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Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2009 > September > 15 > Entry
Review: Ballet Austin II’s ‘Peter and the Wolf’
Ballet Austin’s Associate Director Michelle Martin opened “Peter and the Wolf” with a brief Ballet 101 lesson, explaining to the crowd of children in the Austin Ventures Theatre Saturday that ballet is a non-verbal art.
Part of the fun of watching ballet with a room of kids is that they refuse non-verbal spectatorship. As the members of Ballet Austin II, the apprentice company for Ballet Austin, danced Stephen Mills’ choreography to music by Sergei Prokofiev spontaneous reviews popped out all over the theater.
As the duck, Gwenyth Kelley’s dedication to character — most apparent in her waddle — sent waves of chuckles through the pint-sized crowd. Peter (Calvin L. Thomas, Jr.) is the hero of the story and seemed to capture the children’s enthusiasm. Thomas is a clean, clear dancer, more than capable of the buoyancy often used to mark characters as childlike in ballet.
Preston Andrew Patterson danced the role of the Wolf well, but the role proved a bit too much for much of the audience, a rather young crowd since the ballet has been advertised for 2- to 8-year-olds. The Wolf’s appearances resulted in frightened faces and heads buried in parental laps. Several kids looked reassured after the show, when Patterson removed his Wolf head and, with the rest of the cast, greeted the departing children.
Even if the scare factor frightened the youngest fans, the show did seem to hold the kid’s attention. Including Martin’s introduction, the entire production clocks in at 50 minutes.
“Peter and the Wolf” continues 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.Austin Ventures Studio Theater, Ballet Austin, 510 W. Third St. $14. www.balletaustin.org
Clare Croft is an American-Statesman freelance dance critic.
Photo by Tony Spielberg.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment Categories: Dance, Reviews
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By Wendy
September 16, 2009 1:03 PM | Link to this
Congrats!!!(Calvin)Lydell, you are so awesome and I am so proud of you…Keep doing what God has so RICHLY blessed you to do. And making your mother so proud. Take care and God bless.
By Missie Santomo
September 16, 2009 10:09 AM | Link to this
Congratulations Calvin. We are so proud of you. Cincinnati Ballet and the Academy wish you all the best.
By Betsy Cook
September 16, 2009 9:43 AM | Link to this
We are so proud of our Maysville son and his dancing talent. I hope to see him perform soon.
By Tammy
September 16, 2009 8:10 AM | Link to this
Way to go Calvin! We are very proud of you!!!!
By Terry Honebrink
September 16, 2009 7:05 AM | Link to this
I have had the pleasure of watching Calvin grow over the years at the Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy and as a trainee and supplemental dancer for Cincinnati Ballet-Austin is very lucky to have such a talented, dedicated dancer in your company. In addition to being such a great dancer, Calvin is a wonderful, caring person who will enhance the entire city of Austin-GO CALVIN! We love you! Terry and Annie
By Phyllis Helphenstine
September 15, 2009 10:59 PM | Link to this
We are so proud of Calvin, his sister, Cynthiana, who just won a beauty pageant and his wonderful single mother who is doing such a great job raising her children. Not an easy job for a 2-parent home, but Linda seems to make it seem so easy.
By Ann Porter
September 15, 2009 9:24 PM | Link to this
I am so proud of Calvin. I have watched you grow into a fine young man. God only gives you talent to use, keep up the good work.Your God Mother is so proud.
By Debbie
September 15, 2009 8:57 PM | Link to this
Congratulations Calvin!!! Calvin is a great teacher. He was my daughter’s ballet teacher for a while and she flourished under his instruction. She learned so much from him. Hope we see you soon.
By Linda Frey Thomas
September 15, 2009 7:53 PM | Link to this
I am so proud of my son Calvin. A small town boy, using his God given talent to experience a chance to live his dream. What more can you ask for. God is good.
Calvin is making the little town of Maysville, Ky. proud.