AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services
Anticipation always runs high as dance recital weekend approaches but this year there was reason for “celebration” as 2024 marked the beginning of the Dance Center at the Severna Park Community Center’s second decade.
Themed “Celebration”, this year’s recital contained music from some of the organization’s favorite pieces from its first 10 years according to Dance Center director Kellie Greer.
“With ten years behind us, my favorite thing has been to see the children of our former dancers join us in the studio now,” Greer said.
Held once more in the theater at Annapolis High School, there were several recital performances scheduled from June 7 through 10. We chose to attend the June 8th Senior 2 Recital at 6 pm along with a good-sized audience of enthusiastic parents and grandparents…many carrying bouquets.
In keeping with its theme, the recital’s opening number fairly glittered in the lights while performed by DCSP’s Start Elite Dancers to the music “Celebration” by DJ Bobo (aka Peter Renee Baumann) – an exhilarating start to a program featuring 22 separate dance sequences with choreography by some of DCSP’s talented staff of teachers.
According to Greer, the students performing in the recital ranged in age from 8 years old to seniors in high school. The choreography they performed reflected their training in the Cecchetti classical ballet technique and Broadway-style classic tap and jazz.
The most senior of the dancers, from the Advanced Combo 4 Class, appeared several times throughout the recital demonstrating their amazing range of skills. In their most beautiful example, they appeared on-pointe in the ballet “Raymonda” to the music of Alexander Glazunov’s “Opus 57”.
Their expertise was displayed in a range of other numbers including some jazzy choreography to Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You,” and bluesy “Still Going”, and some fancy footwork in “Room Where It Happened” from the Broadway musical “Hamilton”. There was even a routine based on Hip Hop Favorites that began with the dancers seated on chairs but quickly transformed to a rhythmic romp with a dramatic ending.
The younger students, including those from a newly created Experienced Combo 3 class of six and seven-year-olds, offered proof that they were mastering the art of the dance through a number of well-performed routines.
Luke Capitan (one of four DCSP male students) and sister Rose lent their newly acquired skills to a “Once Upon A December” routine from the movie “Anastasia” and later lent their taps to the “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” number from the movie “Toy Story”.
A glimpse of the Roaring Twenties most popular dance was offered through the dancer’s version of “Charleston” by James P. Johnson while the adorable piece of choreography based on the 1952 movie “Singin’ in the Rain” is the one seen in the opening photograph.
There were too many excellent routines to mention, but Kitri Act 3 from the ballet “Don Quixote” was another piece of choreography that captured the audience’s attention.
We mustn’t forget to mention a special solo performance by Brooke Bowerman, dancing to Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight”. Brooke, a Severna Park High School graduate, a DCSP dancer for 10 years, and a studio assistant for the past few years, is leaving the community to attend Coastal Carolina University this fall majoring in business.
The show’s finale brought together the entire cast of dancers and was followed by remarks from director Kellie Greer recognizing her staff of a dozen talented teachers and choreographers, six studio assistants and studio accompanist Susam Wincek and thanking the DCSP students for their hard work and commitment.
“I know the next ten years will be even more fabulous than the first ten,” was Greer’s final sentiment.
For information about The Dance Center at Severna Park Community Center, visit Dance – Severna Park Community Center (spcommunitycenter.org).
Community rallies for Katherine’s Light Foundation Music Festival & Charity Event at Severna Park Taphouse
While courageously battling rare Neuroendocrine Cancer over a period of three years, Katherine Mueller nevertheless encouraged her friends and family to help her raise money for Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET) research. Though passing away in 2021 at the age of 31, she and her group of supporters raised $128,000 through The Katherine Mueller Fund for NET Research and awarded a grant to Dr. Peter Clark at UCLA to study the disease.
Eager to carry on Katherine’s legacy by shining a light on her positive spirit, generous nature and determination, her parents Larry and Robin Sells and family started the Katherine’s Light Foundation Music Festival & Charity Event to raise funds not only for the NET Research Fund but for three other closely related organizations.
More about all four organizations after a look at the music festival – an all-day affair held Saturday at the Severna Park Taphouse that featured a dozen well-known bands. The event was attended by music lovers and Katherine’s Light Foundation supporters from throughout the greater Severna Park area.
Entering the festival past a line of attendees buying raffle tickets for a Big Green Egg barbecue grill donated by Park Hardware, we veered right toward the outdoor performance area when we spotted Ellen Kleinknecht waving to us. Ellen, outgoing Severna Park Community Center board chairman, and husband Scott support many local charities and organizations.
