The Dizzy Feet Foundation to Celebrate National Dance Day

The Dizzy Feet Foundation (DFF), co-founded by Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman, is proud to announce that the 8th annual National Dance Day (NDD) will take place on Saturday, July 29 at Grand Park in Los Angeles, co-presented by The Music Center, and in Washington D.C., hosted by the Kennedy Center. The event continues the ongoing alliance of some of the nation's leading cultural organizations, which once again join together to promote the benefits and joy of dance for everyone. YouTube Red joins National Dance Day as the 2017 Title Sponsor.

In Washington, D.C., National Dance Day is celebrated with free, family-friendly events open to all. Beginning at 2 p.m. and featuring special guest dancers, interactive dance lessons, and performances in a wide variety of dance styles, as well as the official National Dance Day routine for this year's event, is led by a well-known dance star, to be announced. This performance coincides with the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Center's free, daily performance series. At 7:30 p.m., Dancing Under the Stars begins with a beginner-level swing dance lesson by Gottaswing, followed by two hours of dancing with The Tom Cunningham Orchestra. All are free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://www.kennedy-center.org/.

In Los Angeles, The Music Center partners with The Dizzy Feet Foundation to present the West Coast's flagship free celebration of National Dance Day for the sixth year, featuring a dance extravaganza with both performances and participatory elements. The event takes place in Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Dance lovers will experience some of Los Angeles' best dance companies, and enjoy music and dancing in the Grand Park fountain. For more information, visit https://www.musiccenter.org/ndd.

The Los Angeles and Washington D.C. events include dance workshops for all ages and skill levels. There will be performances and information from a range of community dance organizations. The public is invited to attend both events; admission and all activities are free of charge.

Annually as its official contribution to National Dance Day, The Dizzy Feet Foundation produces and distributes an instructional video online for people to view, learn and share with others, wherever they are. The Dizzy Feet Foundation encourages anyone and everyone to learn the routines and perform them on National Dance Day. The Dizzy Feet Foundation also encourages the public to submit videos of themselves performing the routines. Executive Director Danae Rees leads The Dizzy Feet Foundation.

This year, The Dizzy Feet Foundation is proud to partner with YouTube Red to create the Accessible Routine. Featuring Jade Chynoweth and Carlito Olivero from the new YouTube Red original series Step Up: High Water, this fun simple routine is easy for everyone to learn. Along with series choreographer, Jamaica Craft, the cast will break down the choreography to District 78's, "Shake, Wiggle, Move".

The video can be watched here: https://youtu.be/2j3fyLMQVTc

Executive Director Rees said, "We look forward to having the public attend our events in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. However, we have also designed National Dance Day, so that it is accessible to everyone at every ability level, and everywhere in the country. National Dance Day offers free access to dance, that's diverse and inclusive, and encourages participants to celebrate the art of dance through movement. We have a sponsor this year, YouTube Red, that helped us bring National Dance Day to everyone."

"Dance is wildly popular on YouTube, and we are thrilled to partner with Adam Shankman, Nigel Lythgoe and The Dizzy Feet Foundation to bring a routine inspired by moves from our upcoming drama series 'Step Up: High Water' to National Dance Day Celebrations around the country," said Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Original Content, YouTube.

National Dance Day is for everyone. In addition, those creating their own National Dance Day event can register their event on a national list for others to seek out and celebrate NDD. Be creative! Host a NDD Fundraising Event to raise money for The Dizzy Feet Foundation and help support its mission to provide access to dance: organize a Flash Mob in your area or host a dance-a-thon or raise money for kids to have more access to dance. National Dance Day has a strong online presence, allowing everyone to participate no matter where they are located. Information on how to become an official National Dance Day event and submitting National Dance Day videos can be found on The Dizzy Feet Foundation's website, http://dizzyfeetfoundation.org/national-dance-day/.

Established in 2010 by Dizzy Feet co-founder and So You Think You Can Dance co-creator Nigel Lythgoe, National Dance Day is an annual celebration dedicated to dance, that encourages Americans of all ages to incorporate dance into their lives. By creating a focused day of celebration, The Dizzy Feet Foundation aims to educate the public about dance and its many benefits, as well as make dance accessible and inclusive to everyone.

The Dizzy Feet Foundation believes that participation in dance connects the mind and body, promotes health and wellbeing, connects us with others and enables us to find joy through movement. National Dance Day is a day of celebrating dance, in all its forms, and takes place annually on the last Saturday in July.

National Dance Day achieved national recognition when Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a long-time proponent of healthy lifestyles, announced at a press conference on July 31, 2010, in Washington, D.C., that she was introducing a congressional resolution declaring the last Saturday in July to be the country's official National Dance Day.

