By Riley Fontana
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The Bellforge held their annual CultureFest, and the rain did not put a damper on the festivities. A last-minute move to the Medfield High School (MHS) gym gave a dry space for live music, dancing and a celebration of all cultures.
The gym was packed with vendors and patrons with music filling the space. Representatives from Be Inclusive, OUT MetroWest and Community Coalition for Change were all in attendance sharing their messages with patrons. Local vendors sold their wares and enjoyed the live performances. Bellforge invited everyone to come out and learn about cultures and traditions different from their own, and enjoy everything they had to offer.
The first act was Hush Crew, a dance crew from Boston. Kyle Hudson, Adrianna Merlino, Lydia Li and Hanna Kim represented the collective and presented a myriad of K-Pop-inspired dances. Together they wowed the audience with high-energy poses and quick moves. Their final performance was a “play dance” where the audience was invited onto the floor to dance and sing along with iconic K-Pop songs.
The next performance was Yelena Rodriguez who brought powerful and soulful vocals. She combined cover and original songs to tailor the set to her audience. Her voice carried so much passion the message of her Spanish songs carried through to everyone. Her energy infected everyone and her soaring vocals made her a stand-out star. She performed with a backing guitarist to truly let her voice shine.
The final performance of the day was Anubhava Dance Company, an Indian traditional company from Boston. They sent three dancers to perform a handful of traditional dances and share the stories and culture that come with them. After their performance, they invited the audience to the floor and learned to dance along with them. Audience members of all ages loved this, especially young children.
Bellforge’s CultureFest was a celebration of all cultures in and around Medfield. Live performances and vendors were able to share their traditions and culture with all attendees and learn about each other. There was no shortage of energy and love as each performer shared pieces of themselves with the audience.
