Springfield cotillion seeks student dancers

It may be snowball season, but this town already is warming up for its signature spring Apple Blossom Cotillion.
http://rutlandherald.com/article/20141205/NEWS02/712059944

Published December 5, 2014 in the Rutland Herald Springfield cotillion seeks student dancers By Kevin O’Connor Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — It may be snowball season, but this town already is warming up for its signature spring Apple Blossom Cotillion. Organizers at Springfield Hospital are inviting high school senior girls and elementary students in towns served by its parent corporation, Springfield Medical Care Systems, to participate in the 59th annual event. “It’s always been a big fundraiser for the hospital, but what it means to the community is much more,” hospital director of development Larry Kraft says. “It’s a serious cultural event.” A serious cultural event that participants say is a lot of fun — and a lot of work. Teenage dancers rehearse every Sunday afternoon from January to the return of the state’s oldest and only continuing cotillion the first weekend in May. The 2015 theme, “Totally ’80s,” will feature songs and styles from the decade under the direction of Pam Church Shaughnessy and Kyla Beardsley White and assistants Carrie Patch Jewell and Lisa Rushton. The show also will feature cameos by elementary children in kindergarten through fourth grade coordinated by Joey Claflin, Tracy Austin and Tanya Noyes. The event annually attracts a crowd of 1,000 people and raises $15,000 for the hometown hospital, its community health center network and its Dr. E. Sherburne Lovell Health Career Award. “This has become both a unique tradition and a rite of passage for area young people, just like the prom,” says Kraft, master of ceremonies for the past 15 years. Couples interested in participating must sign up by Dec. 8 using applications available at area schools, on the website www.springfieldmed.org or by calling the hospital development office at 885-7644. “It’s a big time commitment to give up every Sunday afternoon for four months,” Kraft says, “but based on the people we’ve talked to, we’re hoping for 20 teen couples.”