Oklahoma International Dance Festival returns

Oklahoma International Dance Festival returns for its second in-person dance intensive since its inception in 2020.  The Festival, which will run from July 17 to 30 at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, OK, was formed to educate, enrich, and entertain through the highest quality of dance. The festival has a number of components, including classes, performances, special events, and film showings.

Austin Hartel, founder/director, states, “My desire to create a festival to bring in teachers from all over the world came about because the location of a dancer should not limit the access to greatness…We are excited to provide a safe environment with a unique opportunity here in the great state of Oklahoma.”

Classes begin July 17th and take place from 8 am to 6 pm. OIDF focuses on three foundational techniques: Classical Ballet, Modern Dance, and West African Dance, with the additions of Creative practices, Pilates Contemporary floor work, and partnering. Students attending the Festival will take classes in each of the basic techniques daily.

Teaching Faculty includes Chelsea Ainsworth, Sonia Dawkins, Ada Gonzalez, Vincent Gros, Richard Move, Sherone Price, Khalid Abdul N’Faly Saleem, Margo Sappington, and Jessica Smith.

On July 22 at 8 pm OIDF presents Dual Rivet, a NY-Based Women-Led Dance Company. Directors Jessica Smith and Chelsea Ainsworth have been making and presenting work since 2017, coming from an international background of performing around the world. The Company teaches a myriad of classes throughout the U.S., with an emphasis on contemporary partnering and floorwork. Dual Rivet in currently on faculty at The Juilliard School, Gibney, Peridance and DanceWave.  The team of directors aim to share what it means to be female leaders in the arts.

A Community Day will take place on July 23 from 10 am to 4 pm. There will be free classes for dancers ages 12 to 18 with the OIDF faculty. Each participant will receive free tickets to the Choreography Showcase. 

On July 23 at 8 pm and July 24 at 3 pm festival attendees can enjoy Choreography Showcases. The Showcases are open to dancers worldwide. This is a platform for aspiring and established choreographers to share their creativity with the Oklahoma community.

Film showings will take place July 27 & 28 at 7 pm at no charge. Viewers can enjoy a series of showings, along with panel discussions led by Richard Move – choreographer, performing artist, scholar, and filmmaker.  

Move’s interdisciplinary degree in Performance Studies from NYU draws on the fields of anthropology, theater, and history, adding depth to his analysis of the creation and development of the chosen films, and the questions that they pose.  

Move will discuss the subject matter in the films that he chose, and will also lead a panel of resident artists Nhi-Mu and Dual Rivet as they discuss the issues that they face as women in the arts.

The films to be shown are: BloodWork – The Ana Mendieta Story and GIMP – THE DOCUMENTARY, by Heidi Latsky.

Wrapping up the festival will be two Gala performances on July 29 & 30 at 8 pm each evening.

To learn about the Oklahoma International Dance Festival more visit okdancefest.org