RAPID CITY, SD — The Rapid City Arts Council (RCAC) is proud to announce Dilly Dally to the Dahl on June 26 from 5 to 8:30pm. The best that life has to offer is often in the moments where we slow down and truly immerse ourselves, so we invite you to Dilly Dally to the Dahl. This annual community appreciation night will delight all your senses. Enjoy a night of hands-on art activities, entertaining performances, snacks, drinks, amazing artist talks, and more!

Every corner of the Dahl Arts Center will offer something to discover during this immersive evening of art, performance, and community connection. Guests are encouraged to wander through galleries, create alongside local artists, enjoy live entertainment, and experience the building in motion.

“The Rapid City community is at the heart of everything the Rapid City Arts Council does and hosting Dilly Dally to the Dahl is a direct celebration of that,” said RCAC Executive Director, Travis Dewes. “Offering community members the chance to slow down and enjoy themselves is increasingly important and we are proud that the Dahl is that place for thousands of our neighbors.”

“Our annual community appreciation nights are first and foremost the best way for us to give back to the avid families and arts enthusiasts that support the RCAC and the Dahl,” said RCAC Development Director, Victorie Wilson. “A close second is the opportunity to showcase the best that the arts and culture of Rapid City and the land we inhabit has to offer; Dilly Dally to the Dahl is guaranteed to be a unique chance to experience and participate in arts of all types, curated for all ages and abilities.” 

The Adelstein Gallery will feature Tailings, a guest-curated exhibition by Marty Two Bulls Jr., who will be present throughout the evening to speak with visitors about the work and exhibition. 

After a June filled with creativity, the Cultural Café will showcase artwork created by students participating in the RCAC’s summer camps. Visitors can also contribute to a collaborative community mural led by Ms. Jewels, welcoming participation from all ages.

The Open Pottery Studio will host live clay demonstrations from pottery instructors and artists Steve Saiz and Michelle Langemeier, offering guests a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process in action.

Throughout the evening, attendees of all ages can participate in a building-wide scavenger hunt designed to encourage exploration and discovery across the Dahl.

The bar, sponsored by Highmark Federal Credit Union, will offer beer, wine, and soda selections, with Friends of the Dahl members receiving their first drink free.

In the Mark & Carolyn Mollers Cyclorama Room, 20-minute performances will begin at 5:30pm, 6pm, and 6:30pm featuring the Moreno Family Dancers, Catalyst Theater Company, and an additional performance to be announced.

The Moreno Family Dancers are led by Jeremiah Moreno (Oglala Lakota) who leads the Stampede Drum Group. Traveling the nation to compete in powwows, the Moreno family consists of accomplished singers and dancers. Showcasing traditional and contemporary song and dance, Jeremiah also shares the cultural significance of everything that they share.  

Catalyst Theater Company, a non-profit organization based in downtown Rapid City, will perform a short production with several cast members. Founded in 2023, Catalyst was created to meet the need for an intimate space for artists and audiences to share story-driven theater in our community and RCAC is proud to have worked closely with their team on several projects. 

In the John T. Vucurevich Event Center, the Emerging Performing Artists (EPA) Spotlight will begin at 7pm and feature Kokopelli’s Cousin, Kenna Cook, and the Caprice Clarinets.

Kokopelli’s Cousin is a group of local drum enthusiasts who gather to explore rhythm, connection, and the communal experience of drumming. Known for their performances at community events including the Idea Wild benefit, the group is led by Tom Whillock and often gathers beneath “Grandma Cottonwood” in Jackson Park to make music together.

Kenna Cook is a 14-year-old singer-songwriter who performs both original music and country favorites. She plays guitar, piano, saxophone, and flute, and is a two-time winner of the Gateway to the Black Hills Singer/Songwriter Competition.

Caprice Clarinets features Peggy Lovrien and Valerie Andrews. Lovrien is a longtime performer and educator whose musical background spans vocals, piano, guitar, choral direction, and woodwinds, including clarinet, flute, and saxophone. Andrews, originally from Britton, South Dakota, returned to playing clarinet after a 50-year hiatus and now performs with several regional ensembles while also collecting vintage clarinets.

The Dilly Dally festivities are made possible in part by Black Hills Federal Credit Union, Dacotah Bank, DK Productions, LLC, Highmark Federal Credit Union, Monument Health, Black Hills Lifestyle Magazine, and the “Friends of the Dahl,” whose annual membership donations support arts and cultural programs year-round.

This summer, enjoy the art of dilly dallying, to see, do, and linger. For more information about the Dahl Arts Center’s Dilly Dally event, visit, thedahl.org/dillydally.