Classical Ballet Works

Isadora Dances

Isadora Dances will introduce and redefine the healing that comes from dance that utilizes body, mind, and emotion. By focusing on the simplistic and natural movements of Isadora Duncan (1877-1927), the dancers and their audience will experience movement and music of that era on Saturday, May 12, 2007 at the Lake Performing Arts Hall in Uniontown, Ohio at 2:00 pm. Through narration, the audience will not only have a better understanding of the choreography, but the life of Isadora Duncan who began to shape Modern Dance as we know it today, as well as 20th Century Classical Ballet.

Sleeping Beauty (2005)

The Sleeping Beauty has been delighting audiences of all ages for over a hundred years. The well known story is drawn from the fairy tales of Charles Perrault. It was Originally choreographed by Marius Petipa of The Russian Imperial Ballet. Set to the enchanting score composed by Peter Tchaikovsky, the first production was performed at the Maryinksy Theatre in St. Petersburg in 1890.

But his is more than a tale of a princess, a spell, and a kiss. The Sleeping Beauty is a masterpiece of classical dancing. Brilliant solo choreography combines with elegant pageantry in this grand-scale production. The Artistic Director, Lesa Broadhead, meticulously adapted the original choreography to preserve the integrity of this Classical Ballet while showcasing the accomplishments of The Manchester Dance Ensemble and students of Dance Academy South at all levels of proficiency. It will be a triumphant finale to the season.

Celebrating the christening of the newborn Princess Aurora, daughter of Queen and King Florestan XXIV, several fairies have come to bestow blessings on the child. Suddenly, the wicked Carabosse bursts in, enraged that the Queen and King had not invited her to the celebration. She curses the child to prick her finger and die. The Lilac Fairy had not presented her blessing yet and intervenes. The spell is weakened to a deep sleep from which the Princess can be awakened only by a kiss of true love.

All knitting needles were banished from the kingdom. But on her 15th birthday, the beautiful Princess Aurora is presented with a gift mysterious woman, a bouquet of flowers hiding a spindle. Princess Aurora pricks her finger and falls into a deep sleep. The old woman throws off her disguise revealing a triumphant Carabosse. The Lilac Fairy arrives, and places the mournful court under a sleeping spell.

A hundred years pass. Prince Desiré is hunting in the nearby woodland when he is led to the Princess Aurora through an enchanted forest by fairies, including the Lilac Fairy. It is true love at first sight. His kiss breaks the curse, awakening not only the Princess, but also the entire court.

A dazzling wedding gala follows with Princess Aurora and Prince Desiré united in love in a Grand Pas de Deux (a dance for two). The celebration concludes with the Lilac Fairy blessing the Princess and Prince to live happily ever after.

Les Bijoux (2004)

At 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 21st, 2004 at Firestone Performing Arts High School, you can experience The Manchester Dance Ensemble, Inc., and Dance Academy South in the premiere of Les Bijoux, otherwise known the "The Jewels."

Les Bijoux is set in Bayeux, France in the early 1930's. This new dance work is choreographed by Lesa R. Broadhead, and features dancers as the Emerald, the Sapphire, the Ruby and the Diamond. The story revolves around a young woman and her search for the most precious gemstone or gemstones!

Les Bijoux will be dedicated to our Senior Jewels. We wish these girls much success in the pursuit of their life long dreams.

Cinderella (2002)

The Manchester Dance Ensemble, Inc./Dance Academy South's version of Cinderella was adapted from the 1857 German folktale by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Set in 1815 in a village in Germany, Cinderella mourned daily the death of her mother. While close to death, her mother said to her, "Beloved child, be good, and have faith, and God will always take care of you, and I will look down upon you from heaven, and will be with you."

Within a year after her mother's death, her father took a new wife who brought with her two very beautiful daughters, but whose hearts were very dark and ugly. Cinderella then was made to sleep on the hearth in the kitchen, and from her dirtiness she acquired the name of Aschenputtel, the one who sits and sleeps in the ashes. Her many dreams reflected her life with this newly acquired family.

One day Cinderella's father returned from the fair with boxes of clothes and jewelry for the stepsisters, and a twig from a hazel branch for Cinderella, as she had requested. Upon receiving this special gift, Cinderella planted it by her mother's grave. Her many tears watered the twig, and it grew profusely, harboring little blackbirds and white doves who would bring her whatever she wished.

Upon learning that she would not be allowed to attend the Ball for the Prince of the Realm, no matter how many lentils she picked up, Cinderella cried out:

"You gentle doves,
You turtle doves,
And all birds under heaven!
Come help me if you can."

And so they did, and after running to the grave, Cinderella said:

"Shake and shiver, little tree,
Let gold and silver fall on me."

The dress and shoes that appeared were brilliant, and when the Prince laid eyes upon her, he could dance with no one else. He would say, 'She is my partner.' But the evening became darker, and Cinderella knew she must return to the ashes. As she was leaving the palace, one of her slippers became stuck in a sticky patch. The Prince quickly began his quest, with the left behind shoe, to find his true love.

When the Prince arrived at the house, the beautiful, but ugly stepsisters tried to squeeze their lovely feet in the shoe in question. After no success, the Prince saw that Aschenputtel was in the hearth. Upon looking in her eyes, he knew that he had danced with her. And when the shoe fit, the Prince was assured that Cinderella was the right bride.

With the assistance of all Cinderella's birds, they forced the stepsisters and stepmother to repent because of their wickedness and falsehood. The marriage between the Prince of the Realm and Cinderella took place with all rejoicing, and living happily ever after!

Shades of Degas (2001)

Shades of Degas brings to mind the paintings of the French Impressionist painter, Edgar Degas, incorporating classical ballet with hints of comedy.

Reflections (1997)

Reflections was choreographed to the music of Gian Paul Reverberi and is presented in three sections: Mirrors, Manifestations, and Meditations.

Isadora Dances

This work is based on the three lives of Isadora Duncan. Ms. Duncan changed dance in the 20th century. She instilled a different dance in her audiences and dancers, a dance which came from the soul. Her technique laid the ground work for what we know today as modern dance. Her technique was a harmonious integration of mind, body, soul, and emotions. Ms. Duncan's love for music and it's effect on dance is clearly evident in the music chosen for Isadora Dances; the music of Felix Mendelssohn, Joseph Lanner, and Johannes Brahms.