Oklahoma International Dance Festival

For dancers, choreographers, and dance enthusiasts across Oklahoma and beyond, the Oklahoma International Dance Festival (OIDF) stands as a beacon of artistic excellence and global connection. This highly respected organization provides rigorous professional training for dancers, offers enriching residencies for practicing dance artists, and presents stunning performances featuring a renowned roster of local, national, and international dance-makers. Founded and directed by Austin Hartel, OIDF was born from a vision to ensure that a dancer's location should never limit their access to greatness, bringing world-class instruction and artistry right here to the heart of Oklahoma City.

The mission of the Oklahoma International Dance Festival is clear: to educate, enrich, and entertain through the highest quality of dance. OIDF is where passion meets professionalism, designing its dance intensives for those ready to embrace the challenge of a true professional workload. Students push their limits and grow in an immersive, focused environment, gaining an unparalleled learning experience that mirrors the demands of a professional dance career. This commitment to fostering the complete dance artist, alongside providing a diverse global perspective through its faculty, truly sets OIDF apart as a unique and invaluable asset to our state.

The festival consistently garners praise from participants, from aspiring pre-professionals to seasoned ballerinas. Students describe unforgettable experiences, forging new friendships with peers from across North and South America, and growing not just as dancers but as individuals. Professional dancers appreciate the rare opportunity to push themselves in diverse classes and rehearsals, finding the culminating gala performances to be eclectic and inspiring. The intimate class sizes and personalized attention are often highlighted as key factors in the transformative growth experienced by participants, solidifying OIDF’s reputation as a top-tier dance festival for Oklahoma and the Central Region.

The Oklahoma International Dance Festival is based at 4 NE 10th St #445, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA. This location places OIDF within Oklahoma City's vibrant urban core, making it a highly accessible point for participants and audience members from across the metropolitan area and beyond. Nestled in a central district, the administrative address provides a hub for the festival's extensive operations, although classes and performances may take place at various partner venues across OKC, such as Oklahoma Contemporary, the University of Central Oklahoma, or other local theaters, depending on the specific program or year.

The flexibility of OIDF utilizing different prominent venues enhances its accessibility for locals, allowing them to attend events at locations most convenient to them. Being in Oklahoma City's downtown and surrounding areas means there are typically various parking options available, from street parking to nearby garages, which is beneficial for attendees. Public transportation routes in OKC may also serve these central locations, providing additional accessibility for those without personal vehicles.

OIDF's commitment to reaching a wide audience is reflected in its strategic use of accessible and well-known cultural and educational institutions across the metro. This thoughtful approach ensures that the "greatness" of international dance is truly brought within reach for the people of Oklahoma, fulfilling its mission to transcend geographical limitations for dance education and appreciation.

The Oklahoma International Dance Festival provides a comprehensive suite of services and programs aimed at elevating dance education and appreciation at both professional and community levels:

• Rigorous Dance Intensives: Offering world-class, high-caliber training for advanced, pre-professional, and professional dancers. Intensives are designed to mirror the demands of a professional dance career.
• Diverse Class Offerings: Curriculum includes a wide range of dance techniques and related disciplines such as:
  • Classical Ballet
  • Modern Dance Technique
  • Contemporary Dance
  • Contemporary Pointe
  • Composition
  • Repertory
  • African Dance Technique
  • Movement Research
  • GAGA/Dancers
  • Gyrokinesis®
  • Pilates
  • Partnering
• International & Renowned Faculty: Features a dynamic and diverse roster of working professionals and dance leaders from around the globe, ensuring a global perspective and exceptional instruction.
• Artist Residencies: Provides opportunities for practicing dance artists to develop new works and engage with the festival. (e.g., GREYZONE's "ASSEMBLY" as an Artist in Residence project).
• Public Performances: Presents stunning performances throughout the festival, showcasing works by faculty, resident artists, and invited dance companies (e.g., Bruce Wood Dance, Perpetual Motion, RACE Dance Collective).
• Choreography Showcase: A platform for emerging and established choreographers to present original work to a live audience, often adjudicated and providing opportunities for master classes.
• Community Dance Day: Offers free dance classes for various age groups (e.g., ages 9-14) in multiple styles, opening the festival to the broader community and fostering dance appreciation.
• Panel Discussions & Film Screenings: Educational events that delve into various aspects of dance, artistry, and the industry, often featuring choreographers, artists, and experts.
• Small Teacher-to-Student Ratios: Commitment to personalized attention and focused training opportunities through limited class sizes.
• "Teaching Dance in Public Schools" Program: Outreach initiatives supported by grants, bringing dance education to rural schools (e.g., Tishomingo Elementary School).
• Online Intensives: In past years, the festival has adapted to offer online intensives, expanding accessibility to international faculty for dancers globally.

