Oxford Hills dancers need to raise $17,000 for trip
By Gail Geraghty
Staff Writer

PARIS – Nine female dancers from the Maurice Dance Theater have earned the honor to entertain at halftime at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla., but they’ll need to raise $17,000 to do it.

The girls plan car washes, yard sales, bottle drives, and are crossing their fingers that corporate sponsors will come forward to help them realize their dream.

Half of the money has to be sent in by Oct. 31, said Elissa Maurice, co-director of the dance company.

“These girls represent the best and brightest of the Oxford Hills and I feel they deserve our support,” Maurice said Monday.

It was quite an honor to be chosen to perform, she said. Maurice sent Orange Bowl officials a video of their performance at a Dance America competition in Boston, in which they came in first place in the hip hop category. They were also first runner-up out of 177 entries in the precision category.

Maurice heard back days after she sent the video. The girls will be nine of a couple hundred young dancers lining the perimeter of the football field during the hour-long halftime show.

They’ll be spending six days and five nights in Miami, and must provide their own costumes and transportation. They’ll be driving down together Dec. 27 to train for the event and the several additional performances they’ll be doing, including a formal dance on New Year’s Eve, and the pre-game show.

A car wash will be held Oct. 5, and bottle drives are scheduled for Oct. 10 and 11. There will also be two benefit suppers for the troupe: one Oct. 17 at the South Paris Legion Hall on Church Street, and the other Oct. 18 at the Grace Fellowship Church in Oxford. They’ll also be performing on a donation basis at the Oxford Hills Showcase Oct. 24 at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

Anyone who would like to support their effort may phone 743-3848, or 743-7277.

Copy the Story Link