Dancers from 18 studios and companies are warming up for a diverse display of dance: the 17th Annual Delaware Dance Festival. The festival steps to the stage at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 13, in the Rollins Center of Dover Downs Hotel & Casino.
Four-time director Kelly Millar said the event is again bigger than the year before. It’s not just big, it’s diverse. Whereas the Ballet Theatre of Dover will perform a classical ballet piece, écarté dance theatre of Dover will focus on modern dance and Delaware Dance Company from Newark will perform a jazz piece. The Anna Marie Dance Studio of Wilmington will excite audiences with a swing number, the CACC Chinese Folk Dance Troupe from Hockessin will again entertain with its cultural offering, and the Vineland Regional Dance Company of New Jersey will bring more international flair with a Spanish-style pointe piece. Audiences will see prima ballerinas in training, as well as professional dancers from First State Ballet Theatre in Wilmington and SHARP Dance Company from Philadelphia.
“You might not like classical ballet, but don’t worry, we’ve got modern and jazz and other things coming up, too,” Millar said.
Solos are approximately 3 minutes, a quartet or more is approximately 5, and larger groups of dancers are approximately 8 minutes, so there won’t be time to get restless.
“If every group came and did a 15-minute piece, we’d be there until midnight,” Millar said.
The festival is a fundraiser for dance scholarships as well as a chance for the public to see talent being cultivated in their own city.
“I think in Dover you’ve got tons and tons of studios. This is a great opportunity for the community ... to come in and take a look at all of these studios at once,” Millar said.
Dancers benefit as well. As usual, a master class is offered, this year by Pennsylvania Ballet 2 Artistic Director William DeGregory. The class is a chance for dancers to receive scholarships, of which nine were handed out last year.
There also is a pre-show cocktail party.
