 "Swan Lake", "Don Quixote", "Coppelia", these are just some of the classic ballets that have been staged by the Joan Harris Centre over the past 16 years. Joan Harris was the first to introduce a children’s ballet to Wyoming Valley. Mrs. Harris did this because she believes that ballet is an essential part of every dancer’s training and to truly study ballet, a student should have the opportunity to participate in a full-length classical work. This will help them understand the principle of telling a story through dance.
All of the ballet students of the studio perform in our annual ballet, from the four-year-olds through to the adults. The older, more advanced dancers are required to perform the true classical repertoire that these works command, however, our very gifted choreographers will arrange some of the other dances of the ballet so that even the youngest students can play a role.
By far the most involved show of the year, magnificent sets, gorgeous costumes and demanding choreography make this performance one of the most anticipated productions of the school year. It is a true artistic experience to watch these students bring to life works that are hundreds of years old. A ballet is a play without words, transcending language barriers and relating a tale through dance. It is magical to watch and quite frankly impressive when you realize that every dancer on the stage has been trained at the Joan Harris Centre. Their acting abilities are bested only by their dancing skills.
Each year we alternate the styles of ballets to be performed from the four major classifications. This provides a more balanced and complete education for our students. You will find that the ballets will progress from a classic work, “The Sleeping Beauty”, to romantic, “Don Quixote”, to character, “Puss In Boots”. Avante guarde and original works have also been part of our children’s training.
This unique program is not only beautiful, but also gives each and every student and education that can only be found at our Centre. They receive an appreciation for the aesthetics that they certainly would not be priviledged to anywhere else. The actual work of famous choreographers, such as Marius Petipa, and compositions by Tchiackovsky, are taught to the students of the Centre so that these classic works continue to live on in their hearts.
We actually have four-year-olds that can recite the story lines to some of the greatest ballets ever written and then tell you who first choreographed the work. That is an education in dance.
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