Once upon a time, Ballet Theater of Annapolis couldn't decide whether to aim its spring program at children or adults.
One year it would do a program for grown-ups; the next, a program just for younger audiences. Last year, it tried to do both: an adult program on Friday night and a family program of fairy-tale ballets on Saturday and Sunday.
"That got fuzzy and confused," says Executive Director Janet Morgan, "and we realized we were cannibalizing our own audience. People had to choose one or the other, or they had to come to both programs on the same weekend, which most weren't willing to do."
So this year, BTA had its adult mixed-repertory program in March, featuring Edward Stewart's new production of "The Rite of Spring." Meanwhile, this weekend is dedicated to children and children's classics.
The results have been positive. Whereas the 1997 mixed-rep program drew about 300 people on its one evening, this year's program drew more than 800 over two evenings.
And while Saturday's matinee still could use a boost at the box office, Morgan said Sunday's show at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts is selling well.
"Fairy Tale to Fairy Tale" features a one-act ballet of "Snow White," with Sandra Prehoda in the title role; vignettes from "Alice in Wonderland," including Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the Cheshire Cat and other characters; and "The Tales of Beatrix Potter," including a hedgehog and four pigs. There also are three chickens emoting over "the dying swan" from "Carnival of the Animals."
The Potter selections have costumes from a production by the Williamsburg (Va.) Ballet.
And for next year? "We'll never run out of fairy tales," said Stewart.
In addition to the professional dancers, the performers include more than 30 children from the company's school appearing as forest creatures, dwarfs and flowers.
The children include Laura Brennan, Luisa Cole, Lindsey Costello, Meghan and Katie Greene, Garrett and Justin Gooding, Anna Griffis, Elizabeth Jacobson, Hilary Johnston, Anne LaFleur, Lauren Mullis, Sarah Rodak, Sarah Ruppel, Carey van Orden, Kelly Lee Walker and Lisa Marie Turisen Zak, all of Annapolis.
Others are Libby Aull, Sarita Christensen, Allyson Curran, Jessica George and Bethany Goff of Arnold; Brae Keller and Emily Prior of Crofton; Maggie Flook of Crownsville; Natalie Masiuk and Sarah Anderson of Millersville; Stefanie Barboza of Pasadena; Kara Metzler of Severn; Emily Cheesman, Caitlin and Grace Codd, Caroline Fountain and Kerry Serini of Severna Park; Katie Lamb of Centreville; Alyssa Helfenbein of Chester; and Jenna Davenport of Stevensville.
In other BTA news, Aram Manoukian has joined the company as a soloist. A student of the Yerevan Ballet Academy in the capital of Armenia, Manoukian was a member of the Donetsk Ballet in Ukraine. He danced in the Donetsk production of "The Nutcracker" that played at Goucher College in Towson in December.
Also, BTA will dance Mondayevening for the Maryland Federation of Women's Clubs' convention at the BWI Marriott. Repertory will include excerpts from the fairy tales and a pas de deux for Natasha Kirjanova and Dmitry Tuboltsev.
Ballet Theater of Annapolis
"Fairy Tale to Fairy Tale"
When: 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase St., Annapolis
Tickets: $18, $15 seniors, $10 students
Information: 410-263-2909
Pub Date: 4/16/98
