Young dancers will shine in a new holiday show

A troupe of 20 graceful Island girls and six boys will dance in an all-new show, “Holiday Ornaments,” this weekend.

A troupe of 20 graceful Island girls and six boys will dance in an all-new show, “Holiday Ornaments,” this weekend.

The dance concert, presented by Vashon Island Community Ballet (VICB), is sponsored by the Vashon Park District.

The show will include excerpts from “The Nutcracker” as well as several new dances choreographed by Kim Gallo, who teaches the dancers under the banner of Island Dance Theater.

Gallo’s class provides a low-cost opportunity for Island kids to perform on Vashon. Dancers meet on Saturdays throughout the fall to rehearse for the show, paying only a $25 registration fee.

The park district program has been an important part of the lives of many young Vashon dancers and their families. Two of the dancers in this year’s show, Vashon High School senior Kaydi Rosser and Student Link senior Keanu Roush, have danced with the group for several years, while other tiny tots in the show are just beginning to explore the world of dance.

Founded by Betsy Frazee as Vashon Junior Civic Ballet, the program has undergone several changes this year — the result of a leadership dispute that put this season’s performance in jeopardy. A new board, however, was elected a few weeks ago, and the park district, as a result, agreed to sponsor the winter show.

Kamela Trujillo, who chairs VICB’s newly elected board, said she hopes a lot of Islanders will turn out for the show to applaud the dancers. To that end, she’s given away passes to St. Vincent de Paul, the Vashon Senior Center and the food bank.

For those who will be buying tickets, prices have been kept low. A family pass to the show is $23 for two adults and up to three kids, with additional tickets for kids in family groups costing only $2 per person. Individual tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for children.

The show will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Vashon High School.