Local dancers offer amateur expertise in “Sleeping Beauty”
The classic tunes of Tchaikovsky fill the Ellen Eccles Theater, while trained dancers take the stage in the depiction of a popular childhood tale, “Sleeping Beauty.” For those familiar with the Disney version, the Cache Valley Civic Ballet’s depiction of the storyline is closely related and even includes several of the same pieces of music.
The music also adds a unique element, because it will be performed live by the Utah State University Symphony.
As rehearsal assistant and one of the performers in “Sleeping Beauty,” Stephanie White said, the use of live music is becoming increasingly rare.
“Even some of the professional companies will use recorded music because getting an orchestra is so costly,” White said.
Beyond these fundamental production elements, audience members can expect to see what White describes as a “gorgeous set, lighting effects, even a little pyro tech[nics]” in the show’s finer details.
These details represent only a small amount of the planning that has gone into the Spring performance of “Sleeping Beauty.” Planning has been a continuing progression since Sandra Emile, Cache Valley Civic Ballet’s artistic director, and Sergio Bernal, Assistant Professor and Conductor, planned the merge in 2005. As White explains, the whole production depends upon the hours of volunteer service provided not only by those highlighted on the stage, but also by the board of directors of the ballet and also the aid of contributions from the community. A large amount of time is also devoted to rehearsal; both the dancers and the orchestra have spent countless hours perfecting the audio and visual effects since January.
In some ways, the Cache Valley Civic Ballet’s rendition of “Sleeping Beauty” has its own unique qualities. For instance, participants are excited about displaying guest artists, well-rehearsed dancers and fun effects like the disappearance of the wicked fairy, Carabosse, White said.
“There is so much to learn from performing: learning the dance, perfecting the dance, dealing with makeup, costumes, and the stage, handling stage fright, and learning to shine,” she said. White has actually been playing the role of the wicked fairy since the company’s first production in 1992.
Following Tchaikovsky’s original score, “Sleeping Beauty” includes a third act where a wedding takes place. In this act, several dances shift the attention briefly from the traditional storyline in order to provide the wedding guests (and the audience) with entertainment. These dances rely on the themes of other fairy tales including Puss in Boots, Little Red Riding Hood, and even the little old lady who lived in a shoe, providing a light atmosphere to highlight the abilities of the dancers.
The 50 dancers involved in the production are actually all volunteers, though many are highly-experienced and some are part of the Cache Valley Civic Ballet. Those dancers playing the prince (Sergiu Brindusa) and Aurora (Beth Moore) are professional dancers. However, the experience level of cast members varies from age group to age group, with a number of school children as young as 5 years old dancing at various times through the play.
Beyond the level of expertise the dancers and orchestra portray, the main focus of the production is to entertain and celebrate an art form with a classic style and the display of artistic talent. This desire, for those involved in the production, makes the hard work worthwhile, White said.
“I appreciate being part of something that can bring beauty and culture into our area of the world,” she added.
-cynthiadiane@cc.usu.edu