Dance and Dessert and more

For The Journal

Published Saturday, November 22, 2008

Find 21 busy teenage girls and ask them to donate anywhere from 58 to 80 hours of volunteer time over a nine-week period for a fundraising project.

What kind of response would you expect?

Ramona Jacobs and Mary Pettit, co-directors for Dance and Dessert, have found a very positive response to that request in 21 dancers who are in the main cast.

One of the goals of Dance and Dessert, scheduled in early December, is to collaborate with A Center for the Arts to raise money specifically to help bring professional dance companies to Fergus Falls.

Dancers are chosen through an audition process, according to Jacobs.

“(This year) 32 dancers auditioned with such enthusiasm and skill,” she said, adding, “It was difficult to choose just 21.”

Rehearsals began in early October. Some dancers are only in one or two dances, some are in as many as seven. It is quite a process from learning the first steps, to costume fittings, to refining all of the dances for the performance.

The dance forms of ballet, tap, modern, and jazz will be performed with some holiday themed pieces. This year there will also be five solos performed by five senior dancers.

“What means a lot to me,” said Suzanne LaFond, a fifth-year cast member, “is getting to know the other dancers by working toward the common goal of making the best show possible.”

The Center’s Children’s Choir will make a guest appearance. The Choir, under the direction of Joni Wasberg, boasts 26 members from third through sixth grade.

Also featured will be seven dance classes from FFSD. Ranging from kindergarten through high school, the 85 dancers from these classes will present dances that were worked on in the context of their classes.

Choreographers for the show are Job Chistenson, Olivia Danielson, Ramona Jacobs, Mary Pettit and Valerie Sohl.

A dessert reception takes place at the Senior Citizen Center following the 90-minute performance.

Dance and Dessert is scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7, at A Center for the Arts in downtown Fergus Falls.

Tickets for the show are on sale now at A Center for the Arts. Call 218-736-5453 for tickets and box office hours.

On Monday, Dec. 8, the main cast of Dance & Dessert will present shortened performances of the show geared for groups who may be interested (schools, seniors, etc.) If interested in hosting such a performance, contact Rena or Rebecca at 218-736-5453.

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