Suffering from sugar plum fatigue?
This Sunday, Dec. 5, at 4 p.m., “Spirit of Christmas” offers a Broadway-style holiday alternative of dance and music on the stage at Centennial Hall on the campus of the University of Arizona.
“Nutcracker is a beautiful classic ballet,” explains director Tammy Booth “and our dancers actually perform a piece from it, ‘Waltz of the Flowers.’ But we believe that our show has a wider appeal and a faster pace that will keep everyone in the family entertained—young and old.”
Now in its 24th year of production, “Spirit of Christmas” was conceived by mother/daughter team Wanda Manville, owner of Tempe Dance Academy, and Booth, owner of Tucson Dance Academy and a former Rockette. They’ve entertained audiences in the Phoenix area with a perennial favorite holiday show that is part Broadway-Radio City Rockettes spectacular, part musical theater.
The show played to sold-out audiences in the Northwest last year. Now, producers Tammy and Tom Booth and Wanda Manville are presenting a “grand” opening of “Spirit of Christmas” at Centennial Hall. “Spirit of Christmas” has more than 100 dancers, a mix of advanced students from Tucson Dance Academy & Tempe Dance Academy and professional dancers, along with nationally recognized guest singers, performers and choreographers.
Tickets are $26 for adults, $24 for seniors 65 and over as well as military personnel, and $22 for children 12 and under. Proceeds from the show benefit the Gospel Rescue Mission, a faith-based, non-denominational organization “that strives to abolish homelessness, addiction and spiritual hopelessness,” the release said.
