Dance Theater Northwest Offers Free Performance At Narrows Glen

When it comes to making the arts accessible to all citizens, no one cares more than Dance Theater Northwest's Artistic Director Melanie Kirk-Stauffer.

She hopes many people will attend DTN's Spring Dance Concert this year, presented free of charge at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, at the Narrows Glen retirement community. It is just north of University Place,  located at 8201 Sixth Avenue in Tacoma.

"Our Dance Theater Northwest members always look forward joyously to the performances at Narrows Glen," Kirk-Stauffer said. "The audience is generally a warm and wonderful mix of families, residents, and community dance lovers."

The program will feature DTN's Regional Company members Katie Neumann and Chhay Mam, as well as the theater's dance students of every age, performing classical and contemporary ballet, jazz, and musical theater style dance.

But instead of a stage setting, this performance takes place close to the audience, right at eye level, in fact, on the same floor where chairs will be arranged. In addition to the music and movement, you can appreciate every small nuance, like the swish and sparkle of a costume, or even the sparkle in a dancer's eyes.

Activities Director Jaquelyn Kleiner spends her days enriching the lives of residents at Narrows Glen, a facility offering independent senior living, assisted living, and memory care. Along with many others, she looks forward to DTN's twice-yearly concerts in the Grand Parlour. Kleiner likes the Spring Concert even better that the acclaimed Holiday Concert and says it is "full of surprises."

"Melanie is such a good director and choreographer," she said. "And the costumes are amazing. You're as close as five feet away so you can really see them."

Narrows Glen is easy to find, on your right as you wind down Sixth Avenue toward Titlow Beach. With easy one-floor access and plenty of free parking, anyone can attend. When you arrive there for the Spring Dance Concert, you can also experience some Narrows Glen hospitality.

"I would like to invite the public to our pre-function event at 6:30 p.m., in the Grand Parlour," Kleiner added." She will be serving, "libations" in the form of sparkling cider. Seating begins at 6:50 p.m., and the performance starts at 7 p.m.

"I am grateful to our sponsors and to the contributors who make this type of event free and accessible to the public," Kirk-Stauffer said. "Without their donations and support, it would not be possible to put on this glamorous spring show."

 Questions? Call Dance Theater Northwest at (253) 778-6534 or Narrows Glen  at (253) 564-4776