Canyon Movement Company presents A Christmas Carol in Dance

The Holiday Classic like you’ve never seen it before – in dance! Join us for this encore performance of A Christmas Carol in Dance. Director Gina Darlington and choreographers in Canyon Movement Company (CMC) have created a NEW holiday show. CMC has partnered with Canyon Dance Academy, Velocity Dance Company, and SES Productions to bring you a production containing a cast of more than 50 performers featuring aerial dance, a stilt walker, youth dancers, multi-media including film and special effects, modern choreography and new music!

This new Flagstaff production uses music by a variety of artists, both classical and contemporary music, and choreographic interpretations lending a fresh look to this favorite holiday story. Canyon Movement Company dancers/choreographers include director Gina Darlington, Cori Wall Mee, Sarah Thomas, Jessica Taylor, Than Haviland, and Chelsea Taylor.

A Christmas Carol – The story of Ebenezer Scrooge is a story of charity, love, and compassion as we witness the changed heart of a stubborn old man. Ghosts from the past, present, and future, remind him of the good in the world. Ultimately, his fear of the same fate as his greedy partner, Jacob Marley, motivates a change of heart. Paul Moore dances the role of Scrooge. Jacob Marley is portrayed by Eric Walden. Canyon Movement Company dancers choreograph and perform the adult roles. Guest artist Mark Stevens performs on stilts as the Ghost of Christmas Present,  and Chelsea Taylor set the dance of Christmas yet to come on Canyon Movement Company with Danielle Borg-James as soloist.

Director Gina Darlington is back at the helm for this production. “We’ve been doing the Nutcracker for fourteen years, the longest consecutive run of the Nutcracker in Flagstaff. We feel like it’s time for something new and exciting. It is a risk doing a new show, but we are confident our audience and supporters will love this new production and see it as a refreshing change from the traditional dance production of the season. We anticipate alternating dance performances each December with the Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol.”

Members of CMC and the cast are also presenting lecture/demonstrations at these schools as part of their community outreach and educational programs: Thunderbird School of Tuba City, Leupp School, Coconino High School, De Miguel, and St. Francis de Asis.

Performances are December 13-14, Friday-Saturday, 7:30 pm, 11 am matinee on the 14th, at the Clifford E White Theater on NAU Campus

Tickets: $19/general, $14/child-student at NAU Ticket office 928-523-5661. Additional ticket fees may apply. Tickets are $2 more if purchased at the door. Call 774-3937 for more information and tickets or check our website www.canyonmovementcompany.org .

This performance is supported in part by funds from the City of Flagstaff and Flagstaff Arts Council, the Arizona Commission on the Arts with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Arizona Community Foundation.

Photos by Sean Openshaw