A New York dance company will be performing on a raft on a pond Saturday.
The Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, the Florida Museum of Natural History and Southwest Recreation Center have collaborated to host the first Cultural Plaza Festival. The free public event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The main event, Trisha Brown Dance Company’s “In Plain Site,” will start outside at 1 p.m. by the Phillips Center fountain in a two-part performance, said Brian Jose, the director of UF Performing Arts.
The hourlong performance will finish with the dancers on a raft on a pond next to the Harn.
“UF and Gainesville punch way above its weight culturally,” Jose said. “I think (the festival) is a great way (for) people to get a great scope and the magnificence of the cultural offerings.”
Visitors can try UF RecSports’ fitness obstacle course or bring their own fossils to the natural history museum, where a scientist will identify them, Jose said. Guests can also help transcribe specimen information from the museum’s WeDigBio program, a digitized natural history collection.
Harn spokeswoman Tami Wroath said she wants people to be more aware of the UF Cultural Plaza, and the festival allows people to stop by all of the venues. The Harn’s choreographer-in-residence, Andrea Ward, will also perform.
“We’re hoping that this will be something that we’ll continue for years to come,” Wroath said.
