The presenters of “Ballet Spooktacular” have a warning for those who plan to attend the Halloween-themed celebration this fall – buy tickets early before they vanish into thin air!
Eastern Connecticut Ballet (ECB) presents four performances of this popular and family-friendly annual performance on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 13 and 14. The curtain rises at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center (the Kate) in Old Saybrook at 1 and 4 p.m. each day.
“Spooktacular,” will conjure up a spellbinding mix of ballet, music, and special effects. Dancing skeletons that glow in the dark, a malfunctioning magic wand, ghostly visions in veils and other sights will captivate young audiences.
Children — and parents too — show off their creative spirit by wearing costumes to the event. After the show, the audience gets into the action by parading onstage, trick-or-treating throughout the decorated theater, and posing for photographs with the dancers.
This year’s program features several short works choreographed by Artistic Director Gloria Govrin and Associate Director Krystin Dixon. Selections include “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” the tale of a little boy who gets in over his head when pretending to be a sorcerer. The score was made popular by a classic scene in Fantasia, Walt Disney’s animated film classic.
“Dancing Bones” features dancers as colorful, glow-in-the-dark skeletons, but the illusion is more fun than frightening. Inspired by the music of Camille Saint-Saëns, the hauntingly beautiful “Halloween Waltz” displays the talents of ECB dancers.
Last year’s “Spooktacular” was a sell-out and tickets are likely to perform a disappearing act once again. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.thekate.org or call the Kate Box Office at 860-510-0453.
Founded in East Lyme in 1992, the nonprofit Eastern Connecticut Ballet is one of the state’s premiere schools for dance. The ECB offers an annual performance of “The Nutcracker,” (December 8-9, 2018) at the Garde Arts Center in New London and other events year-round.