The Oklahoma International Dance Festival boasts several distinguishing features and highlights that solidify its status as a premier dance event:

• World-Class Global Faculty: OIDF brings a diverse and renowned roster of dance leaders and working professionals from across the globe directly to Oklahoma, providing unparalleled access to international perspectives and techniques.
• Rigorous & Professional Training: The intensives are specifically designed to challenge and prepare advanced, pre-professional, and professional dancers for the demands of a real-world dance career, fostering deep growth and pushing artistic limits.
• Commitment to the "Complete Dance Artist": Beyond technical skills, OIDF focuses on nurturing creativity, fostering critical thinking, and promoting overall personal development, emphasizing the artistry and intellect behind movement.
• Unique Performance Opportunities: Participants have the chance to perform works by distinguished faculty and guest artists, culminating in highly anticipated public galas and showcases that are often eclectic and inspiring.
• Inclusive & Supportive Environment: Reviewers consistently highlight the festival's "intimate setting," "small class sizes," and the encouraging nature of instructors, which fosters a close-knit and supportive community among dancers.
• Strong Community Engagement: Through initiatives like the "Community Dance Day" offering free classes and the "Teaching Dance in Public Schools" program (supported by grants), OIDF actively extends the benefits of dance to a broader Oklahoma audience, including rural communities.
• Artist Residency Program: This fosters new creative works and provides a platform for established artists, enriching the cultural offerings of the festival and the state.
• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborations with organizations like the Kirkpatrick Foundation, Oklahoma Humanities, Allied Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as venues like Oklahoma Contemporary and the University of Central Oklahoma, underscore its significant impact and reach.
• Positive Participant Testimonials: Praises from dancers across different levels, from Cincinnati Ballet 2nd Company to Dance Theatre of Harlem, attest to the transformative and unforgettable experiences offered.
• Adaptability and Innovation: The festival's ability to pivot to online intensives during challenging times demonstrates its commitment to providing continuous, accessible, and high-quality dance education.

For more information about the Oklahoma International Dance Festival, including upcoming programs, registration, performance tickets, or ways to get involved, please use the following contact information:

Address: 4 NE 10th St #445, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA

Phone: (405) 919-9331

Mobile Phone: +1 405-919-9331

You are highly encouraged to visit their official website (www.okdancefest.org) for the most current schedules, application details for intensives and showcases, and to purchase tickets for public performances. Given the festival's annual nature and varying schedules for different events, their website is the best resource for up-to-date information. You can also reach out via email for specific inquiries, as contact information for their team is often provided on their site.

For residents of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma International Dance Festival is an absolutely invaluable local asset, making world-class dance education and captivating performances accessible right here in our state. It is particularly suitable for locals because it brings an international caliber of dance artistry to our doorstep, eliminating the need for extensive travel to experience top-tier training or witness renowned choreographers and performers.

For aspiring and professional dancers in Oklahoma, OIDF offers an unparalleled opportunity to train under global leaders, refine skills, and gain exposure to diverse dance styles and methodologies. For the wider community, events like the Community Dance Day provide free access to quality instruction, fostering a love for dance in younger generations and making it an inclusive art form for all. Furthermore, the public performances showcase incredible talent, enriching Oklahoma City's cultural landscape and providing locals with memorable artistic experiences.

By supporting and participating in the Oklahoma International Dance Festival, Oklahomans are not only engaging with a premier arts organization but also contributing to the growth of dance education, the appreciation of diverse cultures, and the vibrant artistic identity of our state. It's a testament to the fact that you can find international excellence and artistic inspiration right here in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma International Dance Festival

4 NE 10th St #445, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA