Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Dance card filled

Photos and story by Christina Holmes

Back in 2009 when the Northwest Dance Project threw open the doors of its new studio on Shaver Street near Mississippi Avenue, Ann Van Orman was one of the first visitors to greet Sarah Slipper.

Slipper, a world-renowned dancer and Northwest Dance Project’s artistic director, had relocated the studio to a permanent spot in the hip neighborhood after leasing space at other facilities around town. The studio, known for having the best spring dance floor in the city, had a following of students but this new locale presented plenty more possibilities.

Van Orman heard about the studio from Community Education Director Tonya Booker, who had seen dancers perform at a street fair. Impressed with what she saw, Booker talked to Van Orman about a possible partnership with the studio.

As the recreation and wellness program coordinator for the Community Education program, Van Orman is forever on the hunt for unique classes that might interest the tens of thousands of PCC students who favor the personal enrichment courses.

“We’re always looking for new ideas and when we find a good idea we want to grow it,” said Van Orman. “The partnership with Northwest Dance Project gives our community the opportunity to learn from internationally known dancers.”

Slipper was immediately thrilled with the idea of collaborating.

“Our organization believes in community relationships and we’re interested in being in touch with a variety of people – youth, adults and seniors,” said Slipper. “Our classes are accessible and even if you haven’t danced you can come into this environment and feel totally welcomed.”

Community Education students register for the classes – everything from ballet, hip hop, jazz, core balance, Pilates and yoga – through PCC. Slipper knows she’s reaching a wider audience because Community Education markets and publicizes classes to the entire Portland metropolitan area. She also knows that Portland boasts many dancers and those who appreciate dance.

“Across North America, Portland is known for its dancing because we have audiences who support dance,” said the Canadian born Slipper. “When a new work is performed on stage, people will show up and support the production.”

Slipper wants to show would-be dancers how refreshing it is to learn how to dance.

At the Northwest Dance Project, Community Education students encounter professionals from around the globe who have danced for years in companies large and small. These expert instructors teach students the most Community Education students sashay into class at popular dance studio Dance Card Filled current dance techniques. National dance critics say the studio is “changing the way dance is created.”

“In our business, good instructors get a following of students,” said Van Orman. “This is what we do in Community Education: we find little pockets and open them up to the community. We have a good reputation and we have good outreach and marketing so this is a great win for each of us. This is a prime example of how Community Education meets the needs of the community.”

Dance student Mira McDonald learned about the Northwest Dance Project classes by perusing the Community Education schedule. A longtime dancer who gave her ballet shoes a rest after an ankle injury about 10 years ago, she was ready to find her way back to the dance floor but didn’t know where to turn.

“Not only is my goal to get my body back in line but I also want to become more appreciative of the arts,” she said.

She’s now at the studio for several hours on Mondays getting her dance card filled.

“I started off with beginning ballet and… I decided to take jazz as well,” she said. “I get such enjoyment out of these classes.”

For more information about PCC’s Community Education dance classes, visit www.pcc.edu/community. For more information about the dance studio visit www.nwdanceproject.org