For 35 years in spring, Jan Dunning, owner of Jefferson City Dance Academy, has planned her recitals. She writes the scripts, picks the costumes and organizes the show.
"My goal is to do 50 recitals. I might be on a walker or in a wheel chair, but I would like to do 50," Dunning said.
The theme for this year is Summer at Sunny Creek Farm and the recital is the story of a city cousin visiting her cousin on the farm for the first time.
All ages of dancers are in the show and include: 3- to 4-year-olds are sun beams; 5- to 6-year-olds are bumblebees and wild violets; 7-year-olds are candied apples and blue skies; intermediates classes are milk maids, raspberries, crows and wildflowers. They perform tap, jazz, hip hop and ballet.
Two levels of advanced students do various dances from jazz to ballet on point and tap.
There are four competition dancers who have solo numbers.
The show is approximately two hours and is narrated by Francis Butel, who will also do a little square dance calling for a number.
"Watching the students start as youngsters and progress to adults and being on point in ballet is wonderful," Dunning said. "This is what keeps me going."
What: Jefferson City Dance Academy recital
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Simonsen 9th Grade Center
Tickets: available at the door, $12.
Editor's note: Friday is the correct day of this event. The listing in Thursday's print edition was in error.