An Oklahoma woman stole the stage during a Christmas performance last month, but not because of her incredible voice. In truth, she did not sing a single note.
What Marie Dallam lacked in lyricism, she made up for with her very energetic bell ringing.
The 47-year-old was tasked with delivering the tinkling bell sounds for the Oklahoma City Chorus’ performance of Jingle Bells, but she went above and beyond with dancing, jazz hands, and a variety of silly facial expressions.
Oh, what fun! A Christmas concert by the OK City Chorus is going viral.
Making spirits bright! Marie was charged with jingling a set of gold bells during the song, and she did so enthusiastically.
Marie, a Harvard Divinity School graduate who now teaches religious studies at the University of Oklahoma, was performing with the OK City Chorus until she decided to switch things up this year.
When the choir sang clang bells, Marie’s role was to clang the bells, but she also brought additional props.
Marie is shown on a mobile phone video that has since gone viral, dressed in the same red lace blouse and black slacks as her colleagues, but she is also wearing a pair of dazzling green novelty sunglasses.
As the choir sings, she rattles the bells while also wriggling her entire body, dancing, putting up jazz hands, and making humorous and ecstatic faces.
“We didn’t really practice,” she told Inside Edition.
‘One of the women organizing urged me to ring the jingle bells and act as silly as possible. In that time, I was thinking, “Be as goofy as possible.”
‘In everyday life, I consider myself to be a serious and shy person. “Being a member of the OK City Chorus allows me to indulge in my silly side,” she continued.
She surely delivered. However, Marie emphasized that she isn’t typically such a goofball.
‘In everyday life, I consider myself to be a serious and shy person. ‘Being a member of the OK City Chorus allows me to indulge in my funny side,’ she explained.
Although the video is a departure for her, she is not concerned that it would make her famous.
‘I am not ashamed, but it is different from my usual demeanor,’ she stated.
Marie’s performance has received over six million views on Facebook, where the OK City Chorus initially published the video, with hundreds of commentators complimenting her.
‘Ha!!! I would love to be her friend! “Bet she’s a kick in the pants,” one lady wrote.
‘This lady understands how to get into the music,’ said another, while a third remarked, ‘You know the choir director is regretting giving her the bells!’ She is a hoot!
I added one more: “This is a fine example of jingling all the way!” Nobody likes a mediocre jingle! This made my Christmas much better and more joyful! Thank you for sharing; I did the same. Merry Christmas, Ladies of OKC!’