Youth ballet to highlight Evening at the Arts

BANGOR – In preparation for its spring performance of “The Little Mermaid,” Bangor Youth Ballet will hold a Special Evening at the Arts, Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Husson College Campus Center. The wine tasting begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the performance. The cast for the evening is:

. “Clair de Lune,” Brooke Black accompanied by pianist Patricia Stowell.

. Solo variation from “The Little Mermaid,” Autumn Briggs.

. Untitled, music from “Lakme,” Kalista Shaw, Katrina Smedal, Ariel Eaton, Kelsey-Lynn Briggs and Rachel Caron.

. Dream sequence from “Le Corsaire,” Kalista Shaw, Brooke Black, Michelle Birmingham, Erin Vasil, Autumn Briggs, Melissa Glifort, Kathleen Allen, Sarah Bishop, Erin Norris, Elizabeth Dvorak, Karyn Carlin, Antonia Carroll, Shannon Dapice and August Eaton.

The evening will include a special performance by Riley Watts, former Bangor Youth Ballet dancer who is now at the Juillard School.

The BYB dancers are from Bangor, Brewer, Eddington, Bucksport, Lubec, Veazie, Orono, Hudson, Blue Hill, Glenburn, Brooksville, Hermon, Swanville, Surry and Old Town.

The benefit performance, which includes a wine tasting and dinner, will showcase dancers from local dance studios in the dream sequence from “Le Corsaire,” selected solo performances and a contemporary ballet piece. A highlight of the evening will be the performance of Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” by pianist Patricia Stowell, who will accompany vocalist Kristyn Murphy of Orrington. Murphy is also a member of Bangor Youth Ballet.

Founded in the fall of 1994, the mission of Bangor Youth Ballet is to provide performance opportunities for young dancers and choreographers in the Bangor area. The company has presented full-length ballets such as “Cinderella,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Swan Lake,” “The Nutcracker,” “Peter and the Wolf,” and “Hansel and Gretel,” as well as a number of shorter ballets.

In June, Bangor Youth Ballet will premiere an original ballet based on the Hans Christian Andersen story, “The Little Mermaid.” The production will have all new costuming and scenery. Proceeds from the Special Evening at the Arts will help fund the new ballet.

The cost for the evening is $40, $75 per couple. The deadline for reservations is Jan. 3. Call 945-3457.