DanceFest mesmerizes Milford

By Marilyn Rosenthal
MILFORD — Lovisa LjungQvist-Brinson was a hit at DanceFest's opening night party.
Covered by a sheet, Lovisa was carried dramatically into the garden at the Hotel Fauchere, then set upon the grass.
What's better in a garden than a beautiful statue, especially one that lives and breathes?
The sheet was removed. Lovisa remained motionless, stunning in a sheath of gold body paint.
Slowly, the living sculpture began to unfold and dance gracefully to drum beats played by Dr. Richard Cantor, a DanceFest board member.
Lovisa is the very talented daughter of Johanna LjungQvist-Brinson, and the principal dancer in the Hanna Q company, which her mother founded in 2013. Johanna has added DanceFest to Milford’s growing reputation as “the little town of festivals.”
After all, how could a town with a music festival, a film festival (Black Bear Film Festival), a Festival of Wood, and a Readers and Writers Festival, not have a dance festival?
Just ask Johanna and her supporters, who decided it was time for the first annual DanceFest Milford. Johanna is the energetic, creative force of Hanna Q, which now consists of nine dancers. Her choreography is vibrant.
Opening nightOpening night was both a welcome party and a garden party hosted by the Hotel Fauchere, where the glitterati of Milford — all ardent DanceFest supporters — nibbled appetizers and sipped wine. Max Brinson, Johanna’s husband, was lauded as “Husband of the Year” for keeping things on track, welcoming guests, and generally being in five places at once in the garden — all accomplished with a smile.
Sean Strub, owner of the Fauchere, served as auctioneer for several framed photos of dancers in motion, their sinewy bodies a tribute to dance.
SaturdayTo get some community involvement going, Johanna conducted a delightful workshop with very young participants. She'd tell a simple story, then set it to dance.
There were a number of other performances from local dance groups, as well as The Sarah Toumani Dance Company from New York City. Most of the Saturday performances were scheduled for outdoors sites throughout Milford. But rain forced the dancers into Forest Hall, where owners Reggie Cheong-Leen and Peter Spielhagen happily accommodated them all.
There was great variety. Yamini Kalluri, adorned from head to toe in Indian garb, captivated the audience with her classical Indian dance. Alonso Ojeda not only did a solo Mexican folk dance but danced the tango with Lovisa.
Sunday Sunday’s performance was the highlight of the festival, with nine different dance groups performing some very innovative, creative sets. The group 10 Hairy Legs performed an imaginative acrobatic feat wearing Velcro jumpsuits, in which dancers created a rhythm when they connected with each other and then released. The audience was mesmerized.
The Darrah Carr Dance group performed a medley of Irish step dances and contemporary moves, a fusion of Irish and American cultures.
The Hanna Q Dance Company gave three different performances, the last called "Portals of Powers." All nine dancers wore flowing orange costumes, creating a sea of gracefully moving orange clouds that floated across the stage. Johanna’s choreography was stunning.
DanceFest Milford ended with a standing ovation — and talk of next year’s festival.