From Feb. 20-22, the Cypress Lake Dance Department dove into the imagination of Wonderland following Alice’s journey full of madness. The dancers put on four shows in total.
All the dancers had been preparing for this ballet for two months during class and after school. Each night was a little bit different than the last, featuring some characters who were double-casted, getting a different version of the same story created by Sarah Thornburg.
“Overall the Alice in Wonderland production was absolutely outstanding,” Ms. Thornburg added.
As Alice is being read a book by her sister, the audience is introduced to the White Rabbit who, of course, as many know, leads her down the iconic rabbit hole. There are scenes such as the Eat Me and Drink Me treats which make her big and small, the caucus race, the croquet game, and the war leading into seeing the Jabberwocky. Other iconic characters appeared, including the Caterpillar, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the Duchess, the Mad Hatter and his posse, and of course the Queen of Hearts.
“I loved doing my role as Tweedledee because I got to perform with my best friend one last time in the ballet in a role together,” said McKenna Schlichting.
Senior Sarah Johnson said, “I really loved being in the ballet. The Cheshire Cat was such a fun role to be able to play and a new experience for me as I had to learn how to act the part while also getting to try doing silks.”
Though some parts may have felt confusing, including beheading someone for simply eating tarts, in retrospect that was the goal. After the battles and much mad confusion, Alice wakes up with her sister in the end just to realize that it was all a dream.
Although ballet is over, the dancers are already working on their next show, New Visions, where the level 4 dancers will be showcasing their own choreography.
