Review: Olympia Dance Festival
Originally published on The JOLT News on March 5, 2026
One of the most fulfilling parts of attending performances regularly in Thurston County is watching the growth and development that happens over time, both in production quality and in the skill level and talent of the performers.
When it comes to student performers, the changes over time feel quicker and even more tangible, which can make me happy cry from time to time. My heart swelled with pride seeing all the dancers harness their talent the way they did at the Olympia Dance Festival at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts stage last Saturday night.
The festival this year brought in new surprises that really spoke to the ongoing evolution of this art form in our area. These overarching changes include some incorporation of live music performed alongside dancers and creativity in the backgrounds that provide a new landscape for dancers beyond just changes of color. I hope many more groups explore these innovative ideas next year.
Attending this show yearly with my family and friends, I always love comparing notes with them and seeing what stood out to them in comparison to myself. Some trends carry through to all of us, but there are also differences that make conversation interesting and remind me yet again that art is in the eye of the beholder.
As such, there are certain companies that I look forward to seeing each year (because they constantly deliver performances that take my breath away), and there are certain companies that rise above previous performances and dance their way into my heart.
With a festival including 27 total different performances, it would be impossible to adequately describe each one in a column of this size, so I will just tell you about my favorites. These are my favorites not because of skill level, but because of the way they intrigued my personal preferences and tastes.
The favorites
These favorites are listed in program order, not by any ranking.
Hushabye Mountain performed by Olympic Ballroom Dance incorporated techniques that created an enchanting, whimsical, and goosebump raising performance. The performance began with a dark stage lit by one dancer holding a lantern. Gradually, other dancers waltzed on to the stage with steps that felt light as a feather. There was an ethereal quality to their technique that felt unique to anything else I saw on stage that night.
Riptide by Studio West Dance Theatre carried a delicious precision and unity that perfectly matched their music and captivated my attention. In general, I think Studio West has a reputation for great attention to detail, which shined on stage.
Prelude to Summer by Ballet Northwest & Olympia Dance Center combined iconic Gershwin classical jazz pieces with a style of dance that somehow felt vintage and modern at the same time. The intentionality in designing this piece was keenly felt by the audience, and the joy of the dancers was evident. Personally, I loved that this group chose to step away from classic dance attire and wear vintage swimsuits. The ambiance created by the live piano and the background graphics (designed by Jill Carter) brought something to the stage that was unforgettable.
Carmina Burana has been a frequent flyer in the Ballet Northwest programming, and for good reason. There is something life-giving, almost heroic about the choreography. It steps into something divine and makes you feel so hope filled afterward. This particular performance felt very polished, yet authentic.
Gone Crazy by Studio West Dance Theatre had 1990’s and early 2000’s R&B classics that I adored. The music paired with the acting and footwork of the dancers made this piece feel bright, fun, nostalgic and joyous.
Into the Spider-Verse by Olympic Ballroom Dance carried so many cinematic qualities and nods to the many film, animated and comic book versions of this favorite superhero. The choreography was well-timed and intriguing, and the dancers were very clearly excited about their routine, which was contagious.
Magic To Do by Debbie’s Dance had a playlist filled with songs from eras of pop music that felt timeless and iconic to everyone in the audience. The dancers had sparkly outfits and an array of magic tricks they incorporated into their choreography, making it feel fun and jovial.
Shades of Grace by Fang Fei Dance was ethereal, relaxing, elegant, traditional, and so unique compared to everything else offered in the festival programming. This company is one I look forward to seeing each year because they offer a style of dance I have not experienced anywhere else in our area, but that I really deeply love. I hope they find ways to bring more public performances to our area.
Billy Jean by Haley Prendergast Irish Dancers paired two flavors of culture that I never knew could go together so well — Michael Jackson and Irish dance. Even typing it, it sounds completely crazy, but it worked! It would not have worked if the dancers were not as dedicated to their routine or into the rhythm Billy Jean provides. I wish I could see this again and again.
https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/review-olympia-dance-festival,28385