Local Dance and Theater Students Perform and Collect 100’s of Toy

The Dance Corner, of Killingworth, Blue Fire Stage Company of Haddam and Anytime Fitness of Madison, collaborated to host two holiday toy drive events this month. These drive-in toy drives titled “Give a Toy and Enjoy!” featured outdoor performances from The Dance Corner and Blue Fire Stage Company students.
The Dance Corner’s annual toy drive performance, The Winter Follies” has become a holiday tradition on the shoreline. This year it had to be reimagined due to the pandemic. Small socially distanced performances from The Dance Corner and singers from the Blue Fire Stage company were held at the former Haddam Elementary School parking lot on Saturday, December 12th. The students’ performances brought warmth and cheer to an otherwise dreary day and over 100 toys were collected for Haddam Killingworth Youth and Family Services.
The Dance Corner dancers were “on stage” again on Sunday, December 13th in the parking lot of Anytime Fitness of Madison. The team at Anytime Fitness collaborated with The Dance Corner to offer 4 mini-shows throughout the afternoon to entertain small, social distanced audiences. Customers from the nearby Roberts Food Center wandered over to see what was going on and many not only offered toy donations, but also cash donations for Madison Youth and Family Services and Yale New Haven Children’s hospital.
The day was unusually warm for December, which made it perfect for spreading holiday cheer through dance! The afternoon was capped off by a visit from the Madison Police Department. Officers filled their cruisers with close to 150 toy donations for needy children in the community.
Carrie Smith director of The Dance Corner says, “This event is very important to me because it’s about giving back to our community and spreading joy during this dark time. This year more than ever, families need support to make the holidays special for their kids. At The Dance Corner we are teaching more than just great dance. We are dedicated to helping our students become great people. Our dancers stepped up and showed what resilient, gritty young people they are and performed like true professionals despite so many challenges this weekend- rain, dancing in sneakers on concrete, absent cast members due to quarantine- They kept their chins up and smiled through their masks and just kept on dancing, because that’s what dance teaches them. If you stumble, make it part of the dance. The pandemic has taught us all, adults and kids, that anything is possible if you just get creative and adapt.”
The total donations collected at both events is close to 250 toys and gift cards to benefit those in need this holiday season. The Dance Corner typically collects around 250 donations at their traditional indoor Winter Follies performance. Even in the midst of a pandemic, the reimagined outdoor holiday mini-shows were able to collect enough donations to make the same impact on the community.
The Dance Corner welcomes students of any age or level to take a free trial dance class. The studio is currently accepting Fall-Spring session registration. It is never too late to register for class. To register or find out more about our dance classes visit TheDanceCorner.com.
The Dance Corner, LLC, located in Killingworth, CT, is dedicated to providing its students with a well-rounded education in all facets of dance. Their classes are designed to increase confidence, build self-esteem and develop coordination in an interactive, group environment. With instruction for all ages and levels of experience, The Dance Corner is committed to providing its students with a positive learning environment to enjoy the art of dance. The Dance Corner has been providing students from Killingworth, Madison, Clinton, Deep River, Chester, Essex, Ivoryton, Centerbrook, Haddam, Higganum, Westbrook, Guilford and East Haddam with quality dance training for over 20 years.