The Macholah Ballet celebrated the birth of Christ with a performance of “The Nativity.” The performance, which featured the talents of high school aged, pre-professional level dancers, was held on Friday, December 17, at King’s River Worship Center in St. Albans.

This was the ninth year that the Macholah Ballet has put on “The Nativity.” While other ballet companies usually perform the time-honored classic, “The Nutcracker,” for the holidays, the Macholah Ballet, a Christian dance company, wanted to do something different.

In the past, the Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Teays Valley has hosted “The Nativity,” but the Macholah Ballet needed a larger venue. There were around 335 people in attendance for last week’s performance, which is more than double the number from previous years. There was no in-person performance in 2020; a virtual one was held instead.

This year’s cast included Emmie Wills (Mary); Ethan Patrick (Joseph); Gabriel (Emma Patrick); Sophia Wigal (Elizabeth); Aliah Robinson (Star of Bethlehem); Brook Brown (Lead Shepherd); Kate Grant, Aliah Robinson, Sophia Wigal (Wise Men); Elise Ambler, Aubrey Bailey, Kinsey Fultz, Hailey Smith (shepherds); Elise Ambler, Aubrey Bailey, Hailey Smith (stars); Kate Grant, Abigail Rock, Brook Brown (Mary’s Friends); Kinsey Fultz, Kate Grant, Addysen Spencer, Sophia Wigal (Israelites). All dancers performed as angels as well.

Lauren Brotsky, the founder of the Macholah Ballet, says that she is excited for the 10th annual performance of “The Nativity” in 2022.