A festive crowd gathered Saturday evening at Roanoke Park with blankets and lawn chairs for the 15th Annual "Dance in the Park" presented by City in Motion Dance Theater. Local companies presented a diverse range of dance ranging from modern to classical ballet, and East Indian to Afro-Brazilian capoeira.
The recently-minted Kansas City Ballet II (KCB II) opened the festival performing two works: Odalisque Pas de Trois from Le Corsaire, and the Peasant Pas de Deux from Giselle.
Dressed in brightly-hued costumes, the Gurukul Dance Company presented both classical and traditional works from Eastern India. Grupo Axé Capoeira introduced audience members to a form of martial arts disguised as dance, created by African slaves, and performed to an African drum beat.
From the audience, Kim Rainey said this was her first year to take in the event.
"My daughter went to the 'Day of Dance' at the ballet [Kansas City Ballet] and she just loved it, so here we are," Rainey said, as she waved a fan to drive away the early evening heat.
City in Motion presented "Dance in the Park" on Sept. 7, 2013, in Roanoke Park, 3699 E. Roanoke Drive Kansas City, Mo.
