The Ridgefield School of Dance Closes Season With 2 Shows

The headliner in the weekend’s performances is Madeline, a charming ballet based on the children’s classic books and choreographed by artistic director Jessica Boelts. Dancers ages seven through the PreProfessional division will participate. “This is such a fun performance,” Executive Director Alison Brown said. “The choreography, costumes and the music — actually the entire ballet — will make audiences smile.”

Teagan Evans, a Branchville Elementary School fourth grader, will dance the title role of Madeline, as the smallest of 12 schoolgirls exploring Paris. The other 11 young dancers hail from Ridgefield, Redding, South Salem and Armonk. Their journey shows them the delights of Paris including the Louvre, a scenic park, a turn around an ice skating rink, a patisserie and a fashionable boutique where they discover Madeline is missing!

Guest artist Marcus Salazar, from the Connecticut Ballet (Stamford), will dance the role of the sailor on leave in Paris and taken by the beauty of several lovely mademoiselles.

Also presented will be a selection from Giselle featuring the PreProfessional Division and Ballet 6. Dancing the role of Myrtha is Phoebe Levitt, a senior at Ridgefield High School. Seniors Isabella Raduazzo (Ridgefield) and Audrey Carr (New Canaan) are also featured performing the roles of Moyna and Zulma respectively.

Jeux d’Enfants is a short ballet created by Boelts with choreography by Violetta Katz, designed for the youngest of dancers. Ballerinas ages three through six take audiences to playtime in a set of giant toys including a 6-foot tall teddy bear with colorful props that engage the mind.

In addition to Levitt, taking final bows will be Raduazzo, Carr and Olivia Basile (Redding). As Pre-professional Division members, all three will perform in Giselle and Madeline.

Each year the jazz department concludes the show with its own mix up of jazz, theatre dance, lyrical, contemporary, fusion and tap with choreography by Stevi Van Meter and Jamie Rae Walker. Levitt, Basile and Raduazzo are members of the Jazz Company, which will present this year’s,“Dancing Out Loud.”

The curtain rises on Saturday, June 8, at 6:30 pm and the performance will include Madeline, selections from Giselle, and Dancing Out Loud. The Sunday performance commences at 1 pm with Giselle, followed by Jeux d’Enfants, Madeline and ending with Dancing Out Loud.

“These pieces were carefully chosen to showcase our dancers, playing to their strengths, and demonstrating how hard they have trained,” Boelts said.

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, discipline and artistry 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.