This weekend, the Ashlei Ballet School and the Northumberland Youth Ballet bring Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to life on the deCoste Centre stage.
“The reason we chose Snow White is because it’s a story that most people know,” Janet Bradbury, instructor at the New Glasgow ballet school, says. “It’s a good ballet for young children.”
Although it’s different from the story families would recognize, the ballet, first premiering in 2008, contains many of the same elements, Bradbury says.
The characters remain the same – the magic mirror, the evil queen, and Snow White.
It’s performed without words, but Bradbury insists it’s not hard to follow along.
“The dancers tell the story with action, expression and dance.”
The set is kept simple, allowing the dancers to be the focal point, but including necessary landmarks like the dwarfs’ cottage.
Although not professional dancers, Bradbury says the audience can expect a high quality show.
The child and youth dancers, ranging from ages nine to 18, are not simply dancing for recreation; they have talent, she boasts.
“It’s a good first ballet for kids to come see,” Bradbury notes, adding that its length and subject matter are a little lighter than the company’s past production of Little Match Girl.
It includes more than 40 performers, from major roles to the creatures of the forest – mice, squirrels and the like.
They started rehearsing at the beginning of January after most of the music had already been selected and chorography was done.
The dancers have known their parts for the past month, Bradbury says, and have been practicing ever since to prepare for the May 23 and 24 shows.
Tickets are $10 for children and $14 for adults for the 7 p.m. production.
On Twitter: @NGNewsAmanda
