An annual Christmas show that raises thousands of dollars for children battling cancer each year will go on despite a major setback.

  • Xtreme Dance Studio victims of theft
  • Trailer with props, tools, donations stolen
  • Funds raised for BASE Camp Children's Cancer Foundation

Xtreme Dance Studio will continue with its annual “Nutty Nutcracker” show despite someone stealing a trailer that stored all of the group's stage props, tools and hundreds of dollars in donations.

The dance group, based in Sanford, raised nearly $10,000 during last year’s “Nutty Nutcracker” show, all of the funds going to the BASE Camp Children's Cancer Foundation.

They hoped to top that amount at this year’s show. But that was before the theft of the trailer, which contained all the props for the production.

“We turn the stage into a winter wonderland, and everything we use for the stage was in there,” said show organizer Stephanie Rodriguez.

The trailer was parked behind the dance studio, and was just feet away from a dance class going on when it was stolen during the middle of the day.

“My heart sank, because not only does my daughter dance in it -- I’m a parent here -- but I also work here, and know how much work we’re going to have to do to pull off this production in the next six weeks,” said Rodriguez.

The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft. Unfortunately, no surveillance cameras in the area were pointed towards the trailer.

Someone at a nearby business reported seeing a white truck carrying the trailer away.

Dancers are now juggling their normal rehearsals with gathering donations in an effort to gradually build back what they had before. The studio still hopes to raise more money than it did last year to help families of children battling cancer.

“It will be a lot of extra work, but I think all of us as a studio will come together and put in the extra time and effort because it’s worth it,” said dancer Lex Rodriguez. “We’re doing it for BASE Camp and to do it for them.”

The trailer stolen was black with the “Diamond” brand written on it.Anyone with information about the theft or the whereabouts of the trailer is asked to call the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.

If you’d like to help Xtreme Dance with a donation, reach out to them at xtremedance.net or call 407-330-7002.