Staff Writer
The Maine Dance Academy held its annual Christmas Show at the Caribou Performing Arts Center on December 14th to another packed house. Due to TMDA’s high enrollment, only parents and grand-parents had tickets to the performance which made the “Christmas Spectacular” a very intimate, family experience. Keeping up with The Maine Dance Academy’s continued reputation, the music was lively, the costumes stunning and the smiles on the dancer’s faces, priceless. The 75 minute show opened with a high energy hip-hop medley performed by Troupe and Mini Troupe.
Following this number Colleen DuPlissie, owner of TMDA and Clarann Flynn, choreographer, came out to welcome the audience to their annual show. DuPlissie and Flynn explained that this coming spring would be their 15th anniversary show and that they would be reliving some of the academy’s best dances over the past 15 years. The two then went on to introduce the different segments of the show which included: ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Chicago’, ‘Cry of the Celts’ and ‘The Old and New Medley’.
The crowd cheered as each class of dancers entered the stage and the applause never ended. The audience was moved by the song “Butterfly Kisses” as the Kelly Group, along with Danielle Atcheson-Peterson and her father, Tom re-enacted a dance from 12 years ago when Danielle herself performed this song as Little Miss Potato Blossom.
Those in attendance came alive when 75 dancers performed their Celtic finale to thunderous taps and overwhelming cheers from the audience. Jordyn Rossignol sang “The Christmas Song” with the little Allen dancers nestled all around her.
The annual performance of talented young dancers ended with Troupe performing a beautiful liturgical dance to “My Grown Up Christmas Wish” which they will also perform on Sunday, December 21, at the United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. during Dan Ladner’s Annual Christmas Concert.
It was another wonderful moment for The Maine Dance Academy’s dancers and as each parent walked out of the Caribou Performing Arts Center, the buzz was — “We can’t wait for the Spring Show.”
Dance instructors Colleen DuPlissie, left , and Clarann Flynn portray Velma and Roxie from “Chicago”.
Danielle Atcheson-Peterson dances with her father, Tom.
Members of the Maine Dance Academy perform the “Cry of the Celts”, finale during the annual Christmas performance held recently at the Caribou Performing Arts Center.
Contributed Photos
Troupe dancers performed “Bout-it” during the annual Christmas performance.
