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Dancing to make a difference

Reindeer clogged up the stage at Riverside Theatre last week.
1701princetonChristmasFling
Reindeers danced across the stage to the delight of the audience at this years annual Highland Christmas Fling.

Reindeer clogged up the stage at Riverside Theatre last week.  They were not the animal variety, but rather a cute bunch of the younger Highland Dancers all dressed in brown.  They were part of the Highland Dance club’s annual Christmas Fling.

They use their talent to help out the less fortunate.  Each year, the Highland Dancers put on a Christmas show with donations to the food bank all one needs to get in.  Teachers Janet Banks and Amy Blank organize the event and many parents rate it as their top show of the year.  The event usually collects a great deal of goodies for Princeton Crisis Assistance Society with the donations used to fill food hampers that are handed out during the holiday season.

“It is a nice way to give back to the community,” said Banks.

“The community  has been so supportive of our club over the years.  The girls like that they are performing and making a difference all at the same time.”

Makenna Burstall and Danika Sulentich played Jingle Bells on their trumpets after the intermission.  While the dancers performed many of their traditional dances, they also choreographed some Christmas dances that were the highlight of the show.  Holly Atkinson, Makenna Burstall, Clancy Coulter and Danika Sulentich danced to Cool Yule.  Destiny Earle, Layne Robillard, Taylor Robillard and Carmen Brodie were angelic in Johnny Angel, Olivia, Kaylee, Teagan and Danika were cool as Frosty the Snowman.  Caprice, Natalie, Bethany, Teagan, Payton, Makenna and Jordyn were delightful in Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and Shelby Maynard and Taylor White reminded everyone that, “It’s Christmas Time Again.”

Leanne Atkinson did her usual superb job emceeing the evening of entertainment including filling in some of the white space between changes with song.  At intermission, the guests were treated to homemade Christmas baked goods and tea, coffee or juice.  All in all, the club performed 20 dances including their mass fling finale.  It was an evening meant to place everyone in the Christmas spirit.