The Ridgefield School of Dance will celebrate the end of its 2023-2024 season on June 8-9 at Ridgefield High School with a series of captivating performances.
The lineup includes classical ballets such as Giselle, the sweet and joyful Jeux D’Enfants (Child’s Play), and the fun yet sophisticated Madeline. Also featured will be the school’s Jazz division in “Dancing Out Loud.”
The headliner of the weekend’s performances is Madeline, a charming ballet based on the children’s classic books and choreographed by artistic director Jessica Boelts. Dancers from ages seven through the PreProfessional division will participate. Executive Director Alison Brown expressed excitement about the performance, saying, “The choreography, costumes, and the music — actually the entire ballet — will make audiences smile.”
Teagan Evans, a fourth grader from Branchville Elementary School, will dance the title role of Madeline, portraying the smallest of 12 schoolgirls exploring Paris. The other 11 young dancers come from Ridgefield, Redding, South Salem, and Armonk. Their journey showcases the delights of Paris, including the Louvre, a scenic park, a turn around an ice skating rink, a patisserie, and a fashionable boutique where they discover Madeline is missing!
Guest artist Marcus Salazar, from the Connecticut Ballet (Stamford), will dance the role of the sailor on leave in Paris, captivated by the beauty of several lovely mademoiselles.
Also presented will be a selection from Giselle featuring the PreProfessional Division and Ballet 6. Phoebe Levitt, a senior at Ridgefield High School, will dance the role of Myrtha. Seniors Isabella Raduazzo (Ridgefield) and Audrey Carr (New Canaan) will also be featured, performing the roles of Moyna and Zulma respectively.
Jeux d’Enfants is a short ballet created by Boelts with choreography by Violetta Katz, designed for the youngest dancers. Ballerinas ages three through six will take audiences to playtime in a set of giant toys, including a 6-foot tall teddy bear with colorful props that engage the mind.
The curtain rises on Saturday, June 8, at 6:30 pm with a performance including Madeline, selections from Giselle, and Dancing Out Loud. The Sunday performance commences at 1 pm with Giselle, followed by Jeux d’Enfants, Madeline, and ending with Dancing Out Loud.
“These pieces were carefully chosen to showcase our dancers, playing to their strengths, and demonstrating how hard they have trained,” Boelts said.
The Ridgefield School of Dance provides pre-professional and recreational dance instruction, focusing on classical ballet, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, tap, and musical theatre dance. With a complete schedule of day and evening classes for ages three through adult, the school offers the joy, discipline, and artistry of dance, with a challenging curriculum at all program levels.
Tickets are on sale at https://www.theridgefieldschoolofdance.com/ or by calling 203-894-5957. The Ridgefield School of Dance is located at 66 Grove Street.