“5...6...7...8…shift your weight…pointe…don’t forget to breathe!” As the dancers twirled and jumped, Lydia Foster called out choreography through the swells of music.

 

The mirrored rehearsal room echoed with the sounds of pointe shoes hitting the floor in perfect rhythm to the melody. Occasionally, Lydia would tap her hand against her leg to keep time as she called out more choreography, “passe…2…3…4…grande jeté!”

 

Watching every detail of the movements each dancer made in response to her instruction, Lydia gracefully weaved her way through the dancers. She smiled that friendly smile that always seemed to put people at ease. A smile that made her green eyes sparkle and crinkle at the corners, creating happy crescents.

 

As she passed each dancer, they seemed to relax slightly and breathe more freely. Something about Lydia always put people at ease and made these auditions seem a little less intimidating and nerve-wracking.

 

Dancers waited along the wall for their group’s chance at showing Lydia what they were capable of. Each one held their breath, hoping for a chance to dance in the annual Christmas show. It was the performance highlight of the year and Lydia only chose the very best dancers to be featured.

 

Every year, for the past four years, the twenty-four-year-old put together the biggest Christmas performance ever seen in Maple Ridge, Massachusetts. They called it the Magical Holiday Celebration and it showcased dancers, musicians, and singers of all ages. It was a celebration of various art forms coming together for one big, spectacular show.

 

To maintain an element of surprise, the show was kept a secret until the day before Christmas Eve. The only thing that the town was privy to was the unique holiday theme that was chosen every year. People from all around Massachusetts and the surrounding states came to see these surprise performances and to join in the festivities. Not only was there a dance performance, but Lydia also planned a Christmas tree lighting and party for those staying until Christmas Eve, which for a small town was a great tourist attraction.

 

As the local dance teacher and choreographer, Lydia was always thinking of new ways to share her love of dance with her students and the people around her. Ever since she was young, it was her dream to become a dance teacher or choreographer and direct extraordinary dance performances. As an adult, she lived her dream of being both and creating amazing art shows every holiday season.

 

Maple Ridge knew her as the best and kindest dance teacher, and parents sent their young, aspiring dancers to her. In a small town, it is easy to become well-known, and Lydia was definitely “famous” for her talent, kindness, Christmas spirit, and love for her students and community.

 

Growing up in a small town, Lydia had gained the support of everyone in Maple Ridge. When she decided to open her own dance studio at eighteen, they supported her endeavor. The community had helped her and her family through many difficult times, including her father leaving to be stationed overseas as an army sergeant. She had many friends to give her comfort and who were more than willing to offer their services to a town-wide celebration. As the holidays rolled around, they all relied on each other to help Lydia’s dreams come alive.

 

However, it was not just her dreams that were fulfilled, the small businesses in Maple Ridge also benefited from the constant influx of new tourists. Not only was the town popular during Christmas, but it was also a great destination during other holidays throughout the year.

 

Ever since the first performance of the Magical Holiday Celebration, Maple Ridge became one of the top holiday tourist destinations outside of Boston. Once the word was out, people flocked from all over for a chance to see why this little town was becoming such an attraction.

 

The entire town banded together to make sure that each guest was treated with the utmost care and kindness. Restaurants created special menus that showcased local foods, the coffee shop discovered new ways to serve delicious coffee and cocoa for the holidays, and the bed and breakfasts prepared beautiful welcome baskets that went along with Lydia’s chosen theme.

 

This year’s performance was slated to be the best performance yet, as Lydia had an increased budget and more crew members to work with. As with every performance, she auditioned over one hundred singers and twice that many dancers the last week of September. The best part of Lydia’s job was that she was able to share her love of the arts with her community and oftentimes, the whole state of Massachusetts.