ExxonMobil Discovery Series: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Introducing 5th Graders to the World of the Performing Arts

Arts Partner: Open Dance Project

Fine Arts, Reading Language Arts, Social Studies

Open Dance Project’s dance theater adaptation of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” follows Dorothy as she is swept away from her life on a farm in Kansas to a magical Land of OZ, where she learns about friendship and courage with her rag tag group of friends – Scarecrow, Tinman, and Lion. Dance theater is a dance-based art form that combines dance with storytelling elements including theatrical dialogue, sets, and props to make dance more accessible and engaging. Great for 5th graders, this humorous and poignant coming-of-age tale features Open Dance Project’s signature athleticism, theatrical antics, aerial dance, acrobatics, and good old fashioned fun!

In the 2025-2026 school year, the Hobby Center is excited to present a diverse range of free educational field trips to Hobby Center’s Zilkha Hall with the goal of serving 5th grade students in Houston. Through this TEKS-aligned series, 5th grade students are introduced to dance, music and/or theater in ways that are engaging, fun and further their learning and belonging.

Learn More about the Hobby Center’s educational programming and future opportunities for Houston school districts.

This project is supported in part by an award from the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Mid-America Arts Alliance and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 2025 BIG grant.

About Open Dance Project

Open Dance Project (ODP) is an ensemble-based dance theater company dedicated to developing and presenting world-class performances in Houston and serving as a cultural resource through educational and community programming. Since 2015, Open Dance Project’s performance and education programs have been creating memorable, interdisciplinary experiences that break down conventional barriers between artists and audience members to make dance more accessible and meaningful. Collapsing the distance between the subject and the stage through critically acclaimed immersive performances and a commitment to accessibility, ODP’s programs simultaneously demystify dance and make dance matter.

Photo credit: Lynn Lane