When the ballet came to town
By Jay Gordon
Originally published in the Willits Nickel & Dime www.thenickelanddime.com

The list of things that might interest a high-energy group of third graders might not typically begin with “visit from a ballet company.”  Yet, there they were: seven exquisite young ladies in tutus, escorted by their instructor Trudy McCreanor from Mendocino Ballet in Ukiah.  And, sure enough, 140 absolutely adorable kids sat in orderly lines at Blosser Lane Elementary School, smiled and clapped a lot, and were an attentive audience.  An hour later they were followed by a similar group. You have to be impressive to command that level of attention – and participation.  Yes, the kids had a chance to practice a few steps of their own and acquitted themselves quite nicely, thank you very much.

The dancers are (l to r): Sarah Martin, Kelly Enberg, Meredith Cabaniss, Morgan Cummings, Trudy McCreanor (Director), Kelsey Hernandez, Marieclaire Wilcox, Sarah Matossian.

Ms. McCreanor, a lovely ballerina herself, gave a brief overview of the history of ballet to the youngsters before she led the group in a series of dance steps.  Who knew ballet was popularized by a king who wanted to show off his nice calves and the jewels in his shoes.  (That explains the point position.)  Louis XIV had the longest reign in European history (1643-1715.)  Well, okay, he started out at age four but still it’s impressive.  It’s certainly an endorsement of regular exercise as a key to longevity.  We also learned that, for at least 20 years, the only ballet dancers were men.  You may have noticed that has changed. 

McCreanor shared the idea that “ballet is based on steps that feel good to the body, and that is simply transferred into technique.”  She also pointed out that the glue used to make ballet slippers is the same kind that is used to build a kayak.  Most of the kids in the audience could relate to that.  (I’m getting the idea that youngsters in Willits are much more athletic than my generation.)  New information to most is that ballerinas work their way up through four categories: apprentice, corp, soloist, and principal. 

The young ballerinas, hailing from several different schools, presented an enchanting program of various types of dance, including several traditional ballets and one from Spain, complete with fluttering fan.  When it came time for the audience to practice the new steps they had learned, there was a lot of giggling and delightful energy as they experimented with this new version of calisthenics.  They were a rapt, polite audience and eager students.

Mendocino Ballet's visit to Blosser Lane Elementary was made possible due to a grant from the "Get Arts in our Schools Program" (GASP), an arts education partnership of the Mendocino County Office of Education and the Arts Council of Mendocino County.

Look for more fun and frolic as the Mendocino Ballet presents “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” at Mendocino College Center Theater on Friday June 1, 2007 at 7pm and Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 2pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children age 12 and under. They can be purchased at Good’s Stamp Shop in Willits. For other locations or more information, please call the Mendocino Ballet office at (707) 463-2290 or go to www.mendocinoballet.org.