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ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND & PAQUITA


April 4/2020

ORCBA will present the premiere of their new ballet, ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND, and excerpts from PAQUITA at Oak Ridge HS Performing Arts Center. Audiences will have two opportunities to see this elaborate and fantastical production that is sure to please schoolchildren and adults alike as they embark on a fascinating journey into Wonderland and experience the passion of Paquita and its famous Grand Pas Classique.

ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND is a wonderful new premiere for ORCBA. Assistant Artistic Director Katrina Quist Rouse is excited to take the audience along on Alice’s journey down the rabbit hole to the Mad Hatter’s tea party and the Queen of Hearts Castle, where they will encounter many of the charming characters from the beloved Lewis Carroll books – White Rabbit, March Hare, Mad Hatter, Dormouse, Cheshire Cat, Caterpillar and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. Senior company dancers Elaina Cordray and Lily McDonnell will share the part of Alice. 
PAQUITA is set in Spain during the occupation of Napoleon’s army. The heroine is a young gypsy girl named Paquita. Unbeknownst to her, she is of noble birth, having been abducted by gypsies when she was an infant. She saves the life of a young French officer, Lucien, and they fall in love. Lucien will be danced by Murillo Barbosa, principal dancer of the Georgia Ballet, and the role of Paquita will be shared by local professional and ORCBA first soloist Courtney Wills and ORCBA demi-soloist Lydia Croley.

Director Molly Koon Quist states, “PAQUITA is one of my favorite ballets, and a favorite of the dancers. At its heart, it’s a love story with a Spanish flavor. The music is beautiful and lively, and the dancing is difficult and aerobic; epitomizing the ideal of classical ballet technique and virtuosity. Our presentation consists of a waltz, an adagio, a pas de deux, many solos and a coda. ORCBA’s junior and senior corps of dancers are thrilled to be performing this beautiful piece”.

The performance will include over 50 area dancers both pre-professional and professional, three innovative choreographers, exquisite costuming, and a score based on music by Tchaikovsky.

Saturday, April 4 - 2 & 7:30pm

Visit: www.orcba.org