PORT ANGELES — Former dancers from the Port Angeles Dance Center will host “Gather & Dance: A Day of Movement” in memory of Mary Marcial on Saturday.
The memorial will include free drop-in classes at Port Angeles City Ballet, 124 E. Front St., and at the Port Angeles Masonic Temple, 622 S. Lincoln St.
Marcial was the founder of the Port Angeles Dance Center, where she taught for 26 years.
The center began with classes in the basement at the Naval Elks Lodge, moved to the upper floor at the historic Port Angeles Fire Station on Lincoln Street and settled into the studio space on Front Street that is now home to City Ballet.
Marcial taught ballet, jazz and modern dance until the dance center closed in 2017.
“Mary had a tremendous impact on the growth and artistic development of so many young people in Port Angeles,” said Jessie Young, one of Marcial’s former students. “She believed so strongly in the voice of children and that, through dance, they could develop confidence and a strong sense of self.
“This special day is designed to honor her legacy by creating a free opportunity for all to experience the joy of dancing.”
Marcial died on June 7, 2024, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
The schedule of free classes includes:
• Pilates Foundations: Breath, Strength, Alignment, 9:30 a.m. at Port Angeles City Ballet.
• Dance and Play, 10 a.m. at the Masonic Temple.
• Follow-Along Dance Party, 10:30 a.m. at Port Angeles City Ballet.
• Introduction to Tap, 11 a.m. at the Masonic Temple.
• Restorative Movement, 11:30 a.m. at Port Angeles City Ballet.
• Musical Theater Moves — Learn the Language of Fosse, 1 p.m. at the Masonic Temple.
• Modern Master Class, 2 p.m. at the Masonic Temple.
• Mary Marcial’s Jazz Class, 4 p.m. at the Masonic Temple.
Teaching artists include Catalina Gonzalez, Adriana Marcial, Jordan Macintosh-Hougham, Anna Pederson, Sarah Schermer, Keely Whitmore, Jonna Winger and Jessie A. Young.
There will be a memorial ceremony to share stories and memories at 5:30 p.m. at the Masonic Temple, and it will be followed at 6:30 p.m. by a reception featuring The Tuff Puffins.
For more information or to sign up for a class, call Adriana Marcial at 360-460-2111, email adimarcial@gmail.com or visit https://gatheranddance.eventbrite.com.
