I recently attended a matinee performance of "The Ugly Duckling Ballet" presented by the Dance Theatre of Bradenton. Contrary to what the name implies, there were no ugly ducklings in sight. I saw instead a group of incredibly talented, beautiful ballet dancers, all with one thing in common…an undeniable love for dancing. While it is amazing to witness the products of a great dance instructor, it’s even more thrilling to see what a teacher can’t teach a student…pure joy performing on a stage. Each and every dancer was obviously having the time of his or her life. It showed, and it made the show fantastic.
Camille and Webster
The Ugly Duckling is the heartwarming story of Camille, a swan who doesn’t seem to fit in with the world in which she was born. Camille, beautifully portrayed by Courtney Albritton, struggles to fit in with her surroundings. Albritton, whose perfect arabesque seems effortless, manages to evoke sympathy for her character, the ugly duckling. Her emotionally-charged dancing, along with dramatic cuts of music, is enough to bring even the youngest audience member to tears. Camille finally befriends a friendly, talented spider named Webster, brought to life by Jamie Gargano. The two dance and play together around a beautifully decorated stage, complete with a lifesize spiderweb and a wading pond. The interaction between Camille and Webster is gentle and fun-loving, yet energized with thrilling ballet dancing.
Ducklings and Frogs and Birds...Oh My!
The many characters of the ballet include an adorable set of green frogs, a lively group of fun-loving ducklings, a wise owl, a raven, a woodpecker, a group of spiders, a lizard, a couple of squirrels, a pair of foxes and skunks, a slithering snake, a magic fairy, and a slew of white swans. Making the ballet performance so charming, along with brilliant costuming, was the ability of each dancer to bring his or her character to life. The result was a visually charming ballet that delighted and entertained an audience of all ages.
A Crowd-Pleaser
The Dance Theatre of Bradenton, artistically directed by Allison Norton of Allison’s Dance Centre of Bradenton, produced a swan of a show. While many hours of hard work was evident, it was the sheer enthusiasm on each dancer’s face that will be embedded in my memory for years to come. It is difficult to top a genuine, ear-to-ear smile on a young dancer’s face. The cast should be proud of a wonderful showing of technical ability, but even prouder of its incredible ease of delighting a live audience.
