DanceFest Milford returns with a 'bang' for fall performance

Milford. Milford’s own Johanna LjungQvist-Brinson, the artistic director and choreographer of the New York City-based HannaQ Dance Company, is not only passionate about the art of dance, but she is a dance educator as well.

Through DanceFest Milford, she works to educate the community about all aspects of dance -- contemporary, folk, modern, and more. She creates original pieces for her company and is inspired by the forces of nature. As part of her mission, she is bringing to Milford three New York-based professional companies to the main stage at the Delaware Valley High School Auditorium on Nov. 16.

The Bang Group (thebanggroup.com) is a rhythm-driven contemporary dance group known for its humor, originality, and noise-making dance. They create music while they dance, and often play musical scores with their feet, bodies, and voices. They have performed at Symphony Space, Dance Theater Workshop, The Harkness Dance Festival, and the 92nd Street Y.

The Tina Croll Dance Company (tinacroll.org) has been described as powerful and provocative, with, according to the Village Voice, “stunning permutation of heel-and-toe, twist, kick, and stamp.” Their version of modern dance is inspired by Balkan folk dance. The Balkan-influenced music provides an almost eerie quality to their work. The Tina Croll Dance Company has performed at Symphony Space, Bryant Park, the Harkness Dance Festival, New Jacob’s Pillow, and the 92nd Street Y.

The Daniel Projects (danielroseprojects.com) is the work of Sarah Rose and Ross Daniel, who created a 12-minute duet by responding to both natural and architectural environments. The resulting performance speaks to the human impact on the environment and the effect the environment has on humanity.

The HannaQ Dance Company sweeps the audience into a different world of emotions with their bursts of passion and athletic expression. They will be performing three new original pieces. One piece, called “Untitled Still,” shows the athleticism and sensitivity of male dancers as they partner with each other. LjungQvist-Brinson received a grant from the Greater Pike Foundation for the choreography and production of this piece.

The company's second piece is inspired by photographer/artist Alan Kaplan’s painting titled “From Your Lips.” LjungQvist-Brinson’s Parisian composer and friend, Stephane Le Gouvello, wrote the music especially for this piece, which is about the ways women express themselves to each other. The big reveal of the painting will be on stage at this performance.

The third piece, “See Me, Like Me Love Me," expresses our need for love as soon as we are born and for our lifelong survival.

Tickets are $30 general admission, $15 for senior citizens and students, and free for children under 18. They may be purchased at dancefestmilford.com/tickets.

Free Sunday sessions

As part of LjungQvist-Brinson’s mission of educating the community, there will be a free Sunday session (Nov. 17) at the Jen Murphy Fitness studio at 113 West Harford Street in Milford. The schedule for that session is as follows:

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Contemporary Dance Workshop by HannaQ Dance Company

3 to 4 p.m.: Classical Indian Dance performance by Chitra Ramaswamy

4 to 5 p.m.: Salsa dancing wine and cheese social, with a meet-and-greet