The Secret Garden,” choreographed by Risa Kaplowitz, a West Windsor resident and co-owner of the Princeton Dance & Theater Studio, will be performed by the Dance Vision Youth Ensemble on April 4, at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center in Skillman, and on Sunday, April 19 at 3 p.m. at the new High School South Performing Arts Theater. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and children under 12. For tickets call 609-520-1020 or visit www.dancevisionnj.org.##M:[more]##
DanceVision, based in Plainsboro, was incorporated as a New Jersey non-membership, non-profit corporation. Its mission is to provide dance educational programming and outreach for school age children (K-12) in central New Jersey. This is accomplished by providing in-school programs, after-school programs, and professional development in public school districts and private schools.
The inspiration for this original ballet came from the classic children’s book “The Secret Garden” by Francis Hodgson Burnett. “When I read this book to my daughter, I realized it would make a beautiful ballet,” says Kaplowitz. “Now, because of the generosity of DanceVision, my dream has come true through the organization’s Youth Ensemble.”
Not only will there be three performances of this wonderful ballet in April, but Lucy Corvino, the illustrator of the children’s version of this book, published by Sterling was on-hand to sign copies at the MarketFair’s Barnes & Noble on Saturday, March 28. Corvino, who created the pen and ink drawings on the inside as well as the cover art, offered to donate this original artwork to DanceVision for auction. “Ms. Corvino’s illustrations provided imagery which I used for the ballet — the most notable being Mr. Craven sitting in his chair while Mrs. Medlock brings Mary to him,” says Kaplowitz. “In fact, I use that very same visual in the ballet — the chair and all.”
West Windsor dancers include Benjamin Davidoff, Thomas Davidoff, Alessa Meni, Katrina Meni, Rhonda Meni, Elise Millrod, Eri Millrod, and Grace Sandford.
Plainsboro dancers include Valentina Kozina, Holly Martin, Jennifer Martin, Juliet Martone, Robert Martone, Drew Nelson, and Livia Paoletti.
DanceVision’s Youth Ensemble, the performing arm of DanceVision, provides performance opportunities for the pre-professional dancer. Unique to this production will be the use of projection art scenery instead of the traditional use of backdrops. Dave Haneman, production manager and Plainsboro resident, will provide each act with different moving projections as scenery, thus creating a unique experience for the audience as they follow Mary’s move from India to England and through the various rooms of Misselthwaite manor to the Secret Garden.
“My goal is to have the audience feel the mysterious transformation of the garden from a dreary, dead-like state to the wonderfully alive and colorful garden that it becomes,” says Hanemen.
The Secret Garden, Princeton Dance and Theater Studio, Montgomery High School, 1014 Route 601, Skillman. Saturday, April 4, 2 and 7 p.m. Also at High School South, Clarksville Road, West Windsor, Sunday, April 19, 3 p.m. $15. 609-520-1020. www.dancevisionnj.org.
