Visitors to the Arts in the Parks series will be jumping for joy and swinging with delight this week, as events take place at two Minot parks.
Dance Company of Minot, Scandinavian Heritage Park, tonight, 7 p.m.
They dance on stages around town and in competitions, they dance on sprung rehearsal floors in mirrored studios, but tonight the summer students at the Dance Company of Minot will be dancing on grass.
"It'll be fun for them at Scandinavian Heritage Park," said instructor Dani Lindee. "It's an entire hour of kids enjoying themselves and celebrating. We have around 65-70 students from 2 1/2 to high-school age, including pre-teens and teens who have never danced before."
The Company will be presenting routines to classic, hip hop and Top 40 songs, with no particular theme.
"It's a great little show, and takes your mind off things because they're having so much joy moving to the music," Lindee said. "It's less like a formal show and more like dancing at a neighborhood barbecue."
The visual artist is Nancy Hankins with her metal and cement Found Items artwork.
Swing Band of Minot, Oak Park, Sunday,
4 and 7 p.m.
This Sunday in Oak Park, the Swing Band of Minot will be featuring longtime fixtures in the music community of Minot, Joyce and Joe Alme.
"We're doing 'I'm Getting Sentimental over You' for them. It seemed appropriate, they've been such a staple here over the years," said director Pat Schwan.
While the Swing Band has been playing under this name since 2007, many of the musicians have been together in several big-band configurations over the years, including The Joe Alme Band.
"It's a full 16-piece big band, with a standard range of instruments," Schwan said. "We've got 5-6 saxes, trumpets and trombones, and a piano, bass and drums accompanying. No guitar this time."
There will be a lot of the traditional big band sound, including classics of the genre like "In the Mood" and "The Theme from 'New York, New York," along with newer numbers like "Blue Note Special."
Todd Cresap is being featured with "Young Man with the Blues." John Witteman will be singing a couple of songs, including "After the Lovin,'" and "Save the Last Dance."
"He does a lot of our vocals," said Schwan.
The visual artist is James Lowe, florist, who is also the guest emcee, according to Minot Area Council of the Arts executive director Terri Aldrich.
Aldrich noted that the concerts are free, but popcorn and water will be available for sale, and MACA gratefully accepts donations to help support the concert series.