The mission of Happendance, Inc., a non-profit corporation, is to stimulate support for the art of dance through performances and educational programs. Further, Happendance is committed to broadening the accessibility of dance to a diverse community and promoting dance for lifelong physical and mental fitness.

Description:
Happendance provides modern dance performances for the general public, sponsors an outreach program offering performances and classroom teaching to educational institutions, and offers dance instruction through Happendance school.

History:
PUBLIC CONCERTS: In June 1976, Happendance spontaneously originated as a collaboration of ten local dancers and musicians who wanted to work together in a creative setting. Under the leadership of Diane Newman, this non-profit 501(c)(3) company received initial assistance from the Greater Lansing Area Dance Council to sponsor a series of free outdoor concerts, performed on the banks of the Red Cedar River at MSU, for all who might “happen” upon the group dancing near the river walkway -- thus the company’s name. For over a decade, “Summer Concerts” of light-hearted, fast-paced contemporary dance delighted thousands of audience members. However, faced with funding difficulties and competition from the Michigan Festival for its early August dates, the Happendance summer tradition ended in 1989. In 2000, this event was revived as part of the company’s 25th anniversary celebrations.

While its free outdoor concerts were reaching out to new audiences, Happendance was quick to add a more formal “Winter Concert” series, to expand and develop audience interest in dance. To this day, these winter concerts take full advantage of the technical capabilities of theater settings -- stage lighting, enhanced sound reproduction, subtle staging and better dance surfaces. Happendance is in the Michigan Directory of Touring Arts Attractions, and has toured to a number of cities in Michigan and nearby states.

OUTREACH EDUCATION: For decades, HAPPENDANCE has been at the forefront of programming aimed at developing dance audiences for the future, in partnership with both private and public schools. In 1977, Ms. Diane Newman created the Lecture-Demonstration Team now know as Happendance To Go, with state funding, to perform and teach in area secondary schools. In 1979, Impression 5 Science Museum sponsored HAPPENDANCE in a series of 30 performances designed to inter-relate science and dance concepts for elementary school children visiting the “hands-on” museum.
HAPPENDANCE TO GO now reaches up to 10,000 students and educators a year with its unique outreach program. The two components of the outreach are: (1) PERFORMANCE - One hour “across the curriculum Lecture- Demonstrations” of narrative, performance and audience involvement, designed for school settings; (2) TEACHING -- HAPPENDANCE specialists working with classroom groups, from one session to year-long residencies, conducting movement experiences that enhance the learning process. All of the programs include a proud history of programming for special-needs populations.

The outreach programs have enjoyed the generous support of various foundations and businesses that subsidize the fees charged to schools for these professional artistic services. They include the Thoman Foundation, Dietrich Foundation, Capital Region Community Foundation, and the Capital Area United Way.

HAPPENDANCE SCHOOL: In 1993 Happendance established its own school of dance, with Diane Newman as Director. In its well-equipped studios at Hagadorn and Jolly Roads in Okemos, Happendance School serves approximately 300 families with comprehensive class offerings in modern dance, ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop and composition, and creative classes for young children. The school’s success had contributed to re-establishing the fiscal stability of Happendance in the wake of the hardship of State cuts in arts funding of the early 1990’s.

LOOKING FORWARD: Happendance To Go is Michigan’s longest-running professional modern dance company. It achieved this distinction with funding support from local, state and regional sources, contributions from individuals, foundations and businesses, and earned income, as well as thousands of hours of labor by Board members and other volunteers. While proud of the professional statue of its dance artists, Happendance continues to embrace its exuberant logo-mascot “Cosmo,” who expresses the spirit of dance which resides in every person. Happendance invites everyone to participate in the search for creative growth and fulfillment through dance!

Contact people:

Diane Newman, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Jodi Jones, Outreach Education Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: 517/333-3589

Address:

3448 Hagadorn Rd. Okemos, MI 48864 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.happendance.org

Directions:

Happendance is on the Southeast corner of Hagadorn and Jolly Road adjacent to the Farm Village Antique Mall (big red barn).