Art Center School of Dance 39th Performance

I had the opportunity to go to a ballet recital on Saturday evening.  Unlike the stereotype, the Art Center (Huntington, WV) puts on an incredible show each year.  Classes of young children are integrated into a ballet with a cohesive structure.  This year they had a humorous version of Jack and the Beanstalk.  Older dancers played the primary characters, including the various riches the giant had.  The theatre crew at Marshall University, which hosted the event, showed themselves to be thoroughly professional, as always.

After an intermission, a couple of tap dance numbers, and another intermission, students performed Stravinski's Firebird with the original choreography, used when the ballet premiered 100 years ago, though slightly modified in places.  Again, costuming and production values were extraordinary.

One of the striking characteristics of Ella Hay's work at the Art Center is that everyone can dance.  I've said that to people before and received responses that indicate that, yes, everyone can dance, but the vast majority of them shouldn't do so and will be hideous on stage.  As I was watching the performance, I would affirm quite the opposite.  Several of the ballerinas are significantly over five and a half feet tall.  Quite a few of them are not people you'd call "willowy."  As with the general public, most of these students will never be professionals in the field of ballet.  But every one of them knows how to look beautiful.  Every one of them has poise.  Every one of them is strong, nimble, and well balanced.  Every one of them has exposure to movement, fine music, and the act of contributing to a larger production.  This is absolutely not wasted!

For several years I participated in classes at the Art Center.  I gave it up because of problems with my knees.  But seeing this show makes me wonder if I can take up a little dance again.  Maybe so.  Maybe not.  But it was a good show.

Go dancing, everyone.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com