There’s nothing like a toy soldier to bring out the Christmas kid in every Villager.
“When you get older and retire; move away from home and your kids are scattered around the country, Christmas isn’t quite the same,” Linda “Bert” Berthiaume said.
So, Berthiaume, originally from New Hampshire, decided to do something to recapture that elusive spirit of Christmas Past. She is co-director and dance captain of the Savannah Center’s 2015 “Christmas Spectacular.”
The Questar production, also co-directed by Debra Heath-Strickland, will be held Dec. 3-5. Tickets are selling fast for the event which pays tribute to the famed Rockettes’ holiday musical at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Proceeds will benefit the Salvation Army and Pocket Pillowcases Dresses.
Berthiaume has spent nearly a year working on the show, and it has transported her to another time of life.
“My involvement in this show has brought the spirit of Christmas back to me,” she said on a recent morning during a rehearsal at the Tierra Del Sol Village Recreation Center. “I just hope when people see it, after it’s over, they will feel like a kid again. I know I do.”
Berthiaume and about 15 other dancers are part of the popular “The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers.”
Berthiaume and the others wear a stunning outfit that includes chalk-white slacks, a red jacket to go with a tall black hat that is topped with white feathers. Each soldier stands 7 to 8 feet tall.
And while the outfit can be hot and cumbersome, the dancers move with elegance and precision.
“The dancers are so dedicated and they all wanted to be in this show so much,” Berthiaume said.
The reasons are simple: for these Villagers the Rockette dance fantasy is real – at least in their minds and on a Villages’ stage.
“I wanted to be a Toy Soldier because it’s a dream come true to dance like a Rockette,” said Linda Swain.
“The Toy Soldier number is my favorite one in the Rockettes’ show and it’s great to be part of it,” said Cathye Leshay.
Diana Cecil is one of the show’s eight choreographers and also one of the soldiers. “I wanted to be in the Toy Soldier number because it’s a choreographer’s dream.”
“This is the closest I will ever be to a June Taylor dancer and it’s wonderful,” said Terrie Fox.
“I’m just happy to be a Villager Rockette,” added Cyndy Shackles.
“It’s a small way to pay tribute the men (and women soldiers) who really matter,” said Sue Burton.
Kathy Chesley-Williams had a more personal reason for dancing with the soldiers. She said her husband recently had a serious operation. “He’s healthy and I’m back,” she said with a smile.
The positive attitude and work ethic is reflective of the mammoth cast and support crew for the show, which includes over 100 Villagers.
“We’ve all worked so hard to make this happen,” Berthiaume said. “It’s not just the dancers and singers, it’s everybody—on stage and behind the scenes. We all want to make this a special Christmas show for everyone.”
