Free music and dances to be offered all summer
This summer, the community will have plenty of opportunities to gather on the court square or at the artPARK for free music and dancing. The Pomerene Center for the Arts, Our Town Coshocton and the Coshocton Community Band will be offering concerts until fall.
Anne Cornell, artistic director for the Pomerene Center, said that last March, she and Mary Beck, administrator and project manager for the Coshocton County Board of Commissioners, attended a creative place-making summit in Atlanta. The Levitt Foundation “leverages the power of free, live music to strengthen the social fabric of communities, creating places people love while amplifying local pride, injecting joy into underused public spaces and fostering more equitable, healthy and thriving communities.”
“This mission spoke to one of the ‘whys’ we produce the street dance series,” Cornell said. The series is funded through the John D. and Kathleen E. O’Shea Fund at the Coshocton Foundation. Kathleen was a lover of dance and was active in choreography and theater productions. It was her hope that her gift would enrich the Coshocton community.
Cornell shared that they would be cooking on their new wood-fired Rocket stove flat-top grills with Wooly Pig Helles on tap. Other drinks are available nearby thanks to the Coshocton DORA. Each evening a different dance will be featured and free dance lessons, for all levels, will be offered before the dance begins.
Beck said that she thinks community activities like the dances and concerts help pull a community together. “They offer a wide variety of cultural and physical interactions. Not only that, but it’s a lot of fun, too. I really feel we need these types of activities to make our community grow and become a welcoming center for everyone.”
“The idea I liked at the conference is the collaboration between groups such as the artPARK, the county and city and other entities to help grow our activities so that more people can enjoy them,” Beck said.
The street dances will be held Friday, June 21, featuring the Chardon Polka Band at 8 p.m. Dance lessons with Tim Cohen begin at 7 p.m. Latin Jazz night will be Friday, July 5, featuring Yumbambe with lessons at 7 p.m. and music beginning at 8 p.m. The Lake Park Big Band will play on Friday, July 19 and free fox trot lessons will begin at 7 p.m. and the dance at 8 p.m. Cohen has taught dance professionally.
Carol Hampton, a member of the street dance committee, said that dance is a beautiful form of artistic expression and she encourages everyone to join. “It knows no race, gender or social status. Everyone comes to the dance floor equally.” She said there are different skill levels, but everyone starts as a beginner.
“It is a great way to connect people of the community in a fun setting and develop social connections. Even if you have never had dance lessons, come out and get free lessons from a great dance instructor who breaks the steps down so even the most inexperienced can come away with enough dance steps to dance a whole song and have fun doing them.”
Jael Malenke shared the street dances were an experience the whole family can enjoy. “Our family went as a group to the tango concert – all three generations from under one to seniors enjoyed the music, the gorgeous evening and the great space. There’s plenty of room for kids to mess around and be kids without interrupting anyone else’s concert enjoyment.”
“I’m really looking forward to the return of Chardon Polka Band. They were so fun and energetic, not your grandpa’s polka at all. This year, the Pomerene has wood-fired griddles set up, offering really tasty sandwiches. Between the music, relaxed atmosphere and the food and beer, it’s a great event I’d recommend to anyone.”
Cornell said, “If we were to sum up the atmosphere of the last two years’ dances, we’d say they felt something like wedding receptions – people of all ages having fun. Connecting with others on the dance floor adds a new dimension to being together. The music is great plus social dancing brings people together.”
Our Town Coshocton concerts will be Invincible, a Pat Benatar tribute, on Saturday, June 22, Adrenalize, The Ultimate Def Leppard Experience on Saturday, July 20, Beginnings, a Celebration of the music of Chicago on Saturday, Aug. 3 and Southern Accents, the Ultimate Tom Petty Experience on Sunday, Sept. 8. All of the concerts are free and the community is encouraged to bring lawn chairs. They will be held on the court square and will begin at 7:30 p.m., except for the Sept. 8 concert which starts at 3 p.m.
The Coshocton Community Band will be performing every other Friday night throughout the summer. These concerts will be held on the court square and begin at 7 p.m. The dates are June 28 “Red, White and Blue,” July 12 “The Great Outdoors,” July 26 “The Wild, Wild West” and Aug. 9 “TV Shows.”
Olivia Elson, health educator for the Coshocton Public Health District, said that it’s important for people to attend social gatherings. “Not only does it offer the opportunity to connect and build new relationships, it also offers the chance to learn and grow. In my opinion, music and dance are what feeds the soul. When your soul is happy, your body can benefit physically, mentally and emotionally.”
Elson said dancing improves things like balance, posture, flexibility, strength and coordination. “Listening to music can improve your psychological well-being by providing a relief of tension, anxiety, frustration and even depression. I know that my personal song choices depend on what mood I’m in and help me decompress after a long day at the office.” She also shared that her family enjoys singing and dancing at home together.
Attending one of the many free concerts or dances to be held this summer is one of the easiest ways you can help stay healthy and have fun at the same time.
Category: Arts & Entertainment
