MergeDance World Tour 2007

Merge Dance: Meg, Kate, Melissa, Marie

Okay, so maybe it was just to West Virginia - but that's in the world, right? Besides, it was a wonderfully positive and successful tour to a well-run festival in a charming town. As one of my dancers noted, it was like a paid vacation. The festival is the Goose Route Arts Collaborative, run by a striking woman and fellow choreographer named Kitty in Shepherdstown, WV. She has created a delightful festival in a community that values art, art-making, and dialogue. The town itself is overflowing with historical folklore and small town pride. It sits along the Potomoc River (notice Meghan crossing the Potomoc as opposed to Washington crossing the Delaware), and is just miles from Antietam, the bloodiest battlefield during the civil war. In fact, Shepherdstown served as a hospital to care for the wounded and dying soldiers, many of whom still linger as ghosts and spirits in the town. The house I stayed in, hosted by a wonderful couple (Mark and Judith) was built in 1797 and has been immaculately restored - Kathleen would be impressed. There is the ghost of an unwanted baby in the basement, with quite a story to accompany it. I told my hosts that it was no problem because I wanted a baby so the ghost could be at peace while I was there. It seemed to work because there was no wailing over the weekend. (pictured below: mdw with one of my dancers, Kate, and the festival director, Kitty)

The weekend did include two open dress rehearsals for families, two successful performances, two classes (one with twenty 4-7 year old children and one with thirty adults), and of course, some shopping, ropeswinging, and eating out (yup - that's at Cracker Barrel). My dancers were amazing. I am so proud of them, and so pleased with the opportunities I am finding with my company. "I'm still walking, so I'm sure I can dance..." -James Brown