Ridgefield School of Dance Announces Spring Program

From Ridgefield School of Dance: Don’t be late for a very important date! The Ridgefield School of Dance will present its spring show, Alice In Wonderland, Act III of The Sleeping Beauty Ballet and “High Gear,” a presentation by the Jazz Department with an evening performance on Saturday, June 15, and a matinee showing Sunday, June 16, at Ridgefield High School.

The much anticipated spring event is a celebration of a year of dance. This year’s presentation marks the final performances of graduating seniors Julia Garrett and Eugenia Cashman from Ridgefield and Kyra Winslow from Weston. All three have been dancing since they were in grade school.

“It takes our entire school to create this event; dancers, teachers and parents included,” says executive director Alison Brown, who is marking her fifth anniversary as owner. “The cast for Alice in Wonderland includes our youngest pre-ballerinas dancing in the garden of living flowers and as the Queen of Heart’s royal children in Alice in Wonderland all the way through the school’s ballet company performing featured roles in Sleeping Beauty.”

The role of Alice will be danced by Sofia Garrett, a freshman at Ridgefield High School, for whom dancing runs in the family. Her sister, Julia, danced the part five years ago. In Sleeping Beauty, Julia will perform the role of Princess Aurora to guest artist Andrés Castillo Gomez’s Prince Desiré. Kyra will dance the pas de deux as Princess Florine with Erik Osterkil as Blue Bird, and Eugenia will perform as Little Red Riding Hood with Johnson Guo as the Wolf. Weston sophomore Rebecca Ronai will perform as the white cat with Mitchell Kilby as Puss n’ Boots.

Not only have Alice in Wonderland and Sleeping Beauty long been favorites for ballet companies for their beauty and delightful costumes but they play to the strengths of the ballet company here, individually and as a whole. “Sleeping Beauty gives our company dancers and
rising apprentice company members a classical piece where they can really show their technical prowess and gives each Company member a featured part,” Brown said. “Alice in Wonderland is a ballet that is truly fun for the audience as well as for the dancers to perform. This original ballet was first created by artistic director Jessica Boelts five years ago. This year, she has changed and added choreography to develop it further. “Ms. Boelts’ choreography is amazing for its creativity,” Brown said.

In its third decade, The Ridgefield School of Dance provides pre-professional and recreational dance instruction focusing on classical ballet, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, tap and musical theatre dance. With a complete schedule of day and evening classes for ages three through adult, the school offers the joy and discipline of dance, with a challenging curriculum at all program levels. Tickets are on sale at theridgefieldschoolofdance.com or call 203-894-5957. The Ridgefield School of Dance is at 66 Grove Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877.