Galaxy Festival Aims High

Robert Guitron is the first to admit that he started Galaxy Dance Festival for selfish reasons. 

"I find myself so stuck in my own little fishbowl while working with my people," says Guitron, artistic director and co-founder of Polaris Dance Company, with a laugh. "I hardly have time to get out and see what my friends are doing and what else is happening. There's a lot."

To get out of that "fishbowl," Guitron co-founded Galaxy Dance Festival in 2011. Originally a two-day event with dance groups and instructors offering free performances and classes, this year's festival has grown to three days in Director Park and a week of classes at Polaris's temporary space on Southeast 9th Avenue and Ankeny Street. 

"When people ask Portlanders to name dance companies, they mention the ballet," Guitron says. "And I'm like, wow, there's so much more."

Deeming it a "petri dish" of Portland's dance world, he sources companies like Polaris, Pendulum Aerial Arts, PDX Dance Collective, and the Circus Project for all different dance styles, levels and techniques. 

Beyond the performances, Galaxy Festival's mini-classes are an outlet for dancers and choreographers, says Polaris co-founder Sara Anderson, since many companies disband during the summer season.

“Classes for a lot of dancers are just as important as performances,” Anderson says.  “A lot of those instructors make their living by teaching." They'll offer the public contemporary, tap, hip-hop and Bollywood, as well as yoga and Zumba classes for cross training and an Introduction to Aerial session. 

"I'm a really strong advocate of collaboration," Guitron says. "Elitism or 'I'm better than whoever’ really needs to get shushed.” 

SEE IT: Galaxy Festival is at Director Park, 815 SW Park Ave., on Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 6-8. Free. Visit polarisdance.org for a full schedule.

WWeek 2015