March 13, 2012 (Jackson) - The Belhaven Dance Department will present, Coppélia, for the Spring Dance Concert. This lighthearted ballet was first performed in Paris in 1870 and is considered one of the oldest ballets still performed today.
Coppélia is a full-length ballet about a young girl named Swanhilda, who plays a trick on a doll maker. The story then introduces a young love interest named Franz who helps Swanhilda out of her mischievous prank.
Ravenna Tucker Wagon, Associate Professor of Dance, said, “The excerpt of Coppélia that will be featured in the Spring Concert by the Belhaven Dance Department is from Act I where friends dance together in the village square exuding a joyous, colorful, and happy atmosphere.”
Dance styles for the evenings will include classical and contemporary ballet, modern and cultural dance. Music from famous French composer, Leo Delibes, will accompany the ballet performers.
Caleb Mitchell, Assistant Professor of Dance, said, “Our Belhaven Dance Ensemble will dance to a more contemporary version of the Friends Dance in Act 1, which was created by Ben Stevenson, the former Artistic Director of the Houston Ballet. Lauren Anderson, a former ballerina from the famous Houston Ballet, staged the section we will be performing.”
The Spring Dance Concert is on March 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31 at Belhaven’s Visual Arts and Dance Center at 7:30 P.M. There will also be a Thursday, March 29 matinee performance that starts at 11:00 A.M.
General admission is $10 and $5 for seniors and students. There is complementary admission for Belhaven faculty, staff and students.