Veselica Spring Concert Program

    Program for Zoom Performance
    7:30 PM

    LAOS
    The Dance of Cheerful Lao Youths

    Music: ສາວລາວມ່ວນຊື່ນ [Lao Girls Having Fun]
    Choreographer: Ayee Mounivong
    Dancers: Aaron Hautekeete, Raveena-Flor Lalwani, Elizabeth Leeser, Emma Matzke, Ayee Mounivong, Mita Pelecis, Sugey Romero-Sagrero, Blake Wieseler

    INDONESIA
    Ratna Sari

    Choreography: Tri Sutrisno; staging by Anne von Bibra
    Music: Joko Sutrisno, composer and director; performed by the Indonesian Performing Arts Association Gamelan orchestra
    Costumes: Tri Sutrisno
    Dancers:  Francesca Bester, Atia Cole, Ellie Fischenich, Abby Lund, Eliza Melkonyan, Alexandra Smith

     ARMENIA
    Yegheg

    Choreography: Eliza Melkonyan
    Music: Composed by Khachatur Avetisyan; performed by Tatul Altunyan Song and Dance Ensemble
    Dancers: Veselica 

    EGYPT
    Tahtib

    Choreography: Meredith Holt
    Music: EDT Folk Orchestra
    Dancers: Aaron Hautekeete and Blake Wieseler

     El Hagala

    Choreography: Amira Fahmy
    Music composer: Ali Ismael, composer
    Dancers: Ellie Fischenich, Raveena-Flor Lalwani, Abby Lund, Emma Matzke, Eliza Melkonyan, Mita Pelecis

    PAKISTANI
    A Fishermen’s Dance from the Sind Region

    Choreography: Meredith Holt, based on material learned from Fouzia Saeed
    Music: “Mahji Ray” performed by the Ethnic Dance Theatre Orchestra
    Dancers: Francesca Bester, Atia Cole, Aaron Hautekeete, Alexandra Smith, Blake Wieseler, Sugey Romero-Sagrero

    ENGLAND
    Withington Jig

    Music: traditional; performed by Bester
    Dancer: Francesca Bester

    MEXICO
    Two Dances from the Sinaloa Region

    Choreography: Ana Baez and Kate Stuart
    Music: Performed by Banda Sinalense MM, “Vuela Paloma” and “El Pato Asado”
    Dancers: Atia Cole and Alexandra Smith
    Costumes: Kate Stuart and Ana Baez

    BULGARIA
    Varnenski Igri

    Choreography: Anne von Bibra and Mita Pelecis
    Music: Trakisyska Troika, Bugarian Folk Dances, Vol. 1; Varnenski igri
    Dancer: Mita Pelecis 

    UZBEKISTAN
    An Uzbek Classical Dance

    Choreography: Alexei Smolov and Natasha Basayera, adapted for Veselica by Andrea Conger
    Music: Traditional; played by the Kuban Cossack Song and Dance Ensemble
    Dancer: Eliza Melkonyan

    KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN
    Scarf Dance

    Choreography: Meredith Holt, based on material learned from Fouzia Saeed
    Music: “Lobda” performed by the Ethnic Dance Theatre Orchestra
    Dancers: Elizabeth Leeser, Abby Lund, Mita Pelecis,  Raveena-Flor Lalwani

    UKRAINE
    A Work in Progress

    Choreography: Tetyana Samiliv
    Music: “Hutsul-Bukovina”
    Dancers:  Atia Cole, Ellie Fischenich, Aaron Hautekeete, Elizabeth Leeser, Abby Lund, Emma Matzke, Sugey Romero Sagrero, Blake Wieseler

    GEORGIA
    Zekari

    Choreography: Tanya Samiliv, based on original work by Iliko Sukhishvili, Jr.
    Music: Chabuka Amiranashvili
    Dancers: Francesca Bester, Atia Cole, Emma Matzke, Eliza Melkonyan, Mita Pelecis, Alexandra Smith, Blake Wieseler

    INDIAN DIASPORA
    Bhangra

    Choreography: Rashi Mangalik
    Music: “Shaunk” by The Firm, featuring Saini Surinder
    Dancers: Veselica

    To Our Audience…

    Veselica [Veh-SELL-eetsa] means celebration.  Our goal is to celebrate the rich dance traditions of the world. Thank you for joining us today!

    VESELICA INTERNATIONAL DANCE ENSEMBLE
    • Francesca Bester
    • Atia Cole
    • Ellie Fischenich
    • Aaron Hautekeete
    • Raveena-Flor Lalwani
    • Elizabeth Leeser
    • Abby Lund
    • Emma Matzke
    • Eliza Melkonyan
    • Ayee Mounivong
    • Mita  Pelecis
    • Sugey Romero-Sagrero
    • Alexandra Smith
    • Blake Wieseler
    ARTISTIC TEAM
    • Artistic Director: Anne von Bibra
    • Technical Director: Stephen Schroeder
    • Video Editing: Stephen Schroeder
    • Costume Design: Anne von Bibra
    • Costumes: Jillian Kristufek, Otessa Olsen, Marita Pelecis, Jake Hopewell, Anne von Bibra
    • Poster Design: Patty Cohn
    • Media: Claire Strother
    • Program: Patty Cohn
     TECHNICAL CREW
    • Stage Manager: Liv Swenson
    • Assistant Stage Managers: Adele Hensley, Matthew Erickson
    • Sound Board Operator: Saji Nammari
    • Light Board Operator: Matthew Erickson
    • Wardrobe, Run Crew, Camera Operators: Grace Klinefelter, Ava Miller
    • Videographer: Ella Panchot
    • Ushers: Mattea Citarella, Audrey Messinger, Talia Williams
    • Dance Technicians: Matthew Erickson, Adele Hensley, Grace Klinefelter, Ava Miller, Saji Nammari, Abby Newcomb, Natasia Preys, Liv Swenson
    SPECIAL THANKS TO:
    • The student choreographers who contributed so much to this program: Amira Fahmy, Eliza Melkonyan and Ayee Mounivong
    • Ethnic Dance Theatre, Sumunar Gamelan and Dance Ensemble and Northfield’s Baile Folkloricó group for loaning us some of the costumes
    • The Dance Department, Tech and Costume Crews
    • Ethnic Dance Theatre, Andrea Conger, Meredith Holt, Don LaCourse, Kate Stuart and Vince Wharton
    A special thanks also to our families for their love and support.