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holiday events and I can't really d e s c r i b e it o t h e r t h a n i n e x p e r i e n c e . It's m o r e l i k e t h e w a r m feeling you get after drinking spiced w i n e : it's t h e t i n g l e o f r e m e m b e r e d delight that is r e v i s i t e d u p o n s e e i n g a b e a m i n g child o n Santa's k n e e ; it's s i t t i n g in y o u r car, s t o p p e d a t a t r a f f i c light w i t h a silly g r i n y o u r f a c e as y o u on remem- b e r that line f r o m "Silver B e l l s " ; it's l o o k i n g o v e r a t the N o r t h Shore, thinking o f all t h e s m i l e s , w a r m h e a r t s , a n d l o v e u n d e r all The Vox Pandora's Vocal getting Christmas of those sparkling bea1 p m . A family variety s h o w consisting Nutcracker in t h r e e d a y s a t t h e c o n s . It's c o m m u n i t y p r i d e a n d p e a c e and g o o d w i l l t o all. 0 of t w o o n e - h o u r sets, t h e r e will be a band, choirs f r o m Irwin Park C e n t e n n i a l T h e a t r e . F i r s t u p is R o y a l C i t y Y o u t h Ballet, w i t h s h o w s on Leonne Campbell arts is a writer. freelance Ensemble in the spirit Elementary and W e s t Vancouver Secondary Schools, and very special guests Shari U l r i c h andValdy. First p e r f o r m e d in 1994 at t h e V a n c o u v e r E a s t C u l t u r a l C e n t r e , The Magic Christmas on Bowen of F r i d a y , D e c e m b e r 4, a t 8 p m . a n d S a t u r d a y , D e c e m b e r 5, a t 2 p m . Seymour H e i g h t s D a n c e has opted Vancouver for a one-day doubleheader; t w o s h o w s o n D e c e m b e r 6 at 2 and 8 p m . F o r t i c k e t s t o any of t h e s h o w s at t h e C e n t e n n i a l T h e a t r e , call its b o x o f f i c e at (604) 984-4484. has s i n c e s o l d o u t t h e a t r e s I s l a n d a n d in S e c h e l t . experiences Michael Creber, whose as o n e o f k.d. l a n g ' s " r e c l i n e s " t o o k h i m t o t h e s t a g e s o f Saturday Night T h e s p i r i t o f h o l i d a y g i v i n g is o f c o u r s e alive a n d w e l l at L o n s d a l e Q u a y M a r k e t . T h i s is t h e t h i r d y e a r f o r its C o m m u n i t y C h r i s t m a s Celebration § h o p f o r Q i r l s t m o s 1 Live a n d t h e l i k e , h a s u s e d his e x t e n sive m u s i c a l c o n n e c t i o n s t o p u t together a crackerjack group of musicians that will take t r a d i t i o n a l carols t h r o u g h a sleigh-ride of musical styles as w e l l as p e r f o r m i n g o r i g i n a l m a t e r ial w r i t t e n b y M o n i q u e C r e b e r , S h a r i Ulrich, andValdy. In t h e b o o k , 101 Great Ballets, George Stories of the D a y , a n d its g i f t t o t h e c o m m u n i t y starts with the kick-off on December Candles, CD Racks, Clocks, Wine Racks, Pottery, Recycled Silver & Glass, Baskets, Tables, Toothbrush Trees, Cards, Throws, Coloured Glassware, Quimper from France, Mehndi Body Art, Wishbeads, Innovative Iron Works, Mirrors, Lamps, Delfts Blue by Cornelia, Accent Pillows, Frames, Tassels, and lots more! c ^ r e e Qift c 4 at 7 p m . E n j o y t h e s w e e t s o u n d s o f the 8 0 - m e m b e r V O C Soul Gospel C h o i r w h i l e y o u sip c o m p l i m e n t a r y hot chocolate and watch the carol ship p a r a d e . A t 8:30 pm., f i r e w o r k s w i l l l i g h t t h e n i g h t s k y a n d j o l l y o l d St. N i c k will hand o u t treats t o the kiddies. C e l e b r a t i o n s c o n t i n u e t h e r e throughout the m o n t h of D e c e m b e r , w i t h c o m m u n i t y and s c h o o l choirs p e r f o r m i n g d u r i n g t h e day a n d S a n t a Story Time on Sundays--check the Balanchine r e m a r k s t h a t " i t is a n o t h e r s i g n o f h o w p o p u l a r b a l l e t has b e c o m e t h a t t o d a y m a n y c o m p a n i e s p e r f o r m The Nutcracker. It h a s a l m o s t b e c o m e a and k i n d o f r i t u a l in m a n y A m e r i c a n C a n a d i a n cities....I have h e a r d t h a t m o r e than 50 g r o u p s d o this ballet." I'm s u r e t h e i n e f f a b l e M r . B. w o u l d b e a s t o u n d e d at t h e n u m b e r s of c o m p a nies w i t h this classic holiday sugarplum added to their repertoire since the book's revised publication in 1975. T h e N o r t h S h o r e is n o e x c e p t i o n , w i t h f o u r p e r f o r m a n c e s o f The Lonsdale Q u a y r o t u n d a f o r details. W h i l e w r i t i n g this p i e c e I asked m y e d i t o r if I s h o u l d , in t h e s e d a y s o f political c o r r e c t n e s s , avoid using the w o r d " C h r i s t m a s . " S h e s a i d , "If it's C h r i s t m a s , it's C h r i s t m a s . " ( w h i c h is a v e r y e d i t o r - l i k e t h i n g t o say). F o r m e , C h r i s t m a s h a s t r a n s c e n d e d its r e l i g i o u s d e f i n i t i o n . It's s t i l l v a g u e , t h o u g h , \ V r a p p i n g 103 ( E a s t 2nd S t r e e t QV^orth V a n c o u v e r 9 8 5 - 0 1 0 1