Local dancers perform at Country Tonite Theatre in Pigeon Forge

QUINCY — Vancil Performing Arts Center recently had 10 dancers from their Bay City Troupe, ranging in age from 6 to 18, travel to Pigeon Forge, Tenn., for a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The dancers made their stage debut as the pre-show act at the Country Tonite Theatre. Members of the Vancil Performing Arts Center Bay City Troupe that performed were: Jacqueline Vardaros, Allie Beswick, Remy Jensen, Andi Kirlin, Aislynn Shull, Ava Beswick, Hayden Engle, Jade Courtney, Josslyn Wingerter and Miller Robertson.  The dancers met in January to begin preparing their 24-minute show, ranging in styles from ballet to jazz to lyrical to contemporary.

In honor of the location, the performance opened with the energetic “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton and concluded with the sentimental “Free Bird” by Dolly Parton and Lynyrd Skynyrd. It also featured several other artists like Shania Twain and Noah Kahan.  This routine would become the pre-show act for the Country Tonite Theatre’s 100th show of the year.

The Country Tonite Show, which has been voted the #1 show in The Smokies year after year, features live music ranging from old country favorites and gospel to modern hits and patriotic playlists with the best singers, dancers and musicians in the business. The dancers had front row seats for this performance and were honored to be a part of the show’s historical night.

While in Pigeon Forge, the dancers were treated to a private workshop with a professional dancer from the Country Tonite Theatre cast. The dancers were taught actual choreography from the show to the song “Where the Wild Things Are” by Luke Combs. After the workshop concluded, they were given the opportunity to tour the backstage area and learn all the inside scoop on what makes a professional show run. 

The dance trip, organized by 42nd Street Touring Company, featured several opportunities to experience everything that Pigeon Forge had to offer. Dancers and their families were able to attend the Dolly Parton Stampede as a group and also spend a day at the Dollywood theme park during their 40th anniversary.