One of the best things about living in a small college town is the cultural opportunities brought in by way of the campus. University of Mary Washington strives hard to share the campus learning environment to all the residents of Fredericksburg through its support of the fine arts.
Many do not realize the rich dance history this area has nestled between The Washington Ballet and the Richmond Ballet, until things like Saturday night's "For the Love of Dance" to benefit the Sonja Dragomanovic Scholarship in Dance came to Dodd Auditorium. Dragomanovic danced professionally before teaching as a professor at Mary Washingtion College in the late 1960’s. She passed away in 2005.
A celebration of dance itself, presented in part by the Friends of Dance, raised money for the alumni organization’s scholarship fund. The event showcased an ensemble cast of modern and ballet with dancers from the Avery Ballet Company, the Kathy Harty Gray Dance Theatre, and the Performing Arts Club of UMW.
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My personal favorite, entitled Fedora Blues, made great use of hats with a sassy choreography en pointe. The combination of music, dance, and hat-play brought a special cheer and proved that ballet does not need a classical music setting to reach a viewer.
After the intermission the music turned haunting, with an accompanying majestic modern dance. With flats depicting scenes from 9-11 mixed with narrations reflecting on the tragedy and its aftermath, the choreography created a respectful and somber mood befitting the struggle many felt during the tragic events.
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The final piece for the night hearkened to the greatness of this country with the familiar tune of “America” from West Side Story. Another dance en pointe, it showed a lightness and again that ballet can be more modern and fun.
It isn’t always easy to find events that showcase the arts on a regular basis, but it is a welcome change from the typical Saturday night at home watching an action flick with the family. For those with performing arts in their blood without the ability to properly pursue an outlet for that passion, this kind of event breathes a new life into their longing heart.
Dance isn’t just about pointing a foot or leaping across stage. Dance becomes a part of a person and their soul. Upon recognizing this, you can tell why “For the Love of Dance” is such a fitting name for Saturday evening’s performance.
