Festival Ballet to present ‘Coppelia’

Published June 8, 2008

 

Festival Ballet will present “Coppelia” at 4 p.m. June 21 at Brazoswood.

Can a mysterious, mechanical doll be a serious rival to a lovely young peasant girl? You bet, until things get straightened out in “Coppelia,” the storybook ballet performed by Festival Ballet.

The ballet follows the adventures of the precocious young Swanilda as she attempts to find out the secret behind the mysterious Coppelia, a captivating beauty who sits on her balcony all day, catching the longing gazes of Franz, Swanilda's fiancé. Little does Swanilda know that Coppelia is a life-sized doll created by the eccentric Dr. Coppelius. Like “The Nutcracker,” the story is based on an E.T.A. Hoffmann fairy tale.

For people who don’t have prior experience with ballet but are interested in the art form, “Coppelia” is a great place to start.

Festival Ballet artistic director Deborah Rayburn calls “Coppelia” “a sparkling mix of comedy, romance and intrigue, a perfect ballet to cap the season.

“Not only does ‘Coppelia’ showcase classical ballet, but it also features colorful Slavic-, Spanish- and Scottish-style national dances,” Rayburn says. “‘Coppelia’ is just as fun for the audience as it is for the dancers to perform.”

As always, Festival Ballet performances feature the best in professional guest artists and local area dancers. The productions include talented young dancers from Lake Jackson and the greater Houston area.

Tickets for “Coppelia” can be purchased by phone at (832) 830-5987, or online at www.festivalballet.info.

 

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