Paradosi Ballet Brings the Story of Christmas to Woodinville

Paradosi Ballet Company of Tacoma and Generations Woodinville Foursquare Church is presenting Commissioned, a ballet about the story of Christmas on Dec. 4 at 11 am at the Carol Edwards Center. The 45-minute performance is free, according to Marc Shaw, lead pastor of Generations Woodinville.

“It’s our way of sharing with the community,” he said. “Paradosi Ballet brings a deeply moving, artistic expression of the Christmas story. The beauty and power of professional art in dance and drama bring to life the story of Joseph, Mary and Jesus. We’re blessed to have them as our guests.”

The dance troupe will also perform on Monday, Dec 5 at 1 p.m. for Woodinville seniors, he added.

The performances mark a sort of homecoming for co-executive director Tennile Carver, who grew up in Redmond and graduated from the in Woodinville. “It’s really exciting for me to be bringing the company to Woodinville,” she said.

Founded in 2007, Paradosi Ballet is a Christian dance company which performs on churches, schools and theaters throughout the Northwest.

Commissioned was written by Joel Carver, Tennile’s husband and co-director. It tells the story of Mary and Joseph from the beginning of their journey together. “It’s really focusing on what it would have been like for them,” Tennile said. “A lot of it is told from Joseph’s point of view, which you usually don’t hear.”

Joel, who is more comfortable on the soccer field than in toe shoes, plays Joseph. “It’s usually women who talk their husbands into going to a ballet,” said Tennile. “Then they see Joel, more athlete than dancer, playing Joseph and they have someone on stage they can relate to.”

The performance includes classical ballet as well as traditional Jewish folk dance and is set to lively Latin rhythms. The dance company has 11 professional dancers and add an additional 11 performers, including children and an infant to play baby Jesus.

“And there are going to be chickens, so we can say there will be live animals,” Tennile said. “Of course, the chickens will be in a cage.”