June 24, 2026: Jazz Master Class with Nan Giordano of Giordano Dance Chicago; 6:30-8:00PM (Registration is required and will open June 1)
June 25-26, 2026: Performances
5th Annual Dance Festival
Join us for the 5th Annual North Coast Dance Festival, a spectacular celebration of dance! Professional dancers from across the country will gather alongside the NMU CO/LAB Dance Company for engaging educational experiences and mesmerizing performances. Don't miss this unforgettable event filled with grace, talent, and artistry. We thrilled to welcome back Giordano Dance Chicago, who will be performing two dynamic concert jazz pieces, Dumb Luck! (musical theatre) and Sabroso (ballroom), and professional ballet dancers, Julia Feldman and Mate Szentes.
This event is generously supported by the Siril Endowment for the Arts.
FOREST ROBERTS THEATRE
APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 1HR 15MIN
Upcoming Performance
- Thursday, June 25th, 2026 | 7:30PM | Opening Night Party
- Friday, June 26th, 2026 | 7:30PM
Ticket Prices
- General Public: $25
- NMU Employees, Seniors and Military: $22
- Youth: $15
- NMU Students: Free (Siril Endowment)
Jazz Master Class with Nan Giordano of Giordano Dance Chicago
Please join NMU Theatre and Dance, North Coast Dance Festival, and the Siril Endowment for the Arts for a jazz dance class and talkback led by Nan Giordano of Giordano Dance Chicago on Wednesday, June 24 from 6:30-8:00PM in the Forest Roberts Theatre! This master class will be open to dancers ages 12 and up with at least 5 years of previous formal dance training or at least one year of formal university dance training. We welcome observers of any age into the theatre to experience the joy of the Giordano Jazz Technique! There is no fee for participation or observation of this class!
PRE-REGISTRATION FOR CLASS PARTICIPATION IS MANDATORY. Pre-registration for class participation will close on Monday, June 22 at 5:00PM EST. Class size is limited, so registering early is encouraged. Once you have pre-registered, the North Coast Dance Festival staff will review your application for acceptance. A follow-up email with detailed instructions will be sent to you on or by the evening of Tuesday, June 23. If you are under 18 years of age, you will need to have a parent or guardian's permission to participate. All forms attached below must be completed by yourself or a parent/guardian (if under 18) in order to participate.
Dress Code
- Dance-appropriate clothing including a combination of solid-colored dance pants, leggings, bike shorts, and a tank top, t-shirt, or leotard.
- Hair should be pulled away from the face.
- Please bring jazz shoes or plan to dance barefoot. The dance surface can be slippery in socks.
This event has been generously supported by the Siril Endowment for the Arts.
A Note from the Artisitic Director
Welcome to the North Coast Dance Festival and thank you for supporting the performing arts in Marquette, Michigan. It has been my dream to bring an event like this to my hometown-- an event that blends prestigious performing arts and education with community members and professionals. Now in our third year, we are thrilled to welcome back Mate Szentes, Julia Feldman, and Ava Chatterson, and to introduce our community Giordano Dance Chicago, America's Original Jazz Dance Company. A goal of the North Coast Dance Festival has always been to showcase multiple styles of dance in one evening-- so I am very excited to add Jazz to our mixed bill. I also cannot wait for you to see our up and coming talent on Friday evening with a special performance from the dancers in our Wildcat Performing Arts Academy Dance Intensive! There is so much work that happens behind the scenes to bring this programming, these amazing dancers, and their talent to our community, and it wouldn't be possible without the support of the Siril Endowment for the Arts, NMU Administration and Foundation, and NMU Department of Theatre and Dance.
As ever, the value of the arts remains deeply apparent as we navigate change and evolution in our world. Natalia Makarova wrote the following to Julie Kent on the eve of her debut in the ballet La Bayadère, "Someone once said beauty can save the world. What a great responsibility you have on your shoulders.” We take that responsibility to heart and look forward to bringing you an evening of beauty, joy, and live dance.
- Jill Grundstrom
Jill Grundstrom
North Coast Theatre Festival Artistic Director
