ASHWAUBENON – Barb’s Centre for Dance has announced donations of more than $44,000 will be made to area charitable organizations.

The monies were raised during Barb’s Centre for Dance holiday shows, “Spirit of The Holidays, A Celebration of Dance.”

Shows were held at the Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center Dec. 14 and at the Xavier Fine Arts Theater Dec. 21.

The holiday dance programs featured original tap, jazz, lyrical and ballet works choreographed to both traditional and contemporary holiday music.

The shows also featured a section from The Nutcracker presented by Ballet 360 Academy.

The monies were raised through ticket sales, a silent auction during the weekend, a miracle minute fundraiser during each show, along with a bake sale and candy cane sales.

Witt Automotive Group, Laser Form LLC, On the Mark Solutions and The Ninivaggi family matched the miracle minutes.

The following organizations are benefactors from the event:

• Colton’s Cure Foundation.

• Muscular Dystrophy Association.

• Pillars of Fox Valley (Formerly Homeless Connections).

• Prevent Suicide Fox Cities.

• Ribbon of Hope Foundation.

• The Freedom House.

Also, additional donations were made to the following organizations:

• Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary.

• Paul’s Pantry, Green Bay.

• St. Joseph Food Program, Menasha.

Barb’s Centre for Dance has now donated more $362,000 to area charitable organizations from 21 years of presenting its holiday production.

Barb’s Centre for Dance Owner and Director of Dance Barbara Cedergren said the event is a high point during the dance season,

“Our dancers always love to perform on stage,” she said. “When their talents help to provide and give back to those in the community, it gives everyone involved a great feeling. We are so very happy with our holiday shows and the good that results from them and we look forward to continuing the tradition for many years to come. We also wish to thank the many wonderful volunteers that helped make the weekend a success.”

Barb’s Centre for Dance, with locations at 2250 Holmgren Way in the heart of Ashwaubenon’s commercial district, and at 1210 N. Mayflower Road in Grand Chute just west of Fox River Mall in Appleton, is one of the largest and most respected dance studios in Wisconsin and has been in business for 35 years.