Orcas Center’s fall season is off to an auspicious start.

Dance classes are in full swing, our major fall production opens in November and we’re about to launch our fall fundraising campaign.

Thank you to all who attended our Role Out on Sept. 28, where we unveiled the new dance studio, the solar panel project and what’s on our calendar for the coming year (hint: it includes a Taylor Swift tribute band).

Thank you to donors Martha Farish, Joe Cohen and Carl de Boor for their financial support of the dance studio and to the Orcas Dance Collective and the Island Inspiration All-Stars for their unwavering dedication to education and community. Generations of island dancers will be kept warm and happy in the new space.

We also express gratitude to former Executive Director Dimitri Stankevich for his leadership in the dance studio project and the solar panel installation. Orcas Center has completed a landmark solar and battery storage micro-grid, establishing the island’s performing arts and community hub as a long-term resilience center for emergencies and everyday life. This undertaking was funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce under the Climate Commitment Act, and ensures that Orcas Center can now operate as a designated Emergency Operations Center for the county.

This is YOUR Orcas Center, and we welcome help to keep it running smoothly! From folks who want to work on a one-time basis to those who want to establish an ongoing volunteer schedule, we’ve got something for you. Visit https://orcascenter.org/volunteer/ to sign up.

Speaking of volunteers, we honored the following Orcas Center devotees during the Role Out: Dorrie Braun, Miramonee Darling, Linda Ellsworth, Anita Holladay, Evan Jacobsen, Tiffany Loney, Tom McDonough, Jamey Moriarty and Emily Youngren.

Thank you, Orcas Island, for your continued support of the arts in our community.

Jake Perrine

Artistic Executive Director

Orcas Center