With a history that dates back to the late 1960s, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts was founded with the belief that performing arts have the power to transform lives. By sharing in the experience and exploration of the arts, the center believed it would help to unite Orange County while creating a more culturally connected and vital community. To achieve this goal, the center strives to create meaningful collaborations with diverse communities while embracing creativity in all forms.
The History of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts
The Segerstrom Center for the Arts was formed in the late 1960s when a number of community leaders decided to create a world-class performing arts venue to hose local and regional artists as well as esteemed guest artists and companies from around the world. The vision of the founders didn’t become a reality until September 29, 1986, at which time the center opened with a concert in the Segerstrom Hall made possible by a five-acre land donation made by the Segerstrom Family in the mid-70s. In 1998, the Segerstrom family deeded another parcel of land to the center. Two years later, Henry Segerstrom gifted the center $40 million toward the center’s $200 million campaign. The funds went toward constructing a concert hall, an education center, a multi-use theater, a public restaurant and a community plaza.
In 2006, the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall was opened along with the adjacent 500-seat Samueli Theater. Five years later, the center was named Segerstrom Center for the Arts in honor of the contributions made by the family. Today, the center is situated on a 14-acre multidisciplinary campus with two major arts organizations.
Providing Children with Opportunities to Tap Into Their Creativity
The Segerstrom Center’s New Summer Dance Program will launch on June 26th, with classes held from June 26th through July 7th and again from July 24th through August 18th. Designed for students between the ages of 3 and 18, the classes will involve four separate dance programs designed for young dancers of all abilities and experience levels. This six-week Sergerstrom Center Summer Dance program is taught by a faculty of principal dancers from many of the leading companies in the nation ranging from Broadway to Hollywood. All students must enroll for a minimum of two weeks, though those two weeks do not have to be consecutive. Space is limited for some classes and is filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To learning more, visit the Segerstrom Center for the Arts website.
For those who are more interested in drama, the center will also be presenting Five Days of Broadway this summer. In this program, students are introduced to musical theatre technique and repertoire by some of the leading professional artists in the industry. The program focuses on building a strong foundation in Broadway music, dance and scene work while also introducing the business aspects of working as a professional theater actor. The program takes place June 26th through June 30th for those between the ages of 11 and 13 and July 3rd through July 7th for those between the ages of 14 and 19.