Student Dancers Leap At Challenging Program

Tue., Jan. 5, 1999

By Susan English susane@spokesman.com

“Ballet & Bubbly” Staged by Theatre Ballet of Spokane Thursday, Dec. 31, The Met

Student productions are what they are: amateurs-in-training performing earnestly and at moments rising to the level expected of professionals.

Theatre Ballet of Spokane, a company of student dancers from the Ballet Arts Academy, staged its annual New Year’s Eve ballet gala Thursday at The Met. And while the dancers lacked the polish of a professional company, certainly in some aspects they aren’t far off the mark.

Most of the dancers in this troupe have a number of years of ballet training behind them, and a few have gone directly from this company to professional positions.

None of this is news, of course, to company director Peggy Goodner Tan. Hence, she makes sure one of the strengths of this annual production is the choreography.

Tan programs a broad range of dances that showcase the strengths of her dancers and also challenge them. This is exactly how a student performance should be.

One of the highlights of the evening was former Spokane dancer and choreographer Wendy Long’s piece, “Wrecking Ball,” performed to music by Emmylou Harris. The dance allowed plenty of places for individual dancers to shine.

And characteristic of Long’s choreography, a number of dance styles were used - sort of a revue of popular dance from the twist to the frug to swing.

“Willow,” a celebratory dance choreographed by former American Festival Ballet dancer Abigail Drinkard to the music of Enya, was also popular with the audience.

Guest dancer Gareth Scott, a Spokane native now with Oakland Ballet, performed a short solo to the music of Bedrich Smetana. Having a seasoned veteran perform in the same program as students offers ample opportunity for comparison.

In this case, the juxtaposition served the Theatre Ballet performers well in that it demonstrated that some of these young dancers have the necessary skills should they want to pursue a spot in this artistic arena.

The evening ended well short of midnight but on an upbeat note with a jazzy revue called “Fosseisms” by Seattle choreographer Kristen Cooper. It was apparent the dancers were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

And experienced spectators know that when the performers are having fun, it’s easy for audience members to be swept up in the spirit.

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