Toledo, OH – Today, the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts announced that it will be offering an interactive program of music, dance, and fitness throughout the month of July made possible by a grant from the City of Toledo. TAPA in the Parks will offer Family Fun Days, Adaptive Dance workshops, and paid internships.

“We are so excited to receive funding through the City of Toledo to provide opportunities for families to experience music and dance this summer!” says Rachel Schultz, VP of Education and Community Engagement for TAPA. “It seems like everyone is so busy these days and we just need to take some time to listen to good music and play. My hope is that by visiting different parks this summer, families will be able to spend more time together and enjoying music, dance, and the great outdoors!”

Four Family Fun Days will include live performances by musicians of the Toledo Symphony, instrument demonstrations, crafts, and other interactive activities. Family Fun Days will take place on July 8^th and 15^th at Junction Park (located at 419 Junction Ave.) and on July 22^nd and 29^th at Danny Thomas Park (located at 2010 Broadway). All activities will take place between 11am and 2pm. In case of inclement weather, indoor shelter is available on site at both locations.

Toledo Ballet’s Adaptive Dance program for children and young adults with neurodivergent learning styles will also head outside for a series of workshops throughout July.

“Dance really is for everybody,” says Adaptive Dance program director, Ann Heckler. “Our Adaptive Dance classes provide an opportunity for differently abled individuals to enjoy the art of dance in a park setting this summer. Besides getting exercise, enjoying the great outdoors and socializing, participants will learn to follow movement patterns, and will enjoy sharing their own dance moves with others.”

To make the classes more accessible this summer, two introductory workshops to Adaptive Dance and Fitness are being offered at no cost. These workshops will take place on Monday, July 10 at Ottawa Park and Wednesday, July 12 at Smith Park.  A 6-class Adaptive Dance and Fitness session will be offered at Ottawa Park on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from July 17-28.  The introductory workshops are free, and no registration is required. The 6-class session requires registration in advance and $10 tuition fee. Upon successful completion of 4 of the 6 classes, the student will receive a $10 gift certificate. All classes are at Ottawa Park between 5:30-6:30PM.

July 10 5:30-6:30pm, Adaptive Dance and Fitness Free Introductory Workshop at Ottawa Park

July 12 5:30-6:30pm, Adaptive Dance and Fitness Free Introductory Workshop at Smith Park

July 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28 5:30-6:30pm, Adaptive Dance and Fitness Class Session Ottawa Park, Registration Required.

More information on TAPA in the Parks can be found on https://www.toledoballet.com/summer-2023/tapa-in-the-park/

TAPA is accepting applications for summer interns in the areas of music education and engagement and adaptive dance and fitness.

The Music Education and Engagement internship provides opportunities to work closely with community leaders alongside TAPA musicians and educators. Interns will serve as an ambassador for music and are expected to attend all four Family Fun Days and lead the instrument petting zoos. There are five available part-time positions, and each intern will be compensated $15/hr with up to 50 hours each. Training will be provided as well as mileage reimbursement.

The Adaptive Dance and Fitness Instruction internship allows the interns to work closely with TAPA Adaptive Dance instructor, Ann Heckler and with the neurodivergent community. These interns are expected to attend all Adaptive Dance events and engage in different learning styles to effectively communicate with attendees. There are three available part-time positions, and each intern will be compensated $15/hr with up to 24-36 hours. Additional compensation can be provided if interns would like to assist with Family Fun Days. Training will be provided as well as mileage reimbursement.

More details of these internships can be found on the website. Applications and questions can be directed to Rachel Schultz at rschultz@artstoledo.com.

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ABOUT TOLEDO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 

The Toledo Symphony Orchestra is a community-supported organization of professional musicians and teachers who deliver quality performance and music education for all. 

Formed in 1943 as The Friends of Music and incorporated in 1951 as the Toledo Orchestra Association, Inc., the Toledo Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has grown from a core group of twenty-two part-time musicians to a regional orchestra that employs sixty-nine professional musicians who consider the Toledo Symphony their primary employer, as well as numerous extra players annually as repertoire demands. 

On January 1, 2019, the Toledo Symphony and Toledo Ballet officially merged to form the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), a new non-profit organization dedicated to providing exceptional live music and dance performances and education for the region. This partnership promises to create new and invigorating programs, provide cost and revenue synergies in operations, and integrate the arts through shared educational missions. 

The Toledo Symphony reaches more than 260,000 individuals annually through performances and education programs. The series concerts (Masterworks, Pops, Chamber) are the critical underpinning of the orchestra’s artistic mission and regularly draw people from 135 postal zip codes. Education programs, student performances, and community concerts are held in schools, neighborhood churches, performing arts centers, and community facilities throughout the region; many are offered at no charge or provided at a reduced fee to help expand participation. 

ABOUT TOLEDO BALLET 

Toledo Ballet is a pre-professional dance company that inspires the passions and spirit of the Toledo community through dance. Toledo Ballet provides quality dance instruction and exceptional performance opportunities to over 250 students throughout northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan annually. 

Founded in 1939 by Marie Bollinger Vogt, Toledo Ballet continues to offer quality dance education spanning all ages and ability levels. Classes include ballet, contemporary, tap, tumbling, and Adaptive Dance, a unique class providing those with special needs an opportunity to learn to move in ways that come naturally to them. Acting, voice, musical theater, and conditioning are also offered at the school. In addition, Toledo Ballet brings in world-renowned, professional dancers each year to lead its summer intensive programs, drawing students from across the region seeking to advance their skills. 

Toledo Ballet students have competed at the national and international level, including the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP), the world’s largest international student ballet competition, and many have pursued dance professionally at some of the most prestigious ballet institutions in the nation, including New York City Ballet, Chicago Ballet, and Cincinnati Ballet. 

ABOUT TOLEDO ALLIANCE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

On January 1, 2019, the Toledo Ballet and Toledo Symphony officially merged to form the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), a new non-profit organization dedicated to providing exceptional live music and dance performances and education for the region. Stemming from an 81-year partnership and annual presentation of The Nutcracker in Toledo, this merger is one of only a few in the nation and promises to create new and invigorating programs, provide cost and revenue synergies in operations, and integrate the arts through shared educational missions.