Culture Fiend

Met Pick: Velocity Dance Center’s Reopening Party

The “very heart of dance in Seattle” has a new beat, starting Saturday.

Posted by: Laura Dannen on Mar 25, 2010 at 09:30AM3 Comments

Velocity Dance’s founders are pretty excited about this reopening.

When the Oddfellows Building was sold in 2007, the new owner raised the rent, pricing out tenant Velocity Dance. The dance center—which PNB artistic director Peter Boal once called "the very heart of dance in Seattle”—had spent 13 years in its Capitol Hill home. Now it had months to find a new space—or close.

Thankfully, this story has a happy ending (read the full recap here ). After a grueling studio search and some creative fundraising, Velocity Dance will reopen in its new home at 1621 12th Avenue this Saturday—and they plan to celebrate in style.

Calling it “The Greatest Move on Earth,” the circus-themed party starts at 5:30pm with a parade—complete with marching band, moped gang, and Mayor McGinn—from the Oddfellows Building at 915 East Pine to Velocity’s new digs. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6, followed by a (FREE) party open to all ages from 7-11 with food, drinks, DJ sets by Mad Rad and performances by Airpocalypse and the Merce Cunningham Duo. If you’re looking for a dance party—a really, really good dance party this weekend—this is it.

Velocity will also offer FREE studio space for artists and FREE dance classes for adults (ages 16 and up) all week. Learn everything from hip hop and breakdancing to ballet and yoga. For more information, go to [corrected] VelocityDanceCenter.org.

Note: Parade participants shout meet on the third floor of the Oddfellows Building at 5pm.

Tags: Capitol Hill, Met Picks, Dance, Weekend, Party, Velocity Dance,