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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 2024 Schedule

Continuing Akron's unique 50 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 26, 27
  Forest Lodge Park
  (by the ball-field on Jefferson Ave.)
  https://verbballets.org/
• GroundWorks Dance Theater
  August 2, 3
  Firestone Park
  (between N. and S. Firestone Blvd. – Firestone neighborhood)
  https://groundworksdance.org/
• Inlet Dance Theatre
  August 8 at 6:30 pm
  Akron Art Museum
  (1 S. High St., Akron, Ohio)
  330-376-9186
  https://www.inletdance.org/
• Dayton Contemporary Dance Co.
  Aug 9, 10
  Goodyear Heights Metro Park
  (2077 Newton St., Akron, Ohio 44305)
  https://www.dcdc.org/

SPECIAL PROGRAMS – Free Admission

Inlet Dance Theatre's narrated performances will include selections of Inlet's repertory along with new work collaboratively created with Djapo Cultural Arts Institute (W. African dance), and Polynesian dancers from Pacific Paradise Entertainment who will share traditional Polynesian dances.

EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCES (Open to the public - FREE)
July 30 – 10:30 AM - MASON PARK COMMUNITY CENTER
(700 E. Exchange St., Akron, OH 44306/330-375-2821)

July 30 – 1:30 PM - JOY PARK COMMUNITY CENTER
(824 James Ingram Way, Akron, OH 44306/330-375-2805)

August 1 - 1:00 PM - KENMORE COMMUNITY CENTER
(880 Kenmore Blvd., Akron, OH 44314/330-375-2812)

FREE Yoga Class at each park - Saturdays at 10am - 11 am

(bring your blanket or mat)
July 27
Aug. 3
Aug. 10

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 three 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 28 - Forest Lodge Park
August 4 - Firestone Park
August 11 - Goodyear Hts. Metro Park