Dancing in the Park final party set to swing

KELOWNA – With the third season of Dancing in the Park coming to an end this month, organizers say interest in the free outdoor dance event continues to grow.

The program is intended to promote active living in the community and has taken place every Wednesday evening since July 2. With professional instructors and an ideal venue in Stuart Park, Dancing in the Park has introduced hundreds of people to dance styles such as Zumba, hip hop, swing, line dancing, two-step and others.

Program coordinator Christine Gariepy says each night they’ve had between 200 and 300 people show up and that numbers have increased steadily over the years.

“We haven’t had the best of luck with weather this year,” she says. “But we still get a huge range of people of all ages. Parents and grandparents will bring their kids and we have some nights that are more like a singles dance.”

The final scheduled date before the Aug. 27 wrap up party will be ballroom dancing this Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Gariepy says she expects it to be one of the biggest nights yet and will feature multiple instructors demonstrating a range of styles.

“Three of our instructors will each pick their favourite dance and teach a segment,” she says. “We’d like to see at least 300 people that night and definitely plan to be back again next year."

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.