JandJ’s Christmas Extraordinaire raises spirits
Last weekend’s Susanville City Kickettes and JandJ Dancers Christmas Extraordinaire concert high-kicked the holiday spirit of those in attendance straight up into the stratosphere.
The dancers from JandJ Performing Arts put on a spectacular Christmas Extraordinaire Dec. 14-15 at the Susanville Memorial Hall.The anticipation bubbled throughout the packed Veterans Memorial Hall. Before Sunday’s show began, a small group without tickets gathered in the lobby hoping to find an empty seat at the last minute, and the ushers took a quick count and the annual dance concert started right on time.
The JandJ Dancers performed nearly every kind of dance imaginable during the 2 ½ hour show — mommy and me, tot-hop, ballet, jazz, tap, clogging, acro/tumbling, clogging, hip hop, modern, and of course, the Susanville City Kickettes.
The senior Kickettes — Hailey Gregor, Arianna Moore and Bailey Heath, were joined by Izzy Norwood, Sally Tiffany, Mariah Beckman, Kaelyn Vaquera and Alyssa Zimmerman for a number of performances and costume changes throughout the program.
The Kickettes kicked off the show with “We Need A Little Christmas.”
A series of numbers followed based upon “Toy Story” — “Santa’s Gonna Rock,” (Kickettes), “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” (Jazz 1), “Let it Snow,” (Clogging 2), Toy Soldiers, (Kickettes), “Last Christmas,” (Tumbling 1), “Run, Run Rudolph,” (Tot Hop), “Reindeer,” (Kickettes), “Santa Smooth Landing,” (Giana Foreman, Mini Elf), “Ice, Ice Baby,” (Tap), “Shake, Santa Shake,” (Mini Combo) and “Man With A Bag,” (Mommy and Me).
Then the Grinch took over with Austin Stephensen playing the Grinch and Grace Steward playing
Austin Stephensen and Grace Steward shine as the Grinch and Cindy Lou.Cindy Lou.
The numbers included “I Am The Grinch,” (Beginning Hip Hop), “Now Drop,” (Intermediate Hip Hop), “Green Christmas,” (Pre Ballet), “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” (Tumble III), “Carol Of The Bells,” (Tumble II), “Red Mercedez,” (Advanced Hip Hop), “Christmas, Why Can’t I Find You?” (Pre Ballet), “You’re A Mean One,” (Intermediate II Hip Hop), “Tell Your Mama,” (Clogging I), “Stealing Christmas,” (Ballet IV), “Where Are You Christmas?” (Ballet I and II), “Welcome Christmas,” (Ballet I) and “King of Jiggaling,” (Kickettes).
The second half — Welcome to the 2020s — opened after a 15-minute intermission.
The numbers included “Jingle Bells,” (Future Kickettes), “Good Times Roll,” (Kickettes), “Diamonds,” (Jazz 2), “Roxie Hart,” (Jazz 3), “Gatsby Party,” Competitive Team), “Soldier Daughter Letter,” (Glalisa Funes), “Unsteady,” (Modern II), “Ashes,” (Modern III), “Soldier United, Coming Home Scene,” (George Funes, dad/soldier), “Angel,” (Modern I), “Live nativity (Guess family), “Angel,” (Emma Martinez), “Angel 2,” (Alyssa Leslie) and the finale, “Joy To The World,” (Kickettes and all JandJ Dancers).
Jessica Wade served as the director/instructor. Ashleigh Adair was the assistant director/instructor and Kat Guess, Ashley Lively and Celeste Wiser were instructors.
JandJ thanked Craig Newton for his dedication to Santa and Best of Broadway for the lights, sound and backdrops.
The JandJ Dancers wished the audience a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.