The annual RISE Vineyard Performing Arts holiday show “Season’s Greetings VI, A Dance Extravaganza,” will be presented on Sunday, Dec. 13, at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs. Students will perform holiday classics and modern renditions of traditional favorites by Kelly Clarkson, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Cyndi Lauper, Spike Jones, Ronnie Spector, Tchaikovsky, and more. Christina Belinsky and Jesse Keller of the Yard will be featured in special guest performances. All performance proceeds benefit the RISE Above Access Program, which provides scholarship aid to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to dance due to financial difficulty.
RISE director Jil Matrisciano caught up with The Times to tell us more about this year’s performance.
What are you most excited about in this year’s program?
This year we made the decision to move our performance from the Oak Bluffs school to the PAC to accommodate our growing audience and cast. This new venue will really support our dancers and provide them with a frame that truly showcases their talents. Our spectacular new set, new costumes, and festive programming includes our cast, special guests, and a few fun surprises.
How have the students been preparing for this show?
In order to give students a well-rounded dance experience, we incorporate choreography into technique classes starting mid-October. We use the opportunity of the show to teach dancers performance techniques and how to refine choreography for the stage.
How has the Above Access Program benefited students in the past, and why do you feel it is important?
All of the proceeds from “Season’s Greetings” go directly to our scholarship program. In the past two years alone, the RISE Above Access Program has provided over $50,000 in dance scholarships to Island families. It is the only dance-specific scholarship on Martha’s Vineyard that works to overcome economic limitations. The main goal is to make dance training a reality for all students who wish to explore their artistic expression and personal determination through the journey that classical dance inspires.
“Season’s Greetings VI,” MVRHS Performing Arts Center, Sunday, Dec. 13, 1 pm and 6 pm. Seating is general admission; any tickets not presold will be offered at the door. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students, and $5 for children ages 5 and under. Presales are available now at RISE Vineyard Performing Arts in the Woodland Business Center in Vineyard Haven. For more information, call RISE Vineyard Performing Arts at 508-693-2262.
