American Dance Institute invites Washingtonians to Family Arts Day

American Dance Institute invites Washingtonians to twirl, leap and shimmy during a special, free Family Arts Day on Sunday, September 9th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Families, friends, dance and art enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy a full day of cultural and educational activities, including performances, dance classes, crafts, food and drinks, live music and more, at the Rockville, MD arts center.

Throughout Family Arts Day guests will enjoy free classes in jazz, ballet, salsa, Pilates, martial arts, Japanese Kendo, Spanish flamenco and Korean folk dance. All the classes will be taught by American Dance Institute's expertly trained dance instructors and certified Pilates teachers, as well as professionals from the Arts Incubator program. In addition, free performances by American Dance Institute's Youth Ensemble and local artists will delight and entertain attendees. For the younger guests, there will be face painting, arts and crafts and a ballet "petting zoo," where children can see and feel real ballet costumes, headpieces, props, and shoes up close. The Family Arts Day celebration is complete with live music, food and drinks.

"Our mission at American Dance Institute is to bring the community together through the arts," said Michael Bjerknes, executive director of American Dance Institute. "Family Arts Day is a chance for everyone to express their creativity, try new forms of dance and art, all while spending a fun afternoon with friends, family and the community."

Family Arts Day festivities will take place at American Dance Institute, located at 1570 East Jefferson Street in Rockville, MD, on Sunday, September 9th from 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information, please call 301.984.3003 or visit www.americandance.org.

Founded by Michael and Pamela Bjerknes, American Dance Institute has helped transform Montgomery County into a blossoming hub for the arts. The non-profit center offers a diverse array of dance classes for children, adults and professionals; an extensive Pilates curriculum; local artist exhibits; and an in-house performing arts space. In addition, American Dance Institute offers an Arts Incubator program, through which they've supported many regional artists by providing scholarships, arts management assistance, and free of low cost studio space.