THEY’VE DANCED AT the convention center in Ocean City. They’ve packed the auditorium at the local high school. Now members of the senior and junior dance companies at Tami Gee’s Studio of Dance Inc. in Finksburg will add entertaining on a cruise ship to their list of accomplishments.
More than 36 dancers ages 9 to 18 and accompanying family members boarded Carnival Cruise Lines’ Fascination last week for a five-day journey to Key West, Fla., and Cozumel, Mexico. En route, the dancers were scheduled to perform excerpts from their spring recital.
“This trip will be so cool, because we’ll be dancing for strangers, not just our parents and relatives,” dancer Heather Greenberg said the night before departure.
The senior and junior dance companies from Tami Gee’s earned the spot as a cruise line act after they sent an audition tape last winter. To get ready, they have practiced from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. every Saturday and many nights since.
Bake sales and basket bingo nights helped them shave the $750 ticket cost to $550 a participant.
“The last time I went on a cruise was 18 years ago, on my honeymoon,” said Susan Shunkwiler, who is accompanying her daughters Vicki and Rebecca, both dancers, on the trip. “My husband is now going fishing with some friends, and I’m off for some bonding with the girls. It will be fun.”
“I’m looking forward to the swimming pool on the boat and bunking together,” Rebecca said.
Tami Gee has taken dancers to creative places before. Three years ago, members of her companies performed during a four-day cruise to the Bahamas. Stories from that cruise fueled excitement for this trip.
“I’m looking forward to the whole experience,” said dancer Cara Horner. “Not just the dancing, but the food and the ice sculptures. Did you know we’ll be able to get pizza and ice cream 24 hours a day?”
“These girls have worked so hard. They are committed to their classes. It’s such a nice bunch of kids,” said Gee, who worked for five years with Deer Park Recreation Council before opening her studio almost eight years ago.
3 new on arts council board
On Thursday, Carroll County Arts Council will welcome three new board members: JoAnn Hunter, Barbara Ritter and Priscilla Teeter.
Hunter is a watercolor painter; Ritter is a dancer, a performer with September Song and a corporate member of the council; and Teeter is on the board of Community Foundation of Carroll County, the Davis W. H. Davis Inc. Foundation and Interfaith Housing of Western Maryland.
All three have been active volunteers and participants in arts council programs.
Music, arts festival continues
More than 100 performers, including Pete Seeger and his grandson Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, performed music from around the world at Carroll County Farm Museum during the weekend.
Gospel, blues, folk, Celtic and Latino music sounded from five stages at Common Ground on the Hill’s American Music and Arts Festival. Week two of the festival is at Western Maryland College this week, and registration for classes is being accepted.
More than 25 courses will be offered, including “Stepping with Step Afrika,” a string band workshop, vocal classes, harmonica, weaving and woodworking. Registration: 410-857-2771 or www. commongroundonthehill.com.
