The Long Center for the Performing Arts hosted its Second Annual Teresa Lozano Long Community Day on Sept. 7, 2024, transforming the venue into a vibrant celebration of Austin’s diverse arts and culture scene. This free event, presented by AT&T Inc., was organized to be a day filled with activities, performances, and community engagement to honor the legacy of the center’s visionary co-founder, Teresa Lozano.
Bobby Garza, the chief program officer of the Long Center, organizes and executes the blueprint of the event. This ensures that each aspect is up to par, providing a backbone for Community Day’s success. He stressed the importance of this day as an event that increases connection in Austin.
“This day is all about bringing our community together,” Garza said. “This place is in such an amazing part of the town with incredible views and should be approachable and accessible to as many people as possible.”
The day’s lineup included live music performances, interactive art installations, and family-friendly activities, so children and adults alike enjoyed being exposed to many different genres of music and instruments. According to Dr. Matthew Hinsley, the executive director of Austin Classical Guitar, one highlight was Joseph Palmer’s performance with Austin Guitar, where Palmer serves as an ambassador and inspiring figure for young audiences.
“Joseph Palmer is a fabulous guitar player, when he plays people light up,” said Dr. Hinsley. “At Austin Classical Guitar, we like to use music as much as an open door to invite people to engage with us. Coming to concerts is a wonderful way to do that, and we’ve been doing that for the Long Center since 2008 when it opened.”
Vicki Parsons, director of the Butler Center for Dance, Fitness, and Pilates, emphasized the positive impact of dance on mental health within the Ballet Austin Community. Ballet Austin’s “Rhythm on Stage” featured a lively Bollywood dance class that was celebrated for its energetic choreography and aerobic benefits, making it a highlight of Community Day.
“While Ballet Austin is a non-profit professional ballet company. The area I oversee is beyond ballet,” Parsons said. “Using dance as a form of movement aligns with research that shows how dance positively impacts lives, affects health and wellbeing, and brings joy. [Our] mission is to involve and strengthen our community through the creation and experience of dance and the encouragement and health of our well-being.”
According to Garza, Community Day demonstrates the Long Center’s pivotal role in Austin because it expresses the center’s commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive arts community in Austin. As Austin grows, the Long Center will strive to remain dedicated to providing a space where creativity flourishes and community bonds strengthen, according to Hinsley.
“I think us just getting a chance to be in this space with as many people as possible for as long as possible is a good thing for us,” Garza said. “I think that at the end of the day, we want people to leave feeling like they’ve been a part of an experience that is wholly Austin.”
