Anita's Dances Into December

Anita’s Dance Center dancers were seen at the Muskego Christmas parade on Nov. 17, marking the first of many appearances for the holiday season.

The group also performed at the Waukesha Holiday parade on Nov. 18, and in the Menomonee Falls parade on Nov. 25. Their parade unit consists of a decorated mobile DJ unit and costumed dancers performing to popular hits and holiday classics.

In addition dancers from Anita’s will be performing their version of "The Nutcracker" on Dec. 8 and 9 at the New Berlin West High School Performing Arts Center.  

Anita Olson, owner and second generation of Anita’s Dance Center, said in a release, "The Nutcracker performance is a yearly tradition at our studio. We like to give children the chance to experience different music and more chances to perform. The Nutcracker is a timeless classic with music that is over 100 years old. Our rendition includes all new costumes, choreography and set design in a format where the story is told in 1 ½ hours. It is ideal for people of all ages."

Tickets are $9.75 a piece and are available now online at danceadc.com and at the New Berlin West PAC box office the weekend of the event.

Taking the show on the road

Performers will also take part in the second largest Christmas festival and parade of lights in the country, second only to Walt Disney World, in Ida, Michigan on Dec. 1. Anita’s Dance Center’s float contains more than 10,000 lights, and more than 50 dancers will be dancing the parade route accompanying the float.

While the city of Ida, Michigan has a small population of 4,949, their annual parade boast spectators of more than 40,000 each year over the 3 day event. Anita’s Dance Center also wrote the theme song for the event. 

In addition to holiday parades, several charity events are planned throughout the month of December including Muskego and Brookfield retirement communities. A charity dance show will be held December 21 at New Berlin West High School in which dancers will perform jazz, tap, ballet and hip hop numbers to various Christmas selections. Proceeds from the event will be donated to one or more non-profit organizations.