Looking for a bit of Christmas wonder this weekend? Look no further than Gotta Dance’s original production of Christmas Presence.
The Hicksville-based nonprofit dance studio will be putting on their annual Christmas musical Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6. The play—written, directed and choreographed by the studio’s artistic director Theresa Goubran—seeks to “go deeper” into the meaning of Christmas.
“The show is really about reminding people and the community to see something new about Christmas,” said Goubran. “It’s an outreach to say how good God is and how He’s with us.”
The show centers around a little boy, played by Steven Goubran, and his siblings who are focused on their presents during the Christmas season. Throughout the course of the play, the children discover that Christmas isn’t just about the presents, but presence of family, friends and God, as well.
“They find out there’s more to Christmas than just presents. The mom [played by Hicksville’s Laura Lavin] finds an old memory book and they talk about how special those times were because they were present with each other, and spent it with family and friends,” says Goubran. “It really takes you on a journey from the things we enjoy about Christmas and encourages you to go deeper into why we celebrate and knowing that God is with us and that his gifts are wonderful.”
This is the third year Gotta Dance has put on a Christmas play. For Goubran, the musical isn’t just a way to spotlight the studio or the talent of the dancers, it’s an outreach to the community. That desire to serve the community is at the heart of everything Goubran does with Gotta Dance.
Gotta Dance is an outreach of Graffiti Church in New York City. The studio offers dance classes such as jazz, tap, and ballet, all taught by professionals at a discounted rate. For Goubran, a trained dancer whose experience includes touring internationally and choreographing routines at Hershey Park and Busch Gardens, it was important to bring her passion into her local community.
“I wanted to get as many children as we can into professional dance classes,” she said. “I wanted to use my gifts to serve and I realized there was a need in the community.”
Goubran and her husband Kareem are actively involved in the Graffiti Church, with Kareem, a licensed social worker, serving as its Adult Director. The Hicksville residents wanted to help their neighbors locally, so formed Gotta Serve—which hosts various family events, service projects and Bible studies—and Gotta Dance.
“Dance is the heart but we want to build community,” says Kareem. “If they have needs outside of dance, we want to help meet them.”
They’re able to meet those needs by partnering with several local community organizations, such as Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Center, St. Ignatius Human Services and Long Island Abundant Life Church. And their dance program is making a huge difference in the community as well. Jennifer Osback’s daughter is performing in the show and has been a student at Gotta Dance for several years.
“She loves doing these shows. The shows are great and family oriented,” says Osback. “And the dancing helps her self-esteem and she gets to socialize. It’s a great community dance school.”
Christmas Presence will take place at the Long Island Abundant Life Church Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10. For more information call 516-348-3949 or visit www.gotta-dance.org.
