Every year in late July or early August there’s a whole lot of movin’ and shakin’ in Ketchikan – and it ain’t no earthquake. It’s the Gigglefeet Dance Festival, showcasing local residents kicking up their heels in a broad range of dance styles – from ballet to boogie woogie to Filipino break dancing! The sheer artistic talent in these small Southeast Alaska towns can come as a surprise for visitors, but residents get it. What else are you going to do when the tourists leave but work on your tango moves?
The dance festival is a collaboration between a few different arts groups in town, including the Ketchikan Theatre Ballet, which supports one of the largest ballet troupes in the state. Dancers coming back home for summer break choreograph and add to the festival flair.
If you’re in Ketchikan around this time, check out Gigglefeet – it’s like a window into a secret life of the city – the one where you dance like nobody’s watching.
