Happy feet

Saturday was a full day of dance at the Park Theater.

Paula’s Dance Academy, located just feet from McMinnville’s historic theater on West Main Street, held its annual recital, titled “This is Me.” The recital served as a culmination of the 2025-2026 PDA season and gave family and friends a chance to enjoy the talents of the young dancers during a series of shows throughout the day. Crowds of nearly 500 packed the theater for each of the performances which began at 10 a.m. and continued at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. showcasing different age groups.

“The dancers have worked incredibly hard over the past year,” Paula Barnes, who will be celebrating her 50th anniversary of opening PDA next year, said. “We are proud of their accomplishments. We have an incredible group of parents and families. None of this would be possible without their constant support.“

Enrollment for the milestone 2026-2027 season, which will also be Barnes’ 25th year of competition teams, will open June 1 for fall studio classes. Auditions for All-Star Competition Dance teams will be held May 12, 13 and 14. Auditions for ”The Nutcracker Ballet” will be held May 19.

For more information, see the PDA Facebook page.