For its annual DanceFest presentation, the Tyler Junior College Academy of Dance is telling “a tale as old as time.”
“Beauty and the Beast” will feature the famous fairy tale with ballet, modern dance and magical sets and costumes.
Performances are 7 p.m. Friday, April 12; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 13; and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 14; in Wise Auditorium.
Tickets range from $8 to $25 and are available at TJC.edu/Beauty.
The production is under the direction of Shurrell Wiebe, director of the pre-professional program for the TJC Academy of Dance and professor of dance at TJC. Additional choreography is by Thereza Bryce-Cotes, ballet mistress of the TJC Academy of Dance and TJC adjunct ballet professor; and Carolyn Hanna, TJC Dance Department chair and TJC Academy of Dance director.
Wiebe said, "I'm very excited about this show! Belle is one of my favorite princesses because she is strong in the face of adversity. She keeps a smile on her face and knows her self-worth when bullied by the villagers. She looks at the heart of a person, not just their outward appearance, which is something we can all learn from.”
Shurrell Wiebe and Elexis Wiebe, a dual-credit dance major at TJC, character have recently been sharing this special message with elementary schools around the East Texas area to educate our young audiences about dance, the arts and performance.
She added, “This show will entice the entire family with special effects, professional dancing and amazing sets and costumes. Elements of surprise and magic will keep the audience at the edge of their seats.”
Cast includes: Brynn Allen, Michelle Azzi, Rachel Boone, Camila Bravo, Layla Brown, Bella Burton, Thereza Bryce-Coats, Molly Cannon, Jessica Carmona, Melissa Clower, James Coats, Kate Cooper, Mackenzie Copfer, Faith Craig, Karsyn Cunningham, Augustine D’Eramo, Rebecca Dai, Madison Dean, Caleigh Duquette, Baylee Elam, Chris Fisher, Haley Foster, Jules Gregory, Savannah Gregory, Regan Hamby, Skyla Horace, Kyndra Hulen, Felicia Jarrett, Kileigh Johnson, Liberty Koerbel, Kaylee Lesniewski, Audrey Martin, Zoë Grace Mazzaré, Ali McCreary, Lydia Middleton, Frances Moseley, Sara Moseley, Leely Nguyen, Mariana Ortiz-Oliveras, Anastasia Oxler, Addison Petty, Allie Phillips, Caroline Priest, Annabel Priest, Ainsley Rhodus, Demi Rodriguez, Lyla Roycroft, Grace Schoenberger, Sydney Sharp, Layla Sullivan, Joslyn Swinney-Dewberry, Dustin Thomas, Gabriella Volberding, Elexis Wiebe, Brynn Wilder, Ava Wamboldt.
For more information on the TJC Academy of Dance, go to TJC.edu/Dance.