The 3rd Annual Carole Cascio Fund Benefit at Mark Cascia Vineyards features Ballet Hispánico’s Pa’Lante Dancers from New York City

On Sunday, October 6th the Mark Cascia Vineyards in Stevensville hosted the 3rd Annual Carole Cascio Fund Benefit. This year’s benefit featured the professional dance company Ballet Hispánico’s Pa’Lante Dancers from New York City. There was a lot of community support to help set up the stage for the company, including Amber Wright the Dance Teacher at KIHS who loaded CCF their dance floor and Michael Bell help arrange the transportation of the floor to the Vineyard. Shari Smigo, Director of Mid Shore Dance Academy set up portable ballet barres and black drapery backdrop that she loaded to CCF. Adrienne Kraus Latanishen, our CCF Teaching Artist set up the sound equipment and also helped with the stage set up.

The company got the day started with a free ballet masterclass led by Nicole Duffy, the company’s rehearsal director and former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet. Joining the professional dancers for class were 12 local dancers including QACHS dancers Catrina Gromley (Maryland Allstate Dance) and Savanah Vega as well as 6 dancers from Washington College.

After class, the company used an open rehearsal to prepare for their performance. The rehearsal was led by Rodney Hamilton, the Assistant Artistic Director who danced in a work created for Ballet Hispancio (BH) by Executive Director, Peter Pucci. Four of the Washington College dancers as well as Catrina, Savanah, and Gabby Pfeifer, CCF Intern and former Maryland Allstate Dancer from KIHS volunteered to help set up for the performance as they watched the rehearsal.

Peter and Michael Bell started the festivities speaking about their collaboration in Queen Anne’s County Public Schools and introducing Rodney and Nicole before the show started. Ballet Hispánico performed a free hour long show for an audience of more than 150 people. The program was an eclectic mix of large group numbers to duets and solos showcasing the incredible dancers in fun, thought provoking and energetic dances. The audience thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and enthusiastically embraced the company’s performance. Post show, Nicole and Rodney offered a casual Salsa lesson for many audience members and their children who joined them on the dance floor. It was fun and lively social dance session enjoyed by all! The BH dancers who came from Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, Utah, LA, NYC, Brooklyn, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore enjoyed a much-deserved dip into the waters of the Cox Creek to cool down after an exhausting yet exciting day!

A very special thanks to all the CCF board members Michael Bell, Supervisor of Instruction for Queen Anne’s County Public Schools, Melinda Blomquist, Dance Coordinator & Artistic Director Community College of Baltimore County Dance Company, Diana Curran CCF Advisory Committee Member, Ann Goodman CCF Trustee and Attorney, Adrienne Kraus Latanishen CCF Teaching Artist – Benefit Coordinator, Peter Pucci Executive Director CCF, Anna Rider CCF Advisory Committee Member, Shari Smigo, Director, Mid Shore Dance Academy, Leslie Tinios CCF Advisory Committee Member, Kristen Tyler Dance Teacher and Fine Arts Department Coordinator, Queen Anne’s County High School, Maureen Wheatley Clay Center Manager, Kent Island Federation of the Arts and Amber Wright Dance Teacher and Performing Arts Department Chair, Kent Island High School

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