News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Ballet dancers thrill the audience at ’Twas the Night Before Christmas.
Felicia Zandonatti and Holly Davis perform.
More than 300 people turned out last Saturday for Sisters Dance Academy's winter recital, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."
Jim Anderson narrated the story as dancers from the academy's ballet, hip-hop, jazz, tap and creative movement classes enacted aspects of the beloved poem, from the classic "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" ballet to the hip-hop "HoeDown Throw-Down."
Dancers prepared for more than two months for the recital, using class time to learn the choreography and rehearse.
"Then there were dancers who had solos or a special part, and they had rehearsals outside their class time," said academy owner and dance teacher Lonnie Liddell.
Liddell's sister Britt Wheatley had the original idea for the theme of the recital, and the sisters exchanged ideas on a long flight to Texas to visit their brother.
"I kind of ran with it," Liddell said.
Perhaps the most touching moment in the production came when Holly Davis soloed. The three-year-old has leukemia and has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments in Portland.
"She's just a bright, shining star and loves dance," Liddell said. "She shows her dance steps to her doctors."
Holly worked with her parents on her dance steps and was ready for her big night.
"She came out on stage all by herself," said Liddell, choking up just recounting the moment. "She pulled off her part that was all by herself in front of 300 people."
The academy's oldest dancer, Felicia Zandonatti, joined her, then all the ballet dancers gathered around her with candles. It was an emotional highlight for all those in attendance.
"It was a special moment and kind of a crowning moment for Holly, too," Liddell said.
New classes start in January. For more information, visit http://www.sistersdanceacademy.com.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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