41st Annual Spring Dance Concert to the stage at Archer Auditorium
Joe Lyons •
May 17, 2023
Ashland Regional Ballet (ARB) and Opus II Dance Studio will once again collaborate to bring the 41st Annual Spring Dance Concert to the stage at Archer Auditorium on Saturday May 20th at 7:30 pm and Sunday May 21st at 2:30pm. Dancers ranging in ages from 5 years through adult and hailing primarily from the Ashland/Mansfield/Wooster area will perform in this traditional event. The performance showcases the entire student body of Opus II Dance Studio in a variety of dances designed to be great family entertainment at family friendly prices.
Each year Ashland Regional Ballet presents a special ballet production as part of this end of the school year celebration. This year’s featured ballet is Coppelia Act 3, choreography re-setting by ARB Artistic Director Sarah Cyders. They will also present “Dream Ballet” with Choreography by ARB Founder Hellie and School Director Ann Marie Benshoff-Todd . The students of Opus II Dance Studio will present the ballet “La Boutique”.
ARB Senior dancers featured in Coppelia are Gisella Blake of Ashland who will portray Dawn, with fellow Ashlander, Emma Schaefer as Lady Vienna; and Mikayla Jarvis of Wooster as Evening Prayer. Other dancers in prominent roles are the “Friends” Mira Bechtol, Adley Grabowski, Tara Tavalaee, and Allie Wentworth or Ashland and Megan Harrigan of Nova. The “Waltzers” will be portrayed by Haylee Cromer, Teagan Kime, Lilly Lehman, Samantha Metz, Lyla Metzger, Valerie Raubenolt, Elise Sabourin, and Audrey Smith. The “Villagers will be portrayed by ARB Company members Aliya Beasley, Sami Crist, Mary Hamilton, Jackalyn Metz, Lucy Ronk, Madelyn Shenberger and studio dancers Leo Mancha, Milo McDonald, Asher Robbins, and Nathaniel Studer. Also, of note is Skylynn Heichel of Ashland, who will appear in our contemporary pieces. Professional guests Brian Murphy, and ARB Alumnus Christina Lindhout will portray Franz and Swanilda.
The first portion of the program presents a wide array of contemporary dance styles including Tap, Jazz & Modern Dance. Benshoff-Todd mentions “One of the most exciting parts of this show is seeing how much our dancers have grown this year. It shows the promise of a bright long lasting future for the studio.” Choreography is by Schussler, and ARB Alumni Kimberly Cadley-Mach, Cyders and Benshoff-Todd. Schussler notes, “This has been a wonderful school year, full of good dancing and lessons well-learned. The Opus and ARB dancers are eager to show-off their accomplishments. It seems impossible that our school has been in dancing now for 41 years! We are very proud of everything our dancers have accomplished.”
Performances are open to the public and are reserved seating. Tickets are available at ashlandregionalballet.com/ticket-information. For more information contact Ashland Regional Ballet at annmarieofopusarb@gmail.com, or visit www.AshlandRegionalBallet.org.
