Dear Students:
I am glad that I got to attend the Susquehanna Dance Center’s & COBALT dance
company’s performance, Sylvia on opening night for it had a very special energy to it.
It began with choreographer Shari Vegso’s brief introduction that included a 
telling statement about her fellow comrades Willow Donnachie & Isabella Williams. She announced that she was the only one of the three choreographers that did not give birth to a baby during the rehearsal schedule. Looking at this fact with hindsight, I believe this created a unique & loving atmosphere around the trio & their students during their creative process.
As I watched the show, I became mesmerized by the excellence of the music, choreography & dancers. The three principle female dancers led by Magnolia Williams were so graceful that I couldn’t take my eyes off of them. They needed no words to tell the fairy tale of this modern ballet because they skillfully embodied their characters.
Magnolia played Artemis the “queen of the forest” who lived peacefully with her best friend, Sylvia (Livi O’Byrne) amongst the animals. Their friendship was tested when a frisky cupid, (Anna Weissend) came into their pristine world and pierced a shepherd’s heart (Emmanuel Williams). After another arrow entered Sylvia, they fall in love with each other. 
For Artemis her life is suddenly turned upside down by these events. She feels betrayed by Sylvia for letting a boy get in between their perfect friendship. To my pleasant surprise, the meat of this classical ballet only began at this point in the program!
The slue of emotions that opened up inside of Artemis due to the meddling cupid became Magnolia’s artistic canvas. As Artemis, she used her expressive body language to convey her feelings of betrayal, jealousy & anger towards Sylvia & the shepherd. The playful sprite that she was, became a powerful & commanding matriarch of the forest that tried to stop her friend from leaving. Her body clearly spoke to the audience like words on paper.
I believe that Magnolia’s maturity coupled with her exquisite dancing successfully set the tone for the rest of the dancers to match. Anna Weissend was a rascal of a cupid in every way, while Livi O’Byrne became the lovestruck, Sylvia who danced with a care-free lightness in her steps. Leading man, Emmanuel Williams completed the picture & reverently loved her in return as the shepherd. In the end, I was left feeling like Artemis surrendered to the idea of letting Sylvia go and she returned to the forest alone to resolve her emotions.
I greatly appreciated how this performance was able to showcase love in it’s purest form. I think it was evident the entire cast was touched tenderly by the lives of their teachers & new babies over the last few months. I thank them for their heartfelt performance. I look forward to seeing these young dancers grow & reach towards their inner potentials. I hope that they can carry this extraordinary experience with them where ever they go.
[Photos from top to bottom are: Magnolia Williams, Emmanuel Williams & Livi O’Byrne.] I will let you know when this company performs in the future. Peace to all on Earth!
~Donna
Contact Donna Bervinchak at: