The Collage Performing Arts Center announces its ninth annual Christmas show production "Christ-mas in Our Hometown." The show will be held on Dec. 13 and 14 at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Performances begin at 7 p.m.
This year's production will feature several new dance themes that are sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit. The annual show is performed by dancers from throughout Chautau-qua County performing dance routines in tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, novelty, tumbling, swing and high kick to sensational Christmas songs. Dancers range from ages 3 years to adult.
This year's show includes the vocal talents of Jennifer Davis as she sings and plays "Mele Kalikimaka" on her electric ukulele as background dancers Hannah Koning, Olivia Schrantz, Jaryaniz Vasquez and Shelby Genovese demonstrate their hula dance. The Irish dancers perform to "Christmas in Khalarany" featuring a solo by Fredonia senior Brianna Price.
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Front row: Jaryaniz Vazquez, Shelby Genovese, Olivia Schrantz. Middle row: Hannah Koning, Catie Roth, Mary Barnes. Back row: Sarah Koning, Sarah Hill.
The production will feature two dances from the Broadway Musical "Elf." The middle school dancers will be strutting their stuff to the song "SparkleJollyJingley" as Mary Barnes portrays the crazy antics of Buddy the Elf with her aerial tricks, leaps and jumps and supported by her cast of fellow tumbling elves. Catie Roth shows off her dynamic personality as she takes on the elf duties dancing as Buddy the Elf in the ballet dance of "Christmas Town."
The Collage Stunt Team will perform a swing version of "Sleigh Ride." The stunt team has four couples: Sarah Hill and Steve Mignoli, Sarah Koning and Jake Rinus, Samantha Pucci and Alec Ambrose, and Mary Polvino and John Piper. Dances, including partner lifts and turns, will be performed to holiday classics as well as contemporary Christmas music.
The pre-school dancers will dance to "I'm the Happiest Christmas Tree" and the traditional "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas." The advance dancers perform an array of dances from the classical to the quirky, demonstrating turns, leaps and jumps.
Karen Schrader has choreographed a wintery ballet to the song "The Skaters Waltz" to open this year's show.
The opening dance incorporating 22 dancers into grand formations and intricate movements will feature the grace of Naomi Greenstein and Rachael Wells. This year the Collage will perform the popular novelty dance inspired by the Radio City Hall Rockettes, the "Dancing Dolls." This silly jazz dance includes animated movements, partner stunts, a kick line and aerial acrobatics. The "Dancing Dolls" will be awakened by senior Janelle Jasinski and performed by the New York Majestic Dance Teams. It highlights the tumbling skills of Nicole Roth, Stefanie Briggs and Melissa Berg.
Janelle Jasinski, Hill, Koning, Kayla Suchanick and Mary Barnes will use their acrobatic and jumping talents as the leaders of the canes looking for "Who Put the Stripe in the Candy Cane" with special guest Gabby Spinuzza.
The show's finale consists of the entire dancing cast and will showcase the tapping talents of seniors Annie Barnes and Price dancing to "Be a Santa."
The Collage annual Christmas show is produced by Director Marci Williams-Hadley and features choreography by Schrader, Jennifer Russo, Jenna Lee Mansfield and Heather Martin.
Tickets for the two performances are on sale at the Fredonia Opera House box office for $12 and will be available at the door. Contact the box office at 679-1891.
