Ballet Company’s Spring Show

Brought ‘Variations’ To The Stage

By Kendra Bobowick

Artistic Director Jennifer Johnston hurried onto the stage and took a little girl gently by her shoulders and said, “move back a little …”

She soon moved toward other ballet students during a dress rehearsal for her Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet spring performance that took the stage at Reed Intermediate School for performances on June 17 and 18. A rehearsal on June 16 found students from ages five to 17, huddled alongside heavy stage curtains in the wings waiting for their turn to dance under the spotlights.

The past weekend’s program, “Themes and Variations,” included variations on famous ballets including Giselle, Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Don Quixote, Raymonda, Paquita, Sleeping Beauty, La Fille Mal Gardee, plus choreography of Ms Johnston’s and two variations gifted to her by Shamil Yagudin of the Bolshoi Ballet.

Ballet company members this year also created their own choreographed variations, which included their own costuming.

Sitting quietly with Ms Johnston and several parents during the rehearsal was honorary guest artist Marsha Ismailoff Mark, who taught ballet in Newtown for more than 30 years, and represented “the heritage that I came from,” Ms Johnston wrote I a recent email.

On the corner of the stage was Tristan Speed on his guitar, accompanying the dance Spanish Romance routine as young women swirled and posed while fanning their faces. Ribbons in their hair and flowing skirts added flashes of colorful movement to the stage.

Younger students soon hurried into place under the lights and, clutching balloons, they stared toward the audience as the music started for their Balloon Variation choreographed by Mr Yagudin.

Soon four ballerinas in a Swan Lake variation joined hands and danced in a row, minutes before Lauren Bauer danced alone in a scene from La Bayadere.

According to the weekend production’s flyer, “the artistic beauty of ballet gives children an opportunity to achieve, create, and express … it is exciting fro them to present what they have learned …”

In addition to performances by students of all ages and levels, “Themes and Variations” also included dance work by Malenkee Ballet Repertoire Company, the innovative company which is under the umbrella of Ms Johnston’s dance studio.

Also in the flyer was a special farewell to graduating senior Jacqueline Hoolehan, who has studied with Ms Johnston since the age of eight.