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Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival in Akron, Ohio

Sponsored by the City of Akron, The Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival has been established to honor the legacy of the legendary founding Artistic Director of Ohio Ballet, and continues the tradition of free public performances by respected dance companies, each presenting a unique dance experience, but all sharing the common thread of Poll's commitment to the highest artistic standards.

This Festival is a tribute to Poll's legacy and a gift of the performing arts to the people of Greater Akron.

Akron Dance Festival 2025 Schedule

Continuing Akron's unique 51 year tradition of presenting free dance performances in the parks during the summer, The Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival has been established to honor the legacy of the legendary founding Artistic Director of Ohio Ballet. Free public performances by respected Ohio dance companies, each presenting a unique dance experience, reflect the common thread of Poll's commitment to the highest artistic standards.

Since the 2006 demise of Ohio Ballet's Summer Festival that was founded in 1974 and supported by the City of Akron since 1975, there was no ready outlet for dance in Akron. The Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival presents as many as 18-20 separate dance pieces offered each summer. Attendance averages about eight thousand per season.

ALL DANCE PROGRAMS BEGIN AT 8:45 PM ~ CHILDREN'S INTERACTIVE PROGRAM 7:45 PM

• Ohio Contemporary Ballet
  July 25, 26
  Forest Lodge Park
  (by the ball-field on Jefferson Ave.)
  https://ocballet.org/
• Inlet Dance Theater
  August 1, 2
  Firestone Park
  (between N. and S. Firestone Blvd. – Firestone neighborhood)
  https://www.inletdance.org/
• Pilobolus @ Play - Family Night
  August 7 at 6:30 pm
  Akron Art Museum
  (1 S. High St., Akron, Ohio)
  330-376-9186
  https://pilobolus.org/
• Pilobolus
  Aug 8, 9
  Lock 3 Park
  (200 S. Main St., Akron, Ohio 44305)
  https://pilobolus.org/

SPECIAL PROGRAMS – Free Admission

August 4 through August 8

Internationally renown Pilobolus presents a week of Workshop/Interactive Programs utilizing their collaborative creative process to help people explore their creativity, learn to collaborate, and support well-being.

They travel all over the world with classes and activities designed to complement live onstage performances or to stand alone. These Programs will be customized for all levels of mobility, and scaled for communities of all sizes, from intimate group classes to a crowd of thousands.

Stay tuned for more Information!

FREE Yoga Class at each park

PRESENTED BY JEN GARLANDO

Saturdays at 10am - 11 am

(bring your blanket or mat)
July 26 - Forest Lodge Park - registration
Aug. 2 - Firestone Park - registration
Aug. 9 - Lock 3 Park - registration

DANCE STAGE TO BE SHARED WITH AKRON SYMPHONY ENSEMBLE ON SUNDAYS

The City of Akron will extend the use of its weekend dance stage to Sunday nights again this summer for a series of two free admission concerts by the Akron Symphony Ensemble, under the direction of Christopher Wilkins and Eric Benjamin. Each ensemble performance begins at 7:30pm.

July 27 - Forest Lodge Park
August 3 - Firestone Park