The Mesquite Toes Dance Troupe dazzled the Mesquite Community theater audience into the Christmas Season at their Friday, Dec. 8 holiday performance of “A Merry and Bright Christmas.”
The show presented eleven different rousing routines and costume changes by the Mesquite Toes alone. Costume coordinator Judy Mae Kramer is to be commended for the beautiful work on the costumes.
Adding new variety and time for costume changes this year was beautiful duets by Brian Wursten and Shane Arave singing, “Baby its Cold Outside” and “Silver Bells.”
Adding her humorous “Observations” was Suzie White, MCT giving the audience some old-style humor and good old-fashion laughter.
John Norwig and Marcia Swider were back with their exhibition dancing and received a rousing applause for their “Mambo Santa Mambo.”
Back again were the Sun River Jazz Team, from St George with their expertly done “New York, New York.”
Cowboy poet Russ Westwood, gave the audience his rendition of a “Cowboy’s Christmas Prayer.”
New to this performance from the Mesquite Toes was the addition of a ballet routine. This performance was quite lovely and graceful and appreciated by the audience.
It was challenging to choose a favorite routine this year; they were all excellent and entertaining.
Audience member Carol Hansen said, “I liked the clogging numbers the best, I think because it’s noisy.”
Connie Rice, an original member of the Mesquite Toes said her favorite was the routine entitled “Swingin’ Home for Christmas.”
The show inspired attendee 89-year-old Rene McDonald to consider joining the fun. “I am signing up with the toes,” she said. “I want to dance with them. I am new to Mesquite and have been clogging since 2007.”
Don’t forget the man of corny jokes, the emcee everyone loves to laugh with: Pericles Rellas, who always does a good job.
“We were excited to share our love of dance with such enthusiastic audiences,” exclaimed Norma Rife, Director of Mesquite Toes. “Our Mesquite Toes dancers, local artists, theater staff, and volunteers worked tirelessly to put on a great show, and based on the positive remarks from audience members, I think they succeeded.”
At the end of the performance Mesquite Toes President Cherie Kempe presented a $500 check to Jean Battaglia, MPD Volunteer Police coordinator, for the Shop with a Cop program.
On Saturday night, they presented a check to Aleaha Sargent of Safe Nest for $500.
“It was an honor to share part of our proceeds from this show with these two local charities selected by our dance membership,” Rife said.
The Mesquite Toes Dance Troupe will hold an open house on Thursday January 11, from 11 am to 2 pm at 10 E. Mesquite Blvd. Unit C. in Heritage Plaza. All are invited to meet the instructors, try out a few dance steps and check out the new ballet class.