DanceVision Performance Company brings to the stage Risa Kaplowitz’s ballet interpretation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” based on William Shakespeare’s classic comedy and set to Mendelssohn’s score. The production is Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4, at College of New Jersey.
Kaplowitz has also choreographed DanceVision’s ballets “The Snow Queen” and “The Secret Garden.” Her choreography brings the characters to life in a tale of love and jealousy, where magical fairies, sylphs, and sprites make mischief with the lives of unsuspecting love-struck mortals.
West Windsor and Plainsboro dancers include Max Azaro, Annabel Azaro, Nithya Borra, Zoe Chang, Antonia Comaniciu, Joe Foster, Iris Foster, Leo Foster, Madison Lai, and Eric Simon.
Rickey Flagg II and Joshua Henry, trainees at the Dance Theater of Harlem Professional Training Program, will be performing the roles of Lysander and Demetrius. “Rickey and Josh add so much to the performance,” says Kaplowitz, DanceVision’s artistic director and a West Windsor resident. “They are not only great dancers, but they are also wonderful performers who bring their noble roles to life with both grace and humor.”
The second act of the production features “Graduation Ball” with original choreography by David Lichine. Watch what ensues as a group of male cadets is invited to a dance at a girls’ school in the humorous and playful ballet.
The ballet double feature is for audiences of all ages. There is a free educational pre-performance talk one hour prior to the performance that offers a preview of the story and insight into the process of translating literature into dance.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Graduation Ball, DanceVision, Kendall Theater, College of New Jersey, 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing. Saturday, May 3, 7 p.m.; Sunday, May 4, 2 p.m. $25. 609-514-1600. www.dancevisionNJ.org.
