Local Dancers to Shine in DC

Dancers from Slater's Dance Studio in Edgewater are scheduled to perform at 7pm on the Ellipse in Washington, DC on Thursday [Dec. 16], as part of the "2010 National Christmas Tree Music Program." 

With the possibility of snow in the forecast, students and teachers will be crossing their fingers that the show will go on.

Twenty-six dancers from Starstruck, Shining Stars, and Footnotes, will take the stage on the Ellipse with a total of ten dances including ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, and liturgical.  Previous trips were scheduled for both 2008 and 2009, but were cancelled because of inclement weather.

As the group Starstruck rehearsed in the studio last week, instructor Kim Jones coached the team on technique as they ran through each routine several times until they got it right.  Jones, who has been a regular instructor at Slater's since 2003, said, "it's a lot of work. Year after year we do new dances to non-Christmas music and then we have to find Christmas music to fit those dances which is sometimes a struggle. It takes time."

"We have been working on it since September or August," said Alyssa Corse, a 12-year-old member of Starstruck. "I feel like I'm ready for it because we have been practicing a long time. It's going to be so much fun because I've never been before. It's my first time and I'm so excited." she said.

Melissa Scnepp, 17, and Marisa Kopack, 16, agree that it's going to be a lot of fun for the group.   They are the only two dancers who have performed at the the National Christmas Tree event before.  Both agree that the weather will most likely play a role in the performance. And both are optimistic that their past experience will help them to perform better this year.

"It was cold. It had sleeted. We were all wet. But they put salt on the stage and we still danced," explained Schnepp. "Everyone was really happy to be there because it was like Christmas should be.  And we got to dance in DC," she said.

Kopack admitted that she has not been keeping up with the ever-changing weather report.  She said, "This year, I think it should be better.  I'm hoping and praying that it doesn't rain or snow us out again."

If all goes as planned, "this will definitely be the highlight of our year," explained instructor Cara Nicholson.  "This is the first year we're taking some of our younger dancers to the show.  In the past it's only been our teens.  The youngest is probably in the neighborhood of eight," she said.  "Some of these girls, even though we live right here, don't get a chance to go. So it's nice that we get to do this," she said.

Studio owner Mary Slater, who has been teaching dance in Edgewater for 18 years, said, "I love watching them every time. And, it is always a learning experience for them."  Slater looks for opportunities for her dancers to perform.  "I remember doing it as a child myself, so that's how I even knew there was such a program," she said.

The National Park Service sponsors the 2010 National Christmas Tree Music Program and allows each group to perform for 30 minutes.  Slater sent in the application last August and found out that they were accepted in October.  No audition was required. "It's kind of like a lottery," Slater said.  She is very happy that her students will be able to be a part of it. "It's just kind of glamorous to be able to say, 'I danced at the president's Christmas tree.'"

For more information about 2010 National Christmas Tree Music Program and performance schedule, visit the NPS site.

More Info:

The list below includes the names of those dancers who will be performing on Thursday.

SHINING STARS and FOOTNOTES