On April 13, 2024 Carole Cascio Fund (CCF) sponsored a Day of Dance performances at the Eastern Shore Arts Festival on stage at the Todd Performing Arts Center at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills. CCF also sponsored a free modern dance class for the performers taught by CCF Teaching Artist Adrienne Klaus Latanishen.
The Guest Artist included dancers from the CCBC Dance Company directed by Melinda Blomquist representing the Community College of Baltimore County.
The company presented one revival and three new commissioned dances. Leslie Tinios a former Artistic Director of the CCBC Dance Company presented
A Slip of the Tongue (1990), it was restaged by Melinda Blomquist. Also presented was a new solo, Torvedansen by Alice Howes, catching over light by Tommy Parlon and SPIRIT SONG: WELCOMING FALL by Alvin Mayes.
The CCBC dancers were enthusiastically spirited and presented delightful performances. They were sharing the dances for the first time in front of a live audience as a preview to their upcoming 50th Anniversary Dance Concert in early May. The Anniversary Concert Celebration is honoring 50 years of the Dance Company founded by Carole Drake Cascio in 1974.
After the CCBC dance performances, there was a lively and engaging Q&A session between the dancers, Melinda Blomquist and audience members. It very informative to hear each individual dancer speak about their dance history and the beginnings of their dance careers.
The Local Dance Studio Showcase began immediately following the Q&A session. The Dance Studios that participated were the Mid Shore Dance Academy based in Centreville directed by Shari Smigo. The Mid Dance Company presented Willow by Choreographed Camilla McCann. Step 1 Dance 2 Academy‘s Parallel Performance Company directed by Jessica Gallew from Chester presented HANDS TIED Choreographed by Cameryn Kelly. To The Point Dance Studio, directed by Brianna Garland from Ridgely presented Eleanor Rigby Choreographed by Rorie Garland. The studio dancers performed beautifully with a lot of passion and hard work. It was a great opportunity for the studios to share their work and give the dancers an opportunity to perform locally.
CCF’s 2nd Day of Dance at the Eastern Arts Festivals was well attended and highly successful.
Featured Story in The Star Democrat
The Day of Dance performance at the Eastern Shore Arts Festival was featured in the Star Democrat. Click below to read the full story on their website.
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