Groovin’ In The Park – Summer Dance Series
Tap Dance, Vintage Solo Jazz, West African Dance (open-level, drop-in classes]
WHEN: Wednesday evenings for six weeks, June 26 – July 31 | 6:30PM. See the Schedule below.
WHERE: Windsor Park (in Old Ottawa South), 1 Windsor Avenue. (Enter the park at this address to quickly locate us. The area where classes happen is directly across from the free parking lot. An ORI volunteer will be there between 6PM-6:15PM to greet participants.)
More about the location: Accessible by OC Transpo, which drops you off on Riverdale Avenue. If you come from this park entrance, follow the paved path into the park and stay to the right side/keep looking to the right. You will see us as you come down the path. Windsor Park is located about a 15 mins. walk from Billings Bridge Shopping Mall. It is accessible by bike paths along the Rideau River. There are white tents and picnic tables in the area where we will be dancing. There is a nearby playground; however, children would need supervision as the playground is not in eye-shot from the dance area.
COST: All classes are Pay-What-You-Can. You can pay us onsite or advance. E-transfer ottawarhythminitiave@gmail.com with your desired amount and indicate the class(es) you will take/took. Or, pay cash when you arrive at the class. (If you’re not sure what to pay, a suggested amount for each class is $10-20.)
All classes will take place outside and on the grass. IMPORTANT: All tap dance classes require that you bring a tap board. The recommended tap board size is 2′ x 4′. We do not have any tap boards for sale or to be loaned at this time. A quick Google search will give you a ton of options for tap boards, To save some money (and to get one quickly) you can also make one yourself. We suggest getting a ¾” thick Sande Plywood that you can buy from any local hardware store. Cut the wood to your desired size and lightly sand the edges.
Recommended footwear: Tap Dance: Tap shoes or hard soled shoes. Solo Jazz and African Dance: Running shoes.
What else should you bring?: Stay hydrated and bug-free! Bring a water bottle and bug spray. Bring a foldable chair or blanket to hang out on. Other fun things to note: There is a Dairy Queen a short walk away. 🙂 Or come early before class and have a picnic dinner. 🙂
Schedule
| When | Who | What |
| June 26 | 6:30PM | Carole Anne Piccinin | Tap Dance |
| July 3 | 6:30PM | Stacey Dela Can-Tamakloe | West African Dance |
| July 10 | 6:30PM | Carolyn Hebert | Tap Dance |
| July 17 | 6:30PM | Teagan Bendig | Tap Dance |
| July 24 | 6:30PM | Kofi Arthiabah | Vintage Jazz Dance |
| July 31 | 6:30 PM | TBA | TBA |
Groovin’ in the Park class cancellation policy:
- Classes may be canceled due to inclement weather or other unforeseen emergencies. Class cancellation notices will be posted on our social media channels (Instagram and Facebook): Please follow us there for updates.
- No refunds are issued for cancelled or missed classes.
- If you have to miss a class that you paid for in advance, you may opt to choose another Wednesday class to attend. There is no need to advise us that you will come to a substitute class.
- A substitute teacher may be provided without notice.
Friday, June 14 | 6PM – 9PM Workshop classes with The Boys’ Club @boysclubtap
The ORI is thrilled to present the Boys’ Club Tap Dance Collective one of Canada’s newest and accomplished all-female tap dance companies. The Boys’ Club comprises Veronica Simpson/Toronto, Laura Donaldson/Calgary, and Elise McGrenera/Vancouver who are deeply passionate about exploring tap dance as a vehicle to examine power dynamics and the female experience. Their work strives to be a celebration of female voices in tap dance and jazz music.
Where: Carleton Dominion Chalmers Centre (CDCC), Room 15/16
Cost: $30 for one class; $50 for two classes (We don’t want finances to be a barrier to participation for students, artists or the underemployed. Please email us to work out another arrangement if needed.)
Registration: Send an e-transfer to ottawarhythminitiative@gmail.com and indicate which class(es) you wish to take. Space is limited so please register early!
Program (spots are limited):
Class 1 (w/ Artist Talk) 6PM – 7:45PM | (All Levels)
An Open-to-All-Levels class that will explore musical concepts and technique in the Boys’ Club style. Then, meet the artists and learn about their Ottawa Fringe shows, happening in Ottawa June 13-24!
Class 2 (w/ Artist Talk) 7:15PM – 9PM | (Intermediate +)
This class will dig further into the Boys’ Club style and learn some of their repertoire choreography. This class will be geared to intermediate/advanced levels. You’ll also get a chance right before the class starts to meet the artists and learn about their June 13-24 Ottawa Fringe shows!
Hang with the Boys’ (free + optional) | 9PM – 10PM
Join us following the workshop for an ORI Tap Hangout with the Boys’ Club (nearby location TBA at the workshop).
Registration: Send an e-transfer to ottawarhythminitiative@gmail.com and indicate which class(es) you wish to take. Space is limited so please register early!
And, check out the The Boys’ Club at the Ottawa Fringe Festival – June 13-23, 2024. Get tickets here!
