Holidays in STL: Dancer Roll Call

Written By Colin Ellis

The magic of the Holiday season has just begun in St. Louis. With many fun and festive times ahead, Saint Louis Dance HQ would love to share with you how some of the dancers from around the St. Louis area celebrate during this time of the year and where you can see them perform.

  • Company:
    moSTLy Tap, STL Rhythm Collaborative

    Are you a “start celebrating right after Halloween” or a “save the celebrating until after Thanksgiving” kind of person?
    “We (moSTLy Tap) start working on holiday tunes in September, so I get a taste of the holidays early on! I go full-blown holiday decor, music & festive activities after Thanksgiving, but do not tell my husband the kids and I sneak holiday music in the car pre-Thanksgiving.”

    What is your favorite holiday memory from when you were a kid?
    “My parents made everything feel so special for my siblings and I -- from mom's sugar cookie decorating party and her fancy table at Christmas Eve dinner to matching jammies and making a big brunch with my dad after opening presents. They were intentional about slowing down and spending time together.”

    What are some tips and tricks you use to prepare for your Holiday shows?
    “Listen to the tune over and over -- once I can sing the tune and scat the tap steps, then I can lock into the movement. Cross-training! The holiday show is big energy, so I need my legs and cardiovascular endurance to be able to not only make it through the steps but to add performance value on top of it. Have Fun! We rehearse hard, but we also laugh a lot. Getting to perform with friends and connect with them in the studio and onstage is truly a blessing.”

    Where can we see you perform next?
    “moSTLy Holidays, a Holiday Celebration with mostly tap and mostly jazz, at the Dale Williams Fine Arts Building from December 19th-21st”

    Photo by Katie Strzelec

  • Company:
    Ballet 314

    Are you a “start celebrating right after Halloween” or a “save the celebrating until after Thanksgiving” kind of person?
    “I am all about Halloween, and I like to keep my decorations up until November 2nd for Día de Los Muertos. But the second it is November 3rd? It is holiday season! Honestly, if I could skip Thanksgiving and go straight to Christmas, I probably would lol.”

    What is your favorite Holiday memory from when you were a kid?
    “Our big family holiday parties were my favorite growing up. I loved seeing all my aunts and uncles, listening to them sing and play music, and laughing with my cousins over silly gift exchanges. But Three Kings Day was pure magic. Picking grass for the camels and putting it in a shoebox under the tree is one of my sweetest childhood memories, and my mom always made it feel so special.”

    What are some tips and tricks you use to prepare for your Holiday shows?
    “I thrive on little rituals. Once December hits, I start waking up earlier every day to prep for the early Nutcracker shows. I am not naturally a morning person, but having a routine really helps. I like to take a hot bath in the morning to warm up my muscles, have breakfast (which I try to prep the night before!), and make time 5–10 minutes just to center myself. I also boost my Vitamin C and D—nothing worse than fighting a cold during shows! Wearing a seasonal sweater or cute earrings helps keep the holiday spirit alive, too. At the end of the day, I make sure to do hot Epsom salt foot soaks and ice foot soaks every night. We joke that Nutcracker season is pure madness, but honestly, it’s my favorite time of the year.”

    Where can we see you perform next?
    “Ballet 314’s The Nutcracker & the World’s Fair at the Edison Theatre from December 12th-14th”

    Photo by Lumosco

  • Company:
    Saint Louis Ballet

    What is your Favorite Holiday movie? “My favorite holiday movie would have to be White Christmas. My mom and I watch it every year on Christmas Eve, and it was the movie that inspired me to become a dancer, just like Vera Ellen!”

    What would you recommend to someone who wants to partake in a unique holiday experience in St. Louis?
    “The zoo's wild lights here in STL are a holiday staple for me. My husband and I also drive through the light display at the Shrine of Our Lady of Snows in Illinois. The lights are gorgeous, and there is an area where you can hop out of your car to get hot chocolate and visit a petting zoo. They have live entertainment throughout the night, and it is free!”

    What are some tips and tricks you use to prepare for your Holiday shows?
    “The best trick I would say is to rest when you can. I really focus on taking care of myself, whether that be with baths, electrolytes, icing, watching a good movie, or just eating the food that sounds good. If I get a day off, I am doing everything I can to reset my body and mind so the next day of shows feels fresh and new.”

    Where can we see you perform next?
    “Saint Louis Ballet’s Gen Horiuchi’sThe Nutcracker, at the Touhill Performing Arts Center from December 18th-23rd.”