“I’ve known Larry Sells for a long time since both of us have been associated with the community center,” she said. “Larry does such a great job and he can fundraise like nobody’s business. This is such a worthy event. It’s very sad to lose a child but Robin and Larry found a way to continue and expand the wonderful things their daughter Katherine was doing and are making such a difference.”
Having been involved with SPCC for eight years, Ellen is stepping down as board chair this week. However, she’s already searching for new avenues to serve the community and is considering participating in a YWCA initiative to help victims of human trafficking.
Moving on, we observed that there was a sizeable and ever-growing audience spread throughout the shady Severna Park Taphouse gardens. Naturally, we turned our attention to the stage where guitarist Lee Priddy’s popular Honey Sol Band was performing. Truly a family affair, with son Andrew Priddy on drums and daughter Mackenzie Priddy on bass, Honey Sol is a local and regional favorite throughout the Baltimore, Annapolis and Washington, D.C. area.
The bands, ranging from Jay Spiegel, TMI and Sarah, Dave & The Dukes to Red Betty & The Ruckus, were well-staged in approximately 45-minute sets throughout the day leading toward evening when festival headliners, The Crayfish, would appear. From the outdoor bar to the porches and shady nooks surrounding the stage, fans could be seen enjoying the rock and blues-based sounds of Honey Sol and the groups that followed them.
Eager to find out more about the four organizations that would benefit from The Katherine’s Light Foundation fundraiser, we spoke with Robin Sells and Mary Jermann, the executive director of one of those beneficiaries, the Wellness House of Annapolis.
Jermann actually knew Katherine Mueller through the Wellness House as a beautiful, sweet and kind young woman. She admired Katherine’s dedication to raising funds for NET cancer research while increasing awareness of the often-misdiagnosed disease.
She said the Wellness House of Annapolis – which provides a comforting place outside of the medical community where cancer patients and their families can go to relax, talk, and find comfort and has 35 helpful programs – was honored to be chosen by the board of KLF as one of the fundraiser’s recipients.
Robin, Katherine’s mother and co-founder of the Katherine’s Light Foundation, noted that her daughter’s fundraising work through The Katherine Mueller Fund for NET Research was the inspiration to carry on her mission and share her light. She went on to describe the organizations that will benefit from the fundraiser.
In addition to The Wellness House, they include Anne Arundel Community College where KLF will fund a Katherine Mueller Nursing Scholarship, the aforementioned Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation through the Katherine Mueller Research Fund, and a Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation fund to help cancer patients who can’t afford transportation, food or medications to help with their treatment.
We soon walked about, speaking with festival attendees at their tables. Some of the many event sponsors had entire tables full of guests. Having an absolutely wonderful time were, left to right, Eric Stverotd, Holly and Frank Mollick and their daughter Abby, sponsor Alan Gable who is owner of A.M. Gable Heating & Cooling, Michael Harris and Rich and Joy Patel.
Walking on, we ran into Savvy Consignment owner Stacey Cassidy and husband Mike who were sharing a table with Dawn and David Orso of David Orso Realty.
They seemed to know many of the other people attending the event and were clearly enjoying themselves. Both couples have sponsored and supported many charitable causes and considered the music festival fundraiser one of the best.
We finally ran into Katherine’s Light Foundation co-founder and festival producer Larry Sells talking with his pal, guitarist George Evans, who would shortly be performing. One couldn’t fail to admire Evans’ pink and blue hat.
Sells was pleased that Saturday was such a beautiful day for the music festival and absolutely thrilled that the event attracted 60 sponsors – all of whom were listed on a pink sign that was more or less the color of Evans’ hat.
He reiterated some of the information Robin provided about the organizations that would benefit from the fundraiser.
“We raise the money and give it all away,” Sells said.
To learn more about the foundation or make a donation, visit Katherine’s Light Foundation (katherineslight.org).
TGIF Cookout at the Chamber, June 28th at Noon
A reminder from Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce CEO Liz League that the organization’s TGIF summer cookout at the Chamber is being held Friday, June 28 at noon. This month’s sponsor is SCORE.
She noted that, since 1964, SCORE has provided business resources and mentorship to more than 17 million entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners nationwide.
“We’ll also take a moment to remember Dave Butner, long-time SCORE volunteer and friend of the Chamber who helped many people start their businesses over the years,” League said.
The cookout features burgers, hot dogs, vegetarian options, sides, fresh popcorn and more and is free to Chamber Members and first-time guests.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
