Winter dance recital a “Masterpiece”

The beginners dance class combined theme and classical ballet with bar techniques to open the Dance Department music recital "Masterpiece." Photo provided by Michael Sylver.

On Sunday, December 4, the Dance Department held their annual holiday dance recital. The proceeds from the show were donated to a number of charities, including the Camillus House, the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet Scholarship Fund, and Help a Child Foundation of Florida. The theme for this year’s recital was “Masterpiece,” which used songs from both modern and classical artists.

The entire auditorium was packed with parents, students, and teachers in support of the dance department’s talent. The dances were upbeat and embodied the mood of the winter season using classic holiday songs in their performances, such as “Let it Snow” by The Radio City Rockettes and “All I Want For Christmas” by Mariah Carey.

“The show was a lovely experience and I’m glad I got to watch it,” said sophomore Keri Shapiro.

The theme, “Masterpiece”, was incorporated into the dances using music from both modern artists like Adele and Florence and the Machine to classical artists, like Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Johann Pachelbel.

The genres for each piece were also varying including ballet, hip-hop, tap, and swing. Additionally, guest performers participated in the recital, including TJ Reeves performed a solo titled “Motown Magic” and Diego Schaps sang “All My Loving” by the Beatles.

“It was a great experience to sing for the dance show and be a part of such a great performance. Everyone did wonderfully,” said senior Diego Schaps.

The proceeds from the show went to the Camillus House, the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet Scholarship Fund, and Help a Child Foundation of Florida. The Camillus House is a nonprofit organization that helps the homeless in Miami-Dade County. The organization provides hospitality, such as clothes, help with addiction, job training, health care, and shelter for the homeless.The Thomas Armour Youth Ballet Scholarship Fund helps children who are unable to afford attendance at TAYB in order to create diversity in the and allow all children the ability to participate in a dance class.

“We are very grateful that Gulliver continues to be a supporter of the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet. With the last donation that was given to us we were able to use the funds to help outfit the studio with barres and a sound system,” said Chief of Arts Education and Outreach at TAYB, Geannina Burgos.

The Help a Child Foundation of Florida is an organization that helps underprivileged children. The goal of the nonprofit organization is to promote volunteering within the community.

“The money that will be received from your school and any other donation of items or money, is one hundred percent used towards the purchase of supplies,” said Help a Child Foundation representative Mercy Sauer.