The Arts at Millersville in partnership with the Lancaster Dance Initiative will present "Celebrate Ballet and World Dance" on Sunday, April 7, at 3 p.m. in Steinman Hall at the Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster. The performance, in its eighth year, will highlight the talent and diversity of Lancaster County and will feature selections from classical ballet and from Eastern European, Indian, Middle Eastern, Filipino, and West African dance.
Coordinated by Valerie Henry and committee members Marylin Beittel, Lynn Brooks, and Cynthia Burkhart, this community dance event aims to foster goodwill among diverse dancers, groups, and schools.
Henry, who has performed and choreographed around the world, started dancing and teaching in the area in 2005. Looking for a way to connect with the larger dance community, she started "Celebrate Ballet and World Dance" at the behest of Harvey Owens.
This year's concert is dedicated to the memory of Pat Kautter, who passed away in August 2018. Kautter founded Hempfield's Dance Theatre program, directing and choreographing for it for 25 years and sending her dancers on in the arts world. In addition, she served in several executive positions for the Hempfield Education Association and helped to write national dance education standards.
Groups performing in this year's "Celebrate Ballet and World Dance" program are two groups from Encore Dance Studio, led by Melanie Burkhart and Dana Shelley; Khalesse Middle Eastern Dance, led by Cindy Burkhart; soloist Mia Vera, a Filipino dancer from Full Circle Dance Studio; students from Premiere Danse Academy, led by Amy Meehan; N'Bonye Dance and Drum ensemble, led by Janet Peck; Lancaster World Dance, led by Zita Angelo; Mahisha and Manushi Tanna, performing a fusion of Bharatanatyam and Bollywood; and Movement Laboratory's Youth Ensemble from Lebanon.
To purchase tickets, readers may visit http://www.artsmu.com, call 717-871-7600, or visit the box offices at the Ware Center and the Student Memorial Center, Room 103, on the Millersville University campus.
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