Past DiRT & Glitter Programs & Events
We are thrilled to announce the launch of an ongoing Youth Art & Adventure Program funded by the Yurok Tribe's Klamath Promise Neighborhood Initiative. Check out some of our recent offerings below.
Want to join us for upcoming DiRT & Glitter offerings? Please fill out our general interest form here!
Breathing Bridges 2025
Breathing Bridges is DiRT & Glitter’s annual site specific arts adventure celebration of the Nii~-li~ (Smith River). This year’s Breathing Bridges took place August 31, 2025 on Tolowa Dee-ni' lands in Del Norte County, CA. Performances and art installations along the river included:
Welcome poem by Yarrow Zogg
“Floating Memory” offering by Holly Hilgenberg of Stained Ghost, with poem by Colleen Kam Siu
Live painting from Jessica Cherry & Bailey Hurley
Land acknowledgment by Chvski Jones-Scott
“Watch This: Welcoming Forgotten Selves to Play” performance art installation by Julie Smiley with surprise guests
“Coil” vertical dance duet by Madeline Lawder & Kara Starkweather
Vertical dance solo by Haylee Mattz-Charles, DiRT & Glitter Youth Company dancer
Original song by Co Conway
“Casting Love Spells on a Mountain of Broken Hearts” dance solo by Kriss Rulifson
“River Reflection” art installation by Julie Smiley
Choir piece directed by Preston Swirnoff, with singing by Yarrow Zogg, Lauren Szabo, Hannah Gartland, Paloma Hacker, Lavorra Suverly, Cindy Delmue, Bob Lappin, Honi Matson, Holly Jean Montoya, Holly Carter, Jazz Buechner
“Pouring Windows” vertical dance trio by Lauren Godla, Madeline Lawder & Kriss Rulifson
Community rafts & kayaks provided by Redwood Rides
A welcome poem from Yarrow Zogg greeted visitors at Breathing Bridges 2025
Check out more Breathing Bridges coverage on our community events page here!
Youth Art & Adventure Program:
Roots & Wings
Dance Camp
The Roots & Wings Dance Camp provided youth with the chance to train with four professional dancers in contemporary floorwork and vertical dance in the redwoods. This free camp for local youth ages 14-24 took place March 31- April 2, 2025.
Youth Art & Adventure Program:
Earth Right Spring Adventure Camp
This free adventure camp provided local youth the opportunity to explore our beautiful public lands through rafting, kayaking, biking, hiking and surfing adventures in early April 2025.
Youth Art & Adventure Program:
Redwood Dance Exchange
In the summer of 2025, youth dancers from Del Norte and Mendocino County in Northern California participated in the Redwood Dance Exchange. In this week-long exchange, they learned vertical dance among the redwoods, working together to create a final performance.
The Redwood Dance Exchange was part of DiRT & Glitter's Youth Art and Adventure Program, in collaboration with the Mendocino Dance Project.
Learn more about the Redwood Dance Exchange in the video above!
Music by Elle Jacot / Film by Frej Barty
Video gallery
Check out more videos from recent DiRT & Glitter events in Del Norte County!
Above: A youth participant shows off vertical dance skills learned in the Roots & Wings Dance Camp in the redwoods of Del Norte County.
Above: Youth participants in the Earth Right Summer Adventure Camp raft along the Smith River in Del Norte County, CA.
Above: Coverage of Breathing Bridges 2024, a site-specific art celebration of the Smith River in Del Norte County, CA, from Redwood Voice
Press Coverage
Check out the KFUG coverage of our Roots & Wings Dance Camp above* and read the full article here!
*please note that there are some inaccuracies in the KFUG video, including that Lauren did not dance with Bandaloop at Yosemite and that the footage accompanying that point was from when she was significantly younger than her time dancing with the company
Everything we’ve done since the kick off of our Youth Art & Adventure Program, funded by the Yurok Tribe's Klamath Promise Neighborhood Initiative, beginning in March 2025
2025:
DiRT & Glitter Open House (Saturday March 29th):
A chance for the community to meet some of our instructors, ask questions and learn more about the programs we are offering.
Roots & Wings Dance Camp (March 31- April 2):
Provided youth with the chance to train with four professional dancers in contemporary floorwork and vertical dance in the redwoods
Earth Right Spring Adventure Camp (April 1-4):
This free adventure camp provided local youth the opportunity to explore our beautiful public lands through rafting, kayaking, biking, hiking and surfing adventures
Try Flying (April 3):
An intro to vertical dance workshop for the whole community
Kayak Guide School (May 9-11):
A free weekend-long school that taught local youth the skills they need to not just kayak, but to work as a guide!
Youth Art Class: Birdhouse painting (June 16):
Visual artist Jessica Cherry of Wild & Free Art kicked off the first of three monthly summer art classes for youth ages 7+
Earth Right Summit to Sea Adventure Camp (June 23-26):
Camping and adventure beginners had the chance to learn skills and explore all aspects of the area outdoors in this overnight camp
How Did We Get Here? Radio Play & Documentary Sound Design Course (started June 30 (runs 10 weeks)):
KFUG/Redwood Voice is currently facilitating this 10 week course where local youth learn audio and video editing and sound design
Choreography Workshop (July 14-16):
Dance students learned the art of choreography from Iu-Hui Chua, acclaimed Professor of Dance at UC Berkeley
Klamath Boys & Girls Club weekly visual art classes (July 16-August 13):
Participants at the Boys & Girls Club enjoyed weekly art projects from Jessica Cherry of Wild & Free Art
Redwood Dance Exchange Program (July 20-26):
Youth dancers from Del Norte and Mendocino worked together to create a professional dance performance with the support of Lauren Godla, Director for DiRT & Glitter and Kara Starkweather, Director for the Mendocino Dance Project
Earth Right Summit to Sea Intermediate Adventure Camp (July 21-24):
This intermediate-level camp with Redwood Rides allowed youth to experience camping, hiking, kayaking, mountain biking and surfing
Youth Art Class: Mask Painting (July 25):
Jessica Cherry of Wild & Free Art offered mask painting as part of her monthly youth art classes for ages 7+
Vertical Dance Camp (July 29-Aug 1):
Participants learned vertical dance skills from experienced dancers Lauren Godla, Kara Starkweather and Madeline Lawder
Community Movement Class Series (weekly July 30-Aug 20):
This all level 4-part Yoga Series with Lauren Godla was offered to the community at the A.W.C. Community Center in Klamath
Breathing Bridges (Aug 31):
Our annual community art adventure celebrating the Nii~-li~ (Smith River) included performance art, art installations, a community choir, vertical dance and solo performances taken in by paddling up the south fork of the river
Contemporary Dance Master Classes (Sept 2):
Dance 2&3 students from the Del Norte High School Dance Departments learned about improvisation, floor work and professional practices from dancer Kriss Rulifson
This July, Del Norte dance students learned the art of choreography from UC Berkeley dance professor Iu-Hui Chua!
More Past DiRT & Glitter Events
Stay in the know to be part of upcoming DiRT & Glitter offerings!