Flash Dance: Shall We Dance 1-2-3
Monday June 19, 2006 (6:30 Dancing)
 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 waltz or polka in a public place. For more on Flash Dances see: http://www.childgrove.org/flashdances/flashdance_howto.htm.
Join us on Monday, June 19 as we Flash Dance at the MUNY Opera on Opening Night of the 2006 Season! The MUNY opens its 2006 Season with "King and I" and asked us to offer waltzes and polkas before the show to entertain and engage the patrons who are gathered outside the gates. If you email Greg Rohde by June 11 confirming that you're coming, you can also nab a free ticket for the show.
Unlike our other Flash Dances, this will be very short, just 45 minutes. Dancers can check-in and pick up their tickets between 6:30 and 6:45. (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.
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.
Suggested Agenda for the Most Fun
5:30 – 6:30 Optional Picnic for dancers (BYOE)
6:30 – 6:45 Dancers check in and pick up tickets. (Sound Check)
7:00 – 7:45 Waltz and Polka to live music
8:15 - 11:00 See "The King and I"
Place: The Lichtenstein Plaza, behind the MUNY, outside of the theater in a concrete area where the lines form for the Free Seats. We'll be there to waltz and polka to the tunes of the "King and I" and some other lovely tunes of the period (ca 1860s) in the space marked "2" in this picture. We'll engage the audience and encourage some of them to join us by offering brief lessons to those who have never tried polka or waltz before.
How to Find Us / Where to Park:
 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 scultpure 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, though. 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).
Here's a pdf map of Forest Park which looks great at 300%, but be careful. It's a bit out of date and shows Summit Drive running between the Parking Lot and the MUNY, though the street itself has been removed and replaced with Lichtenstein Plaza. (We removed it on the map above). http://www.explorestlouis.com/pdf/maps/forestPark.pdf
Suggested Color to Wear: RED
The MUNY folks would like for us to look like a group, so in lieu of having the women wear huge wall-to-wall skirts and the men wearing pajamas, we are asking our dancers to wear red.
And we did:
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.
What type of music will we have?
We'll enjoy live music provided by members of the Halcyon Light Orchestra and invited guests. Because of the nature of this event, it won't be an "Open Band" night for others to join in. Our band will treat us to lovely waltzes and polkas.
In Case of Rain
If it rains, the MUNY has arranged for us to dance in the rehearsal hall, which is down the ramp to the left if you are facing the 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 (grjmj at swbell.net). Please don’t reserve a ticket unless you know you’ll be able to stay. Deadline is Sunday, June 11 or while tickets last.
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
Happy Dancing!