Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  There is nothing more adorable than a three-year-old in a tutu working her hardest to take the right steps or make the right moves. They watch everyone else and mimic the arm sweeps, the turns, just a little behind everyone else. When the dancers receive an ovation, the little ones clap and cheer along with them. It was a job well done.

Last week, the local dance class, Angela Delsanter’s Mountain Movers performed their end-of-session recital with the groups ranging from the youngest one, three-year-old Maisle Schaub to the more advanced 12-year olds, already becoming graceful and confident.

This recital featured 35 dancers who all wore distinctive costumes that defined the number they were performing. Each dance was choreographed to the age group and all of them were visually splendid in color and style.

The first group, grades four and five, did a boisterous rendition of “Rock Around the Clock,” showing off the children’s ability to move to the beat. Then the three and four-year-old preschoolers spread their arms and pointed their toes to “Baseman.”

Pre-kindergartners and kindergartners twirled to “Itty Bitty Pretty One,” and grades one through three joined in their tap performance of “Dance to the Rhythm of Love.”

The ballet performances include ages three through fifth grade.

The musical theater performance by the fourth and fifth graders brought the audience to their feet with bravos.

The girls did “It’s a Hard Knock Life,” from the musical Annie. They not only achieved difficult gymnastic moves but they sang the song with gusto and attitude that matched a professional performance.

It was a job well done by both students and teachers and reflected the hard work they have put into their session.

Delsanter started the Mountain Movers seven years ago to be an after-school dance program for the kids in our community.  It has grown incredibly over the years.

“I wanted to try to give it the dance studio feel that other towns have, even though we are limited on space and time. I added the recitals during the second year.  Now we order costumes from a dance catalogue for an added touch.  The girls love the costumes.  We also perform every year for the Boulder Creek Festival.”

Delsanter danced all her life and received a BFA in dance from Ohio University.  She has been a professional dancer for 20 plus years.  Currently she is a company member of Frequent Flyers Productions, a Boulder Aerial Dance company.

To find out more about the Mountain Movers dance classes, contact her at angeleacat23@gmail.com.