Every November, eyes toward the stage! Roswell Dance Theatre's beloved annual production of The Nutcracker returns this year from November 27 through December 6, filling seats with families who've made it a holiday tradition for years. But behind the seasonal costumes of tutus, toy soldiers and fabulous props is a season of giving that many audience members never have the chance to see.
And for over than 30 years, Roswell Dance Theatre ran its Christmas Angel program, bringing Christmas to families in Coalmont, Tennessee, a coal-mining town with a personal tie to the studio's founder, Nancy Tolbert Yilmaz, whose mother was raised there. What started as a small gesture those many years ago has grown into an effort that now touches more than 600 residents each year. Dancers, families, and staff come together to gather gifts, wrap presents, and deliver Christmas to a community many of them will never meet in person. “The Coalmont Christmas Angel program is near and dear to my heart. There is no better feeling than to give back in a meaningful way, to honor my roots, and support the place that shaped me." Yilmaz said We give Christmas presents to the elderly living in Nursing Homes in Grundy County Tennessee.
But the giving doesn't stop there. This month, local Girl Scout troops will file into the studio for a hands-on badge and patch program, watching a live Nutcracker rehearsal and learning a bit of choreography before earning a patch to go with their ticket. The workshops are set for November 14th and 21st and are just one more way that Roswell Dance Theatre opens its doors to the wider community.
This pattern of giving is central to the studio. For more than 40 years, RDT dancers have ridden a float down Roswell's Youth Day Parade route, and the company performs free each year at the Roswell Arts Festival, putting dance in front of neighbors who might never buy a ticket otherwise. Its HUGS From Young Choreographers showcase gives student choreographers a platform while raising funds for causes the dancers care about. This year, the dancers will use their time and athletic abilities to raise money for Gigi’s Playhouse Atlanta, a nonprofit organization that commits to changing lives and providing hope through the consistent delivery of FREE educational, therapeutic, and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community, using a replicable playhouse model. "At Tolbert Yilmaz School of Dance, giving back is woven into the rhythm of who we are. We are committed to ensuring that the joy of dance is available to all.” Nancy Tolbert Yilmaz.
"As an adult student at TYSOD, I had the honor of dancing at the Roswell Arts Festival and see the joy the Art of Dance gives to the community. Nancy's passion is strong and her love of Roswell is immeasurable. The Nutcracker is more than a ballet; Tolbert creates "Dance Families" for the students and their families, and Nancy is the matriarch!, says Nicholas Porche.
For a studio built on a 30-year-old family promise to a small Tennessee town, The Nutcracker's run each season isn't just a performance; it's a fundraiser, a family reunion, and a reminder of why Roswell Dance Theatre continues its important "giving back" work.
The Nutcracker runs November 27th–December 6th at The Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center.
Tickets and more information at tysod.com/nutcracker-landing/