4th Annual Dance Festival - Free Classes & Performance

By Alexis Pencar

SHARON SPRINGS — The Sharon Springs Dance Festival is back for their 4th year, inviting you to join a fun full day of “rhythm, culture, and creativity” next Saturday, May 3, 2025. This free event hosted at the Sharon Springs Central School is presented by Klinkhart Hall Arts Center, with the support of grants for the arts. This exciting day of activity features a wide range of free dance & drum classes—plus “an electrifying evening performance by Gballoi Drumming and Dance, a world-renowned ensemble from Accra, Ghana”.

In an exclusive interview with Betty Gavin-Singer, Chairperson of the Programming Committee and Second Vice President of Klinkhart Hall, I was able to learn more about how the Dance Festival started and what makes it all so special.

“I was approached by Klinkhart to join their Board as the ‘dance liaison’ back in 2016” said Gavin-Singer, “and dancers are always looking for places to perform” giving a good reason to get involved in reviving an age-old theater. “Sharon Springs Shakespeare in The Park Festival in 2017 was the first event that spurred the festivals we have today,” referencing the Dance Festival and the wonderful Summer Concert Series in the Park along with the Sharon Springs Poetry Festival.

“The first year of the Dance Festival we offered a more modern style and theme, then the following year we had hip hop with Ephrat Asherie Dance, which was so well received we had them back a second year.” For this fourth year, the full Saturday of classes and evening performance are not the only things offered Gavin-Singer mentioned, “the Friday before, Gballoi Drumming and Dance will have a school assembly program for SSCS in two groups, K-5 and 6-12, allowing students to experience this genre first hand!”

There is no admission for any of the classes or performances, being made possible by grants for the arts. “Come for one or two classes, or attend the whole day, but don’t forget the big performance at 7 PM!” wrapped up Gavin-Singer.

Schedule: The Sharon Springs Dance Festival starts at 10:00 AM on 5/3 with movement experiences for all ages and abilities. “Adults can tap into musicality with Jazz Dance, explore expressive motion in Belly Dance, or unwind during an end-of-day Stretch Class. Kids will love the chance to groove in Hip Hop or experience rhythm and tradition in a West African Dance class led by Master Drummer Zorkie Nelson himself. Community drum and dance classes in the afternoon invite participants of all ages to learn the basics of Ghanaian rhythm and movement—no experience required, just an open heart and willingness to try something new.”

At 7:00 PM, the full day wraps up with an evening performance by Gballoi Drumming and Dance. Founded and led by Master Drummer Zorkie Nelson, this group is “a powerful expression of West African culture, combining intricate rhythms, dynamic movement, call-and-response vocals, and storytelling through traditional and ceremonial dances of the Ga, Ewe, and other Ghanaian peoples.” Using traditional hand-carved instruments like the kpanlogo and djembe, Gballoi brings a sound “that’s impossible to ignore”. With decades of international experience—including tours with Yacub Addy and collaborations with the Wynton Marsalis Orchestra—”this ensemble doesn’t just perform; they connect, reminding us of the shared rhythms that bind people across generations and cultures.”

For more information on this exciting upcoming event, please visit KlinkhartHall.com/Dance or follow Klinkhart Hall Arts Center on social media @klinkharthall. All dance classes and the evening performance are free and open to the public.

Klinkhart Hall is a nonprofit performing arts center located in Sharon Springs, NY. Klinkhart Hall hosts and produces high quality programs in the performing, visual and other arts and offers cultural, civic and educational programming to promote its philosophy of inclusion and diversity; it will serve as an example of how historic preservation efforts can contribute to the revitalization of communities. If you are looking to get involved in supporting your local arts, Klinkhart Hall is always looking for volunteers and new Board Members.