Mindy Leary, Nederland. On Saturday, December 7, 2019, the local Nederland dance troupe, Mountain Movers, performed a Wizard of Oz themed recital at the Nederland Middle Senior High School. A joyous, full crowd was in attendance. Flowers in hand and faces eager to see their little dancers shine and sparkle. And shine they did!

The program highlights included group and solo performances that featured songs like, Meet Dorothy, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Ding Dong the Witch is Dead and the Lollipop Guild. The dancers were arranged in age groups that ranged from preschool to middle school, with the older dancers performing solos around the various age groups.

The interaction between the solo dancers and the groups of little dancers was heart-warming and endearing. The younger girls would sit and watch the solo dancer perform, eyes gazing with admiration. 

The Mountain Movers dance troupe displayed a healthy amount of confidence as well with only one little girl, per usual, standing frozen for a bit, crying a little, and then rejoining the routine. “Awes,” from the crowd resonated as the little dancer conquered her stage fright.

The show ended with Brand New Day as the finale to hoots and claps from the audience. Group pictures were then made possible and special thanks given to Nederland Middle Senior High School and Liz Evans for her support and time, as well as students from the high school who helped sell flowers and host the event, doing sound and lights and cleaning.

Without the support of the local community including friends and family, this event wouldn’t have been possible. And with continued support, the event wishes to remain free to the public.

Mountain Movers is a local dance troupe that operates out of Nederland and has weekly classes at the Nederland Community Center. For more information, contact the Community Center in Nederland. 

(Originally published in the December 12, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)