Newtown Dancers Go To Germany

By Eliza Hallabeck

The next step in the dance for a group of girls who have been practicing at Dance Etc in Newtown is a tour of Germany. The trip through Germany will include being a part of opening a festival in Berlin.

The five girls have been practicing, and now their instructor, Jill Gorrie, will be accompany them and some of their families for a tour that will show them another country. The German American Friendship Festival in Berlin is an annual event, and this year the American ambassador will be present for the opening of the event.

“For these girls I think it is a great opportunity,” said Ms Gorrie. She said she has been teaching at Dance Etc for four years, but she has been teaching two of the girls since they were little.

Ms Gorrie said she believes it will be a great opportunity for the girls to see a different audience than the American audiences they are used to.

“The audiences in Germany are the best in the world, in my opinion,” said Ms Gorrie. “They are much more generous than the American audiences. I think it will be a great experience.”

The group will be leaving July 19, and they will be staying in Germany for ten days. During that time the girls will be given a tour through the Palace Residenze in Wurzburg, a tour of Prague and a lunch stop in the historic district of Dresden.

“You learn the history of the places and get exposure to the culture,” said Wolfgang Baeumler, who organized the tour with the company he works for, Commonground Entertainment.

Samantha Diaz-Hennessey, a graduate of Masuk High School and a current student at the University of Delaware, said she drove up from college to attend the rehearsals this past weekend.

“I just want to see the country and the culture,” she said. “It will be really exciting to perform.” Ms Diaz-Hennessey is the oldest dancer in the group.

The group is excited, according to Ms Gorrie.

“They are totally representing Connecticut, Newtown, and America in general,” Ms Gorrie said.

Ms Gorrie also toured Germany as a young dancer, she said. Jen Turey, the owner of Dance Etc also said she toured Germany, but she did not go at the same time as Ms Gorrie.

Ms Turey said the performers have showed dedication in the past couple of months.

“They are bringing routines that they know solid,” said Ms Turey.