ST. GEORGE – So ya think St. George doesn’t dance? Think again: National Dance Day 2015 did not bypass Utah’s Dixie. Some 150 people filled the parking lot behind Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, 652 S. Medical Center Drive, Saturday night with lots of fancy footwork, performances by local dance groups and an all around wet and sweaty energetic, even showery wet good time.
The event was brought by The Keil Krew and sponsored by Intermountain Healthcare’s Dixie Regional with the aim of promoting health, fun and fitness through dance.
Trained and untrained, uninhibited and energized, the crowd moved and grooved like nobody was watching – all to the cues of dance and fitness instructors from throughout the community. Represented were Desert Palms Health and Fitness Club, Vasa Fitness, Elevation Fitness, St. George Recreation Center, Summit Athletic Club, Phazes Fitness, Kalamity Dance, Sun River Jazz Dancers and The Keil Krew.
The open invitation to families found reception even with visitors to the area.
Chadwick Berezay is vacationing in St. George with his wife and three boys – a lot of testosterone, he said, which didn’t stop the Berezay family from donning pink shirts and coming out to dance.
“I have three boys who are very active and it just seemed a lot of fun to get out and do something instead of sit at home,” Berezay said grinning, “so we’re always active and that’s what we do.”
Throughout the evening the St. George Fire Department would blare its fire truck horn signaling to dancers that a cool-down was coming. On with the firehose and down came the shower, sending dancers into twirls and spins and squeals in a display that evoked images of a Shakira music video.
As dusk turned to darkness, the highlight of the evening, undoubtedly, came from Sinalei Keil who performed a New Zealand fire poi dance – a breathtaking spectacle with tethered fire balls as her undulating props that virtually hynpotized the crowd and inspired her message:
We came out here to celebrate movement, thankful for our bodies, ability we have to dance, freedom of movement …
We love dancing. We believe families that dance together stay together. We like to be in the community together to dance and have fun – just enjoy the night, celebrate.
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Crowd enjoying National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Everybody danced. National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Fitness instructors led dancers in all manner of dance at National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Danicing is for families. National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
St. George Fire Department made it rain on dancers at National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Zumba anyone? National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Many fitness centers and dance studios were represented as instructors called for the crowd to move and groove at National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
First a fire truck horn blared and then out came the fire hose with welcome showers on the hot and sweaty dancers. National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
All ages dance. Danicing is for families. National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Performance and instruction from the stage at National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
From daylight to dusk, bare feet, slippered feet, sandaled feet - all kinds of feet danced. National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Dance the night away. National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Sinalei Keil performed a New Zealand fire poi dance. National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Sinalei Keil said: "I guess the fire is an Americanized thing; but basically for fun, I like to play with fire – don’t try it at home – but I love it … it makes me excited." New Zealand fire poi dance. National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Sinalei Keil performed a New Zealand fire poi dance. National Dance Day Celebration in the parking lot of Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Fireworks going off in the background the day after Utah's Pioneer Day holiday added to the celebration of National Dance Day in the parking lot of the Dixie Regional Health and Performance Center, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2015 |Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
St. George News Editor-in-Chief Joyce Kuzmanic contributed to this report.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sheldon Demke is a film maker and self proclaimed Local Celebrity. He resides in St. George where he joined the video production team of St. George News. Among his other interests are acting, movies and family.
Was this sanctioned by the church?
Tell us all about it REAL DORK
And the City?
The city doesn’t do anything unless the church approves of it
I had no idea St George was such a hotbed of wild, unbridled spontaneous excitement. Yawn yawn snooze!
It’s okay as long as it’s exercise. If it’s actually just for fun, the mounties will be there before you can say twist and shout…
Hey St George news REAL LIFE made a comment about the church… you gonna send him a private message like the rest of us.?
Free Parking – it appears you don’t understand why we declined one of your comments; you’re welcome to call me – let’s talk. 🙂 435-632-0825
Joyce
EIC
The city doesn’t do anything unless the church approves of it
Huh. This might have actually been fun. Too bad I was out of town.