JACKSON, Wyo. — Sometimes, even in this all-too-real world, events unfold in a full-circle kind of way that feels… well… wonderful.
As the snow begins to fall, the young dancers at Dancers’ Workshop (DW) are deep into rehearsals for the upcoming Winter Production. This year, audience members will be whisked away into a world inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic, Alice in Wonderland. Among the dedicated and talented young people preparing to bring the story to life is high school senior Isabella Guttierrez. And for Isabella, her final Winter Production with Dancers’ Workshop bookends her years in the pre-professional program quite beautifully.
“My first year being a part of the Junior Repertory Company, I got to perform in Alice,” recalls Isabella. “As my last year in the company I get to perform in it again; it brings so much light and magic to the audience and I am very excited for people to come and see it.” This time, however, Isabella will be taking on the role of the iconic and temperamental Queen of Hearts. Isabella’s fellow high school senior, Audrey Hultman, will leap into the role of the incalculable and perplexing Mad Hatter.
The production will also include the enigmatic charm of the Cheshire Cat, the perpetually-tardy White Rabbit, the poetic Caterpillar and more. “This show is so whimsical and character-driven, we’re delighted to create such a multifaceted production. The result is an amazingly layered journey,” says Junior Repertory Company Director Michaela Ellingson. “Every character, each color, so many plain silly, weird, quirky elements — there’s absolutely something for everyone.”
Ellingson explains that the Junior Repertory Company — Dancers’ Workshop’s pre-professional dance program for middle and high school students — is relishing the opportunity to develop and tweak wildly creative characters that inhabit Wonderland. “What holds the story together is the bizarre characters,” she says. “It’s wonderful to see these young dancers fine-tuning details as well as their acting skills to deliver nuance and distinctive movement for unique individuals; take the techniques they’ve studied in class and build movement material that’s so deeply connected to particular personalities within the story.”
“The DW story of Alice in Wonderland is titled ‘Adventures in Wonderland,’ because we are highlighting each character that all together create the magical story,” says Artistic Director of Dancers’ Workshop, Babs Case. “The rich diversity of characters and deeply vivid realms within Lewis Carroll’s original book lend themselves to let the imagination enter today’s world and allow us to use the wondrous tale as a connective metaphor for life as it is today. Perhaps we should ask ourselves who we know today that might represent The Queen of Hearts, or The White Rabbit or Tweedle Dee or Dum?” Case continues, “One of my favorite Lewis Caroll quotes from the story is, ‘I could tell you my adventures – beginning from this morning,’ said Alice a little timidly, ‘but it’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.’ For me, this quote reflects upon recognizing the ability within each of us to allow ourselves to be moved and shaped by daily adventures/experiences.”
This modern interpretation of the legendary literary gem is presented by dancers in the Junior Repertory Company and other students of The School at Dancers’ Workshop. The school provides creative movement and formal dance instruction for youth ages 18 months to 18 years. Each week, The School at Dancers’ Workshop offers 50 classes based on a progressive curriculum in ballet and modern technique, as well as hip hop and other popular dance styles. The faculty is comprised of professional dancers with a wide background in the field and a deep passion for sharing their expertise.
“We wholeheartedly believe that the process of creation, rehearsal and performance is integral to the training and growth of young artists. That’s why we devote so many hours and resources to present professionally-produced performance opportunities for students,” says School Director Eric Midgley. “It’s been an essential part of our program for fifty years now, and we’re eagerly looking forward to bringing our community along with us on some fantastical and unexpected adventures this year.”
Each year, Winter Production brings a professionally-produced dance performance to the main stage at the Center Theater. Past performances have included, If the Shoe Fits (a creative reimagining of Cinderella), The Nutcracker, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and more. Each of these productions cost over $120,000 for Dancers’ Workshop to put on — a cost that is only partially offset by grants, ticket sales and student fees. This year, generous donors have offered a $50,000 matching gift to the nonprofit, and Dancers’ Workshop is encouraging supporters to help reach the goal and earn the matching funds to keep this beloved Jackson Hole tradition alive.
Adventures in Wonderland will light up the main stage at The Center Theater, located at 240 S. Glenwood Ave., in downtown Jackson Hole on Friday, Dec. 9 at 7 P.M. There will also be performances Dec. 10 at 2 P.M. and 7 P.M. and Dec. 11 at 4 P.M. After both matinee performances, the cast will be available to sign autographs. Tickets are available online. Get yours now, they’re selling out fast!
