PromoWest will host the first ever Summer Jam, a casual, yet festive, outdoor evening of entertainment provided by Columbus’s very own BalletMet and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra on Saturday.

The event is planned to begin with Dance Under The Stars at 7 p.m., where BalletMet will perform several solo pieces as well as excerpts from its popular Gershwin Dances, which features the vitality of Broadway and the Big Band Era with Gershwin tunes and dance ranging in mood from romantic to energetically jazzy.

The evening’s music will be provided by Columbus’s resident big band, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and well-known singers Dwight Lenox and Jeanette Williams.

CJO is the longest established publicly funded jazz orchestra and presently has more season subscribers than New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center.

The audience will later be invited to join BalletMet to “Dance Under the Stars” to the music of the CJO conducted by Ray Eubanks, artistic director emeritus for the CJO. During the latter part of the concert, Jon Devlin, a private swing and Latin dance instructor, will be hosting dance instructions.

The idea behind Saturday’s event stems from the desire of both BalletMet and the CJO to bring their arts to the community and expand support for both organizations to develop a more local and youthful following.

“Ballet has historically been perceived as something solely for elite, upper class and often older crowds to enjoy,” said Shannon Hatch, spokeswoman for BalletMet.

“Our goal is to really bring ballet to the community and to increase the interest and support by Columbus’ youth of BalletMet and the arts. With this event, although the concert is suited for all age groups, we are really trying to target that younger crowd with fresh and innovative performances.”

One way BalletMet has been trying to reach out to Columbus’ youth is by charging $10 admission to most BalletMet house performances with valid student identification.

CJO is doing much of the same, as well as having recently acquired a new, and much younger artistic director, Byron Stripling.

The organization’s hope is to attract new, non-traditional patrons of CJO. Saturday’s event is a reflection of that. Through Dance Under The Stars, CJO will bring the community a fresh twist of vibrant jazz tunes mixed with modern ballet that will make for a unique performance.

According to Eric Wygle, director of partnership marketing at PromoWest, the venue is expected to host more than 500 guests for Saturday’s event.

Following the performance, there will be a free Latin dance party featuring the salsa band Yumbambé.

Although this will be the first Summer Jam, Wygle said he hopes the event will be successful enough to become an annual event.

Nominated “Best New Concert Venue” by Pollstar Magazine, the PromoWest outdoor amphitheater, with its wide variety of food and beverage, is the perfect setting for this informal evening of entertainment. PromoWest is located at 405 Neil Avenue in the Arena District. Parking is available throughout the area.

Tickets for Dance Under The Stars will be $35 for reserved seats and $18 for lawn seats, and can be purchased by calling the BalletMet Box Office at (614)229-4848, PromoWest Pavilion at (614)461-5483 or Ticket Master at (614)431-3600.