Concert
in the
Woods
*All shows are donation based, no reservations necessary.
2026
| Location | Dates |
|---|---|
| Whidbey Institute (grass seating please feel free to bring a blanket and plan for a 5-10 min walk to the stage) | August 15TH 6pm August 16th 2pm |
| South Whidbey State Park (benches available first come first serve please plan for the state park parking fee) | August 29th 6pm August 30th 2pm |
Our annual Concert in the Woods happens at the end of summer every year. Adult dance artist are invited to audition every spring to dance or create work for the annual show. If you would like to perform or collaborate, please get in touch through our Contact Us page.
2026 Program
Origins
This piece is inspired by evolution. Evolution of life, our species, and ourselves and in Loving Memory of Kristi Rieirsgard
Music: Auditory Illusion, Kalimba and Bubbles by, mix by Beck Diamond
Performed by: Stephanie Andrews, James B. Delong, Beck Diamond, Megan Osterstrom, Hailey Way
Choreographed by Meander Dance Collective
What to do with the Past? (Sunday Only)
Music: Sleeping at Last, Three (instrumental)
Performed by Alejandro Frederickson
Choreographed by Beck Diamond
Forest Bath
A meditation on the sensory experience of the forest.
Music: Hearing by SYML
Performed by Melissa Cober, Megan Osterstrom, Brooke Lindsley, Anna Cosper, Stephanie Andrews, Beck Diamond, Hailey Way, April Jane M. Herrild
Choreographed by Beck Diamond
Warrior
This dance is mostly improvised movement embodying the sensation of empowerment of joy. With the concept and reality, that many of us take on all the darkness and fear in our inner landscape, as well of the external outer world, I feel the greatest way to battle the darkness and the divides, is by leaning into love and light with music and dance while embracing love as our greatest weapons to face the negative forces that weave into our existences. While all music, dance and art holds strong medicine, I chose to flow with fierce love and hope for this particular piece.
Music by: Aurora, Warrior
Performed by: Stephanie Andrews
Freedom to Move
Audio by Khairat Salum
Performed by: Meander Dance Collective
Expanding Lamentations
This is an ongoing project that gives a nod to the early modern dance work, Lamentations, by Martha Graham. I hope to expand that conversation to hold the grief of collective trauma. In particular the trauma I and we are experiencing and witnessing on our phones and computers at the hands of elite oppressive systems fueled actively and passively by people. The genocide in Palestine and ongoing violence and genocide here in North America are so exhaustive and disheartening it is hard to bear and impossible to carry as an individual. It requires witness. My work series, Expanding Lamentations, is my way to document this moment in time and grieve publicly.
Music: Zoltan Kodaly and Kornel Zempleni, No. 2, Andante poco rubato and Nils Frahm, They
Performed by Anna Cosper
Choreographed by Beck Diamond
Poems by Mary Elizabeth Himes
Performed by: Meander Dance Collective
Battle Graciously
Music by: Andrey Psyche, Warrior’s Hidden Grace
Performed by: Hailey Way
Cancer Catalyzes
Co-choreographers and dancers: Hailey Way, Megan Osterstrom, Rasa
Matas, Beck Diamond, James DeLong, Stephanie Andrews
Score: Days Like This, Van Morrison, 1995; Dance with Destiny, original
music for this dance by Gideon Freudmann, 2026; Salt, then Sour, then
Sweet, Sara Bareilles feat. Brandi Carlile, 2025. See insert for lyrics.
This dance is inspired by James DeLong’s 25-year journey with prostate
cancer.
Dedicated to my wife Janet Staub, my family and all those whose lives
have been and are impacted by cancer. And to Beck Diamond, Director
and Mentor extraordinaire.
Finale
Highs and Lows
Music: Sit Next to Me by Foster the People
Performer by: Meander Dance Collective
Choreographed by Beck Diamond and the Collective
