Youth ballet set to perform ‘Swan Lake’

BANGOR – Dancers with the Bangor Youth Ballet are getting ready to take wing as they rehearse for an upcoming production of “Swan Lake,” scheduled for Saturday at Peakes Auditorium.

“What we will be doing is most of Acts II and III and a part of Act IV,” said Jane Bragg, director of Bangor Youth Ballet. “Most of the choreography we will be using is the traditional choreography by Ivanov and Petipa, but the ‘Four Little Swans’ variation has been adapted for younger students and some of the choreography has been created by Ivy Forrest, Heinrick Snyder and Katrina Smedal.

“Heinrick has been active in the dance world around Bangor for many years,” Bragg said. “Katrina is a former student of Ivy Forrest and is currently a senior at the University of Maine.”

Before enrolling at the University, Smedal studied at the North Carolina School for the Arts and danced as an apprentice with the Festival Ballet of Rhode Island. She was originally cast as the lead white swan, Odette, but had to relinquish the role due to injury. She has continued to work as ballet mistress and coach for the 16 swan dancers.

The role of Odette will be danced by John Bapst freshman Kristyn Murphy of Orrington.

Murphy, 15, has been training at Thomas School of Dance since age 8, and has performed several times with Bangor Youth Ballet. She was the wolf in “Peter and the Wolf,” and the fairy godmother in “Cinderella.” Murphy is also busy as a singer.

“It takes a lot of dedication and love to be a dancer,” Murphy said. “I’d have a hard time living without it.”

The evil black swan will be danced by Central High School 10th-grader Kalista Shaw.

Shaw, 16, started dancing at age 3. She is a varsity cheerleader at Central, and has performed several times with Bangor Youth Ballet. She danced solos in “Alice in Wonderland,” “Peter and the Wolf” and “Cinderella.”

Bangor Youth Ballet’s first performance was “Cinderella” in November 1994. Since then the troupe has presented “Peter and the Wolf,” “Les Sylphides,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Hansel and Gretel,” excerpts from “Le Corsaire” and a variety of other lesser-known or original ballets.

Last year, to celebrate its 10th anniversary, Bangor Youth Ballet reprised “Cinderella.” Over the years, dancers from at least 10 different dance schools and communities, ranging from Lubec to Brooksville, have participated, Brag said.

“We first did ‘Cinderella’ as a recital piece for Thomas School of Dance in the spring of 1994,” Bragg said. “I felt it was such a good production that it should be seen by a wider audience.

“Ivy Forrest, who was teaching for me, was the choreographer for ‘Cinderella.’ I also felt that area younger dancers needed opportunities to perform other than ‘Nutcracker,’ especially since only a limited number could participate in ‘Nutcracker,’ she said.”

In addition to “Swan Lake,” Bangor Youth Ballet will present “Teddy Bear Tea Party,” choreographed by Heinrick Snyder, with music by Johann Strauss Jr.

Performances are scheduled at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at Peakes Auditorium, Bangor High School, and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at the University of Machias. Tickets are $10, $5 for children and students, and may be purchased in Bangor at the Grasshopper Shop, Patrick’s Hallmark Shop or at Thomas School of Dance. For information, call 945-3457.