Join O’Ryan the O’Mazing — a longtime, beloved FestivALL street performer — for this family-friendly class on the art of clowning!
Learn how to build a character and tap into your emotions with O’Ryan’s expert guidance. It’s a playful, engaging experience that’s perfect for the whole family.
Location: Kanawha County Public Library, Main Branch, 123 Capitol St.
Ages: All ages
Fee: Free to attend
The FestivALL Workshop series is presented by Ramsey EyeCare.
This headlining event for FestivALL features performances by special guest artists from Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Grace Rookstool and David O’Matz, joined by dancers from the Charleston Ballet under the direction of Kim Pauley, River City Youth Ballet Ensemble under the direction of Michelle Raider- Simon and JADCO Contemporary Dance Company under the direction of January Johnson. Enjoy the diverse choreography and vibrant performances offered by these enchanting artists.
Grace Rookstool was born and raised on Whidbey Island in Washington. At just 3 years old, she began dance lessons at Island Dance. She started to focus more on classical ballet and joined Pacific Northwest Ballet School when she was 8 years old. She completed her training at PNB, including the Professional Division program. In 2019, upon graduation from the PD program, she was hired with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. She was promoted to Soloist in 2023, and Principal in 2025. In her time with PBT, she has had the opportunity to perform such roles as Juliet in Jean Christophe Maillot’s Romeo et Juliette, Aurora and Lilac Fairy in the Sleeping Beauty, Three Preludes by Ben Stevenson, and many Balanchine ballets including Stars and Stripes, Emeralds, and Allegro Brillante. She’s also been featured in contemporary works including First Flash by Jorma Elo and Meet Me at Midnight by Garrett Smith. Grace was named “25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine in 2023, and “Reader’s Choice” Best Performances of 2025.
David O’Matz’s progression at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre came fast and furious. Each role the 25-year-old has danced since joining the company in 2022 has raised his profile, but something more seemed to click into place in the last year. As the Cavalier in Terrence S. Orr’s The Nutcracker, his enviable facility, clean technical skills, and leading-man stage presence were captivating. He was equally riveting as Tybalt in Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Roméo et Juliette, portraying an antagonist who was as likely to menace as seduce. His onstage promotion to soloist following his Tybalt debut last February came as no surprise.
A Pittsburgh native, O’Matz trained at the Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh before attending San Francisco Ballet School. He danced with The Joffrey Ballet’s Studio Company in 2020 and Orlando Ballet in 2021 before joining PBT. “David exhibits keen artistic sensibilities, and his technical abilities are exceptional,” says PBT artistic director Adam W. McKinney. “He is a demonstrative performer who uses every opportunity to grow personally and professionally.”
Now, O’Matz is focused on becoming a more intuitive partner (“Being able to sense your partner’s needs and wants at any time is a hallmark of many of the best,” he says) and challenging himself to dive fully into his roles. —Steve Sucato
Location: West Virginia Culture Center, 1900 Kanawha Blvd E Building 9, Charleston, WV 25305
Time: 7:30pm
Tickets: $20 adults, $10 children & students
DANCE FestivALL is made possible by Horace & Sally Emery, Caldwell Insurance, and an Anonymous Donor.
Charley West meets the Big Easy as Charleston’s premier jazz combo The Bob Thompson Unit is joined by featured trumpeter James Moore for this cruise down the Kanawha on the River Queen.
Location: Aboard the River Queen, Haddad Riverfront Park, 600 Kanawha Blvd. E.
Time: 7:00pm
Tickets: General Admission $35,
Premium Admission (guaranteed seating) $45
This event is presented with support from AARP West Virginia and the West Virginia Department of Tourism.
Experience the Bard’s celebration of love, magic and theater with Rustic Mechanicals, West Virginia’s only professional Shakespeare troupe, as they bring “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to life.
Produced by FestivALL and The Rustic Mechanicals
Location: The Clay Center Sculpture Garden, 1 Clay Square
Time: 7:00pm
Admission is free
The Kanawha Valley Community Band performs Alfred Reed’s 1973 composition. A “hymn of praise without words” where instruments serve as members of a choir, this performance will feature David Donathan on Christ Church United Methodist Church’s newly renovated organ.
Location: Christ Church United Methodist, 1221 Quarrier Street
FestivALL Princess (Jude Binder), O’Ryan the O’Mazing, public art projects, and more will add color and fun to many events throughout FestivALL.
Location: Various events during FestivALL
Experience art like never before! Attack Theatre returns with a dynamic, interactive performance alongside a striking installation by the Office of Public Art—live on the library plaza.
A vibrant event for all ages!
Stop by to see a larger-than-life temporary public art piece by FestivALL and the Office of Public Art. Attack Theatre will interact with the audience and this new public art for a 45-minute performance you don’t want to miss.
Location: Kanawha County Public Library, 123 Capitol St.
In partnership with: Charleston Office of Public Art, Kanawha County Public Library
Sponsors: Charles & Mary Fayne Glotfelty Foundation, Truist WV Foundation
*FREE EVENT*
Walk with the dancers from Attack Theatre as they create world-premiere dances right before your eyes!
Charleston WV’s public art is a springboard for this interactive, creative, and unique dance/music/art event. Starting at the Charleston Arch sculpture at the Post Office, join Attack Theatre as they perform with and alongside some of our city’s beloved public art.
*FREE EVENT*
ABOUT ATTACK THEATRE
Founded in 1994 by Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope as a collaboration between two dancers and a city, Attack Theatre fuses modern dance, original live music, and interdisciplinary art forms to create engaging dance performances. We create work at the intersection of art and community, resulting in productions that are personal, authentic, welcoming, and fearless.
Attack Theatre’s mission is to explore artistic expression in our commitment to remain curious in our investigation of new ideas; to artistically collaborate through deliberate, interdisciplinary partnerships; to connect with local and global communities to provide accessible, creative learning opportunities.
Location change: Los Angled Gallery, 1031 Quarrier St.
The City of Charleston is working to reschedule this event for a future date. Please be sure to check out our other events this evening!
Enjoy Charleston’s free, Friday-night summer concert series set to the backdrop of the Kanawha River. Food and beverage vendors on site.
Kentucky bluegrass band Magnolia Boulevard will open for No BS! Brass Band, a powerful brass band that infuses the spirit of New Orleans into its original East Coast modern funk.
Location: Schoenbaum Stage, Haddad River Front Park, 600 Kanawha Blvd. East
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Through the art of movement, the WV Dance Company shares intimate portraits of the human experience, energetic displays of the power of nature and vibrant images of the nuances of world cultures.
Tickets: $5 for students, $10 for adults
Made possible in part by a 2023 grant from The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.
An Afternoon of Dance with the West Virginia Dance Company is part of FestivFALL, October 13-22.
Have a few minutes to help us out? We’d love to hear from you! Take our survey below – and of course want to hear more about any event ideas and what you’d like to see at future FestivALL events!