The Free Press
May 13, 2008 11:13 am
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MANKATO — The Mankato Ballet spring performance student showcase will feature a variety of dances by children of different ages and skill levels.
Two highlight pieces include “Pas de Quatre” and “Sleeping Beauty Variations.”
“Pas de Quatre” was originally choreographed by Jules Perrot in 1845 and is a ballet that brought together the four most famous ballerinas of the time. The variations are named after those ballerinas.
The “Sleeping Beauty Variations” are scenes before and after Aurora’s enchantment, including her 16th birthday and her wedding to the prince. Ballet IV/V has been working on the variations since January.
The overall program includes performances by Creative Movement, as Dancing Poodles; Kinderdancers; Pre-Ballet’s demonstration of its newly acquired skills in counting musical phrases to an upbeat version of a traditional lullaby; Ballet levels I through III’s performance of a suite of dances to Renaissance music; and students of the Pre-Professional Ballet levels’ performance of solo variations from two historic classical ballets. Intermediate and advanced jazz classes will perform pieces danced to fun, foot-tapping music, and the intermediate modern class will show the partner lifts they have been practicing this session.
The focus is on giving each class the opportunity to showcase the skills they have learned this session.
The number of pieces each class has prepared reflects the amount of time they spend in class, with the advanced levels attending class sometimes four times per week.
— Amanda Dyslin
If you go
What
Mankato Ballet’s spring performance student showcase
When
4 p.m. Saturday at Bethany Lutheran College
For more information visit mankatoballet.com or call 625-7716.
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