Two Ballet Companies Give Stonehouse Students Firsthand Look At Ballet Dancing

Thanks to the Stonehouse PTA, students may recently have felt like they had been transported to a major metropolitan city when the Richmond Ballet performed for the 4th and 5th graders, and the Virginia Stage Company performed for kindergarteners. The Ballet Company dancers presented a program that emphasized the diversity of music, dance, and life using different styles and types of music.  Many students got a chance to perform on stage with the professionals. 

The Emerging Artist Ensemble from the Virginia Stage Company put on an engaging production entitled “Aesop’s Network.”  The younger students enjoyed the “news broadcast” that featured familiar characters such as The Tortoise and the Hare, and The Boy Who Cried Wolf!  Nicha Petrakos, the VSC Touring Manager, said he was impressed with the well thought-out questions the students had for the actors after the show.

Photo Richmond:  Back row, from left:  Richmond Ballet performers Cody Beaton, Thomas Ragland, Fernando Sabino, and Maggie Small. Middle row, from left:  Berkeley students Charlie Wood, Bliss Dillon, Sydney Mentges, Keyanah Jefferson, Gregory Butler, and Michael Brooks. Front:  Ballet performer Thomas Bettin.

Photo VA Stage:  With members of the Virginia Stage Company are, front row, from left: Frenchon James, Allison Chaney, Emma Olsen, Ellery Tobler, and Joshua Yanez.