Ballet Hits The Mark For Middle Schoolers

A little post ballet exiting

Public Performance Saturday at 3pm
​By Ken DeLaat
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On Friday on the Dogwood Center’s Main Stage  the GR Ballet Junior Co. put on a performance of Beauty and the Beast that served to clearly capture the rapt attention of an audience filled with 6th graders from our local schools.
It was not my first rodeo.
I’ve been to several of these performances over the years and yet each time brings a sense of astonishment at the way these groups of early middle schoolers take to the genre. The faces of the young men and women seems to say it all as they drink in  the choreographic magic being performed on stage. It is a testament to the desire our young people have for more exposure to the creative arts and comes with an unmeasurably appreciation toward the Fremont Area Community Foundation, the Gerber Foundation, and the Ted and Nancy Johnson Endowment Fund at FACF for helping to fund this program.
I spoke with a quartet of Hesperia Middle Schoolers after the performance.

What was your favorite part?
“The dance with the teacups was a lot of fun.”
“I lied how they did the wolves eyes.”
“All the costumes were awesome”
“I didn’t know Belle had two sisters. It added to the story”
Cori, Ellie, Elizabeth and Joanna each reported they loved the show. A couple of them had been to the Nutcracker and other ballets and were impressed by the talent of the young dancers on the stage.
Would you ever see yourself doing that?
“No way.”
“It would take years of practice.”
“They start really young”
So the Hesperia 4 gave the show 4 thumbs up.
Anything you would change?
“No. But I think the beast was a little too skinny.”

The show is today, Saturday at 3pm. Tickets still remained at the time of this posting.
Call the box office at (231) 924-8885

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