The dancers celebrate the story.
Children of Many but ONE sing about Christmas.
Deena and a friend help Sean lead dancing.
Check out their shirts: “God, Family & the Band.” Great riorities.
. . . as does a Christmas tree.
The women cry out for freedom from sin and its price.
A member of Many but ONE gets some Grinchy makeup.
Santa returns once more to lead the crowd in Silent Night, using their cellphones as candles.
Members of Destiny Rayne’s band do a sound check.
He even scowls amid the festivities.
Women in brown outfits perform as the Children of Israel.
Christine Maldonado sings with Peace Fighter, a favorite band at CNTB.
A singer with Sensere gives it up for the gospel.
Dr. E whips up some enthusiasm from the crowd . . .
Festival organizer Deena McDaniel discusses the show with Andrew Curran, who will play Santa.
He then joins the dance and embraces the day … and one of the dancers. 🙂
Gravelly voiced Dale Powers plays keyboard . . .
A rosy sunset joins the crowd in greeting Santa.
A dad twirls his little girl.
. . . but he checks out the story for himself . . .
Santa hams it up for the camera. 🙂
Santa takes the stage . . .
Some of the Many but ONE company dance a parody of Dr. Seuss’ book “The Grinch That Stole Christmas.”
One last shot: Deena with her husband, Mickey. She gathers the talent for CNTB, while he helps with the organization and financing. This is the twelfth time they’ve put together this beautiful Christmas gift for South Florida.
She announces to Joseph that she is to bear GodÕs Son.
Angels surround and adore the Baby Jesus . . .
I was privileged to be given such access to the festival — I was even allowed on the stage for reverse shots like this.
Deena performs a narrated mime in three roles, as a satanic accuser . . .
Sensere merges gospel with Motown-era soul.
Children check out the nativity story in the Bible.
. . . for Santa’s arrival, in a classic T-Bird.
Then he sings a carol honoring the Christ Child.
Reassured, he accepts Mary.
As the kids dance . . .
Deena and three friends form a dance quartet.
. . . as sax master Jesse Jones Jr. and his friend, guest trombonist Charlie, play together.
And the audience vigorously follows along.
Grinchy glares from his mountain.
Destiny Rayne opens the five hours of music, dance and pageantry in CNTB 2018.
A crowd member gets into the dance.
A Satan figure brings them to their knees.
. . . causing her to break down in grief.
Christmas Near the Beach 2018 featured Many but ONE, a ballet troupe and dance school in Boca Raton, Florida.
. . . and the Wise Men offering gifts to the Christ Child.
Mary dances with the daughters of Israel . . .
The drumline of Chaminade-Madonna High School gets everyone’s attention . . .
The green guy is not amused . . .
The singers really seem to feel the message themselves.
The newly freed soul rejoices.
DJ Mr. E is hard to get in a candid shot. He always knows where the camera is. 🙂
Blue-gowned dancers dance to a soulful version of Joy to the World.
Gabriel encourages her . . .
They look forward to deliverance by a Messiah.
. . . then confirms MaryÕs destiny to Joseph.
Jeff Maldonado sings and plays lead guitar for Peace Fighter.
. . . and as Christ, who secures her pardon.
A Satan figure brings them to their knees.
Joseph rejects her in disbelief . . .
. . . even leaping for joy.
Pastor Al Pino of Palm Vista Community Church, Miami Lakes, gives a short message on the meaning of Christmas.
. . . as Sean leaps from the stage for some close-up dancing.
Destiny Rayne’s bassist tunes his instrument. I got on my knees to get this angle. 🙂
Kids get into the groove.
Many but ONE has talented dancers in a range of ages.
The choir of First Presbyterian Church invites children from the audience to help sing Silent Night.
A family waits for the show to start.
A family waits for the show to start.
. . . and thank God for their deliverance.
“Hug her like you mean it!” I said. Sure enough, the girl came through for me. 🙂
. . . and gives the first gift of the season to the Holy Family.
Jesse is at the leading edge of a jazz revival in South Florida.
As night falls, a large teddy bear on the stage takes on a magical hue . . .
Angels dance with Mary.
Sean Olivera leads kids in some hip-hop, a role he’ll fill two or three times over the night.
. . . a soul on trial for her life . . .