Forget New York or Boston. The area's newest professional dance troupe will debut in Bellingham, and the choice says plenty about the group's founder, Matt Parello of Shrewsbury.
"I loved living in New York. I took advantage of it while I was there," said Parello, who studied dance at Long Island University's campus in Brooklyn, N.Y., "but it's not where I wanted to live forever."
So rather than taking the expected big-city route for aspiring performers, Parello, 23, returned to his childhood hometown of Shrewsbury, became a principal dancer with the Boston Dance Company, and just over a year ago began auditioning dancers for his own troupe. This weekend his 25-member ensemble, Dance Company Worcester, makes its debut with two performances. Both shows, at 2 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday, will benefit Bellingham's Steps Off Broadway dance school, which acquired nonprofit status in November.
"I wanted my own troupe here, and I want to teach here. I came back because I want to do for the kids in this area what Charlotte Klein and the other teachers I had did for me," said Parello, who began dance classes at the age of 5. "I want to show kids what they can do."
For now, that "showing" will be through performances that reach out to all ages and tastes. DCW, as Parello calls his troupe for short, performs a smorgasbord of styles, ranging from ballet to break dancing, and sets its works to music that swings, from Justin Timberlake to Ludacris to Tchaikovsky to the Temptations.
"I wanted a troupe that would be fun for everybody," said Parello. "If you want to see tap, if you want to see jazz, a little bit of ballroom, a little bit of modern, a little bit of hip-hop, I have every one of them. It's just family fun."
Parello searched for dancers with an open mind, tapping the area talent pool for professionals, semiprofessionals, a couple of precocious youths, and a few break and hip-hop dancers that he recruited right off the dance floors of local clubs.
"For me, it's all about talent. I don't care about age or background. I just want people who are the best at what they do," said Parello. "For instance, Gabby Kane of Franklin may only be 13, but she's a star on stage. A smile to kill. She's a very little girl but she takes up the whole stage. You can't miss her when she glides across it."
The troupe's assistant director, Emily Granholm of Franklin, shares Parello's local and youth-focused mindset. A 2007 graduate of Dean College's dance program, Granholm also decided to make a go of it here. She teaches dance to children at the Franklin YMCA and performs contemporary and lyrical dance with Parello and several Boston-based troupes.
"I think it's important that we're in this area," said Granholm. "Art sometimes gets pushed off to the sides. But it needs to be a part of our everyday lives because it helps people grow into better people."
The troupe hopes to perform at schools, colleges, and dance theaters in Worcester and Boston, and the communities in between. If they do, they'll help to fill a gap. Locally based professional dance is rare in the western suburbs. (Moving West Repertory Dance Theatre in Framingham, which has performances coming up in June, is one of the few exceptions.)
For DCW's debut, Parello and Granholm felt a benefit for Steps Off Broadway was the right place to start. Both want to support the school's many youth programs, including their special-needs dance classes.
"I've done a lot of work with Steps Off Broadway," said Parello. "They've given me great opportunities to be on stage and perform and taught me a lot. I thought the best way to pay them back was to do this fund-raiser."
Afterward, watch for the troupe in their namesake city next. "Worcester is now up and coming in my eyes, with the new Hanover Theatre and the old Palladium and just et cetera being out there," said Parello. "Eventually, I hope to open my own dance school there. But we have the debut and a little bit more dancing to do first."
Dance Company Worcester performers from area communities include Rebekah Zammuto (ballet) of Hopkinton, Angel and Jon Camacho (both hip-hop and break) of Northborough, Julio Rodriguez (hip-hop and break) of Marlborough, Stephanie Urko (jazz) of Wrentham, and Arlena Boyle (tap) of Upton.
Dance Company Worcester performs "Support the Stars" fund-raisers at 2 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday at Steps Off Broadway, 799 South Main St., Bellingham. Tickets: $20. Call 508-876-9797, or visit dancestudiom.net, stepsoffbroadway.com.
FUN ON THE FARM: The Sudbury Valley Trustees is offering its annual dose of wholesomeness Sunday afternoon, hosting the free Spring Family Fair at its headquarters in Sudbury. Square dancing in the barn, a pie contest (bring your entry), cotton candy, and wool spinning demonstrations are rounded out by guided nature walks, a live animal program, and plenty of activities for the kids.
Returning this year is Native American flutist and storyteller Geoffrey Evans, as well as nature artist Gordon Morrison. The only thing missing would be balloons and a scavenger hunt. But wait, the regional land trust will have them too.
Spring Family Fair is noon-5 p.m. Sunday (rain or shine) at Wolbach Farm, 18 Wolbach Road, off Route 27 in Sudbury. Free. Call 978-443-5588 or visit sudburyvalleytrustees.org.
OPEN STUDIOS BLOCKBLUSTER: The number just keeps climbing. At this weekend's Newton Open Studios, a record 200 artists will open their doors, which is more than double the number that participated five years ago (and, with most offering refreshments, we also expect a record number of cheese cubes).
The participants range from the internationally recognized, such as digital artist and painter Sue Yang and Russian-born ceramicist Katya Apekina, who has exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution, and well-known New England artists to the newly inspired. Meanwhile, nearly every genre of art and style of craft will be on display, including jewelry, clothing, furniture, paintings, photography, glass works, ceramics, multimedia, and sculpture, from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
But whether you check out the unusual Tagua nut jewelry by Maria Mizrahi or the one-of-a-kind baby blankets by Dee Mallon, one thing remains the same at every studio - this is a casual, friendly affair.
"Too often, people feel the art scene is not inviting or accessible to them," says Ellen Fisher, director of the enterprise. "What makes Newton Open Studios special is how relaxed, engaging, and intimate viewing art can be. You can put on jeans and a sweat shirt, be invited into an artist's home studio."
Newton Open Studios is noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at locations across the city. Free. Maps and artist information are available at newtonopenstudios.com or call 781-862-2506.
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