Make dance traditions part of your holiday bucket list by taking advantage of the many opportunities the Christmas season has for fostering an appreciation of the arts.
Christmas time abounds with the chance to build new family traditions. Cutting down a Christmas tree, taking a picture with Santa Claus, decorating a gingerbread house and hosting a holiday party are a few popular annual events. Fred Astaire Dance Studios recommends starting a new family tradition during December by putting on your finest frocks and attending a holiday performance showcasing the art of dance.
Christmas shows can be found in movie theaters and on stages across the country. The season starts with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which features more than 8,000 participants, dozens of floats and huge balloons. Check out these performers from Duluth, Georgia, dancing to traditional Indian music.
The iconic “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” offers its audience a holiday treat. The precision dance company was formed in 1925 and has performed in hundreds of different stage shows, even taking part in the inauguration of President George W. Bush in 2001. Every December, Radio City Music Hall in New York is transformed into a winter wonderland, and the Rockettes kick up their heels to familiar Christmas favorites. Watch this clip from a performance last year.
Attending the Nutcracker ballet has inspired many children to start dance lessons. In this clip, ballet dancers at The Royal Opera House in London perform “Waltz of the Snowflakes.”
The musical, “White Christmas,” features lively dance numbers sure to get your toes tapping. In the movie, the familiar carol reminiscing about snowy Christmases gone by is sung by Rosemary Clooney. The tradition of singing carols at Christmas started as early as the fourth century, but many of the popular carols played on the radio today date back 200 years. Check out this clip from a stage adaptation of the film, performed in theaters throughout the country in December.
Keep holiday magic alive with dance
Fred Astaire Dance Studios offers classes for people of all ages who are inspired by a performance they attended during the holiday season. In addition to being fun and social, ballroom dancing is a low-impact workout that can help you work off the calories from your last helping of Christmas cookies and holiday fudge.
Visit your local Fred Astaire Dance Studios to maintain the magic of the holiday season and an appreciation for the arts throughout the year.
