Park District Offers Free Dance Classes on National Dance Day - July 26

Saturday, July 26th is National Dance Day, an annual event organized by the Dizzy Feet Foundation and Nigel Lythgoe, founder of the Fox TV Show, "So You Think You Can Dance." According to the Dizzy Feet Foundation's website, "this grassroots campaign encourages Americans to embrace dance as a fun and positive way to maintain good health and fight obesity."

Naperville Park District is joining in the celebration by offering a series of free introductory dance classes in two locations on Saturday morning, July 26. The schedule is as follows:

3-6-year-olds: 9:00-9:30 a.m.

6-9-year-olds: 9:45-10:15 a.m.

9 and up: 10:30-11:00 a.m.

The classes will take place both at the Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center-Room 123, located at 305 W. Jackson Avenue and at the 95th Street Center, Wood Floor Studio in Rooms 208/209, located at 2244 W. 95th Street.

A variety of dance styles will be explored. Students are asked to wear athletic clothes; dance shoes are optional. New, first-time participants who register for a regular Park District dance program at the event will receive 20% off the registration fee.

The Naperville Park District Dance Academy offers both Recital Dance Classes that run from September through May and include performance in the annual spring recital, and Seasonal Dance Classes that meet for one season at a time and do not include performance in the spring recital.

"We are proud to keep the Dance Academy programs strong in teaching the fundamentals of dance, while also offering new styles and more flexibility in scheduling," explained Chesney Murphy, Dance Academy coordinator. "New recital classes, such as Musical Theatre Dance and Competition Dance will give students an opportunity to expand their skills and try these popular programs."

Seasonal classes are expanding as well to include programs such as Storybook Ballet and TumbleDance for younger children and Hip Hop Fusion for ages 7 and up.

Adults also can participate in Dance Academy programs, including ballet, tap, Ballet for Expectant Mothers, and parent/child dance classes. The Park District offers social dancing as well, including ballroom dance, line dance, Bollywood dance, and Irish dance.

To learn more or to register for dance programs, visit www.napervilleparks.org.