Milford comes to the dance
Milford. DanceFest Milford brought bravura with a bang to the Delaware Valley High School stage, where audience members got to mingle with the dancers and choreographer.
| 20 Nov 2019 | 06:41
The Bang Group with choreographer Johanna LjungQvist-Brinson pictured fourth from right (
)
Steven Teague, master of ceremonies (
)
Yellena Korn (left) with her daughter, dancer Nicole Porco (
)
David Parker, Chelsea Ainsworth, and Jeffery Kazin of The Bang Group (
)
Haven Charles, dancer with The Bang Group (
)
Dancer Richard Echevarria (
)
People enjoy wine and cheese on stage after the show (
)
The audience broke into applause, with one woman shouting, "Bravo!"
Dancers Chelsea Ainsworth and Jeffery Kazin of the The Bang Group had just finished "Two Timing," choreographed by David Parker and set to "Clapping Music" by Steven Reich. Ainsworth and Kazin's moves kept up a distinct, clapping beat.
It was just one of many magical moments on Saturday night, when DanceFest Milford brought its fall performance to the Delaware Valley High School Auditorium. Johanna LjungQvist-Brinson, the artistic director and choreographer of the New York City-based HannaQ Dance Company, brought this latest production to her hometown of Milford. She believes strongly in teaching the community about the transcendent joys of dance.
Mexican folk music made Alonso Ojeda, gorgeously dressed, wore boots to dance high-energy rhythms from Jalisco, "Dance from Veracruz" and "Charro Dance."
Steven Teague, the engaging master of ceremonies, introduced each group of dancers to perform that night. His bow tie recalled for some audience members classic variety shows, back when Ed Sullivan emceed on live television in the 1950s. Teague kept the show moving on a thrumming pace.
Groups of costumed dancers invited the audience onto the stage after the performance for some delicious deli, from the International Deli of Port Jervis, washed down with sparkling cider. The audience schmoozed with the dancers and with LjungQvist-Brinson as pictures snapped.
The concert's sponsors included The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Hotel Fauchere, the Greater Pike Community Foundation, Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, Libzenberger Family Foundation, Pat and Richard Cantor, Mary Cooney and Steve Buma, Kathleen A. Lyon, MD, Chant Realtors, Walmart, Eye-Spy Media, Key Foods, International Deli, Jen Murphy Fitness, Brenda Ruello, Richard Blommer and Steven Teague-Blommer, David T. Lender, Econo-Pac, and Nancy and Geoff Pitcher.
Editor's note: This article has been updated from to state that it was sparkling cider that was served, not wine.
Performances:
The Bang Group performed "Tender Traps," choreography by David Parker, danced by Louise Benkelman and Tommy Seibold
The Daniel Rose Project performed "Plastic Romance," created by Sarah Rose and Ross Daniel
The Hanna Q Dance Company performed "See Me, Like Me, Love Me," choreography by Johanna LjungQvist-Brinson (Hanna Q), music by Greg Haines, with dancers Amanda Sommers, Jose Miguel Rebolme, Kamber Hart, Richard Echevarria, Sophia Bisci, and Hyven Charles
The Tina Croll Dance Company performed an excerpt from "Balkan Bachanale," choreography by Tina Croll, with traditional music from Bulgaria, and danced by Campbell and Heather Panikkar
Alonso Ojeda performed Mexican folk dances from Jalisco, "Dance from Veracruz" and "Charro Dance"
The Bang Group performed "Two Timing," choreography by David Parker, music by Steven Reich's "Clapping Music," costumes by Phi-Chi Su, danced by Chelsea Ainsworth and Jeffrey Kazin
Hanna Q Dance Company performed "From Your Lips," choreography by Johanna LjungQvist-Brinson, composer Stephanie LeGouvello, backdrop pastel Painting by Alan Kaplan, danced by Amanda Sommers, Kamber Hart, and Sophia Bisci
The Hanna Q Dance Company also performed "Untitled Still," choreography by Johanna LjungQvist-Brinson, music by Dustin O'Halloran & Hauschka and John Lunn, danced by Hyven Charles, Richard Echevarris, and Jose Miguel Rebolme
The Bang Group performed "Enough," choreography by David Parker, music by Sergei Rachmaninoff, costumes by Nuages Gris and Jeroen Teunissen, danced by Louise Benkelman, Jeffrey Kazin, Tommy Seibold, and Amber Sloan