    Photo by Kelly Pratt

  • Company:
    Saint Louis Dance Theatre (STLDT)

    Do you have a favorite Holiday memory from when you were an adult?
    “Going outside when I lived in London and enjoying the 1st snowflakes in the dead of night and just roaming around.”

    Is there anything you look forward to for the new year?
    “Finally, having the opportunity to learn and hopefully perform “Walking Mad” by Johan Inger. He has been one of my favorite choreographers. Secondly, I love the aspect of creating art in all forms of collaboration and choreography, so I am looking forward to more opportunities for creating any form of art involving myself and whoever else.”

    What are some tips and tricks you use to prepare for your Holiday shows?
    “    Holiday shows can be intense with the work schedule and lonely because often times I cannot do the things with my family like shopping, preparing the food, or just hanging around, so the more I can call them during the holiday period makes me feel like I am not missing out too much. Another is staying as warm as possible! I often have about 4-5 layers of so warming up is not too hard.”

    Where can we see you perform next?
    “STLDT just had their Fall Series on November 14th- 16th. Up next is our collaboration with Jazz St. Louis for Gaslight Dreams.”

    Photos by Kelly Pratt

  • Company:
    Modern American Dance Company (MADCO)

    What is your Favorite Holiday movie?
    “I think it has to be a tie between Elf and The Grinch. These two are movies that I grew up on, and when we have the whole family watching them, we can quote pretty much the whole movie.”

    What would you recommend to someone who wants to partake in a unique holiday experience in St. Louis?
    “I have really loved over the past few years visiting different coffee shops and testing out their holiday drinks!!! I'm an avid latte drinker and love to see what they come up with each year. I also have a big love for looking at Christmas lights, and there are so many neighborhoods around here to drive through and see what people put up! If you want more of a walking around and seeing-lights, The Garden Glow at the Botanical Gardens is gorgeous! I was just there last week, and they looked gorgeous in the afternoon. I can only imagine how beautiful they will be with some snow and at night!”

    What are some tips and tricks you use to prepare for your Holiday shows?
    “    With the weather getting so much colder, layering is essential for me! Regardless of how far away the studio or performance venue is, I tend to have at least 2-3 layers on to make sure I have at least a little extra warmth to combat the weather and prevent injury/strain.”

    Where can we see you perform next?
    “Dare to Dance: Artists Shaping the Now at COCA’s Catherine B. Berges Theatre on January 30th & 31st”

    Photo by Carly Vanderheyden

  • Company:
    Resilience Dance Company

    Do you have a favorite snack you must have every Holiday season?
    “My Aunt Sue’s Hermit Cookies and my Aunt Kelli’s Pickle Rolls!”

    Do you have a favorite Holiday memory from when you were an adult?
    “There are a lot! I love spending Christmas Eve with my family at my aunt and uncle’s house! I get to see family and friends I have not seen in a while, there is great food, plenty of drinks, and the occasional Christmas trivia game; my sister and I dominate!”

    What are some tips and tricks you use to prepare for your Holiday shows?
    “Something new I’ve added to my pre-show warm-up is an electric blanket and some hand warmers! My fingers and toes are always ice cold, so I’ll do anything to get and keep them warm!”

    Where can we see you perform next?
    “Speak Easy - Move Loud with RESILIENCE Dance Company and Continuum Vocal Ensemble at The Mahler Ballroom on February 6-7th”

    Photo by Lumosco

  • Company:
    Karlovsky and Co Dance

    Do you have a favorite snack you must have every Holiday season?
    Peppermint bark, ginger snaps, and my aunt’s fudge bring up a lot of great memories of the holidays! I also love a good latke and sufganiyot!

    Is there anything you look forward to for the new year?
    Getting back into rehearsal for springtime shows! I love the holidays, and it is great to have a break and relax, but it is always so nice to come back to class rejuvenated and moving with people I enjoy again!

    What are some tips and tricks you use to prepare for your Holiday shows?
    Drink lots of water and warm up properly! The air is less humid when it is cold, so it is easier to get dehydrated, and it just takes a little longer to warm up your body from the cold. Just take your time and take care of yourself!

    Where can we see you perform next?
    “Karlosvky and Dance Company’s next performance, Shifting Time, at the Grandel Theatre on March 20th and 21st.”

    Photos by Carly Vanderheyden

Colin Ellis
Previous

HQ Review: Grace Meraki Dance Company presents its first performance “Finding Home”
Next

HQ Review: STAGED presented by Karlovsky and Company Dance