By Phyllis Sigal
It was an “AHA!” moment when Cheryl Pompeo, director of Oglebay Institute’s School of Dance, knew “12 Dancing Princesses” was the perfect Youth Ballet fall show. That moment came seconds after she realized her senior dancers numbered exactly a dozen.
“The kids are happy,” she said, noting that each senior will perform the part of a princess.
The 12 seniors are: Kennedi Chesonis, Abigail Hines, Amelia Mandel, Analise Baker, Kerrigan Moses, Sydney Willson, Annabelle Crews, Marlee Smith, Emma Wodarcyk, Claire Carson, Sydney Gilman and Ella Nugent.
Performances are scheduled October 12, 18 and 19 at Towngate Theatre. Other Ohio Valley venues will host performances as well.
THE BALLET
“12 Dancing Princesses” tells the story of 12 unruly little princesses. Their father has died, and the queen, the girls’ mother, is overwhelmed. Enter her sister, the duchess, who proceeds to bring order to the princesses’ lives. However, the duchess has an ulterior motive — to become queen herself.
What neither the queen nor duchess knows is that the girls’ father left them a magical, larger-than-life storybook. “Of course it’s magical, it’s a ballet!” Pompeo noted.
“Every night after the duchess puts them to bed, they sneak the book out and read a chapter. Each chapter represents a season, and when they read the story, a guide appears and takes them to the realm of that season. They dance until their pointe shoes get filthy,” Pompeo explained.
“The next morning when the duchess lines them up, she can’t understand why their shoes are dirty.”
One night, the duchess and the queen sneak down to see what the princesses are up to, and then a huge fight over the crown ensues.
SPOILER ALERT!
During the scuffle, the princesses wrangle the giant storybook toward the duchess and close her into the pages, where she remains forever.
And the princesses “live happily ever after.”
STORYBOOK BACKSTORY
Oglebay Institute School of Dance alumna Moira Smith, a freshman technical theater major at West Virginia University, created the giant storybook from scratch, Pompeo said, beaming with pride about her former student.
The 3-foot-tall storybook colorfully illustrates each of the seasons as well as the duchess’ unfortunate fate of falling into “the end.”
“Mo is so excited to be part of this,” Pompeo added.
CHOREOGRAPHY, COSTUMES, MUSIC AND VOLUNTEERS
Six choreographers — all teachers at Oglebay Institute’s School of Dance —have crafted the dance steps. They all attended planning meetings, selected the music and choose the costumes, Pompeo noted. “I support them as they bring their vision to life do their thing.”
“They are all beautiful, smart women who understand the kids. They make the show come to life. I’m very lucky,” she said. The choreographers, along with Pompeo, are Kristin Carson, Kathleen Gottus, Kimberlee Kafana, Rebecca Edgell Moore and Maria Wood.
Audience members can look forward to brand new costumes for the princesses and the four seasons, as well as beautiful music — including “lots of Vivaldi,” Pompeo said — coordinated by Peter Lim.
Tim Thompson, director of performing arts and technical director, and Dave Henderson, artistic director, are designing exquisite lighting and a creative set for the show.
No show would be complete with the parents and grandparents who help backstage, serve as ushers, and sell concessions and raffle tickets. “We couldn’t do it without them,” Pompeo said.
“Towngate Theatre is the perfect place to bring kids to experience art and culture,” Pompeo noted. “Then they’ll go on to bigger performance halls — like the Benedum and Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh.”
If a little audience member starts acting like an “unruly princess,” Mom or Dad can bring the child downstairs to watch the show on the big screen, Pompeo offered.
YOUTH BALLET COMPANY’S STORY
About 50 dancers — ages 6 through 18 — are members of Oglebay Institute’s Youth Ballet Company. The school’s teachers have hand-picked the dancers as those who show promise and excel at their craft, Pompeo explained.
“We are trying to give the kids a chance to perform in ballet who may not have the opportunity to join a professional ballet company. We are trying to showcase the students who have worked hard in our school.”
The company dancers must commit to two shows — the fall ballet and the holiday performances of “The Nutcracker” — as well as a two-hour class every Monday evening. They also serve as student assistants when Pompeo teaches outreach classes in the community.
“They give back a lot,” she noted. “It’s a big commitment for the kids, but even bigger for their parents.”
THE PERFORMANCES
Performances at Towngate take place 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, October 12 and 19, and 7 p.m., Saturday, October 18.
Tickets are $20. Purchase online or by call 304-242-7700.
Performances also take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, October 11 at the Strand Theatre in Moundsville; 3 p.m. Sunday, October 26 at The Lincoln Theater in New Martinsville; and 7p.m. Monday, October 27 at Ohio University Eastern.