The Snowbelles performing their Christmas show at App Theater in downtown Boone, NC. Photo Creds: Self-Submitted by Carly Watson
Rosalyn Rabinowitz, Staff Writer to The Powderhorn
Lights, Music, showtime! The Carolina Snowbelles, a community dance team, specializes in Rockette-style dance with kicks as high as the Rockefeller Plaza Christmas tree. Behind the scenes of their iconic Christmas show lies countless hours of hard work and dedication. Members of the audience see this dedication as soon as the Snowbelles get under the lights, with the Snowbelles showing laser-like precision and technique in all of their dances. For the community, the Snowbelles’ Christmas show is an annual event, bringing together families and communities in their love for dance and the holidays.
“It is an honor,” said Carly Watson, senior. “It makes you genuinely feel like you are a part of something special, which you are, and it brings us a lot of joy to bring the whole community joy.”
Watson initially joined Snowbelles in 2018, with the goal of someday dancing at the Radio City Music Hall as a Rockette. Over the years of dancing with the team, Watson's perspective has changed: while she still cherishes this childhood dream, she recognizes that it is not a reality for her. Many other young dancers, like freshman Cameron Parker, auditioned for Snowbelles with similar aspirations.
“I felt so special, and it was because when I first did it, I was one of the first snow flurries, so it was really fun,” Parker explained. “All the people were still there, like Lily-Baye, Anna Grace, and Ava Cutlip and I felt so proud.”
Parker's time on the team was special and created memorable connections and friendships, but the commitment required to be on the Snowbelles was too time-consuming for her. Entering high school, Parker found opportunities like the Pacers and Student Council, which left her with limited free time for the long, strict hours of weekend rehearsals for Snowbelles.
“Throughout the rehearsal season, Cheryl Cutlip treats us like mini professionals, so it's a very strict environment,” said Watson. “But we do create a great bond, and then by showtime, we know all the dances, everything's less strict, and the crowd just always makes us so happy as soon as we hear them clapping it brings everybody's energy up.”
While the moments on stage are wondrous and rewarding for Watson, the intensive preparation needed for the high-pace environment of the dance industry can also be stress-inducing. This pressure is often the reason why many young dancers, like Parker, choose to focus on other extracurricular activities.
“There's this dance intensive that you do for a week, called “Kick it Up,” and then throughout the week you'll learn a few dances,” said Parker. “Then on the last day you'd audition and you'd perform the dances in front of a panel of judges. It was very stressful.”
Despite Parker's decision to leave Snowbelles, both the shows and dance team still hold a special place in her heart. Parker, along with many other former Snowbelles, intend on joining the majority of the community to watch the honorary Carolina SnowBelles Christmas Show.
“Overall, the relationships and comradery with the other people involved in making the show are really wonderful,” said Rachel Witmer, Snowbelle and Associate Director of Mountain Alliance. “It takes a lot of hard work and passion to bring the show to life and to get to do that with such an amazing group of people is really special.”
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