Showcasing the many styles of dance
Community Dance Festival at HCC highlights professionals and students
Those looking for a quick introduction to what’s happening in the dance world could spend a bundle on a whirlwind excursion to Manhattan.
Or they could drop by Howard Community College on Sunday, where students are performing in the 11th annual Howard County Community Dance Festival.
This showcase is a welcoming place to discover youthful talent who relish the opportunity to show what they have learned to their families and friends. Sunday’s show was preceded by a faculty performance on Saturday.
“This celebration has become an important event in the dance community in Howard County,” said Valerie Lash, dean of Arts and Humanities. “It has become a sharing and learning opportunity for area dancers as they showcase their work and experience the work of others.
“The college is happy to host these talented dancers from throughout the community to this joyous celebration of dance,” said Lash. “HCC dance faculty, headed by Elizabeth Higgins, coordinator and associate professor of dance, and Darion Smith, assistant professor of dance, have worked hard and are proud to bring this wonderful festival to our community.”
Higgins, who has been involved with the festival for the past seven years, has “passed the torch” to Smith, who recently moved from the West Coast to join the HCC dance department.
The HCC Dance Festival is a collaborative event between the Howard County Arts Council, Arts & Humanities Division and the College Dance Program.
“The festival grew out of a desire to reach out to young dancers in Howard County and to expose these students to high-level professionals,” said Higgins during a rehearsal break in the HCC dance studio.
“This year we’ve teamed up with the Maryland Council for Dance and awarded our first scholarships to two young dancers,”
Smith said. “The festival is truly a gift to the community which would not be possible without the generous and continued support from the Howard County Arts Council.”
Choreographers and companies that take part in the festival include Mat Elder, based in New York, Nancy Flores from D.C. and Maryland’s Lucid Beings, Jayamangala and Pacing Bodies. Joan Nicholas-Walker and Jes Powell will represent the college.While the roster of professional dancers may change each year, local dance studios remain constant. Ballet With Cindee Velle and Kinetics are regular participants, along with Central Maryland Youth Ballet, Dance Connections, Project C and several other local studios.
“We have been participating every year since the festival started in 2008,” said Cindee Velle, director of her Columbia dance studio and company. “It is a great opportunity to arrange the dancers into classes with master teachers in a variety of disciplines. And it gives them more experience to perform in their own community.”
Elizabeth Kline, who works part time at the village center, commented on performing with Velle’s troupe and attending the HCC dance workshops. “It was wonderful, and you get to take master classes with different teachers … the whole experience was great.”
When asked about returning to the weekend festival, Emily Rose Brock, a sophomore at Wilde Lake High School, said she looks forward to Broadway dance. The festival is a first for Kafui Attipoe, a Bonnie Branch Middle School student who follows in her older sister’s footsteps.
“I like learning new choreography, and showing off our costumes is cool,” said 12-year-old Kaitlin Otten, a student at Resurrection St. Paul School in Howard County.
Velle’s dancers will compete this spring in national events, so this weekend’s showcase is a bonus. Timing also helps as some of her senior dancers will soon be heading for college, an opportunity to look at HCC and to meet dancers from professional companies and college program directors.
“The coolest thing about the festival is that it brings kids together to see what’s out there, and it’s nice to meet other teachers,” said Cindee’s daughter Amy Moran, a choreographer for the festival.
“HCC takes good care of my dancers…and my family,” Velle said. “The hospitality of the festival committee is great and the teachers are excellent. It’s a win, win weekend for all.”
The HCC Community Dance Festival Student Showcase will take place at Howard Community College’s Smith Theatre, 10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy., at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb.
10. Go to howardcc.eduboxoffice or call 443-518-1500.
Or they could drop by Howard Community College on Sunday, where students are performing in the 11th annual Howard County Community Dance Festival.
This showcase is a welcoming place to discover youthful talent who relish the opportunity to show what they have learned to their families and friends. Sunday’s show was preceded by a faculty performance on Saturday.
“This celebration has become an important event in the dance community in Howard County,” said Valerie Lash, dean of Arts and Humanities. “It has become a sharing and learning opportunity for area dancers as they showcase their work and experience the work of others.
“The college is happy to host these talented dancers from throughout the community to this joyous celebration of dance,” said Lash. “HCC dance faculty, headed by Elizabeth Higgins, coordinator and associate professor of dance, and Darion Smith, assistant professor of dance, have worked hard and are proud to bring this wonderful festival to our community.”
Higgins, who has been involved with the festival for the past seven years, has “passed the torch” to Smith, who recently moved from the West Coast to join the HCC dance department.
The HCC Dance Festival is a collaborative event between the Howard County Arts Council, Arts & Humanities Division and the College Dance Program.
“The festival grew out of a desire to reach out to young dancers in Howard County and to expose these students to high-level professionals,” said Higgins during a rehearsal break in the HCC dance studio.
“This year we’ve teamed up with the Maryland Council for Dance and awarded our first scholarships to two young dancers,”
Smith said. “The festival is truly a gift to the community which would not be possible without the generous and continued support from the Howard County Arts Council.”
Choreographers and companies that take part in the festival include Mat Elder, based in New York, Nancy Flores from D.C. and Maryland’s Lucid Beings, Jayamangala and Pacing Bodies. Joan Nicholas-Walker and Jes Powell will represent the college.While the roster of professional dancers may change each year, local dance studios remain constant. Ballet With Cindee Velle and Kinetics are regular participants, along with Central Maryland Youth Ballet, Dance Connections, Project C and several other local studios.
“We have been participating every year since the festival started in 2008,” said Cindee Velle, director of her Columbia dance studio and company. “It is a great opportunity to arrange the dancers into classes with master teachers in a variety of disciplines. And it gives them more experience to perform in their own community.”
Elizabeth Kline, who works part time at the village center, commented on performing with Velle’s troupe and attending the HCC dance workshops. “It was wonderful, and you get to take master classes with different teachers … the whole experience was great.”
When asked about returning to the weekend festival, Emily Rose Brock, a sophomore at Wilde Lake High School, said she looks forward to Broadway dance. The festival is a first for Kafui Attipoe, a Bonnie Branch Middle School student who follows in her older sister’s footsteps.
“I like learning new choreography, and showing off our costumes is cool,” said 12-year-old Kaitlin Otten, a student at Resurrection St. Paul School in Howard County.
Velle’s dancers will compete this spring in national events, so this weekend’s showcase is a bonus. Timing also helps as some of her senior dancers will soon be heading for college, an opportunity to look at HCC and to meet dancers from professional companies and college program directors.
“The coolest thing about the festival is that it brings kids together to see what’s out there, and it’s nice to meet other teachers,” said Cindee’s daughter Amy Moran, a choreographer for the festival.
“HCC takes good care of my dancers…and my family,” Velle said. “The hospitality of the festival committee is great and the teachers are excellent. It’s a win, win weekend for all.”
The HCC Community Dance Festival Student Showcase will take place at Howard Community College’s Smith Theatre, 10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy., at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb.
10. Go to howardcc.eduboxoffice or call 443-518-1500.
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