McKee Park to host ‘Dancing in the Park’
The eighth annual Dancing in the Park event will be held at McKee Park this Saturday to celebrate National Dance Day.
The dance event seeks to promote disability awareness and healthy living through dance and music.
The free event will begin at 9 a.m. and run until 12:30 p.m. A free, healthy lunch will also be served while supplies last.
KMG Creations is sponsoring Dancing in the Park and the event itself is the brainchild of studio owner Kayla Gilmore.
Gilmore first came up with the concept in 2010 to honor her sister Alecia Gilmore-Tyler and niece Brandie Tyler, who lost their lives in an auto accident in 2007.
A disability awareness walk will begin at 9 a.m. and will start at the big pavilion area at the park.
Following the walk, the Pilot Club of Starkville will give a tour of the music trail and assist children and others who want to play the instruments in the park.
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to the event.
A proclamation from the city of Starkville will also be presented by Vice Mayor and Ward 6 Alderman Roy A’. Perkins at 10:00 a.m., after dance performances from ACPA, KMG Creations Dance, Fitness and Productions, Chinese Peacock dance by Jing Xu, Praise dance by Jamiya Sharp, and many more.
“This event will have international performances. It’s beautiful to see the community come togeth-
er to recognize a cause and celebrating National Dance Day,” Gilmore said.
The Starkville Fire Department and Starkville Area Arts Council will also participate
in the event.
Special guest performer will be Miss Meridian Tanner Fant, who finished second runner-up in the Miss Mississippi pageant.
Fant will perform at 11 a.m. and present her platform “Let’s All Dance.”
“Tanner is a beautiful person inside and out,” Gilmore said. “Not only can she dance but has a heart of goal to help others and has a strong passion to continue her dance class ‘Let’s All Dance’ to reaching children in various places.”