Performances Honor Culture Of Region
Halestone Dance Studio is getting ready for its 2025 spring performance, “Rooted in What Remains,” which will return to the field at Boxerwood Nature Center for two performances on Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, both starting at 6 p.m.
The performance will feature original choreography and direction by Halestone’s artistic coordinator, Kathleen Gale, as well as Halestone teaching artists including Liam Courtney Collins, Brian Hernandez, Stephanie Hodde, Hope Huger, Brittany Klinger, Caroline Lauck, Madison Lilly, Nancy Saylor, Mikaela Schon, and Halestone company members.
“Rooted in What Remains” is a production that honors Appalachian culture and the deep connections we share with our land and community. Under Gale’s direction, the performance will spin a tale that follows characters linked to the region, whether it’s through music, cultural traditions, or the landscapes that define this unique place. The heart of the show will reflect on what has shaped Halestone, as individual dancers and as a studio, during a time of intense change, for both the region and the people in it.
Creative movement, clogging, hip hop, modern dance, jazz, ballet, dance genres at all levels, will be represented in this production. The first act will be a continuous narrative that tells the story of an ordinary day in modern Appalachia, with characters that include roly-polies, sunrise, workers, the river, fireflies, the raven and humans. It’s an exploration of how while Appalachia has changed, its folk traditions carry on.
The second act will bring in newer forms of music and movement, like jazz, hip hop, and funk, that coexist with the traditional, and it will culminate in a performance by the clogging ensemble. Clogging is a more tradition Appalachian style of percussive dance, yet the Halestone dancers will present their own dynamic take.
“The diverse pieces of ‘Rooted in What Remains’ form a collective which celebrates the enduring resilience of this vibrant place and the dancers’ authentic creations,” said Gale.
This live production will be held in the field at Boxerwood Nature Center accessible via Munger Lane. Tickets are available for $15. Children aged 5 and under attend for free and do not need a ticket. Tickets can be purchased in advance at https://halestone.com/events or at the performance.
A food truck will be onsite for dinner before the show or during intermission. Other refreshments will also be available at Halestone’s bake sale, and ticket holders are welcome to bring their own picnics. Guests are asked to bring a blanket or chairs to sit on to enjoy the show.
Proceeds from ticket sales support Halestone’s educational programming and scholarships for young dancers.
The Halestone Foundation has recently joined the Virginia Commission for the Arts’ Passport program, an arts access initiative that will make the studio’s programming more accessible. Women, Infants and Children (WIC) card holders are now eligible to receive discounts to all classes and performances.
To learn more about Halestone and its programming, visit https://halestone.com.
