A dance of kids and cheese

By Monte Belmonte,

Kaliis Smith

Published March 22, 2023 at 8:27 AM EDT

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1 of 7 — goat hug 5 cents.jpg

Goat hugs are offered at Thomas Farm & Dairy in Sunderland, Mass.

Kaliis Smith / NEPM

2 of 7 — Martha Graham Dance Company performs Dark Meadow Suite.

Martha Graham Dance Company performs "Dark Meadow Suite."

Courtesy

3 of 7 — KIDS.jpg

Baby goats greet visitors at Thomas Farm & Dairy in Sunderland, Mass.

Kaliis Smith / NEPM

4 of 7 — Martha Graham Dance Company performs "Canticle for Innocent Comedians."

Canticle for Innocent Comedians

Luis Luque / Luque Photography

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NEPM's Kaliis Smith is having the best moment ever, holding a goat.

Monte Belmonte / NEPM

6 of 7 — At Thomas Farm

Laurie Cuevas of Thomas Farm & Dairy in Sunderland, Mass. (left), Phil Korman of CISA (top) and NEPM's Monte Belmonte gather near the cutest of kids.

Kaliis Smith / NEPM

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A selection of cheeses on display at Thomas Farm & Dairy in Sunderland, Mass.

Kaliis Smith / NEPM

What today needs is a little action; a little something to remind us that it's spring.

So we dance with the Martha Graham Company as they arrive in Amherst, Massachusetts, and Storrs, Connecticut, with new and old work in tow. Artistic director Janet Eilber and current company dancer Anne Souder show us how legacy work can still innovate, and how far Graham's technique truly reaches.

Then we head off to Sunderland to Thomas Farm & Dairy, where it is kidding season. No, really. Laurie Cuevas' herd has had 40-plus goat babies so far this season and that's just to start. Monte Belmonte and Kaliis Smith set out to hug them all, because they are the absolute cutest, and to sample their cheeses while they are at it.

Plus, on the show for Wednesday, we begin our "Meet the Mayors" segment with Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia. Got a question for the mayor? Email thefab413@nepm.org or send a text to 800-639-9120 and we may just ask your burning inquiry on the show!