ODT’s Dance Battle Extravaganza returns Saturday

February 18, 2022 | 12:09 am

Updated February 17, 2022 | 10:12 pm

Owensboro Dance Theatre’s Dance Battle Extravaganza will hit the RiverPark Center stage this Saturday night, with nine teams contending for the grand prize.

Although ODT’s first dance battle was held in 2019, this will only be the third battle the nonprofit has held due to the pandemic.

The first act of the show will feature professional jazz dance company Giordano Dance Chicago.

“Giordano Dance Chicago offers an experience of witnessing dance that is powerful, passionate, elegant, and celebratory,” said ODT Assistant Artistic Director Natalie Lopez. “Their energy and enthusiasm captured in their dancing will leave you wanting more.”

The second act of the show will highlight the nine teams battling it out:

  • Burns Middle School Dance Team
  • Daviess County Board of Education
  • Edge Body
  • The JDM’S
  • No Affiliation
  • Owensboro Middle School
  • Owensboro High School
  • Sutton Elementary School
  • The Wonder Understudies

There will also be performances by Owensboro Dance Theatre Company & Apprentice Company, as well as 2020 winner GRADSA. 

Each team has chosen their music, dancing and acting to incorporate into their performance.

Twelve of the dancers from Johnson’s Dance Studio are also participating in competitive teams during the evening.

“They are very excited to take the stage and represent their team,” she said. 

A change for this year includes having three judges who will score the teams live in each round. The top-scoring team in each round will be the round winner and receive of $100. 

Online voting for the Community Favorite Award has opened, and this year ODT is sharing the top three on social media to make the competition even more fierce.

“The teams have shown a true competitive spirit this year,” Lopez said. “To encourage this friendly competition and more support in the community, we decided to share who the top three vote-getters were at the midway point for the Community Favorite vote. 

Lopez said sharing the information on social media leads to a noticeable increase in votes and donations. The voting for the community contest ends Friday at midnight, and the winner will be announced at the show and will receive $500.

The Grand Prize winner will be decided by an audience vote at the end of the battles, and the team with the most votes takes home $1,000 and bragging rights, Lopez said.

All money raised will serve the community through Owensboro Dance Theatre’s community outreach that includes ODT’s many performance opportunities: Triple-A (Arts Access For All) service programs; free tickets and transportation to underprivileged community members for each of its season concerts; Rising Stars Adaptive Dance Program which provides dance classes in the schools and local facilities for individuals with disabilities.; The Dance for Health Program, which provides dance classes for individuals with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease and other chronic health conditions; and their Dance/Movement/LEAN and Dance to Learn Programs offered in community schools. 

“These programs rely on funding support from the community, and the success of this event will have a direct impact on the future of dance in our community and ODT’s ability to continue ‘changing lives…one dance at a time,’” Lopez said. 

Owensboro Dance Theatre’s dance Battle Extravaganza is sponsored by Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline.

Tickets are on sale now and range from $15 to $25. For more information contact Owensboro Dance Theatre at 270-684-9580 or email [email protected]

February 18, 2022 | 12:09 am

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