Small Planet Dancers
Contact: Josephine Sarnelli, Artistic Director, 14 Mill Street, Westfield, MA 01085, (413) 746-9067
THE CIVIL WAR BALLROOM
West Springfield, MA - On Sunday, September 24th “The Civil War Ballroom” will be performed on the Storrowton Green at The Big E. The 90-minute program will begin at 1:30. Small Planet Dancers, a community-based educational performance troupe from Westfield, will transport visitors back in time to experience the challenges and opportunities facing post-Civil War America. Through dancing, readings and sing-alongs, learn about the rebuilding of our country ... one community at a time.
Josephine Sarnelli, Artistic Director, explains that this program is an interactive play within a dance performance. The audience members are guests at an event to discuss the community’s recovery after the Civil War. With the loss of so many men, women must take on more responsibilities of running their farms. The temperance and suffrage movements, along with the development of Granges are all discussed. Popular during the Victorian era, a variety of waltzes, polkas, and reels are performed to traditional music. The men perform in tails and ladies in reproduction gowns of the early Victorian period with hoops.
The audience will participate in sing-alongs of popular Civil War songs with musician Albert Rosati on guitar. They will also be invited to participate in dancing a final march with the troupe.
This free program, hosted by the New England Grange, is sponsored by a grant from the West Springfield Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
For more information, call (413) 746-9067 or visit www.SmallPlanetDancers.com
