Fundraiser for dance supports fundraiser for foodbank

The costumes are getting old, and need a few repairs and replacements. Old finery from the 19-year run of “The Nutcracker” — discontinued when former director Nancy Clement retired about 5 years ago — are “falling apart, or there’s not enough, or they need cleaning,” said Susan Sorenson, owner and artistic director of CGDA. With donations, the fundraiser “can keep it charitable, and we can replenish what we need to keep the show going.”

Sorenson directs this three-year-old holiday variety show, where about 100 students, seventh grade and up, will perform ballet dances from “The Nutracker,” jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and tap, choreographed by their teachers. Theresa Mason, Clement’s co-director, organizes the ballet.

After a gap during Covid-19, this show replaced “The Nutcracker,” which also benefited FISH Foodbank. It’s that charity’s largest contribution of the year: The last performance brought 1,650 pounds of food and $131 in cash.

Students aren’t charged for participation, and costumes are owned by CGDA.

“We just heard from the community how much they missed the nutcracker, and the tradition of it,” Sorensen said. “So we revived the Nutcracker dances ... And then we added the other genres.”

It’s also a gift to students, who’s only other recital takes place in spring and includes all ages from 3-year-olds up, Sorenson said; and to teachers, who create the choreography.

Some teachers may still charge a rental fee, if they have personally purchased costumes, according to the fundraiser’s GoFundMe page.

Around 80% of CGDA’s $1,000 goal had been raised by last Wednesday. Any money left over after costume upgrades will be stashed into a “costume fund” for the future.

The fundraiser is online at www.gofundme.com/f/support-cgda-costume-replacement-fund.

Performances are 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., Dec. 21, at Hood River Middle School Auditorium, located at 1602 May St., Hood River.