Wednesday afternoon marked the 17th year of Lilas Masters’ annual Christmas performance and luncheon at the Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly, and there was no sign of it slowing down.
The event has expanded over time, and this year Ms. Masters – the owner of Can Can Café – partnered with fellow members of Rotary Sunrise of Road Town and Rite Way to donate snacks and beverages.
The Cedar students also performed a rendition of the song “Santa’s Solar Sleigh.”
Next, a troupe from Elmore Stoutt High School performed an interpretive dance to the gospel song “I Never Lost My Praise” by Tramaine Hawkins, which had elderly residents sitting up in their chairs and clapping. One man even danced along.
“My heart was just touched, it was just a blessing to hear them,” said Marilin Malone-Bass, the manager of the home, after the show had concluded.
Ms. Masters and the children also presented gift baskets full of soaps and creams to each resident.
“The purpose of my life is sharing,” said Ms. Masters, who has led the event with different groups of children each year. “The other day, I explained to the children [that] we have to give to receive.”
They seemed to have picked up the message, because afterward the children wandered through the nursing home in search of residents not well enough to leave their beds in order to perform for them, too.
“Nobody told them to do that,” Ms. Masters said. “They did that all on their own. I think it’s just beautiful.”
The Can Can owner also plans to bring the dancers to St. Maarten for an exchange programme with the hurricane-slammed island. And next year, she wants to do something even more ambitious for her Christmas performance at the Adina Donovan Home.
“We are writing a drama about Hurricane Irma, with songs and dances, and [plan to] present it to elderly all over the territory,” she said. “Sometimes you have to dream big.”
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