It was a packed house for Lily Weaver’s Dance for Hope benefit dance recital on November 28th. More than 500 people attended the fundraiser, and the event raised approximately $4,000 to benefit the Weaver family. Junior Lily Weaver is battling Ewing’s Sarcoma for the second time.

Dance and drama teacher Angela Smithhisler organized the dance recital during the summer when she first learned that Lily Weaver was struggling with cancer again. Even though Smithhisler had never taught Lily, she felt a connection through Linganore and dance.  Smithhisler contacted Frederick County dance studios and caterers and was overwhelmingly happy with the huge response she received. 

Local businesses, Wegmans, Pasquale’s, and Morgan’s American Grill agreed to cater food for all of the dancers, and 10 dance studios were a part of the recital.

The studios who participated were: Savage Dance Company, Dance Unlimited, Elite Feet, 24/7 Dance, Shining Star School of Performing Arts, Academy of Fine Arts Dance at TJHS, Urbana Dance Studio, UHS Dance team, Equinox Dance Company, and Dee Buchanan Dance. Alumni and current Linganore students danced as well. 

The dancers from LHS included Brianna Archibald, Ani Boghossian-James, Hannah Bonfils, Jordan Cencula, Shea Cencula, Brittni DeGrange, Ally Duda, Caroline Etherton, Samantha Iorio, Riley Johnston, Ashley Nash, Uriah Roman, Kelly Stouffer, Kylie Watson, and Ashley White.

It was a full show,  clocking in at two hours with a ten minute intermission and 25 dances.

The dance recital was heavy in modern/lyrical dances but also included hip hop, Irish, pointe, ballet, Acro, baton twirling, and tap dancing. All of the dances were polished and included tricks executed with perfect precision. These dancers were at the top of their game for Lily. 

Smithhisler assembled the numbers,  spacing out the lyrical pieces with other styles in between. 

The drama department tech crew and members of the Drama Honor Society provided dramatic lighting and were punctual with the music. They kept the two hour show moving forward. 

Lily Weaver’s recital was a group effort with Linganore’s National Honor Society pitching in to help sell concessions. Linganore’s Art Honor Society created and sold jewelry at the event as well. All proceeds went to the Weaver family. 

Kindness was in the air. Even the winner of the 50/50 raffle at the end of the night donated the money she won back to Lily Weaver’s fund.

Lily Weaver, a member of the Class of 2019, said, “I am so grateful for everyone’s support! All of the dancers did a great job, and thank you to all of the people who organized the event and attended!”