On a chilly Sunday in February, several dozen New American and U.S.-born performers gathered at North End Studios in Burlington to rehearse an upcoming production simply called "the Fashion Show." But no one talked about clothes or makeup. Instead, participants from more than 12 countries proceeded to dance across three stages, guided by tape outlines on the floor. They'd been practicing since January. Their goal, an hourlong program of dance, music and fashion, will come to fruition this Saturday, March 18, at Burlington International Airport. Seventeen local retailers have donated clothes and jewelry for the event. The performance features 35 cast members executing tight choreography by Heidi Tappan, Lois Trombley, Sarah Cover and Winooski hip-hoppers A2VT. More live music, a poetry reading and displays of traditional clothing from some of the performers' native lands are also on the program. The Fashion Show isn't just about the latest couture. Organizers said they hoped attendees would come away with a better understanding of their New American neighbors. Also, that the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program, for which this is a benefit, would leave with a generous check for its community support activities. Milissa O'Brien, a driving force behind the production, used to organize a similar benefit show for the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington. The last such event was in 2015, she said, because the nonprofit's staff found it too time-consuming. But O'Brien wasn't ready to let the idea go. She enlisted seven other community members to the cause and pitched VRRP: Let me organize a fashion show and raise some money for you. After receiving approval from its parent organization, the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, VRRP's leadership was happy to say yes. Laurie Stavrand, the organization's community partnership coordinator, admitted that VRRP hadn't staged an event of this scale before. The organizers hope to raise more than $50,000 from ticket sales and donations. O'Brien said the partnership ensured "appropriate ideas, messaging and involvement of [VRRP] clients and community participants." That was no small task, given that the show's participants collectively speak more than 20 languages and hail from countries with divergent cultures. "The first rehearsal was pretty awkward," Stavrand wrote in an email, "as people from disparate backgrounds met for the first time and tried to figure out how to relate to one another." During rehearsals, cast members were split into groups that mixed genders and nationalities. "The…
On a chilly Sunday in February, several dozen New American and U.S.-born performers gathered at North End Studios in Burlington to rehearse an upcoming production simply called "the Fashion Show." But no one talked about clothes or makeup. Instead, participants from more than 12 countries proceeded to dance across three stages, guided by tape outlines on the floor. They'd been practicing since January. Their goal, an hourlong program of dance, music and fashion, will come to fruition this Saturday, March 18, at Burlington International Airport. Seventeen local retailers have donated clothes and jewelry for the event. The performance features 35 cast members executing tight choreography by Heidi Tappan, Lois Trombley, Sarah Cover and Winooski hip-hoppers A2VT. More live music, a poetry reading and displays of traditional clothing from some of the performers' native lands are also on the program. The Fashion Show isn't just about the latest couture. Organizers said they hoped attendees would come away with a better understanding of their New American neighbors. Also, that the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program, for which this is a benefit, would leave with a generous check for its community support activities. Milissa O'Brien, a driving force behind the production, used to organize a similar benefit show for the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington. The last such event was in 2015, she said, because the nonprofit's staff found it too time-consuming. But O'Brien wasn't ready to let the idea go. She enlisted seven other community members to the cause and pitched VRRP: Let me organize a fashion show and raise some money for you. After receiving approval from its parent organization, the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, VRRP's leadership was happy to say yes. Laurie Stavrand, the organization's community partnership coordinator, admitted that VRRP hadn't staged an event of this scale before. The organizers hope to raise more than $50,000 from ticket sales and donations. O'Brien said the partnership ensured "appropriate ideas, messaging and involvement of [VRRP] clients and community participants." That was no small task, given that the show's participants collectively speak more than 20 languages and hail from countries with divergent cultures. "The first rehearsal was pretty awkward," Stavrand wrote in an email, "as people from disparate backgrounds met for the first time and tried to figure out how to relate to one another." During rehearsals, cast members were split into groups that mixed genders and nationalities. "The…