IGNITING OUTREACH

By Pauline Oxford, friend of Dance

My community service (Highline School Business Advisory Committee board member and Burien Rotary member) and position as a local realtor puts me in touch with a broad segment of the Seattle population. I see first hand the need for outreach in the arts. This outreach can be accomplished in many ways, from planting flowers in dusty sidewalk holes in White Center to bringing students and parents to a modern dance experience unavailable to them with their current means.

This year’s CDC matinee performance hosted students and parents from Highline, Evergreen, Mt. Rainier and Tyee Schools and from Burien Dance Academy. A number of families even took the extra time to arrive early to attend the pre-performance lecture presented by Betsy Cooper, Director of the Dance Program.

What an awakening experience for us all! One of the attendees was an elementary school bus driver and her daughter: “My 7 year old hasn’t stopped dancing through our circular floor plan yet!”

I look forward to building a tradition of community outreach fom Chamber Dance to the Seattle area. I also invite anyone interested in helping me “spread the word” of this talented company to email the Dance Program or call 206-543-0550.