Getting the Nation Dancing - How to get involved

Central to The Dizzy Feet Foundation's mission, is increasing exposure to dance in all its forms, as well as highlighting dance's many benefits. National Dance Day supports the realization of this mission by encouraging community partners across the United States to become involved and engaged. Through this grassroots campaign, The Dizzy Feet Foundation hopes to encourage Americans to embrace dance as a fun and positive way to move their bodies, maintain good health and bring joy to their lives.

Since National Dance Day is for everyone, The Dizzy Feet Foundation also encourages the public to create their own celebratory National Dance Day events in their communities, local schools, studios, neighbors, and businesses. Participation grows every year; in recent years there have been events registered in 35 states and online participation in the millions, through participants uploading and sharing their National Dance Day videos.

The public can register their events on The Dizzy Feet National Directory of Events; organizers of registered events receive a Community Information Pack with information and tips to help you get your celebrations underway, and an official National Dance Day poster recognizing you as an official supporter of National Dance Day 2017.

Those registering events then become official National Dance Day supporters and part of a national dance community of dancers, choreographers, and students. Participants also help Dizzy Feet provide greater access to dance education for youth in underserved communities. Once registered, share details of your event and let people know how you're celebrating National Dance Day 2017.

About The Dizzy Feet Foundation

Producer Nigel Lythgoe and director Adam Shankman founded The Dizzy Feet Foundation in 2009 to:

? Increase access to high-quality dance education across the United States, through the community programs it funds.

? Support dance programs that provide an outlet for creative expression, benefiting children with life skills that go beyond dance class.

? Increase appreciation for dance, the art of dance, and movement.

? Share the benefits and joy of dance, particularly to those who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to experience it.

Funding received through sponsorships and donations on National Dance Day provide the necessary support for our Community Programs. The Dizzy Feet Foundation makes grants to community organizations and other tax-exempt entities in the United States, providing dance education programs to children in underserved communities within the US. Through its grant recipients, The Dizzy Feet Foundation seeks to give children the experience of dance, educate them about the many styles of dance, and to expose them to the lifelong benefits that dance has to offer.

To date, The Dizzy Feet Foundation community grants have:

? Provided support to 67 dance programs in 25 states with $1 million in funding grants.

? Given access to the life-long benefits of dance to 150,000+ children.

? 82% of those served are from underserved communities.

? Supported dance programming in schools through after-school instruction and social service agencies.

The Dizzy Feet Foundation also supports community programs offered by libraries, community centers, parks & recreation centers, social service agencies, and after-school programs. Grants are awarded to other 501(c)(3) and governmental organizations, not to individuals or for-profit corporations. The Dizzy Feet Foundation also awards scholarships to talented individual students studying at dance schools, universities and institutions, based on talent and financial need.

Partners & Sponsors

National Dance Day celebrations could not happen without the generous support of our Partners & Sponsors who help The Dizzy Feet Foundation promote greater access to dance for all. We are grateful for the continued partnership with our official Host Venues, The Music Center in Los Angeles and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C.

About The Music Center
As L.A.'s performing arts destination, The Music Center is L.A.'s home to the world's greatest artistic programs and events. With four iconic theaters and four renowned resident companies - Center Theatre Group, the LA Master Chorale, the LA Opera and the LA Philharmonic - and recognized for its illustrious dance programming, Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, The Music Center is a destination where audiences find inspiration in the very best of live performance, as well as nationally recognized arts education and participatory arts experiences. With The Music Center On Location, the non-profit performing arts organization brings events and activities to locations outside of its Downtown Los Angeles campus. The Music Center also programs and manages Grand Park, a 12-acre adjacent greenspace, with year-round free programming. For more information, visit musiccenter.org Follow The Music Center on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (@MusicCenterLA).

About The Kennedy Center

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is America's living memorial to President Kennedy. Under the guidance of Chairman David M. Rubenstein, and President Deborah F. Rutter, the nine theaters and stages of the nation's busiest performing arts facility attract more than three million visitors to more than 2,000 performances each year, while center-related touring productions, television, and radio broadcasts reach 40 million more around the world. With its artistic affiliates, the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) and Washington National Opera (WNO), the Center has produced more than 300 theatrical productions, and dozens of new ballets, operas, and musical works, in addition to hosting numerous international cultural festivals. The Center produces and presents performances of music, dance, comedy, and theater; supports artists in the creation of new work; and serves the nation as a leader in arts education. The Center and its affiliates stage more than 400 free performances by artists from throughout the world each year on the Center's main stages, and every day of the year at 6 p.m. on its Millennium Stages, which are also streamed live, online. To learn more about the Kennedy Center, please visit: kennedy-center.org. Follow the Kennedy Center on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@kencen).

About YouTube

Launched in May 2005, YouTube allows billions of people to discover, watch and share originally-created videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small. YouTube is a Google company.

YouTube Red is a paid membership that gives you access to YouTube Red Original Movies and Series like Step Up: High Water. In addition, you get a premium music service and an uninterrupted experience across YouTube, YouTube Gaming and YouTube Kids. YouTube Red is currently available in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Korea.

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