Christmas Here, Christmas There, at Kay and Wayne's it's Everywhere!
- Community
- Annuitants & Former ExPats
Author: Nancy Ackerman
Released 14 December 2006
Description of Photo
The Christmas spirit soars in the Sarasota, Florida home of retired administrator, Aramco Schools Dhahran (1981-1897), Wayne Siebold, and former Dhahran tap dance studio owner and 5-6-7-8! headliner, Kay Siebold.
Kay, known for her creativity in the tap dance world, outdoes herself when it comes to decorating for the holiday season. No fewer than 10 trees can be found scattered about the house, and not only do they bring out the old favorites each year, but Kay also devises a new theme to add extra dash to the season.
This year's "Christmas Under The Big Top" is the result of almost a year's planning and gathering, not to mention research, to produce a tree representing the history of circus (Ringling Brothers) found in Sarasota.
The tree shown here is the wonderful 2006 Circus themed tree just created. The poster seen with the tiger is an original, great find.
Sarasota used to be the winter home of the Ringling Bros. Circus. (The local high school even offers Circus courses as an extra-curricular activity, including high wire!) Last February, when the Siebolds went to see "Circus Sarasota", Kay's creative juices were inspired and since then she sought authenticity in antique stores, and did extensive research on Ringling Bros.
The Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin, was a great source for many of the posters she acquired. And what could have been more fun than shopping for clowns and music boxes?
Shown in this photograph, three trees can be seen in the living room, the "50's Tree" at left, the "Cirque Du Soleil" just behind, and the "Christmas Under The Big Top" far right, with circus pennants strung over the fireplace mantel.
Cirque Du Soleil
Kay began her extensive collection while living in Dhahran, where she needed to come up with original ideas for decorations. So she drew on past memories and memorabilia, making priceless and very personalized creations for the season. This is what makes her trees so special today, as they are a unique history of the Siebold's. She even used Wayne's letter sweater, her pink saddle shoes, and the tiara she wore to her senior prom as adornments for the "50's Tree" shown above.
The Siebolds had this wall tree in Arabia, and it is the only one Kay brought back when they retired from Aramco. It's a favorite and perfect for small spaces.
In the "Arab Corner" atop a Kuwaiti chest, set off by a stunning oil painting of an Arab man, reside this favorite set of the three Kings.
Next to the chest is an unusual foam tree in front of the mashrabia window.
The "Pink Tree" is adorned with masks, birds, and feathers. Underneath is tucked Kay's Grandmother's doll, about 150 years old, Kay's old ice skates, daughter Tana's pink boots bought in Egypt when she was 4 years old and her dolls from Paris. The tree is surrounded by the pink boa Kay wore in the first production of 5-6-7-8!
Here's another view of the "Pink Tree".
The "Oriental Tree" is charmingly decorated with fans, chopsticks, lanterns and little red envelopes, called Ang Poa, which are filled with money and given to children during Chinese New Year. The tree skirt is the Happy jacket from Hong Kong which Kay wore in the Dhahran production of The Boyfriend. Kay laughs, "I keep everything!"
The "African Tree" is a personal favorite of Kay's, as it holds memories of a Christmas spent in Africa when Tana was 10 years old. The metal tree form encloses a ceramic leopard and the top is a world globe lamp. This tree is placed amongst the Siebold's African collection.
The "African Tree" from another angle.
Kay's passion for purple was expressed one year in her "Purple Tree", a color that can be found here and there throughout the house, most notably in her ongoing collection of purple bound books.
Kay's famous tap studio in Dhahran made this Tap Dance Wreath a natural. Kay and friend, Nancy Ackerman, found the ornaments in Las Vegas and she added her red feather head piece which she wore in the Can-Can number in "5-6-7-8!".
Hats off to these dancing girls adorning the tree shown in this photograph. Kay is still teaching tap dance in Sarasota at the Studio of Dance and Music. After retiring from Aramco schools, Wayne serves as a member of the local School Board, works as a Supervisor for the Sarasota Democratic Party and is a member of the Board of Directors for the local community association.
Kay and Wayne's enthusiasm for the holiday season is shared with their family and friends, and warm celebrations hold court throughout December and the New Year.
The trees will emerge again in 2007...along with another surprise creation.
Contact the Siebolds at: wsiebold@tampabay.rr.com.
Note the majestic parade of Arab camel riders atop the cabinet, at top right, in this photograph.