Mary and Joseph look down at baby Jesus while angels, shepherds, and wise men look on.

The Macholah Ballet brought the story of Jesus’ birth to the stage with their thirteenth annual performance of “The Nativity,” an original production based upon the Bible and set to popular Christmas songs and carols. The production was held on Friday and Saturday, December 5 and 6, at Bridge Church in Scott Depot.

The Macholah Ballet’s company dancers – pre-professional high school aged students – portrayed Mary and Joseph, shepherds, angels, and wise men. Months of practice went into the production, which featured heartfelt performances and advanced acrobatic skills.

While “The Nativity” is always free to the public, guests were asked to bring a can of food or other non-perishable items as admission. The supplies which were collected over the two days were donated to the local food pantry for Christmas food baskets.

The cast featured Kinsey Fultz as Mary; Aiden Kinser as Joseph; Brook Brown as Gabriel; Allia Turner as Elizabeth; Emma Patrick as the Star of Bethlehem; Alyson Bowe as the Innkeeper; Amelia Shamblin as the Rose of Bethlehem; Aubrey Bailey, Addysen Spencer, and Hailey Smith as the Three Wise Men; Sarah Baisden, Aubrey Bailey, Alyson Bowe, Annabelle Garrett, and Hailey Smith as shepherds; Amelia Shamblin and Annabelle Garrett as stars; Addysen Spencer, Hailey Smith, Amelia Shamblin as Mary’s friends; Aubrey Bailey, Annabelle Garrett, Drusilla Kitchen, and Allia Turner as Israelites; and Sarah Baisden, Aubrey Bailey, Alyson Bowe, Annabelle Garrett, Amelia Shamblin, Hailey Smith, Drusilla Kitchen, and Allia Turner as guides.

The Macholah Ballet is a Christian dance studio which shares the Gospel through the performing arts. The studio is located beside Save-A-Lot in Scott Depot, and offers classes in jazz, ballet, tap, and lyrical. It is also one of the few studios in the area which offers classes for adults.