St. Louis is a beautiful city, but if you’ve lived here your entire life, you’ve probably grown tired of the same entertainment possibilities. If you want to replace meals and clubs with something less conventional and more rewarding, grab your dancing shoes and check out these dance festivals. Here, you can see some of the most skilled artists performing dance arts and why not get involved together with your partner and understand why dancing is one of the most popular activities in the world. To get the most out of this experience, it is recommended that you become a member of the dance clubs in St. Louis at least a few months before these festivals, at least to learn the basics of classical or contemporary dances. Whether you like to watch the experts work or participate yourself, these festivals deserve to be on your event list.
The annual Spring to Dance® festival
The Annual Spring to Dance® Festival is now in its eighth year and will take place in May, on Memorial Day weekend. 30 dance companies from around the world will entertain you with their performances for three nights in a row, and if you still can’t dance, you’ll definitely want to take dance classes in St. Louis afterward. This festival does not focus on just one type of dance. You can see everything from salsa and swing to modern dance. The locations of this festival are the Lee Theater and the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall.
The Annual St. Louis International Dance Festival
The annual St. Louis International Dance Festival will begin in June and will welcome some of the best dancers in the world. The location is the River City Casino and Hotel on River City Casino Blvd. and no matter what style of dance you like, you will definitely love the performances. This festival was first called Noches Latina Jam Festival, so most of the dances are Latin (Cha Cha Cha, Salsa, Tango), but you can also see dancers performing more modern dances, such as hip-hop.
San Luis Tap Festival
This year, the St. Louis Tap Festival celebrates its 23rd edition and we can definitely look forward to more editions to come. As the name suggests, this event is all about tap dancing. It lasts for a whole week, but, unlike the other two festivals mentioned here, it also includes workshops, classes, and debates. You can see professional tap dancers at work and also interact with them, so if you want to learn more about the history and philosophy of this American dance, reserve a seat in July at the Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel.
Festival of folk dances and FeTNA culture
Last but not least, there is the FeTNA Folk Dance and Culture Festival, which takes place in July at the Chaifetz Arena. This festival is not your traditional choice, because it features performances by international dance groups, such as those from South India. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is definitely the event to attend if you are interested in exotic culture.
