Spring Recital Had Many Variations

For their spring performance recital this year, the students of Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet (NCCB) once again offered a two-part performance. The first part featured the dancers of the school’s Repertoire Class dancing variations that had been choreographed by guest artist Jennifer Agius, then Malenkee Ballet Repertoire Company dancers offering their own self-choreographed variations. A second Repertoire Class variation was also offered, this one choreographed by another former NCCB dancer, Kelsey Cantore.

Following a brief intermission, the full school performed Etudes, a pictorial representation of a dancer’s discipline and hard work that had been choreographed by NCCB owner and artistic director Jennifer Johnston.

Performances were offered in the cafetorium at Reed Intermediate School on Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20. 

Ms Agius, who had choreographed the program’s first dance, is a former dancer with NCCB. She is now a student at Barnard College at Columbia University. She used “Burn After Reading,” with music by Carter Burnwell, for her dancers.

Malenkee Ballet Repertoire Company’s 14 dances included music that ranged from a classic Broadway selection — Hannah Halloran selected Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Macavity the Mystery Cat” for her work — to contemporary, including songs by Jason Mraz (which was the choice for Meaghan Davis), Jonas Brothers (the choice of Victoria Madden) and even Kanye West, which Lauren Bauer selected. The dancers were all invited to not only select their own music, but took care of their choreography and costuming for these performances.

Ms Cantore, who choreographed the recital’s second Repertoire Class variations, was until two years a dancer with NCCB. She is now a student at Quinnipiac University. Her selection for last weekend’s recitals was “Electric Feel” by MGMT.

Following intermission came the production of Etudes. The story line follows dancers with their teacher, beginning with the development of ballet from basic positions and exercises at the barre to center work, demonstrating the dancer’s progression and technical abilities.

Jacqueline Hoolehan, a member of NCCB’s Malenkee Ballet Repertoire Company, handled the role of the teacher. She “guided’ the dancers through five classes: Pre-Ballet, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced I, and Advanced II.

The second part of Etudes presents individual variations that lend the dancer the ability to utilize their technique through a choreographer’s vision and interpretation of music. It also represents, Ms Johnston’s program notes continued, the historical significance of many generations that have passed on their knowledge, culture, and heritage through choreography that will continue to influence generations to come.

Using music of Delibes, Herold, Minkus, Pugni, and Tchaikovsky, featured dancers for this section of the performance included Morgan Cebry, Robyn Gaines and Jacqueline Hoolehan, performing Classique; Victoria Madden and Jenna Siroky, performing Lise; Danielle Capozziello, Emily Moller and Natalina Schappach, performing Swanhilda; and Kate Bartel, Meaghan Davis, Catie Ingersoll, Bridget Moore, Julia Reczek, Nina Rhyins, Katerina Ringes and Riley Smith performing Ondine.

Also performing were Liana Attanasio, Hannah Grant and Hannah Halloran as Lilac Fairy; Mary Siroky as Blue Bird; Megan Primavera and Aileen Toal as Little Swans; Lauren Bauer as Esmeralda; and Alexandra Hamar as Kitri.