The Ballet West family series brings its version of "Aladdin" back to the stage next week for an annual show that is short in length but long on entertainment. The series, now in its fourth year, appeals to families with subject matter, earlier start times and one-hour duration. But the production's artistic quality also will appeal to all ages.
Choreographers Pamela Robinson-Harris and Peggy Dolkas have long histories with Ballet West. Robinson-Harris, a past principal dancer with the company, has been ballet mistress for 15 years. Dolkas is a former Ballet West soloist and currently ballet mistress for Nevada Ballet Theatre.
"We wanted to do two things with this production," Robinson-Harris said. "First, we thought it was important to introduce families and young children to real classical ballet with all the traditions and formalities but in a format that was age-appropriate and fun."
Dolkas added the second aim was to give "the really strong dancers from Ballet West II, The BW Trainee program and BW Academy students an opportunity to perform lead roles and other challenging parts at a younger age."
Ballet West rolled out the series in 2012 with "The Little Mermaid," which was restaged for the series again last year. This will also be the second time around for "Aladdin." Next year Ballet West plans to stage its own version of "Beauty and the Beast."
"The original stories of many of these fairy tales are quite dark," Robinson-Harris said. "We don't follow the Disney version, but while we stay truer to the traditional story, we also keep it light and family friendly."
The production, opening April 3, includes a cast of colorful and magical characters as Aladdin strives to win the love of his beautiful princess and spoil the plans of the wicked magician.
The "Aladdin" musical score is a complicated compilation of seven composers, something the choreographers fretted over until receiving a compliment from Ardean Watts, the former official pianist and associate conductor for the Utah Symphony. "We quit worrying after that," Robinson-Harris said.
Another part of the secret formula for success is the creative and amusing costumes and sets.
"This is one of the truly comedic ballets," Dolkas said. "We have a camel that dances on pointe, and a chase scene on flying carpets that the kids themselves developed into a side-splitting scene."
Also getting in on the show this year will be a narration by Ballet West executive director Scott Altman. Don't expect opening-night jitters: Altman had a 20-year career performing opera roles throughout the country and was an instructor of opera at Princeton University.
"To make this kind of magic, it takes a large and cohesive team," Robinson-Harris said, listing BW II interim director Chris Sellars, ballet mistress Jane Wood, children's rehearsal mistress and faculty Cati Snarr, and production director Michael Currey and costume production director David Heuvel.
The part that makes Dolkas and Robinson-Harris beam is the talent, hard work and adaptability of the children.
"I am so impressed with the things their little brains come up with in the moment," Dolkas said. Robinson-Harris added "and with the professional-level work coming from the older dancers."
It seems this team is a winning combination ready for an adventurous carpet ride.
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