Dance in the Gardens: Zest Collective

An open-air dance performance at Pinecrest Gardens explores the legacy of jazz through movement, music and cultural history in a setting designed to integrate performance with nature.

Dance in the Gardens: Zest Collective takes place Saturday, February 28 at the Banyan Bowl amphitheater at Pinecrest Gardens. Part of the Dance in the Gardens series, the evening features choreography created specifically for the outdoor stage beneath the venue’s geodesic dome, continuing the series’ focus on presenting dance beyond traditional theater environments.

Zest Collective makes its Pinecrest Gardens debut with Roots in Jazz: Icons in Motion, a program honoring influential Black artists who shaped American music in the 20th century. Presented during Black History Month, the performance draws inspiration from jazz legends whose work defined eras and crossed cultural boundaries. Featured pieces include The Loveliness of You, a tribute to Josephine Baker; the world premiere of What a Difference a Day Makes, honoring Dinah Washington; Straighten Up and Fly Right, inspired by Nat King Cole; and Afro Blue, which references the shared musical language of Abbey Lincoln and Mongo Santamaría through African American jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms.

The performance begins at 8 p.m., offering an evening of dance framed by Pinecrest Gardens’ tropical surroundings.