08/12/2025
Long post - but there really are many to acknowledge and its time to thank all the very special people and organizations that supported us this year because… ALL ARE WELCOME and DANCE IS FOR EVERYONE!!
Thank you to Mayor Shammas Malik and the City of Akron, Ohio for continuing to believe in this dance festival and thank you as well to our generous funders & sponsors- Akron Community Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, Peg's Foundation, The University of Akron, ArtsForward/ArtsNow, Akron Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau, Musson Foundation, Tuesday Musical Association/Cynthia Snider and Karla Jenkins, Akron Art Museum, Akron Civic Theatre, Deb and Phil Canuto, Drs. Mark & Sandy Auburn, and dear, dear Friends of the Festival.
Thank you to City of Akron Recreation and Parks, and Akron community centers, as well as Olivia Beal-Newcomb, Caitlin O’Shea and Paul Harris at The Goodyear Theater, and our friends at Akron Art Museum for hosting Pilobolus workshops and supporting new neighborhood programming. Jen Garlando treated us all to enthusiastically attended Yoga classes. Everyone is so grateful. Thanks also to Director of Economic Development, Suzie Graham Moore, Director of Neighborhood Assistance, Eufrancia Lash, Policy & Grants Strategist, Emma Lieberth Osborn and Councilwoman Sharon Connor for their expert guidance and support.
There are so many people that worked very hard to make this festival a success and bring dance to you in your neighborhoods FREE of charge. A very special thank you to Jonathon Hunter, our Lighting/Technical Director and Lisa Brosovich, our Production Coordinator, experts in their field, along with our wonderful stage crew - joined by IATSE/Local 48 at Lock 3. They are our backbone and our heroes. We are so fortunate to have them! Thank you Spring Healy, festival assistant to the director and to Renee Clippinger and John Sowa, interns this year, provided by The EXL Center for Community Engaged Learning - so grateful for their help. Thank you, Dale Yee D**g for taking stunning photos and Todd Volkmer for beautiful video commemorating each year so beautifully. Thank you Kerry Clawson, Akron Beacon Journal, for featuring Pilobolus for our community with such articulation and eloquence. Many stated how much they appreciated that information and your perspective! Special thanks to Matt Jennings and Howard Parr for saving the day several times. Let's not forget our vendors who bring us excellent service, from equipment to marketing assistance, never compromising quality.
Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival is nationally and internationally known because of the exceptional dance companies that bring such a variety of dance work, showcasing master choreographers, and artists as well as newly created work. Thank you Ohio Contemporary Ballet, Inlet Dance Theatre, and the incomparable PILOBOLUS who debuted dance at Akron's newly redone Lock 3! Thanks to the staff of Lock 3 for providing a beautiful new venue in our downtown neighborhood. Thanks also to the Dance Institute of The University of Akron who continue to bring fine preshow interactive kids programming to our stage.
Thank you to Akron's generous businesses from all 10 wards who donated raffle prizes, and of course to the volunteers. Thank you ALL!
Last but not least - thank you to YOU - for coming and enjoying an outstanding dance experience outside in a park, or two, or three in your community and for your donations and support. It was also fun meeting many from outside the Akron area who come now to experience dance in different area neighborhoods! The Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival is here for you and will strive to continue bringing more dance into more communities each year as long as we have the support! Because… ALL ARE WELCOME and DANCE IS FOR EVERYONE!!!
Akrondancefestival.org
