Arts & Culture
A Midsummer Night's Dream Dances Into Our Lives
The Cleveland Ballet rendition features new choreography and more.
by Jason Brill | Apr. 7, 2017 | 1:00 PM
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is no stranger to ballet. But William Shakespeare’s comedy about the intertwined lives of Athenians, lovers, fairies and more gets a dose of youth — about 35 ballet students ages 7-18 will join the cast of professional dancers — for Cleveland Ballet’s April 7 production at the Ohio Theatre. Cleveland Ballet artistic director Gladisa Guadalupe fills us in on the ballet.
Q: How will Cleveland Ballet students be involved?
A: The children are going to be portraying little creatures of the evening in the forest scenes — fireflies or ladybugs. They are actually dancing newly choreographed dances.
Q: Why did you choose this story to perform?
A: I love story ballets. This is set between the real world and the fantasy world, and Shakespeare created all this confusion with what’s real and what isn’t. It will be magical in that way.
Q: Why is it a good number for kids learning to dance?
A: There are very few classical story ballets where children actually can be given good roles and good, strong choreographic work. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one.
Q: How will Cleveland Ballet students be involved?
A: The children are going to be portraying little creatures of the evening in the forest scenes — fireflies or ladybugs. They are actually dancing newly choreographed dances.
Q: Why did you choose this story to perform?
A: I love story ballets. This is set between the real world and the fantasy world, and Shakespeare created all this confusion with what’s real and what isn’t. It will be magical in that way.
Q: Why is it a good number for kids learning to dance?
A: There are very few classical story ballets where children actually can be given good roles and good, strong choreographic work. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one.
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