Nearly 800 dancers fill the Monroe Civic Center complex this weekend as part of the Dance America Southwest Region Festival.
The annual festival includes 22 dance companies participating in intensive day classes and nightly performances. Louisiana Delta Ballet's Jeanine Patton says the event brings in some of the top instructors from across the country. "It's just such an opportunity for the dancers to work with them. They work through the day and put that experience to work immediately by performing at night," said Patton.
Patton says the festival culminates in a gala Saturday night. Scholarships are awarded to several dancers and a finale performance is presented by Louisiana Delta Ballet.