CCF is thrilled to share the success of the Free Dance Performance sponsored by the Carole Cascio Fund (CCF) at the YMCA in Centreville on Friday, March 14, 2025. This event featured the renowned Ballet Theater of Maryland (BTM) from Annapolis.
This is the second collaboration between CCF and the YMCA to bring professional dance to our local community. I had the pleasure of working closely with BTM’s Artistic Director Nicole Kelsch to curate excerpts from their extraordinary repertoire. Nicole and her company of 33 dancers adapted beautifully to the informal performance space in the YMCA gym.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the dedicated staff and volunteers from Queen Anne County High School, who were instrumental in setting up the dance floor, chairs, and stage area. The CCF team, including Trustee Ann Goodman, Teaching Artists Adrienne Kraus Latanishen and Amy Young-Kleinendorst, and our new Associate Teaching Artist Gabby Pfeiffer, were also on-site to assist.
BTM presented a wonderful program of six diverse dances, including Into the Light Choreography by Ashley Taylor, Sombras del Amanecer Choreographed by Isaac Martinez, a traditional Pas de Deux from Act II of Swan Lake, The Yachts Choreography by Karen Fleming, the White Cat and Puss-in-Boots duet from Sleeping Beauty Choreography by Marius Petipa, and Concerto Lilla Choreography by Emily Carey. The program also featured an excerpt from Company B by the world-renowned choreographer Paul Taylor. Our Teaching Artist Amy, a former dancer with the Paul Taylor Dance Company in New York City, obtained permission to re-create a solo from Company B for Associate Teaching Artist Gabby Pfeiffer. It was a truly amazing opportunity for Gabby to perform as a guest artist with BTM.
Over 300 people of all ages attended the performance at the YMCA and thoroughly enjoyed the show. Many audience members expressed their appreciation to CCF and the YMCA for sponsoring this local artistic event. Children, delighted by the performance, sat on yoga mats in front of the stage and eagerly participated in the informal post-show meet and greet with the dancers. The dancers were wonderful, taking time to pose for photos with the children and answer questions from audience members.
It was an incredibly successful evening! Many thanks to YMCA Executive Director Brian Byrnes, Membership Director Laura Feller, and their energetic and incredibly helpful staff for ensuring the event ran so smoothly.
As Carolyn Kelemen of MD Theater Guide aptly put it, it was “a visually stunning and emotionally charged experience; the dancers’ precision and synchronicity were awe-inspiring, highlighting the immense skill and dedication of the entire BTM company.”
