ESTEVAN — The Estevan Downtown Business Association (DBA) had to pivot to host this year's Street Dance, and the organization is pleased with the results.
The annual event was held July 19 at the Power Dodge Curling Centre. It was supposed to happen outdoors in the 1100-block of Fourth Street, but the DBA made the decision the day before to move the bash inside due to forecasted rain. The decision paid off, because the rain hit just after the cabaret started at 9 p.m.
Local cover band The Sad Dadz served as the opening act, and Brayden King of Weyburn, who successfully auditioned for American Idol in 2023, and his band served as the featured attraction.
Robert Godfrey from Lemon Wedge Marketing said the location shift was a logistical challenge, but it's one they're glad they made.
"We had no idea how a last-minute change like that would affect the event and what that would do for our attendance, but we're really happy that we had an amazing crowd," Godfrey told SaskToday.
The DBA estimates 700 people attended, close to the capacity of 800 revelers. It's smaller than they've had attend in previous years, but Godfrey said it exceeding the expectations of the DBA considering the changes.
"We're able to have a great crowd. We didn't have to turn anyone away, and the best part is the people who came out, they came out to have a great time and support our Downtown Business Association," said Godfrey.
Moving the street dance inside was a really tough decision, he said. Initial discussions started July 16. The following day, the DBA started monitoring the weather forecast and looking at what their options would be if the party relocated. This was the first time rain had been forecasted this far in advance before the street dance, he said, and the DBA didn't have a rain plan before this year.
"We spent a lot of the day Thursday [July 17] just identifying the options of what would be available as far as finding a venue, and the logistics of moving things over there for staging and for our performers and our crew, and even setting up the bar," said Godfrey. "And obviously we knew that going to an indoor venue was going to affect our maximum capacity as far as what we could have for attendance."
The DBA made the decision July 18; Godfrey said they needed to have enough time for the logistic needs, and cancelling the outdoor stage, fencing and portable washrooms. There won't be much of a cost for the DBA because of the cancellation, he said.
"We had to guarantee the community that we could still provide that party that everyone looked forward to, and the only way that we knew we could do that was to move to an indoor venue," said Godfrey.
Godfrey praised the crowd for their enthusiasm and behaviour. He noted that when the gates open at 9 p.m., most years people are trickling in and it's a bit of a slow start for the concert. It gets going at around 11 p.m. This year they had a rush when the doors opened, which Godfrey said was partially due to the opening act.
"They put on a great show, they had an awesome set list and they just did a wonderful job for us. Being local, they brought in a huge group of fans and supporters, and so that was really cool for us this year to have a big crowd right at the beginning of the event."
People came from the Estevan Motor Speedway once the program at the track ended.
As for King, Godfrey described him as a "larger-than-life performer", not just because King is 6'9", but because of his on-stage presence and his overall show.
"It's so well thought out, it's well produced, and he really knows how to get a crowd excited," said Godfrey. "And that was one thing, from the time he stepped on that stage until the show closed, everyone in the audience that you could see, not only were they having a good time, but they were so engaged with every moment of the performance, singing along all night. There was singing. There was photos [being taken]. It really was an amazing performance. It was one of a kind."
Godfrey also thanked the City of Estevan for doing what they could to get the 1100-block of Fourth Street ready as much as possible for the street dance, and for allowing the DBA to use the curling club. Street dance wouldn't have happened without the leisure services staff, he said.
The money raised at street dance funds different initiatives, including the Miracle on Fourth festival before Christmas, future editions of street dance, and other initiatives like donations for the Garden Park on Fourth, downtown decorations at Christmas and more.
