Discover Dance Program
Discover Dance is one of our most popular programs. Our Discover Dance Program allows us to bring a professional dance instructor into the Physical Education classes in local schools. The students experience classes covering the history and evolution of jazz dance through a range of fun styles.
Festival YouthReach
Festival YouthReach provides arts performances to 5,000 students in an 80-mile radius. When we touch the lives of our youth through performing arts, we broaden the minds of our young people, teach them about beauty, and give them an experience of the diverse expression of dance.
Some children from rural communities that are bussed in to see professional performances would never have the opportunity to experience professional performing arts otherwise in their lifetime. For many, it is the only professional performance they will ever experience. Festival Dance believes this experience develops a personal connection to the arts that can create a lifelong interest, enriching the lives of youth in our area.
"It was a beautiful visual and musical experience my
students would rarely get a chance to see."
-Charlotte Carpenter, Julietta Elementary School
"As a teacher, I look forward to this every year. It is
very exciting to see how positively it affects the kids."
-Lorie Flakus, Troy Elementary School
"Please continue to provide us with such a great exposure
to the arts. We appreciate your programs very much."
-Rosalie Harms, Franklin Elementary School
"The delivery of individuals, music and dance forms
increases student understanding of others, helps them
relate to music and dance as a common language for all,
and reminds them that we are more alike than different."
-Caroline Bitterwolf, West Park School
"We love attending the Festival Dance performances.
Keep doing what you're doing!'
-Linda Sterk, Renaissance Charter School
Missoula Children's Theatre
The Missoula Children's Theatre annual one week Moscow residency is one of Festival Dance's most popular and gratifying outreach programs for the youth of our community. With the support of wonderful community businesses, we are able to bring this valuable project to our community each year. The benefits of Missoula Children's Theatre are many:
- 50 area youth are chosen through open audition have the memorable experience of appearing on stage in an original musical profuction under the direction of professional actors. Area students, kindergarten through high-school, have a wonderful time while learning theatre skills and gaining confidence and discipline.
- 150 area youth attend free drama workshops taught in Moscow public schools by the Missoula Children's Theatre actors.
- Over 400 people, including many children, attend the two performances of MCT's delightful musical production featuring local performers with professional actors.