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Dec. 2, 2004 • Volume 13 Number 7

Scene from "A Dancer's Christmas" (Photo by William Parson)

'Dancer's Christmas' promises 'alive and fresh' experience

After a quarter-century, one would think staging "A Dancer's Christmas" is like getting Christmas decorations and tree ornaments out of the attic: Everything looks about the same, except maybe a little older.

Not so, says the creator and guiding spirit of the dance-flavored interpretation of the Christmas story that is a popular Boston College holiday tradition.

"Throughout the years, we've changed the choreography, added some elements here and there, then gone back to the parts we worked on previously and explored them again," said University Artist-in-Residence Robert Ver Eecke, SJ, director of the Boston College Dance Ensemble, which will present "A Dancer's Christmas" at Robsham Theater this month.

"So I always say to people, 'The show you saw a few years ago is not the one you'll be seeing this year,'" said Fr. Ver Eecke, who is pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola Church. "It keeps the experience alive and fresh for everyone, dancers and audience alike."

Performances will be Dec. 10-12 and 17-19, with a special children's show on Dec. 18 at 2 p.m.

This is the 25th year for "A Dancer's Christmas," its 24th at Robsham - the show debuted at Trinity Chapel on Newton Campus in 1980. Once again, the cast will feature a mix of professionals, students and amateurs.

Another "Dancer's Christmas" tradition continues this year, Fr. Ver Eecke added: special showings for approximately 1,000 area Catholic schoolchildren. "It's a great opportunity to expose them to something that is both spiritual and aesthetic," he said. "The schoolkids really look forward to attending, and we're happy to have them."

For more information on "A Dancer's Christmas," see the Robsham Theater Web site at www.bc.edu/offices/robsham. •