WCA dance program to present ‘Tinkerbell’
Wayne Center for the Arts’ dance program will present “Tinkerbell” on May 24 and 25 at the Wayne Center for the Arts’ auditorium. The audience will be transported to Neverland, where they will meet pirates, crocodiles, and Tinkerbell and her fairy friends.
“The dancers are very excited to perform in this recital. We’ve been having so much fun bringing these characters to life through dance, but it has also been an important part of their dance education,” said Brittany Eckstrom, WCA dance coordinator. “We are also pleased to highlight some of the dancers who will be performing for adjudication at the Mid-Atlantic Dance Initiative at the end of the month.”
Members of the WCA Jr. and Sr. Ballet Companies will travel to West Virginia to take classes and workshops. Several of WCA’s dancers will perform solo pieces for adjudication before dance professionals from across the country.
“Dancers who sign up for adjudication are eligible for scholarships. We have had several of our dancers receive scholarships in the past, which is wonderful, but the conference also affords the dancers the opportunity for real-time feedback and the ability to learn and grow,” Eckstrom said. “Having them perform their pieces during ‘Tinkerbell’ is an opportunity for extra practice and to show off the hard work they’ve been putting in.”
“Tinkerbell” will feature dancers from age 3-17. Tickets are available at www.WayneArtsCenter.org for the Friday evening performance and Saturday matinee.
The spring performance also marks the launch into the summer and fall season, which will see the WCA Dance Department getting ready for “The Nutcracker” to be performed in December.
“‘The Nutcracker’ has been a tradition for us since the early 1990s,” WCA Executive Director Sara Brink said. “Taking part in this performance is such a wonderful, memorable experience for our dancers and their families.”
Adults who are interested in volunteering or joining for the iconic “party scene” should email Brittany@WayneArtsCenter.org. Children interested in being part of “The Nutcracker” also are encouraged to try a dance class this summer and fall. All students registered for a dance class in the fall session will be part of “The Nutcracker” in December, but dancers can get a jump-start this summer.
“We’re offering shorter sessions of ballet in multiple levels this summer,” Eckstrom said. “Kids will be grouped by age regardless of experience so that they can learn with their peers. The sessions are only two weeks long with various times offered to accommodate the many vacations and obligations families have in the summer. We hope these short sessions will allow kids to get a taste of ballet and dance to decide if it’s something they want to pursue further.”
Information about registering for classes can be found at www.WayneArtsCenter.org or by calling 330-264-2787.
Auditions for the principal roles and the ballet corps for “The Nutcracker” will take place at Wayne Center for the Arts on Thursday, June 13 at 6:45 p.m. Auditions are open to anyone in the community age 8-18 and will involve a group class to learn a small piece of choreography followed by performances in groups. For more information on auditioning for “The Nutcracker,” email Brittany@WayneArtsCenter.org.