Los Angeles County's "Grand Park" To Have Civic Dedication On July 26, 2012; Public Opening With National Dance Day Celebration To Follow On July 28, 2012

- Thousands Expected to Join in Participatory Dance Experience for All -

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Jun 27, 2012, 11:00 ET

LOS ANGELES, June 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The County of Los Angeles and The Music Center today announced a series of special events that will officially open the first two blocks of Los Angeles County's Grand Park, located in downtown Los Angeles, later in July. Festivities will begin with a civic dedication on Thursday, July 26, 2012, followed by a public inaugural event on Saturday, July 28, 2012, in conjunction with National Dance Day.

The dedication of the first two blocks of Grand Park will include music and dance artists along with a procession of young people representing the cultural quilt of Los Angeles. The event will culminate with a distinctive ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring key dignitaries at the restored Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain.

"After many years of hard work, collaboration and perseverance, I am excited to introduce Grand Park to my fellow Angelenos," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina. "This festive series of events marks the beginning of a new chapter for downtown, which now has a wonderful place where all in the County can gather, celebrate, share experiences with each other and enjoy entertainment in a beautiful setting."

"I am thrilled that, under the leadership of Supervisor Gloria Molina, the Grand Avenue Authority was able to ensure that this beautiful new civic park was funded and built for the public," said Councilwoman Jan Perry, who served as vice chair of the Joint Powers Authority. "Watching the park grow from an idea into the expansive green space that it is today has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey, and I look forward to looking out from the steps of City Hall and watching downtown residents, visitors and workers enjoy what will be downtown's largest open space to date."

Blocks one and two (from Grand Avenue to Hill Street) of Grand Park will open to the public on July 28, 2012 with the West coast's flagship National Dance Day Celebration presented by The Music Center and The Dizzy Feet Foundation. The event invites all park visitors, young and old, to participate in the arts with a free, interactive dance experience. Conceived originally by executive producer and co-creator of "So You Think You Can Dance" (SYTYCD), Nigel Lythgoe, and acknowledged by Congress in 2010, National Dance Day is a nationwide grassroots initiative that promotes the joy and benefits of dance for everyone.

Each year, in honor of National Dance Day, The Dizzy Feet Foundation, of which Lythgoe is a founder and co-president, produces one or more official dance routines and makes them available for everyone to learn in preparation for National Dance Day. This year's videos can be found at www.dizzyfeetfoundation.org. On July 28, Lauren Gottlieb, SYTYCD Season 3 finalist and Season 7 All-Star, and Gina Grant from Zumba will lead the public at Grand Park in the two dance routines in celebration of National Dance Day. Park visitors will also enjoy free community dance classes and performances, a special performance by IRIS from Cirque du Soleil, other family-friendly activities and a number of food trucks on-site. The weekend's public celebration will continue on Sunday, July 29, 2012, with inaugural musical events, featuring regional musical performers presented by Grand Performances in partnership with The Music Center.

"We look forward with great anticipation to a number of activities that will officially welcome Grand Park into the community and introduce the public to the County's newest downtown jewel," said Thor Steingraber, vice president of programming at The Music Center. "What better way to launch this 'park for everyone' than with a National Dance Day celebration, which is not only one of the biggest dance events of the year, but one in which everyone can participate, with no previous dance experience necessary. This event will be a great example of the type of fun, interactive and entertaining activities Grand Park will host for years to come."

"We cannot imagine a better place to hold the West coast's largest and most exciting National Dance Day celebration than at Grand Park," said Lythgoe. "The park gives us a lovely setting to encourage all members of the community to get up, move and get healthy at the same time," he added.

For more information, visit www.GrandParkLA.org.

About Grand Park
A vibrant outdoor community gathering place for all Angelenos, Grand Park adds a new spirit and vitality to downtown and is a beautiful public park for the entire community in Los Angeles County. With expansive green space for gatherings large and small, Grand Park celebrates the cultural vitality of Los Angeles County and is host to community events, cultural experiences, holiday celebrations and many other activities that engage and attract visitors from all communities throughout the County. One of the biggest parks in all of Los Angeles, the 12-acre Grand Park stretches from The Music Center on the west to City Hall on the east. Under the direction of the County, Grand Park was developed through Grand Avenue Park Development, LLC (The Related Companies, L.P.) with an award-winning creative team, including landscape architect, Rios Clementi Hale Studios; general contractor, Charles Pankow Builders; environmental graphic design firm, Sussman/Prejza; and fountain design consultants, Fluidity.

About The Music Center
As one of the top performing arts centers in the world, The Music Center is committed to strengthening community through the arts. Set in the heart of Los Angeles' downtown cultural district and home to four internationally renowned resident companies – LA Phil, Center Theatre Group, LA Opera and Los Angeles Master Chorale – and the celebrated Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, The Music Center offers the most compelling, highest quality engagements. In its effort to extend the reach and accessibility of the performing arts, The Music Center is a national model for experiences in which people participate directly through its Active Arts® at The Music Center. Additionally, The Music Center presents special productions, events and festivals for children and families, including World City at The Music Center, and plays a leadership role in advocating for and directly providing arts education in schools throughout the County. The Music Center includes four venues – the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum and Walt Disney Concert Hall – as well as a vibrant collection of outdoor theaters, plazas and gardens. For more information, visit www.musiccenter.org

About The Dizzy Feet Foundation
The Dizzy Feet Foundation was founded in 2009 by producer Nigel Lythgoe, director Adam Shankman, "Dancing with the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba and actress Katie Holmes, among others, to help underprivileged young people realize their dream of becoming professional dancers and to support, improve and increase access to dance education in the United States. The Dizzy Feet Foundation also sponsors, funds and offers community-based dance programs that expose kids in underserved areas to the lifelong benefits of dance education. The Dizzy Feet Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Grand Park Opening Event Schedule

Thursday, July 26, 2012 12:00 p.m.
Civic Dedication
Grand Park (adjacent to Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain)

Saturday, July 28, 2012 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Public Inaugural Events
National Dance Day Celebration presented by The Music Center and The Dizzy Feet Foundation
Grand Park (Main Stage, Performance Lawn, Olive Court)

Appearances by Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer and co-creator, "So You Think You Can Dance," and executive producer, "American Idol;" Adam Shankman, director, "Rock of Ages;" and many others
Participatory event with dance celebrities
Community dance classes/musical performances
Performance by IRIS from Cirque du Soleil
Food and other activities

Sunday, July 29, 2012 11:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Inaugural Music Events
Grand Park (Main Stage)