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Nov 9, 2007

Classical ballet takes centre stage at Bliss

Story PictureWhile there’s no shortage of artistic talent in Belize, opportunities to hone potential into skill are limited. But this weekend an event at the Bliss is designed to show local dancers what can be achieved through discipline and dedication.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
This weekend, Belizean audiences will be treated to the grace and beauty of classical ballet courtesy of visiting professional dancers.

Ballet Magnificat, based in Jackson, Mississippi, is in Belize at the invitation of local dance studio Dramatic Force.

Joe Yeager, Director, Dramatic Force
“Trying to bring in the performing arts of excellence. We are really trying to bring something into this country where we can shoot to, a high level, if you will, of artistic expression.”

Members of Ballet Magnificat’s Omega Company will perform “Hiding Place”, the story of Holocaust survivor Corrie Ten Boom at the Bliss this weekend.

Joe Yeager
“This is a powerful story of redemption about how someone whose life literally is being oppressed by outside forces, evil forces and they came through it and survived it. But they not only survived it, they forgave. And it’s a key message for everyone that can see it. that’s the “Hiding Place”.”

In addition to the scheduled shows, the dance company will hold a workshop for ballet students on Saturday. This week, they also held a simulated class for dance teachers.

Sistie Fairweather Harmes
“What I’m noticing most of all with them is the use of the head with all the other movements, because a lot the movements—when you are in dance, a lot of the other movements are set and you are familiar with them but some of the finer points you might forget over time. So looking at them it really helps you to remember to have kids use their heads, the inclination of the head and the focussing and things like that.”

Rosita Balthazar
“With the training and the dedication of the children and the support of the parents, we will be able to train these kids and they will be able to reach this level, but with a lot of discipline and dedication.”

Ballet Mistress Sol Nazario knows that discipline and dedication all too well. But tonight she is encouraging everyone to appreciate the intricacy of the art.

Sol Nazario, Ballet Mistress, Omega Company
“It’s hard, it’s not easy but if they really push a little bit forth and break through all the taboos that [they] have, especially with boys and men in dancing, it’s amazing how you can use the dance and your body to express so many things. Like us, to express the gospels of Jesus Christ. … It just gives you the freedom and it’s just movement, it’s freedom and especially when you have the Lord in your hearts.”

And according to studio director Joe Yeager, ballet and dance can open all sorts of doors.

Joe Yeager
“You can take artistic gift and ability, train it well, then you can use that to go to college and a lot of parents don’t realize that, but this is one of those little unsung heroes. Our son went through a full ride his first two years of college, fifty-two thousand U.S. because he was dancing and singing. So I think it’s pretty good.”

If you missed tonight’s presentation of Hiding Place, Sunday’s show is set to start at five in the evening. Tickets are twenty dollars for premiere, fifteen reserve, and ten dollars for general admission. Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.


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