Laguna Dance Festival Takes on a Musical Theme

Annual Gala pays tribute to the legacy of West Side Story
Laguna Beach, CA: Laguna Dance Festival’s 2018 gala will celebrate the launch of the festival’s 14th season with a West Side Story theme in honor of the centennial birthdays of two of the production’s artistic luminaries – composer Leonard Bernstein and choreographer Jerome Robbins.
The program will include live music and dance from West Side Story including vocal renditions of select songs, and an iconic dance excerpt from “America,” performed by dancers from the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. There will also be several new commissions performed by professional artists – each inspired by the musical, but with their very own “west coast story” flair. Additionally, three recipients of the 2017 Laguna Dance Festival scholarship – Emily Eckert, Jocelyn Magana, and Marcus Sarjeant – will each perform a solo.
“This year’s gala event not only marks the centennial of two great artists, it also celebrates Laguna Dance Festival’s commitment to quality education and innovative programming. The night will be full of glorious music and dance that represents the brightest stars of today and tomorrow.” – Artistic Director and Founder Jodie Gates
The gala will be held at [seven degrees] event space on May 18 and include a live auction, fine dining, wines donated by Hall Winery of Napa and dancing into the night.
About Laguna Dance Festival: Laguna Dance Festival offers sensational world-class dance on a theatre stage, art galleries and site-specific outdoor venues throughout Laguna Beach and Orange County. Since its inception in 2005, Laguna Dance Festival has presented companies such as Complexions Contemporary Ballet, The Parsons Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, BalletX, and Ballet BC, among others. In addition, the festival is committed to providing
quality dance education to the west coast through master classes, a summer intensive workshop, and scholarships for young dancers.