Arizona's modern dance scene is a major aspect of today's southwestern culture. Native American dance is one of the most prevalent types of dance in the state, however not all Arizona dance is directly related to Native American culture. Dance companies of all styles, have been popping up throughout the state, particularly in major cities. And there are a number of nightclubs where vacationers can go to get their groove on.
Native American Dance
For thousands of years, dance has been an important part of Native American culture. It has served as a cultural practice in the form of expression, in religious rituals, building community, and has binded generations over centuries. In recent years, Native American dance has taken on a new, very important function-- it now plays a major role in helping Native American groups preserve their cultures against growing outside influence. For visitors to Arizona, attending events that showcase Native American dance is a great way to help preserve these cultures.
The Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff hosts several festivals where visitors can begin to educate themselves about Native American Dance. The Hopi Festival of Arts and Culture takes place annually at the end of June. This festival celebrates the culture and history of the ancient Pueblo-dwelling tribe, and features art, crafts, food, and dance. The annual Navajo Festival of Arts and Culture, in early-August, is hosted by the Navajo Indians, and features, arts, crafts, dance, language lessons, and ethnobotany talks. Also, for those who are not visiting during the summer, there is the late-October Celebraciones de la Gente, which celebrates Meso-American native culture, and the Annual Zuni Festival of Arts and Culture, in late May.
Another major center of Native American cultural preservation is the Heard Museum, which has three locations in the Phoenix area. Each year, at its downtown location, the museum hosts the annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest. Hoop dancing originated centuries ago in the Arizona and New Mexico region, and has since spread to Native American groups nationwide. The contest features contenders from all over the country enabling visitors to experience a diverse array of performances, which become more creative and innovative by the year. In addition to regional diversity, the contest also is divided into five different age groups, giving spectators a taste of both traditional and 21st century performance techniques. The event takes place over a weekend in early February.
Other Dance Styles
Along with dances from Native American tradition, Arizona also boasts a number of other dance styles. Phoenix is home to Ballet Arizona, a major ballet company working to create innovative performances of both classical and modern works. The company performs year-round, primarily at Phoenix's Orpheum Theatre. One of the ballet's biggest draws is its annual production of The Nutcracker, during the holiday season.
In the same area, founded in 1988, the Center Dance Ensemble is hosted in the Herberger Theater Center of Phoenix. The ensemble also performs at venues throughout the state. The ensemble provides family-friendly and affordable performances, and is especially known for its beautiful production values, accomplished choreography, creative program choices, and the thrilling expertise and deftness of its performers.
For visitors who want to put on their dancing shoes, Arizona has many dance studios that hold one-time classes and week-long courses. One popular example is the Shall We Dance studio in Tucson, which teaches lessons in Ballroom, Latin, Country/Western, and Swing Dance. Lessons are taught each weeknight, by several accomplished instructors. Private lessons for individuals and couples are also available.
In the Phoenix metropolitan area, Arizona U Can Dance teaches fun, year-round classes for people at all skill levels, from beginner to expert. The studio specializes in line and ballroom dancing, but has expanded into other genres of dance. Information on their locations and class schedules is available on their Web site.
Another Phoenix-area dance studio is the Arthur Murray Dance Studio, in Mesa. Offering lessons in tango, salsa, ballroom, swing, and Latin dance, the studio specializes in making students proficient in both competitive and social dance. The studio offers private lessons, as well as classes that are open to everyone at all skill levels. The focus of their one-time classes is to give students a basic, versatile level of skill that can be expanded upon later. In the summer, the studio also holds a youth camp for ballroom dancing.
Arizona also has a lively night club and dance club scene, for visitors who know where to find it. The Phoenix area, in particular, holds a wealth of opportunities for people who love to go out for fun nights on the town. The large suburb of Scottsdale holds many of the areas nightclubs, including the popular Devil's Martini, futuristically decorated Axis and Radius, the European-themed Barcelona, and the colorful, upscale Myst club. Downtown Phoenix has Jackson's on 3rd Street, which contains three clubs in one, including a sports room with over 50 televisions showing sports events. Finally, in Tempe there is Graham Central Station, a popular country music dance club. Because of its spread-out landscape, Phoenix doesn't have the condensed nightclub districts that many other major cities have. For this reason, it's essential visitors to know where they are going ahead of time, and to choose a place that they are likely to enjoy.
In addition to these listed events, activities, and festivals, the rapidly growing state has many new and upcoming dance hot-spots. In Arizona, visitors need only look around to find fun dance activities.
Links:
Arizona U Can Dance: http://www.ucanlinedance.com
Arthur Murray Dance Studios: http://www.arthurmurraymesa.com
Ballet Arizona: http://www.balletaz.org
Center Dance Ensemble: http://www.centerdance.com
Heard Museum: http://www.heard.org
Museum of Northern Arizona: http://www.musnaz.org
Shall We Dance: http://www.shallwedanceaz.com
Sources:
History of the modern Hoop Dance: http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415117
