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ESP Performing Company

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Megan Doolittle

Elower-Sicilia Productions (ESP) ESP dancers are back for a new dance year and are excited to dance for their community! The dancers loved dancing at the Community Show, as well as the Thurmont Art & Wine Stroll! They will also perform at Colorfest in the Thurmont town park on both Saturday and Sunday at noon. While ESP is celebrating its 50th anniversary, the ESP Performing Company has been working hard at brand new choreography for a new year. ESP is so lucky to have such a great group of dancers, who love to express their love for dance through their performances. ESP Performing Company has a couple of events coming up in the near future that we would like to invite you to attend!  

ESP would like to invite all to come and participate in the 9th Annual ESP 5k “Superheroes On The Run Fighting through Breast Cancer” on October 26, 2019. We are again proud to use this event to honor our dear ESP friend who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2010. Pamela Gray Hobbs was a dancer, teacher, and parent affiliated with ESP for over 20 years. She remains in our hearts. In memory of Pam, a portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to help support Maggie Kudirka, aka “The Bald Ballerina.”  Maggie is a Maryland native who was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at the age of 23, while she was dancing with the Joffrey Ballet Company in New York.  Maggie has been a strong advocate for breast cancer awareness.  The money raised will help with the cost of Maggie’s increasingly large medical bills, as she has already received 85 maintenance treatments. 

We always like to have a little fun with this event! So besides running a beautiful course lined with dancers cheering you on, this year we will be holding a contest for the most creative, most powerful and the cutest costumes! Runners and volunteers will be entered into this contest and the winners will receive a prize. Please register at ESP Dance Studio @ 15 Water St. Thurmont or you can register on Active: https://bit.ly/2m1ZaYt.

For more information, contact the studio at 301-271-7458. Be sure to check them out on Facebook.

The ESP Performing Company would like to extend a special “thank you” to the Thurmont community, The Catoctin Banner, and to The Frederick Arts Council for all of their continued support.

ESP taking its fight to new heights.

Art In Motion! ESP Lights Up The Mount Stage

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Experience Art In Motion! ESP Performing Company’s annual showcase fundraiser is a fun and entertaining evening out for the entire community. The annual ESP Showcase Fundraiser will take place on Saturday, February 23, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. in The Marion Burk Knott Auditorium at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg. Advance tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students. There will be basket raffles, 50/50s, concessions, and flowers available for purchase. This year (included with Main Show ticket purchase) there will be a Bonus Solo/Duo/Trio Show at 5:30 p.m., with the main show starting at 7:00 p.m.

This year’s showcase will again feature Maggie Kudirka “The Bald Ballerina.” Maggie is an amazing dancer and an outstanding young lady who was diagnosed in 2014 with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer while dancing with The Joffrey Ballet Concert Group. Maggie has been dancing since she was four years old. Maggie shares her journey and speaks to groups around the country to help bring awareness about metastatic breast cancer. Maggie also teaches master ballet classes and continues to dance while fighting this terminal disease. You can follow Maggie on her Bald Ballerina Facebook page.

The choreography and dances presented by ESP in the showcase have already won numerous awards this season. The dancers are excited to present these performances to the community, as well as continuing to travel the East Coast this competition season. ESP dancers love traveling and competing on the road, but their favorite place to entertain is at home.

“Local performances have always been my favorite events. Making the community smile though the passion we have for dance is heart-warming. I look forward to ending my very last local performance with a bang, with the best team I could ever imagine,” said Lucy Estep, senior dancer.

Mike of Mike Miller Photography said, “I love taking pictures of the ESP Performing Company at the Showcase. The ESP dancers always put on a fantastic show. Their grace, energy, and talent sure make for some beautiful pictures, but they are even more amazing live. I hope everyone comes out to see them on stage and supports the company. ESP is a wonderful gift to our community. The Showcase will not disappoint!”

Tickets may be purchased through any ESP Performing Company member or at ESP Dance Studio, 15 Water Street, Thurmont. Registration is still open for spring 2019 classes at the studio, culminating with the annual recital “ESP Visits Wonderland” at the Weinberg Center on Saturday, June 15. All levels of classes are available. ESP specializes in many types of dance, including tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, acro, and pointe. Participating in dance class is a great way to build confidence, strength, and to have tons of fun! Check ESP out on Facebook at ESP Dance and ESP Performing Company. Please support ESP Performing Company and help Keep Art Alive!

ESP Performing Company (from left): (front row) Abigail Shriner, Anna Doolittle, Tierney Burns, Laken Maniscarco, Maria Fry, Adaline Ridenour, Evie Price; (second row) Emma Strahler, Georgia Wiles, Jordan Bridgett, Mya Horman, Justin Stevens, Sofia Domingues, Marissa Smith, Olivia Gamer, Julie Beech; (third row) Olivia Ecker, Rose Weedy, Claire Daly, Valarie Witmner, Mackenzie Garrett, Kristen Felichko, Sophia Daly, Robyn Tucker; (fourth row) Jack Estep, Kaylyn Ott, Kierdyn Ott, Emily Mitchener, Lucy Estep, Lyla Zelenka.

ESP Performing Company Announces their 6th Annual 5K Run/Walk Fundraiser

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It is a beautiful time of year to get outside and get some exercise! You will feel especially good about getting fit in the great outdoors this fall when you know you are also helping support two wonderful causes. ESP Performing Company is proud to announce their 6th Annual 5K Fundraiser “Halloween Edition,” where participants are encouraged to race in their Halloween best (nothing too scary, please). The most creatively costumed participant will receive a prize. The run/walk will take place Saturday, October 29, 2016, at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg. ESP will be donating a portion of the proceeds this year to Maggie Kudirka (aka “The Bald Ballerina”). Maggie, a Maryland native, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at the age of twenty-three while she was dancing with the Joffrey Ballet Company in New York. Maggie has been a strong advocate for breast cancer awareness. A portion of the funds raised will go towards Maggie’s increasingly large medical bills.

ESP is currently accepting sponsorship and participants for the run/walk. Various sponsorship levels are available. Runners and walkers of all levels are encouraged to participate. The course is beautiful, especially in the fall, with the changing leaves. It has rolling hills to keep it interesting, but also has stretches of nice flat trails perfect for all levels of fitness. Registration is $25.00 for adults and $15.00 for students, and includes a custom Gnarly Artly t-shirt. You can register through any ESP Performing Company dancer, in person at ESP Dance at 15 Water Street in Thurmont, or on active.com or sites.google.com/site/espauttumnrun/.

Besides planning for the 6th Annual ESP Performing Company 5K Fundraiser, the dancers are hard at work with choreography and training for the new dance season. The dancers are eagerly looking forward to their next performance at Colorfest, both Saturday and Sunday at noon in the Town Park. They are also looking forward to their annual performance of Thriller at Halloween in The Park. The dancers will also primarily travel the DC/Metro area for regional conventions and competitions throughout the season, with their national competition taking place at the end of the season in Ocean City, Maryland. The dancers love to travel and work with master teachers from all over the world, but their favorite place to perform is for their home community.

ESP specializes in all types of dance, including tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, acro, lyrical, and pointe. Classes are currently enrolling for the fall season. For more information contact the studio at 301-271-7458 or register on-line at espdance.com. Be sure to check them out on Facebook, as well. They thank the Thurmont Community, The Catoctin Banner, and also The Frederick Arts Council for their continued support.