In the Community
All year round, Central PA Dance Workshop takes art to the community. Whether to entertain, educate, or get the audience up on their feet, our dancers can be found in and around State College. We hope to see you at some of these great events!
Fall Festival Fun
Fall Fest/Kids' Day
​CPDW joins the Downtown State College Improvement District and the Youth Service Bureau on Allen Street with a kid-friendly interactive dance activity.
Olde World Festival
​CPDW dancers perform traditional European folk dances on the grounds of the Boal Mansion in Boalsburg. The festival includes arts and crafts, musical performances, jousting, unicorns, food and drink, all inspired by the heritage of the Boal family which traces back to Christopher Columbus.
Holiday Magic
Downtown State College Tree Lighting Ceremony
​At this State College tradition, a holiday tree is lighted where town meets campus at the Allen Street gates. Join CPDW's Children's Ensemble as we usher in the holiday season with dances created especially for this event.
Festival of Trees
​For three days in December, the Central PA Institute of Science & Technology in Pleasant Gap hosts a community fund raiser for the United Way. CPDW dancers perform excerpts from our holiday performance amid decorated trees sponsored by local businesses.
Spring Fling
Maypole Dance
​Dancers young and old perform a traditional maypole dance as part of the Boalsburg Memorial Day celebration to live music played by the Little German Band. Known as the birthplace of Memorial Day, the village of Boalsburg hosts a five day event full of history, arts and crafts, food and drink, musical performances, a carnival, and parade.
Summer Showcases
Central PA Festival of the Arts
​A proud CPDW tradition, our dancers have been performing the the Central PA Festival of the Arts on Children's Day for more than 30 years. Presenting excerpts from our recent school performance along with new works created specifically for the Arts Festival, this has become an anticipated summer event for our students and their families.
Central PA Theatre & Dance Festival
​The Central PA Theatre & Dance Festival is a showcase of the Centre Region's vibrant professional and pre-professional theatre, dance, and other performing arts groups for an immersive weekend each summer, including performances, workshops, classes, and more.
CPDW hosts numerous classes and workshops at the studio, as well as teaching a variety of classes for the Festival.
A founding member of the Festival, CPDW's Children's Ensemble presents an original work created specifically for the Festival, children's dance theatre performed by children for children. Past pieces have included "Peter & the Wolf," "Carnival of the Animals," and "Dinosaurs' Dance."