Over 50 dancers gathered on stage at the Todd Performing Arts Center at Chesapeake College on November 12 for a Day of Dance sponsored by the Carole Cascio Fund for Mind Movement Dance Connections.
Melinda Blomquist the Artistic Director of the Community College of Baltimore Dance (CCBC) Program & Dance Company taught a Modern Dance class. Ballet was taught Kristie Shaffner Associate Director of CCBC Dance Company, Hip Hop by Adrienne Kraus Latanishen, a professional choreographer and dancer from Baltimore, and Peter Pucci the Executive Director of the Carole Cascio Fund. Peter taught a partnering/choreography workshop. Pianist and accompanist Lydia Bobes was on hand to play live on stage for both the Modern and Ballet classes.
Dancers came from around the area. Chesapeake College was represented, as well as the Mid Shore Dance Academy in Centerville, To The Pointe Studio in Ridgely, New Motions Dance Center in Cambridge, Ballet Theatre of Maryland in Annapolis, Eastern Shore Dance Academy also in Cambridge, Queen Anne’s County High School and the student Dance Club from Washington College.
It was a fun and action-packed day with classes beginning in the morning and lasting through the afternoon. At mid-day, the dancers, parents and studio directors participated in a lively and informative question-and-answer session with the guest artist instructors, while enjoying a snack break provided by the Carole Cascio Fund.
Ms. Blomquist provided a traditional modern dance class that was free-flowing, that challenged dancers to move off balance and explore new movement that she created spontaneously. Ms. Shaffner taught a classical ballet class at the ballet barre that stressed proper alignment, connectivity and encouraged the dancers to move lyrically and boldly through the space.
Ms. Kraus Latanishen moved passionately and energetically as she led her students through complex hip-hop routine to a wide variety of rhythmic and current hip-hop tunes. So much fun to watch and participate in!
Mr. Pucci, a former principal dancer with the renowned Pilobolus Dance Theater shared his partnering expertise with the dancers as they explored counter balances and weight transfer exercises with partners and in small groups. He also explored with them elements of choreography as the students created their own short dances studies to an impressive variety of instrumental music. Overall, it was a spectacular Day of Dance!
Please click below to enjoy the video of this special event.