Recreation center hosts Christmas program
For the North Fort Myers recreation center and its employees, it was an opportunity to showcase the talents of the young people who make it their home away from home.
For others, it was another great excuse to celebrate the holidays.
Area residents flocked to the center Friday for the first holiday program to enjoy music and dance, cookies and cocoa and a chance to meet Santa.
According to Jennifers Sites, who organized the program, the reason for the event was the opportunity to showcase the talented youth that use the rec center for their after school activities.
Among them was the Snap Crew, a group of young dancers who practice their steps every Friday, with this occasion in the gymnasium being the culmination of their hard work, which started in August.
Shelly Coakley, who coaches the squad along with two of her dancers, Victoria Piscitelli and Alexis White, said it was put together to get kids to use their talents.
“We want to spread the arts to people who don’t have the opportunity to dance or be involved,” Coakley said. “We’ve worked really hard and the group deserves the chance to display their talents.”
Piscitelli, a seventh-grader at the Academy for the Arts, has danced since the age 4, making her the perfect assistant coach at such a young age. It was she and Alexis who founded the group.
“We thought that other people might enjoy dancing, so we took our dance, changed it a little and taught it to others,” Piscitelli said. “It’s great to help people while doing something I love.”
Before the dance, a five-piece youth string orchestra called the Cape Coral Chamber Music Group performed Christmas favorites (though they have also performed Green Day).
Helena Robertson, a violinist and music director, said her group gets together for community service opportunities, such as shows in retirement homes, and fundraisers.
“We come to practice so we’re close to the people who run the place and we play here whenever they have an event,” Robertson said, now a sophomore at North Fort Myers High School.
All are with the Southwest Florida Youth Orchestra program and play concerts with the full orchestra.
Those who came to watch were impressed, such as Melissa Jones, whose daughter, Austria, is a Snap Crew member.
“It’s been awesome. It’s great to see the kids show what they can do and they collaborate and put together their thoughts and ideas,” Jones said. “I have a daughter here, but I’ve enjoyed every child.”
After the performances, guests could enjoy Uncle Charlie’s cookies and cocoa, and the kids could make some crafts, such as jewelry made of Froot Loops, and decorations.
Most important for the real young ones, it was the chance to meet Santa.
Josephina Alise Maxey, 4, said she liked the dancing and music, but looked forward to jolly St. Nick the most.
“I want roller skates, picture frame and a yo-yo for Christmas,” she said. “The cookies taste pretty good, (The dancing and music) was so much fun.”