It is with heavy hearts that we announce the cancellation of this year’s Utah Summer Dance Festival.  Every year, we look forward to connecting with our dance community, sharing our love of this amazing art form, and supporting the growth and education of dance with each other and our audience.  “The show must go on” is in our DNA, but given the growing concerns around COVID-19, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s festival and move our event to August 2021.  We feel that this is the best way to proceed during such an unprecedented global situation.  We are disappointed that we’re unable to hold this event for our community and supporters, but we know it’s the right decision based on the information we have today.  The health and safety of our dancers, supporters, vendors, and audience is our top priority.  And although we love our festival, the event would put too many people at risk, including our friends and families, the sponsors and volunteers, and the many guests that attend.  Local grant opportunities have also been canceled or rescheduled, making funding for a festival this year exceptionally challenging.  With so many uncertainties, the City and County offices do not have any information on when mass gathering permits will be issued, or how Coronavirus will affect us in the future.  This is the first time that events all over the globe are being canceled or postponed. 

But there is good news!  Our gracious special guest, JILL PARKER, has agreed to join us for the 2021 Utah Summer Dance Festival!  The Mayor’s office and Salt Lake City are supportive of our move and we are planning to hold the next festival on Saturday, August 7, 2021. 

We are also exploring options of an online dance experience to showcase the hard work our community dancers have dedicated already this year, such as hosting online performance showcase or an interactive Hafla.  Please take a few minutes to share your interest in a poll coming out on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/utahsummerfestival/)

REFUNDS: Refunds will be issued over the next few weeks in the same payment form in which they were received (i.e., if payment was received via Paypal, a refund will be issued through Paypal).

QUESTIONS/CONCERNS: If you have any questions or concerns, please send an email to utsummerfestival@gmail.com or send us a message on our Facebook page. 

We thank you for your understanding and continued support. Our sympathies go out to all those affected around the world...and we are all affected in some way.  Stay safe!

- Utah Summer Dance Festival Committee

Utah Summer Dance Festival is honored to host
JILL PARKER in Salt Lake City 2020!

This is a great opportunity to come learn from

Jill Parker: the founder of the modern Tribal Fusion belly dance phenomenon, birthed out of San Francisco California in the mid-90's.

Jill was an original member of FatChanceBellyDance, and founder of Ultra Gypsy Dance Theater, the trail blazing company that birthed such great dancers as Rachel Brice, Sharon Kihara, Lady Fred, Rose Harden, and countless others.

With nearly three decades of experience, Jill has trained the top belly dancers in the genre and influenced a generation of belly dancers with her modern innovations, all the while remaining deeply rooted in her connection to the traditional, sensual, and authentic.

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Jill's big heart and deep love for this intoxicating form shine through in her generous teaching as well as her knockout performances worldwide.

She's an exceptional teacher with a gift for demystifying this intricate dance, making it accessible for new dancers, and offering insights for refinements and nuance to even the most seasoned professional dancer.
 
Jill uses creative self-expression to promote health, encourage self-care, relieve stress, and build self-esteem.

She fosters an inclusive sense of community and wellness in her classes.

WORKSHOPS  WITH JILL PARKER!

Join us for three amazing workshops by the amazing Jill Parker!

Workshops will take place on Sunday, August 2, 2020

Location TBA (workshops are currently scheduled at the Desert Journey School of Dance, but a larger location may be necessary depending on participants).

Payment Options: Save on fees by sending money via PayPal "friends and family" or through Venmo​

• PayPal Credit Card (fees apply)

• PayPal to (via "friends and family")

• Venmo @DesertJourney (see scan code)

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS WHEN PAYING FOR YOUR WORKSHOP.

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Special Early Bird Pricing

$70.00  One Workshop

$130.00  Two Workshops

$180.00  Three Workshops

Early Bird Pricing ends June 14th!

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The Art of Layering: Slayer Layer

SINGLE WORKSHOP

$70.00

Sunday, August 2, 2020, 10:00am-12:00pm

In this exciting workshop we will explore training the body to accept the difficult task of multitasking! We will layer both fast and slow movements, soft and stacatto, stationary as well as traveling. We will explore Polyrhythm (multiple rhythms in the body at once). Over time with enough repetition the brain signal eventually becomes "understood by the body", your body starts to organize and accept the information and boom - you are layering! (Jill has a few tricks up her sleeve to help encourage that process along.) This gratifying exploration is facilitated to meet you where you're at in your practice. Practice and repetition done correctly does in fact make perfect. Let's slay those layers!

Signature Slippery Serpentine Choreography

SINGLE WORKSHOP

$70.00

Sunday, August 2, 2020, 12:30pm-2:30pm

Learn a gorgeous Jill Parker original choreography! As time allows, this workshop will cover drills, philosophy, and stage concepts. Under the watchful eye of Jill Parker, you will assimilate many of Jill's signature sensuous moves, slinky combinations and preferences for stage presentation. Woven together and delivered in a masterful way, moves and combos seamlessly become a dramatic serpentine choreography. You're in for the complete behind the scenes Jill Parker experience!  Level: Intermediate and Advanced

Sensual Chiftatelli - A sensuous, slinky serpentine choreography

SINGLE WORKSHOP

$70.00

Sunday, August 2, 2020, 3:00pm-5:00pm

In this new but classic Jill Parker choreography you'll explore highly stylized, hypnotic, muscular movements - Jill's specialty! This workshop encompasses theory on alignment/balance, extension, and isometric muscular engagement. You will execute drills designed to encourage a slinky sensuality. There will be particular emphasis on the importance of embodying movements fully while making clean transitions that melt away. You will be asked to deepen into your muscles, to press up against the music and wind into the reaches of your flexibility, earthiness, strength and balance. Jill will help you develop new awareness around suppleness, earthiness, texture, fluidity, and frame. This workshop is meant to tease out your inner serpent. Jill's workshop environment is encouraging, insightful, and focused!

TWO WORKSHOPS

TWO WORKSHOPS

$130.00

Save money by purchasing two workshops!  Please send an email to indicating which two workshops you wish to take.

ALL THREE WORKSHOPS!

THREE WORKSHOPS

$180.00

Amazing deal!  Join us for all three workshops and enjoy huge savings plus a day full of Jill Parker workshops!

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By purchasing, you agree through electronic signature to waive all claims of any kind against  Jill Parker, Utah Summer Dance Festival, Desert Journey School of Dance, Shahvarar and all its agents, owners, contractors, or volunteers for personal injury, bodily injury or death, property loss or damage, or any other loss from any cause arising out of participation in these workshops.

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