Dancers kick off holiday season

Enjoy a mash-up of the holiday season at the fourth annual showcase put on by students of the Citrus dance department.

Twenty-two dancers will perform 14 dance numbers—four choreographed by students—in the "Holidance" show in the Haugh Performing Arts Center on Dec. 8 and 9.

Dance styles range from ballet to jazz to modern.

Last year's dancers performed to a song in Spanish and this year they will dance to a song in Hebrew to celebrate Hanukkah.

"This is more diverse, which I think is great for a community college," said professor of dance John Vaughan, director of "Holidance." "It's just celebrating the holiday season."

Audience members can expect to see themes as silly as Black Friday and as sacred as Hanukkah.

"When you think of Citrus College, you don't really think of reaching out to folks in the Jewish community, but that's really important to me," Vaughan said.

Student dancer and choreographer Jairus Pecson-Aquino, 22, choreographed a number inspired by fall titled

"Bountiful." His dancers will be wearing prairie dresses. The dancers depict falling leaves and gathers  of harvest.

This is Pecson-Aquino's fourth year in "Holidance" and he will be dancing in eight numbers.

The 22-member dance troupe will also perform selections from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker."

"The ‘Nutcracker' is becoming a tradition," Vaughan said.

Jorge Bernave, who is dancing the part of the "Nutcracker," said that he is "very excited" he was chosen for the role.

The show is perfect for all ages, Vaughan said.

"We just mix it up every year to try to reach out to different groups of people," he said.

"Holidance" will be performed in one act Dec. 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. in the HPAC. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for students.