Performing arts students to present colorful holiday performance; “Holly Jolly Holidays” is a virtual show free to the public

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The show “Holly Jolly Holidays,” running Dec. 17-24, will celebrate the beauty of communities by sharing the joy and togetherness of many different traditions.

Row of dancers in elf costumes holding presents.
“Holly Jolly Holidays” features jazz dance students portraying happy elves bustling about and getting ready for Santa to come to town. The show also features ballet, singing, and acting students. (Department of Performing Arts/UH Hilo)

By Susan Enright. 

The Department of Performing Arts at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo will virtually present “Holly Jolly Holidays,” a streaming performance available free to the public Dec. 17-24, 2021.

Justina Mattos
Justina Mattos

“The production is a collaboration between multiple performing arts classes in dance, choral singing, acting, and technical theatre, showcasing the skills students have gained over the fall semester in a festive holiday offering,” says Justina Mattos, associate professor of drama and chair of the performing arts department.

The show will celebrate the beauty of communities by sharing the joy and togetherness of many different traditions.

  • The University Chorus and Kāpili Choir offer several pieces to remind us that “through all seasons we belong and our light will only grow stronger when we come together.”
  • The show also features jazz dance students portraying happy elves bustling about and getting ready for Santa to come to town. Ballet students honor the season with a suite of traditional hymns and carols.
  • Beginning acting students share the fun and foibles of reindeer, elves, and others, with excerpts from Christmas, Virtually.

“With Covid conditions continuing to prevent performances for live audiences, our classes have worked together to videotape their work so it can be shared online with friends, family, and community members,” says Mattos.

Dance students reach.
The performance of “Holly Jolly Holidays” will celebrate the beauty of communities by sharing the joy and togetherness of many different traditions. Click photos to enlarge. (Department of Performing Arts/UH Hilo)
Group of ballet dancers.
In the show “Holly Jolly Holidays,” ballet students honor the season with a suite of traditional hymns and carols. Click photos to enlarge. (Department of Performing Arts/UH Hilo)

“While we always look forward to inviting the community to campus for our productions, this shift to online delivery has offered an unexpected benefit, which is that people from other islands, other time-zones, and other parts of the world can also partake in the joy of seeing these student performances.”

The program, free to the public, will be streamed online Dec. 17 through Dec. 24, 2021. Viewers can access the link via the Performing Arts Center webpage.

By Susan Enright, a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.

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