The Spotlight

Bravura Performance Lifts 'Midsummer Night's Dream' To Heavens

Grace Austin's flawless performance as Titania provided the icing on the Missouri Ballet Theatre's rich ballet cake on Friday at the Edison Theatre in Clayton.

It wasn't midsummer, but it did seem like a dream when the Missouri Ballet Theatre presented the classical ballet version of Shakespeare's play at the Edison Theatre at Washington University on Friday night. The production featured a beautiful set, clever choreography and heavenly dancing. The ballet attempts to tell one of Shakespeare's more complicated stories. It involves faeries, a love potion, unrequited love and star-crossed lovers. Of course, everything is rectified in the end, and the characters live happily ever after. In the ballet, the plot is difficult to follow. Don't try too hard. Just enjoy some of the truly excellent aspects of this production. Most notably is Grace Austin's performance as Titania, so stunning it's …

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Christopher Reilly

7:40 pm on Sunday, May 15, 2011

A note from Adam Sage informs me that he is, in fact, the choreographer of the ballet, and that it is a world premier. Kudos to Mr. Sage for his excellent work.   more ›

The Spotlight

St. Louis Festival Presents Ballet, Belly Dancing, Clogging and More

The Clayton event featured 30 dance companies, schools and groups offering St. Louisans a look at rich local dance culture.

The St. Louis 2011 Dance Festival Showcase happened over three evenings this weekend and featured performances by 30 professional dance companies and schools from the St. Louis area. The event at Washington University's Edison Theatre in Clayton is in its 12th year and is presented by Dances of India, the first classical Indian dance company to be established in Missouri. The showcase aims to present St. Louis audiences with the vast array of dance available to them in an effort to increase both interest in the companies involved and attendance at their performances. During Saturday's performance, eleven companies, schools or clubs presented classical and modern ballet, modern dance, Indian folk dance, flamenco, belly dancing and even …

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And/Or: Two Saturday Events to Check Out in St. Louis

Here are two top bets for things to do near Clayton and Richmond Heights.

It’s Saturday, and you’ve got no idea what you’ll do. Patch is coming to the rescue. We’ve got two great bets — do one or both, or share your plans by posting a comment! RECYCLE PLASTIC GARDEN POTS THROUGH THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN When/Where: 9 a.m. Saturday, Missouri Botanical Garden Why Go: Be a part of the most extensive public garden recycling program in the nation by bringing in your old plastic pots.     Pricing: Free SAINT LOUIS BALLET PRESENTS 'TRIBUTE TO NEW YORK' When/Where: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Touhill Performing Arts Center Why Go: This four-part ballet series is a unique and entertaining tribute to New York and is a family friendly event.      Pricing: $25 - $47

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The Spotlight

'Nutcracker' by Young St. Louis Ballet Company Proves Strong

The Missouri Ballet Theatre performed the traditional holiday favorite Dec. 17 at the Edison Theatre.

A beautifully wrapped Christmas present sat under the Variety Club tree on the stage at the Edison Theatre on Dec. 17, and from it came a delightful production of The Nutcracker by the Missouri Ballet Theatre, full of love, warmth, beauty and grace. A final performance is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Dec. 19. The curtain rises on the Silberhaus family as it is celebrating Christmas. Herr Drosselmeyer, the godfather portrayed by the company's ballet master Robert Philander Valentine, arrives. A gifted toymaker, he presents some magical toys to all the children in the form of a soldier doll—portrayed by Jamal White, who danced strongly—and a Columbine doll, superbly performed by Jessica Ruhlin. When Drosselmeyer presents a Nutcracker to Clara—…

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Missouri Ballet Theatre to Present 'Nutcracker'

The classic Christmas ballet will be performed at the Edison Theatre in Clayton.

St. Louis' own Missouri Ballet Theatre will bring its version of The Nutcracker to the Edison Theatre in Clayton at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17. Based on E. T. A. Hoffmann's The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, and featuring music by Tchaikovsky, the play opens on the Stahlbaum family on Christmas Eve. Godfather Drosselmeyer arrives and presents gifts to the children, Clara and Fritz. Clara's gift is a beautiful nutcracker, which becomes the hit of the party. Feeling the pangs of jealousy, Fritz breaks it and leaves Clara heartbroken. That night, Clara dreams of a fantastical journey on which her nutcracker battles the Mouse King in March of the Toy Soldiers and visits the resplendent Sugar Plum Fairy. The Nutcracker is a story full of magical …

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