Manchester Dancers Perform in Connecticut Concert Ballet's Spring Performance

When imagination, inspiration and expression meet talent, training and technique, a Connecticut Concert Ballet spring show is in the making.

A total of 25 Manchester residents will perform works choreographed by Wendy Fish-Lawrence, David Lawrence, Lorelei Chang and Christina Shortt in two performances on Saturday, May 20 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, May 21 at 2:00 p.m.

Leanne and Sara Baldwin, sisters and members of CCB's Pre-Professional Ensemble, had the opportunity to choreograph a personal dance each in the piece "Shuffle-Remix", a contemporary ballet. Manchester Pre-Professional Apprentices performing are Dakota Jusem-LaPorte and Kayla Sandoval. Leanne will also perform the lead role of Swanhilda in the classical ballet Coppélia.

Performances will be held at the state of the art Bailey Auditorium, Manchester High School, 134 Middle Turnpike East.

Advance Ticket Prices: Preferred front and center seats are $35; General admission is $25 for Adults and $15 Child/Student/Senior. Tickets are available at tututix.com/CTConcertBallet or call the toll free call center at 855.222.2849. Tickets will also be available at the door for $38, $28 and $18.

Connecticut Concert Ballet's 2017 Spring Performance will include:

Excerpts from Coppélia, Staged by Wendy Fish-Lawrence and David Lawrence

This ballet takes place in a provincial village and features joyful and spirited dances that showcase the strong classical ballet technique and training of the CCB ballet students

Shuffle – Remix, Concept and choreography by Wendy Fish-Lawrence and David Lawrence with inspiration and ideas from the dancers

A refreshingly hip contemporary ballet that draws upon pop culture and finds inspiration from a diverse variety of music chosen by the performers

The Fun-tastic Chinese Zodiac, Concept and choreography by Lorelei Chang

Inspired by the Chinese Zodiac, this is a playful and lighthearted modern dance piece. Eight sections of dance use a variety of music from traditional Chinese music, electronic, and drum to classical orchestra. There is also a giant Dragon puppet involved as the Chinese Zodiac comes alive on stage

Cats, Choreography by Christina Shortt

Inspired by the Broadway musical, Connecticut Concert Ballet students tell the stories of the "Curious Cats" and the "Mysterious Cats" though dance with a classic jazz style

Connecticut Concert Ballet is a semi-professional 501(c)(3) classical ballet school and performing arts organization with studios in Manchester on the Glastonbury line and in Windsor in the Great Hall at Grace Church. CCB brings fully staged ballet and dance productions to audiences from all over Connecticut twice a year including the Nutcracker in December and the Spring Show in May.

CCB offers a robust, year-round schedule of classes in ballet, modern and jazz for ages 3 to adult and has 300 students from over 40 towns in the Greater Hartford, northern and eastern areas of the state. Connecticut Concert Ballet proudly employs the AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE® National Training Curriculum. CCB is a multi-year winner of “Best Dance Lessons” in Hartford Magazine’s “Best of” readers’ poll.

For more information on the school and summer programs please visit ctconcertballet.org, call 860-643-4796 or follow us at facebook.com/connecticutconcertballet.

Full Manchester cast list:

Eva Andrews

Leanne Baldwin

Sara Baldwin

Stefaniya Barbieri

Eden Chuong

London Rose Cuevas

Mya Foley

Emma Rose Hall

Dakota Jusem-LaPorte

Alina Rynn Kaiser

Tricia Kearney

Trinity Lach

Mary LaMonica

Penny Leitao

Isabella Mendoza

Juliana Mendoza

Avery Norris

Julia Puzio

Lilly Puzio

Natalie Rutar

Kayla Sandoval

Sarah Silberberg

Mira Stebe

Maricel Thongmanivong

Lydia Whelton