Cara Dolan ’24
The annual Christmas Dancers performance is a staple of the Oak Knoll community during the holiday season. Every year, either through video or live performance, Dancers perform holiday dances or variations from George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.
“The Dancers are so good, they make me want to get up and jiggy! Their performance is my favorite part of Christmas at Oak Knoll,” Meredith Manigan ’24 comments. Part of The Nutcracker’s charm is its perennial nature; the dances usually consist of the same choreography, year after year. However, Ms. Bennett manages to revive the classic ballet each year in a slightly different fashion. This year’s production not only features Nutcracker pieces, but rather traditional modern Christmas dances. These pieces are set to popular holiday songs that are sure to please the Oak Knoll audience.
Former student and Dancers member Julia Szymanski says, “My favorite part of my time at Oak Knoll was my experiences in Dancers. They’re such a tight-knit group of wildly diverse talents and Ms. Bennett always comes up with a great way to incorporate everyone’s skills.” Dancers is a coalition of students in all grades who love to dance, whether it be classical ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary or hip hop. The group is open to anyone who wants to join and possibly participate in the spring concert. They are known for their family-like bond established throughout their time together, “All the upperclassmen help with instruction, and help foster a great connection with the younger members,” Szymanski notes. Seniors have always been known to choreograph and help instruct for the Spring show, just adding to the welcoming and accepting dynamic of the group.
This year, Dancers are working hard with the instruction of Ms. Bennett to curate a virtual performance including a wide variety of styles of dance. If you have any interest in joining the ensemble, contact either Cara Dolan (dolan.cara.24@oakknoll.org) or Ms. Bennett (bennett.carlee@oakknoll.org) Be sure to check out the Christmas performance and consider being a part of the dancing community!
Border by Katie Nguyen ’23