Standing Ovation Announces 25th Year for Serving Southwest Orange County
June 4, 2006, marked the 25th year celebration and performance by the stalwart Elizabeth Parsons School of Dance, and once again I was impressed with the thoroughly professional program, presented at the Bob Carr Auditorium. This school consistently presents a program that is so much more than a school recital. Even numbers, such as "Daddy's Little Girl' and "Let Them Be Little" that featured the more novice dancers, were charming. Likewise, those numbers featuring the more advanced students were truly impressive, a testament to the caliber of the school's instructors and the core talent that this very fine school attracts.
In the first half there were several notable numbers, including "U-Knee-K Graffiti," an urban hip-hop dance done to Hammertime and "I'm So Excited," done by a group of dancers looking like red hot jumping beans; they electrified the stage. "Austrian Musical Feet" was a serenely beautiful dance featuring Bavarian clad pink and black sprites performing sophisticated congruent movements. ADHD meets Cirque de Soleil in "Save the Rainforest," an innovative performance of acrobatics done to a Latin drumbeat. The dancers, resembling primeval salamanders, achieved amazing visual effects with their intertwined and complex movements. "You Raise Me Up" was a classic ballet piece, a swirling flow of color and grace.
The second half also featured several notable numbers, including "Get Up and Dance," a reprise of Veronika Costa's dance from the 2002 revue. The precise movements and use of folding chairs to achieve varying visual heights is so innovative and as good an anything that I've seen on the professional stage. Brittany Dobbs, who has been a student for 14 years at this school, performed her senior solo, a dance that married elements of classic ballet, modern and jazz. "Asian Flair" began as a sedate and dreamy dance and then exploded into a twirling surge of color and movement, demonstrating choreographer Kathy Follensbee's understanding of presentation.
Traditionally, Mrs. Parsons' annual revues have featured adapted versions of classical ballets, performed by professional and student dancers. This characteristic affords not only a professional quality to her performances, but also provides the ultimate in a mentoring experience as her students dance toe to toe with guest artists. This year was no exception. Danced to the hauntingly beautiful strains of Tchaikovsky, "Sleeping Beauty" was a lovely ballet, choreographed by Henry Hernandez, who now serves as Artistic Director of the Tallahassee Ballet. Precise, crisp movements combined with graceful and beautiful execution by both the guest artists and the student dancers produced a performance that was enchanting.
Adding to the enchantment of "Sleeping Beauty" were the notable performances from the school's staff. These included instructor Ula Binkys, who gave a very athletic and graceful performance as the Caraboose, and "Miss Elizabeth," whose regal presence as the Queen enhanced the performance. Additionally, the guest artists, Jacque Westbrook, Alex Pernice, Patrick VanBuren, Juliette Gibault, and Andres Estavez, were sensational. The Pas de Deux was particularly powerful, demonstrating difficult leg movements, yet graceful in the flow of the dance. Alex Pernice, graceful and delicate as Princess Aurora, was guided by the strong and sweeping Andres Estavez (courtesy of Orlando Ballet) as Prince Florimund. Together, they, like the whole evening, were magical!