Dance styles mix side by side

Since moving to California from New York more than 14 years ago, Michel and Marie-Jo Coclet have had season tickets to the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. But they never experienced it as they did Sunday evening.

The couple who loves classical dance had the opportunity to try some out for the first time ever on the center grounds.

After viewing the American Ballet Theatre’s performance of “The Sleeping Beauty,” the crowds emptied into the Community Plaza where a fully-fledged club atmosphere awaited them, complete with dance floor, tables, refreshments and DJs.

Called “Free For All,” the program offers music, dance, food and a chance to mingle with cast and crew from 4:30 to 6 p.m. after select performances. Best of all, it’s free to attend.

The event, held just outside of the Segerstrom Hall, launches a new turn for the center in hopes of engaging a wider spectrum of the community, said center President Terrence W. Dwyer.

“We want to remove all barriers to [experiencing] the center,” Dwyer said. “Everybody who wants to get into the event can ... and [we] hope people really come discover the center.”

The program will continue throughout the year including Monday movie nights starting in August with “Singing in the Rain” which will be projected on one of the outdoor walls of Segerstrom Hall.

On August 12, the Free For All dance party will return after a matinee performance of the disco musical “Mama Mia.”

“We think it’s a great idea,” Michel Coclet said after the two took a break from the dance floor, adding that the disco will really fit when “Mama Mia” comes to town.

Coclet and his wife had hoped for something a bit more waltz-friendly but they made do.

DJs Christopher Hall and Scott Weaver worked their magic to best appease the diverse gathering on the floor of dancers ranging in ages from 3 to 63.

Beginning with some more contemporary mixes they quickly moved to a number of disco hits and with whatever rhythm got the crowds dancing.

“When we’ve done events at the MOCA we got a different crowd, so we’ll see what happens,” Hall said.

Side by side, couples two-stepped while a circle of teenage girls boogied with their hips, and toddlers practiced their pointe.