The Blue Ribbon Children's Festival

The Blue Ribbon Children's Festival—one of California’s longest ongoing free arts education programs, and a huge favorite among L.A.’s students and teachers—is going online once again in 2021!

This year's Blue Ribbon Children's Festival is now expanding from fifth grade to include students in grades 3-12! The Blue Ribbon Children's Festival is an opportunity for students to experience the performing arts by a professional dance company, along with the chance to dance along at home. The festival be will be available to watch on demand for a limited time through June 30, 2021.

Dorrance Dance is known for honoring the tradition of tap dance and simultaneously expanding its possibilities. Dorrance Dance’s exuberant program highlights what is most thrilling, brilliant and beautiful about tap dancing—movement and music.

Sponsored by The Blue Ribbon, a support organization of The Music Center, the Festival began in 1970 and is an important part of The Music Center’s commitment to engage young people in the arts.

The Blue Ribbon Children's Festival Book

View The Book

Curriculum & Dance Sequence

View the 2021 curriculum

View the dance sequence below for the Blue Ribbon Children's Festival.

Full dance (front): https://youtu.be/UHRnQ-e23HQ

Full dance (reverse): https://youtu.be/yAyUf3EePBU

Pattern #1 (front): https://youtu.be/ECcWoQgMdw8

Pattern #1 (reverse): https://youtu.be/dAzTYsQMuXg

Pattern #2 (front): https://youtu.be/ru5r-ASUdDo

Pattern #2 (reverse): https://youtu.be/pQu7G03BRXs

Pattern #3 (front): https://youtu.be/PPuRX0GL5xg

Pattern #3 (reverse): https://youtu.be/rl57sFbuzqw

Pattern #4 (front): https://youtu.be/cIlidfi588s

Pattern #4 (reverse): https://youtu.be/NaxIJqABXY0

Pattern #5 (front): https://youtu.be/bir3cd89NBw

Pattern #5 (reverse): https://youtu.be/PMZIB2QLf9w

Pattern #6 (front): https://youtu.be/3KjzkGnDKhw

Pattern #6 (reverse): https://youtu.be/ZSlJPra_Lns

Pattern #7 (front): https://youtu.be/dQ88sE_Gq5M

Pattern #7 (reverse): https://youtu.be/_pzY1OqcHAc

Pattern #8 (front): https://youtu.be/EX3e5XozgoU

Pattern #8 (reverse): https://youtu.be/5TJn6yp2iIA

Full dance (adapted to a chair): https://youtu.be/AdTE50AJIRE

Click here to download music/audio only files.

The Blue Ribbon Members

Thanks to a generous gift from Blue Ribbon member Maxine Dunitz, each participating student receives a copy of A Journey Through The Music Center, a book that introduces the four theatres of The Music Center and the performing arts presented in each venue.  The book also includes profiles of performers and behind-the-scenes staff, as well as vocabulary and Fun Facts.

A Look Back: The 2014 Blue Ribbon Children's Festival

Thank You From The Kids