Columbus Dance Theatre to bring 'Alice: A Wonderland Ballet' to the Lincoln on Saturday
The Columbus Dance Theatre’s latest production features a grinning cat, a mad hatter and a curious rabbit — and it’s perfect for kids.
On Saturday in the Lincoln Theatre, the dance troupe run by married couple Jaime Kotrba Wilson and Seth Wilson — Jaime is the executive director and Seth the artistic director — will perform its latest production, “Alice: A Wonderland Ballet.”
Like “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” the 1865 novel by Lewis Carroll upon which it is based, the ballet has at its center a girl named Alice whose decision to climb down a rabbit hole leads her to a world bursting with strange creatures and surprising happenings.
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“‘Alice’ is a fun production in general to put together ... with all of the different characters,” said Kotrba Wilson, who choreographed the ballet, which runs an hour and 15 minutes with no intermission.
“The story ... is geared towards children, so it’s definitely a family program — something that kids will definitely enjoy,” she said.
A premiere for Columbus Dance Theatre
Other than an earlier version of “Alice: A Wonderland Ballet” that was workshopped by the company in 2020, this weekend’s production represents the first time the Columbus Dance Theatre has tackled Carroll’s classic story.
“With the different versions (of ‘Alice’) — the books, different kinds of movies, I’ve seen a lot of different ballets done as well — it was just something interesting to tackle,” said Kotrba Wilson, who, in constructing her ballet, borrowed elements from the assorted iterations of the story. (Lewis himself penned a sequel in 1871, “Through the Looking Glass.”)
“Essentially, it’s a culmination of all of the different versions,” she said. “You create a story of your own.”
Who plays the lead role?
The main part of Alice will be danced by Sarah Webb, one of the 12 dancers who make up the current roster of Columbus Dance Theatre.
“This is her first year with the company, and it’s really exciting to have her,” Kotrba Wilson said. “She surprised me in ... how great she is as an actress in her dancing. Obviously, technically, she’s a great dancer, but she really stood out this year in the way that she embodies characters.”
Webb is a Columbus native who trained at the BalletMet Dance Academy before performing with the Richmond Ballet and Ballet Palm Beach. She returned to her hometown two years ago.
“Pretty much everyone knows the story of ‘Alice in Wonderland,’” Webb said. “How Jaime has created it really paints a picture and makes the book come to life.”
Although Webb is an adult dancer, she still captures the guileless quality of Alice, said fellow dancer Alexandra Napoli, a 12-season veteran of Columbus Dance Theatre.
“Sarah is really great at showing this innocence and purity to her when she’s dancing,” Webb said. “She really brings out the youthfulness in (the role).”
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Webb, who returned to the original book in preparation for the role, finds herself inhabiting the part even in rehearsal.
“In the rehearsals, I am really envisioning being in her little blue dress and just curious about pretty much everything,” Webb said. “Everyone is like, ‘You really seem curious about what’s happening next?’ I’m like, ‘No, I genuinely am!’”
Who plays other key roles?
Luke Ciminillo Delamotte will appear as the White Rabbit, Brennan Johnson as the Mad Hatter, Hayden Johnson as the Red Queen, Thomas McGuire as the Red King, Josephine Duncan and Rachel Murray as Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Jenna Swartz as the Cheshire Cat, Alex Graban as the Caterpillar, and Emma Shapiro as the Duchess.
“The roles really suit our personalities a lot,” said Napoli, who will dance in the dual roles of Alice’s sister and the White Queen. “Everyone’s personality matches what their role is.”
About 25 students will fill out the cast in corps roles.
What music will accompany the ballet?
A prerecorded score featuring the music of Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky and other composers will be used.
What about the costumes and sets?
Kotrba Wilson describes the costumes as “bold in color.” The sets will be minimalistic, but with some oversize elements, including doors.
“Large moving objects, bold colors (but) not too psychedelic,” Kotrba Wilson said.
Families should check out the matinee
“Alice: A Wonderland Ballet” will be performed twice on Saturday, but the matinee at 3 p.m. will feature a meet-and-greet with characters from the ballet. Children who just accompanied Alice on her adventures can interact with all of those curious creatures.
“The 3 p.m. show will be geared more towards families,” Kotrba Wilson said.
But audiences of all ages should prepare to be transported to Wonderland.
“Kids will love it — they’ll laugh, they’ll follow the story, I think they’ll think it’s magical,” Napoli said. “Older people, too … will have really a fun time.”
At a glance
The Columbus Dance Theatre will perform “Alice: A Wonderland Ballet” at 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday in the Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St. Tickets cost $27 general admission, $22 for senior citizens, $14 for students. For more information, visit columbusdancetheatre.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Dance Theatre's 'Alice: A Wonderland Ballet' comes to Lincoln
