Wilton residents perform in Carnival of the Animals in Ridgefield June 17-18

 

With creative choreography and stunning costumes, The Ridgefield School of Dance looks forward to sharing a wonderful weekend of dance with Ridgefield and the surrounding community, June 17-18 at Ridgefield High School.  From comical to cool and classical to contemporary, the school promises a performance that will suit everyone’s taste.

Dancers will present the comical Carnival of the Animals, a lively and imaginative ballet set to the music of Camille Saint-Saëns. Humans and animals fuse in this light-hearted ballet inspired by the 1886 musical suite and the poetry of Jack Prelutsky, with original choreography by Artistic Director Jessica Boelts and teachers Jillian Foley and Irene Zimmerman. Characters include Tortoise CanCan dancers, Elephant Tightrope-Walkers, Swan Ballerinas, and other zoological roles. 

All students from PreBallet to Company will perform in Carnival. Ballet Company members will dance as Skunk Pianists and in additional lead roles, including Makena Davi of Ridgefield as Lion Tamer, and Rachel Castaldi of Wilton as Lion. Madison Rucolas of Ridgefield and Kyra Winslow of Weston will perform as Clowns, and Ridgefield students Lily Meyler and Eugenia Cashman as Cuckoo Bird Mime and Magician, respectively. Mackenzie Whitelaw of Ridgefield will dance as Fossil.

The Ridgefield School of Dance Company and Apprentice Company will also perform the classical, dream-like Les Sylphides ballet, to the music of ‎Frédéric Chopin and choreography of Michel Fokine. Soloists include RHS seniors Anneke Schole and Nina Moss and sophomore Julia Garrett as Sylphs, and Guest Artist Kendia Bennett from SUNY Purchase will perform as the Poet. A contemporary ballet choreographed by Ms. Boelts will feature Schole, Moss, Garrett, Rucolas, Whitelaw, and Winslow. All members of the Ballet and Jazz Companies will conclude the performance with Together Forever, a spirited Jazz Department presentation, with original choreography by instructors and a choreographic debut by Kyra Winslow.

The school will host its Gala presentation on Saturday, June 17 at 7:00pm with Les Sylphides, Untitled, and selections from Carnival and Together Forever. The full-length performance will be held on Sunday, June 18 at 1:00pm. Both events will take place at Ridgefield High School. Information and tickets at TheRidgefieldSchoolofDance.com and 203-894-5957.