Quick Take
Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud captured Thursday evening's Dance Week kickoff in downtown Santa Cruz.
Talk about bringing motion to Pacific – Santa Cruz’s Motion Pacific dance studio brought its annual Dance Week celebration to Pacific Avenue on Thursday with live performances from dozens of dancers in a dizzying variety of styles and forms from ballet to tango to Hawaiian.
The public dance demos – three simultaneous performances within a couple of blocks – kicked off a vibrant week of dance instruction with dance classes, conducted in many different venues around the county, from downtown to Scotts Valley to Soquel to the beach at Natural Bridges, and in styles from belly dancing to waltz to ballet to hip-hop. And for $20, you can get a pass to every class your body can tolerate.
Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud captured Thursday evening’s dance party in downtown Santa Cruz.
Photo gallery: Dance Week kickoff
A member of Elaine’s Dance Studio all smiles at the Santa Cruz Dance Week in downtown Santa Cruz on Thursday evening. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
A young member of Raizes Do Brazil doing a high kick during their Capoeira performance in downtown Santa Cruz on Thursday evening. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
A young member of Raizes Do Brazil doing a high kick during their Capoeira performance in downtown Santa Cruz on Thursday evening. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
A young member of Raizes Do Brazil beating the drums during their performance in downtown Santa Cruz on Thursday evening. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
The Suciawani Dance team performing Thursday night on Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
The Suciawani Dance team performing Thursday night on Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
I Gede Oka Artha Negara, the founder and director of Gamelan Artha Negara in Santa Cruz, performing in the streets during Dance Week in Santa Cruz. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Luh Andarawati, a Balinese dancer performed on Thursday night during the Santa Cruz Dance Week celebration on Pacific Avenue. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Dance week kicked off in downtown Santa Cruz Thursday. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz