Flash Dance: Oh! Oh! Oklahoma!
Friday June 22, 2007 - 6:30 pm
 Flash Dancing at the MUNY Theater |
Ever hear of “flash mobs”? They’re spontaneous gatherings that bring people together on short notice for a brief period of time. Well, here’s your chance to join dancers and musicians for a “flash dance” – an opportunity to dance in a public place. For more on “Flash Dances” see: http://www.childgrove.org/flashdance_howto.htm
Here we were on Friday, June 22 as we Flash Danced at the MUNY Opera before “Oklahoma”. See below for more pictures.
Date & Times:
Unlike our other Flash Dances, this will be very short, just 45 minutes. The MUNY would like all of us to be assembled by 6:30 and ready to start by 6:45 or 7:00. (Coming early will also get you ahead of the traffic and help you get a better parking spot.) To make the most of the experience, come early and picnic.
Friday, June 22
5:30 – 6:30 Picnic (BYOE)
6:30 – 6:45 Dancers check in and pick up tickets. (Sound Check for Band)
7:00 – 7:45 Contra dance to live music
8:15 – ? See “Oklahoma”
Where we'll dance
Aerial view of the MUNY, showing the lagoon in front and the seats rising to the top.
We're dancing at the back, up top, near the red circle.
Place: The Lichtenstein Plaza is behind the MUNY, outside of the theater in a concrete area where the lines form for the Free Seats. We'll be there to contra dance for 45 minutes or in the space marked "2" in this picture. We'll engage the audience and encourage some of them to join us.
NOTE: this is a view from the "back" of the MUNY, at the top of the seating area.
How to Find Us / Where to Park:
Where to Park
The best place to park is the Upper MUNY parking lot, which is between Union and Summit on the map:
General Driving Directions to the MUNY: http://www.muny.org/directions.html
 Click on the map for a printable version |
If you're entering Forest Park from Hampton Ave off Hwy 40:
Turn Right at Wells Drive (You'll see the Zoo's new sculpture to your left.)
At the rotary, take the 3rd exit, just past the Jewel Box. The street is McKinley, but you won't see the sign until after you've made the turn. You won't see a MUNY sign either, but you're on the right path if you see a metrolink sign. The Jewel Box will be on your right as you begin to drive down a steep hill.
Pass a pair of stone gates and then Turn Right on Union Drive. It's half-way down the hill and easy to miss.
While on Union, you'll see the MUNY on your left. Go about 0.2 of a mile and Turn Left into the Upper Muny Parking Lot.
We're just across the parking lot in the Lichtenstein Plaza (near the number 10, circled in red, where the blue "LP" is).
Color to Wear: RED
The MUNY has asked that we have a “color scheme” for our dancers, so please wear something Red.
Photos from the evening
|
|
|
 Mac keeps the musicians in line with his light saber. |
 Left-hand Star Power |
 Dynamic Circles |
 Red skirts swirl in the twilight. |
|
|
 Waltzing in flip-flops is not as easy as it looks |
 Enjoying the MUNY's generosity. |
|
Where will the picnic be?
1) If you're unfamiliar with the Upper MUNY lot, check the map above. There's only one driveway in to the parking lot and it's not well marked. It's easy for folks to miss the turn, so you may want to print out the map and bring it along.
2) Once you get to the MUNY Upper lot, you'll see the Licthenstein Plaza directly behind the MUNY. If you're the first picnic person to arrive, face the MUNY and then head to the RIGHT. (This is the side of the Plaza without a box office.)
If you go just beyond the plaza, you'll find some shade trees. It's at the top of the hill as people are coming up the wide sidewalk. Plop down and save some space for others. If that's unavailable or you see a better option, plop there and trust that other people wearing red will join you. Bring plenty of water. A concession stand sells brats, hot dogs, popcorn, beverages, but it doesn't open til 6:00.
In Case of Rain
In case of rain, we’ll still dance. We'll head to the LEFT side of the MUNY as you're looking at it (closer to the Box Office) and take the very wide sidewalk down the big hill to the covered Rehearsal Stage.
Can I see the Show?
A limited number of tickets have been set aside for our group. If you’d like a free ticket to see the show, email Greg Rohde at grjmj@swbell.net. Please don’t reserve a ticket unless you know you’ll be able to stay. Deadline is Monday, June 11 or while tickets last.
What makes this place Special?
The MUNY is the country's oldest and largest outdoor musical theater. We're fortunate to have it right in our own backyard. Here you can read a history of the MUNY.
Know Dancers in Other Cities?
Send them this link so they can host their own Flash Dances: http://www.childgrove.org/flashdances/flashdance_howto.htm