Winter recital brings down the house

Sisters Dance Academy winter recital, "Celebrations Around the World," dazzled a full house at the Sisters High School Auditorium on Saturday, as dancers ages 3 to 18 performed ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, Broadway and contemporary; wearing bright colorful costumes depicting celebrations around globe.

Exquisitely costumed performers depicted Christmas, Hanukkah, The Chinese New Year, St. Patrick's Day and much more in a diversity-themed event.

"The reason I came up with this theme is that at this time of year most of us focus on Christmas, yet there are so many other cultural and religious observances in the world to celebrate," said Lonnie Liddell, owner and dance instructor at Sisters Dance Academy.

This year there was a unique aspect that pulled in the audience for a full understanding of each number performed.

Volunteer Ann Alisa Duerden projected imagery on stage behind the dancers representing a particular culture or celebration, making each number flow together with the music.

"The imagery emphasized what the dancers were doing," Liddell said.

As people from around the world prepare to celebrate Christmas, the decorating of the Christmas tree is a timeless and beloved traditions and the crowning moment is placing the final piece atop the tree. For the number choreographed by Liddell, "The Christmas Tree Angel," four tiny ballerinas danced in front of stunning imagery of a Christmas tree as the audience laughed and cheered.

In Spain, families celebrate Three Kings Day. Around dusk on January 5, the three kings Melchor, Gazpar and Baltasar magically arrive. That night children leave out their shoes to hold the gifts the three kings bring to celebrate the three wise men bringing gifts to the newborn king.

In the number "Three Kings Day," choregraphed by Kayla Williams, nine dancers from the junior ensemble performed ballet to the popular Christmas song "We Three Kings of Orient Are."

Each year, the grand finale is a joy to watch. "Do You Hear What I Hear" began with 6- and 7-year-old dancers performing ballet to the song "Children Will Listen" (from "Into the Woods") by One Voice Children's Choir. The dance depicted a traditional Norwegian feast day that came about because of St. Lucia, a young girl in the Middle Ages who helped bring food down to the dark tunnels where the persecuted Christians would hide. As the story goes; she wore a white dress with a wreath of candles around her head to light the way. The song changed to the popular Christmas song "Do You Hear What I Hear."

And to end that special performance, 130 dancers lit the way through the auditorium past the audience holding battery-operated candles and back up on stage for a standing ovation.

"The idea behind this performance is that young children have the capacity to be in tune with others," Liddell told The Nugget. "Children are very perceptive as they experience everything around them by what they hear."