higher Cause Coffee, which donates $1 to SLA for every pound of coffee she sells under that label.
Michael, Nicki and I spent several months of meetings tossing around ideas for an event that no one else was doing. We knew we wanted it to be family friendly. As we were discussing the logistics and appeal of sporting events or food-fests, Michael mentioned what a great time he’d had with his wife at the Valentine’s dance held at the Community Center. What we realized was how much each of us liked to dance and the different types and styles we each enjoyed. Nicki has danced with the Let’s Dance Club and really enjoys swing style. Back in High School, I’d spent several years dancing with the Arkansas Country Dance Society, a club specializing in Contra and Scottish country dancing.
The idea for an event was starting to take shape, but we knew with our limited time and just the three of us, we wouldn’t be able to hold an event of the scale we envisioned this year. The chili dinner on the 27th is our chance to recruit ideas for the event, volunteers for committees, and generate funds and attention for a 2010 event.
The chili is free and donations are greatly appreciated. It’s first come, first served and we have enough to feed about 100. A lentil-based vege option is also available. Door Prizes from: Higher Grounds Coffee, Overlook Hot Springs, Salon Visage, and Switchback Mountainwear…Winners must be present to claim prizes. Come share food and ideas with us! |