Laguna Dance Festival Brings Live, In-Person Dance Back to Young Orange County Dancers

Relaxing restrictions and a longing to return to normal have presented a number of ways forward for the performing arts to reemerge — finally. One of the first opportunities for advanced Orange County dance students to venture out from behind their computer screens came in the form of a six-day summer dance intensive. "Moving Together In-Person" took place June 14-19 and was hosted by the Laguna Dance Festival at Orange County Music and Dance.

"When we set the dates for the intensive, we were really banking on what science was telling us and felt confident that we would be able to host in-person," said Laguna Dance Festival founder and artistic director Jodie Gates.

MenAlive Camps Out With Its Upcoming Concert — Cautiously

Choirs have played a special part in the pandemic — one that choral singers and conductors would just as soon forget.

"Singing is just one of those things that spreads germs," said Bob Gunn, artistic director of MenAlive — The Orange County Gay Men's Chorus. "We didn’t even realize how much until that choir in Washington got hit in the first month of the outbreak."

"We're still trying to sort out how that will work as we open up more," Gunn said. "Once we get through this weekend, I think we'll kind of dive head-first into what to do this fall." Gunn is getting more hopeful that MenAlive could return to the concert stage before December. Recent progress in California means that audiences might be ready to go to a choral concert by the autumn.

As of June 15th, the State of California has lifted nearly all restrictions and is, effectively re-opened. Arts Orange County is proud to celebrate the return of gathering to enjoy the arts, and hopes you take advantage of the opportunity when you're ready! Individual businesses and venues will continue to have their own safety regulations and precautions, and we strongly advise reviewing them as you make your plans. We will continue to recommend a variety of both in-person and virtual ways to bring the arts into your life 

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Summer Solstice Goddess

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An Evening of Scott Joplin

Stage Door Repertory presents this live, theatrical concert of classic ragtime performed by Eric Marchese   DETAILS »