- April 24, 2024
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Sanah Spar performs as the Good Witch, the older Glinda. Photo by Paige Wilson
Aliyah Spar dances as the young Glinda just before her sister Sanah Spar takes her place. Photo by Paige Wilson
Sanah Spar, as the Good Witch, and Xana Fletcher, as the Wicked Witch, kick high in the air soon after replacing their younger counterparts on stage. Photo by Paige Wilson
Aliyah Spar leaps as the young Glinda while Anna York acts moody as the young Elphaba. Photo by Paige Wilson
Aliyah Spar, as Glinda, and Anna York, as Elphaba, face off. Photo by Paige Wilson
Xana Fletcher performs as the older Elphaba, the Wicked Witch. Photo by Paige Wilson
Aliyah Spar dances as the young Glinda while Anna York acts moody as the young Elphaba. Photo by Paige Wilson
Sanah Spar performs as the older Glinda, the Good Witch. Photo by Paige Wilson
Lynne Rosolino performs as Dorothy in her senior show. Photo by Paige Wilson
A company of 21 dancers perform in "The Wicked Wiz." Photo by Paige Wilson
Dororthy, played by Lynne Rosolino, stands in the middle of a dance "tornado." Photo by Paige Wilson
Vernal Spar photographs her daughter Aliyah Spar before the show. Photo by Paige Wilson
Vernal Spar applies lipstick to her daughter Aliyah Spar before the show. Photo by Paige Wilson
KEDA Assistant Director Sarah Smith applies glitter to Sanah Spar's eyelids before the show. Photo by Paige Wilson
Moments after Sanah Spar, playing Glinda, the Good Witch, spun off the stage at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, her little sister Aliyah Spar appeared in her place as a younger Glinda.
The Ormond Beach sisters, age 14 and 8, have been dancing in shows with South Daytona’s Kinetic Expressions Dance Academy for years, but on Saturday, March 3, the pair got to perform as the same role at different ages.
KEDA’s Expressions Company performed a mash-up of “The Wizard of Oz,” “Wicked” and “The Wiz” — called “The Wicked Wiz” — for a packed house. Sanah has been dancing with KEDA for 10 years, and Aliyah followed in her sister’s footsteps as a young child.
“It’s a lot of quality time,” Sanah said about practices with Aliyah. “I help her a lot with her tricks and stuff to teach her. Sometimes we butt heads, but most of the time, we’re fine. We practice, and she can get better and make her technique stronger.”
But Aliyah was at Sanah’s performances before she was even born. Their mother, Vernell Spar, said when she was expecting Aliyah, she still spent countless hours helping Sanah put on her makeup before shows, just like she does now.
The words “Dance Mom” sparkled across the front of Vernell’s shirt as she told Aliyah to pucker up while she applied lipstick to her in the dressing room before the show.
“It’s nice to have a support system behind you 24/7,” Sanah said about her mother. “She’s always here for us and always here to help anyone and everyone.”
Aliyah said she wants to one day become a professional dancer or dance teacher.
“Some things are hard, but you just have to really try,” Aliyah said.
Sanah said she wants to study law in college after graduating from Atlantic High School, but hopes to still dance for fun in college.
“It’s a way to express yourself,” Sanah said. “These days you have teenagers that feel confined to themselves. So, it’s just a way to get out there and express your feelings and emotions.”
A company of 21 dancers performed the combination show of three classics while lip singing, acting and getting into character through costume and expression.
“We’re a very unique studio,” Sanah said. “We blend things and make it our own. So, with this show, it’s three different storylines, and we make it our own, so that’s kind of special because we have our own show.”
