In a sunlit studio on 21st Street in Norfolk, ballerinas pranced and prowled like sly wolves, elegant swans and other silly characters for Ballet Virginia’s new child-oriented production, “Petite Matinee.” It opens Saturday at the Zeiders American Dream Theater in Virginia Beach.
The 46-minute performance features original and familiar choreography from popular shows, including “Puss in Boots,” “Snow White” and “Little Red Riding Hood.” The scenes are tied together by a fairy godmother, who is the “silent, magical emcee.”
Development Director Lisa McCarty said Ballet Virginia has a popular children's program but “we get feedback like, ‘I'm not sure if my little one's ready for ballet.’”
“Petite Matinee” introduces ballet through fun costumes, over-the-top theatrics and a lot of room for audience interaction.
It’s Ballet Virginia’s first time creating a show specifically for kids and it's nearly sold out. It is already planning two shows for next year.
“If your first memory of going to a show is really positive rather than sitting through a two-hour ballet,” she said, kids are more likely to love the experience.
During the show, dancers will run through the aisles, handing out props to children and making silly faces that McCarty said the kids love.
But the fun begins before the show in the lobby, where kids can play ballet hopscotch, make wands and crowns to wear during the performance and decorate an autograph book for the ballerinas to sign.
McCarty said she created the program and activities because, after 40 years of teaching ballet, she noticed, “the kids aren't as interactive as they used to be.” She wanted to encourage them to interact with and talk to the dancers.
“They're just in awe. They just think that it's like they're seeing a superstar,” she said. They ask questions about pointe shoes, ballet and how they could become dancers.
“They want to know about tutus. Like, when do I get to wear a tutu? How do I get to wear a tutu? Where did you get that? Can I wear it?” McCarty said.
So she created a giant “dad tutu” for funny family photo ops.
The dancers also love performing student matinees, though they didn't always have a dedicated time to meet with children beforehand. Young audiences are often more reactive.
“For a lot of the performers, the student matinee is our favorite because you never know when they're going to start clapping or what's going to make them giggle.”
She said she wants to help break the stereotype that ballet is stuffy or “only for fancy people,” when, in reality, “everybody can dance, everyone can do ballet, no matter size, color, age, whatever.”
In the early days of ballet and opera performances, everybody came, McCarty said. However, somewhere along the way, much of that audience diversity was lost. When that happens, she said ballet is no longer doing its job.
And, whether or not the children want to pursue ballet, she just wants the kids to “go home and keep their crown on and dance around and feel good about the way they're moving.”
“If you go through life holding your hat a little higher and feeling good about the way you move, life is better.”
“Petite Matinee” starts at 4 p.m., and lobby activities begin at 3 p.m. Visit balletvirginia.org for tickets and more information.