COLUMBIA — The Mid-Missouri Dance Theatre performance will showcase a fresh look this year. Director Halcyone Ewalt Perlman said in choreographing, she and co-teacher Nancy Stoy added modern contemporary dances blended in with classical ballet dances.
“We tried to have a varied program. Different music and movements are going to appeal to different people,” Perlman said.
Perlman, who has been directing the show for more than 20 years, has also choreographed most of the dances.
“I try not to have too many pieces alike. We also like to bring in guest performers,” Perlman said.
The dancers from the Perlman-Stoy School of Ballet have been rehearsing most of the pieces since January.
Althea Skinner, Miranda Atkinson and Cassandra Parks will be returning this weekend to perform in a piece called “Together, Apart.” The three women are all longtime performers of the Mid-Missouri Dance Theatre and were also students at the Perlman-Stoy School of Ballet. Skinner, 23, said they have been rehearsing the piece since last fall.
The music in this weekend’s performances will be new to some audience members, but there will also be a couple of recognizable pieces. The dancers of the “Waltz” will be performing to music from “Sleeping Beauty." There will also be a dance to music from “The Nutcracker.”
A more contemporary dance with modern movements, called “Prance with Vigor," will conclude each performance. Perlman decided to use the phrase for the dance after she saw it on a container at Kaldi's Coffeehouse.
This weekend’s shows will feature performances by advanced and intermediate students, as well as some professional guest performers. There is also a dance by advanced children, ages 8 to 12.
Perlman said she is proud of the work and effort the dancers have put into this weekend's performances.
“I enjoy seeing it all come together,” Perlman said.