“A Children’s Holiday at Santa Fe” Kicks Off December’s Festivities

December 2, 2011

“A Children’s Holiday at Santa Fe” kicks off December’s festivities. What could be more fun for children than an afternoon filled with laughter, singing and dancing?

Dancing is first on the list of enchanting entertainment. Beautifully costumed members of Dance Theatre Santa Fe will perform excerpts from the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Russian variations from “The Nutcracker” ballet. The music Tchaikovsky wrote for this beloved story has become familiar to all and is a holiday tradition.

The elegant Russian music is followed by something wholly modern. The familiar poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” has an urban twist and will be given rap style by members of Theatre Santa Fe. They’ll be followed by hip-hop elves performing to music by Run-DMC. The elves will clown and interact with the audience.

Next come the SF Singers and SF Winds with holiday songs: “Christmas Time is Here,” “Believe,” “Rejoice with Exceeding Joy” – a multicultural song with audience participation, “Carol to the King” – a processional including dancers, choir and musicians, and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” – the grand finale.

Afterwards kids can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, their North Pole friends, and everybody in the show. There will be holiday craft making for the children and some seasonal snacks as well. Everyone is encouraged to bring cameras; it’ll be a great opportunity to snap pictures of the kids with Santa and the elves.

It all happens 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 in the brand new SF Fine Arts Hall on the Northwest Campus, 3000 NW 83rd St., Gainesville. Orchestra seats are $15, balcony seats are $12, seniors are $9, SF students and employees are free with Santa Fe ID, and children under 12 are free with a limit of two children per adult. For tickets phone 352-395-4181 or go online to www.sfcollege.edu/finearts.

For more information, phone Fine Arts chair Alora Haynes 352-395-5296. Partial funding provided by visitgainesville.com.

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