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 beauty and the beast spring ballet
The enchanting story of Beauty & the Beast is this year’s Wayne Center Ballet spring production centerpiece. Based on the French fairytale first published by Madame Barbot de Villeneuve, it is an original story ballet choreographed by Artistic Director Tricia Jenkins-Meyer and Brenda Klingbeil-Schwinn. It will be presented along with other four other dances, from modern to classical, showcasing the varied talents of Wayne County’s premiere dance ensemble on March 20 & 21.
According to Jenkins-Meyer, she chose Beauty and the Beast for a several reasons. She said, “I wanted to do something different, and I feel this story had a lot to offer in the way of characters. There are so many versions of the story that I was able to create a lot of challenging roles for our dancers. I have really been able to draw from my dancers and make it theirs.” Beauty and the Beast is new to the Wayne Center Ballet repertoire, and it explores both the meaning of true love and has a reminder that we should not be so quick to judge others.”
The story of the ballet tells the tale of a handsome prince who is cursed by an evil fairy to live life as a lonely, hideous beast, but who is also blessed by a good fairy to always keep a pure heart. Years later, Beauty is bound by her father is live at the Beast’s castle. While in his care, Beauty discovers the man inside the Beast and comes to love him for his true heart, freeing the prince from his curse..
Featured performers are Michaela Boros as Beauty, and Morgan Bostdorff O'Rourke as Beast. Charlotte King plays the role of the Maid, while Jenny Shoots is La Fée Miserable and Stacey Ubelhart is La Bonne Fée. Kendra Shehy is the Rose Queen and Barbara Hodgdon is the Ice Queen. Dick Benson plays Beauty’s Father, and Emily Neill and Kayla Villegas dance as Beauty’s Friends.
Appearing as Snowflakes are Sarah Boreman, Lydia DeVincent, Gillian Fannin, MaKailla Parsons, Alexandra Raber, Maggie Schlabach, Emma Strong, Jennifer Vicknair, Jillian Vicknair, and Abigail Werstler.
Dancing as Shadows are Abby Cannon, Tia Fry, Erin McClintock, Samantha Murphy, and Emilie Raber, Jewels Lindsey Johnston (Ruby), Olivia Mann (Sapphire), Tricia Stefancin (Onyx); with Miriam King dancing as a Bat.
Kailee Hagen is a Woodland Sprite. Roses are Lauren Balint, Elizabeth Boros, Meredith Bruch, Madelaine Fannin, Karien Graf, Zelie McLain, Emma Shehy, Jamie Shoots and Elise Weiland.
 This rich and varied spring dance program offers four other performances. “Paquita Pas de Trois,” an excerpt from the classical ballet Paquita. It is a demanding and purely classical piece, restaged by Brenda Schwinn, the Wayne Center Ballet’s Artistic Director Emeritus. “Motion of Emotion” is a contemporary piece set by WCB alumna and current dance instructor Stephanie Sustar.
It demonstrates a modern/jazz style which represents a range of emotions.
“Ballo Rosa” is a contemporary ballet piece set to a Vivaldi Concerto. Created by Jenkins-Meyer, it is inspired in part by her memories of watching the Ohio Ballet and Heinz Poll's pieces while she was growing up. The last featured piece is entitled “Reddition,” choreographed by WCB alumna Katelyn Rumbaugh. This modern piece illuminates a girl’s inner struggles (perfection, frustration, temptation) as her guardian angel’s presence guides her.
Performances are scheduled for Saturday, March 20 at 2:00 and 7:30 pm and Sunday, March 21 at 2:00 pm at the Wooster High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $12 for adults, $9 for seniors (60 and over), and $7 for children (12 and under). Wayne Center members receive a $2 per ticket discount.
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