Each season, we cast and stage an original ballet written and choreographed especially for that season’s dancers. The large stage production is presented with a host of props and scenery, with multiple opportunities for each dancer to perform. This year, we are presenting It Happened One Night at Danville High School on May 19 and 20.
The Story of It Happened One Night
Once upon a time, three woodland sisters lived in an enchanted forest with their brother, a hunter. One day, while practicing her magic, the older sister begins to worry that her brother is not
serious about finding a wife and settling down. As she frets, he returns from a hunting trip. When he is confronted about the future, the brother tells his sisters he just wants to have fun, and marriage is the last thing on his mind.
The sisters decide they must take matters into their own hands, so they visit the local School of Charms to procure a potion that will cause their brother to fall in love with a local maiden. Before they arrive, the professor is busy teaching classes amidst spiders and rogue fireworks. While she is distracted, the youngest sister (who enjoys playing tricks) secretly adds her own spell to the potion. Meanwhile, the middle sister tries to convince the others that her rag doll would be the perfect model for a wife for her brother – if only it was a real person! Returning home with a love potion in hand, the older sisters decide to host a ball to introduce their brother to some of the eligible local maidens. They call upon the fairies to deliver the invitations to the ball.
Meanwhile, in an estate on the edge of the forest, the daughters of a noble family are tucked into bed by their maids. Some of them have trouble sleeping so they try counting sheep. Others help chase down the dust bunnies and pesky mice (aided by the family cat). Just when all the sisters are finally asleep, they are awakened by fairies delivering the invitations to the ball in the forest.
Back in the forest, there is no time to lose, so the woodland sisters call upon all their fiends to help prepare for the ball. Butterflies, bees, dew drops, naiads, dryads, garland dancers, woodland flowers, and birds all work together to decorate the forest. The middle sister makes one more attempt to bring her doll to life before the ball begins. Can magic make love happen or does love make magic happen? And what was in that potion, anyway?
Find out May 19 and 20!
Support The Children’s Ballet
As Hendricks County’s only non-profit ballet school, we work hard to inspire our community. One of the ways we do this is by staging full-length ballets.
Our performances feature dedicated dancers, beautiful custom costumes, and a colorful stage full of creative set pieces. We depend on community support to provide our students and audiences with memorable experiences.
In 2023, we will present the original ballet It Happened One Night on May 19 and 20, and family-favorite The Nutcracker for three shows in December.
Our sponsors benefit from exposure in dedicated media campaigns and promotional efforts directed at the large, multi-generational audience expected to attend this year’s performances. We perform at Danville High School where we consistently sell out each show (over 600 seats).
Your support will position you as a patron of the arts and a champion for hard-working young people in our community.
You may choose from four levels of sponsorship or purchase advertising in a performance program.
Would you consider supporting our students through sponsorship this year?
FOR DANCERS:
Performance Info
Attendance: We consider each member of our cast to be a vital and important part of our performance experience. All cast members are expected to commit to attending all scheduled rehearsals and performances, and to be prompt.
Illness: TCB’s existing illness policy (found online or in the student handbook) applies also to rehearsals and performances of It Happened One Night. Unforeseen absences should be communicated to Miss Emily as soon as possible.
Attitude: We expect each and every cast member to fully commit to giving their best effort when they share studio and stage. This commitment includes being kind and respectful to all teachers, directors, and fellow cast mates.
Preparedness: Each student is expected to come to rehearsal with knowledge (or specific questions) of choreography that has been taught (particularly at intermediate and advanced levels). Rehearsals should be used for cleaning choreography and creating performance/character details.
Costume: Costumes will go home with dancers the last week of classes (May 8-13). Please hang them up until dress rehearsal. Avoid eating or drinking (except water) in costumes. No black leotards are to be worn underneath, and undergarments should be hidden. Dancers with costume changes are encouraged to wear a flesh-colored leotard.
Shoes: Black ballet shoes for boys, pink ballet shoes for girls (pointe shoes if applicable). Please remove ribbons and diamonds.
Tights (girls): Clean, pink, footed (or convertible) tights; no rips, runs, or holes.
Hair (girls): Neat, tidy, high bun (unless otherwise instructed by your teacher). Please secure with a hairnet and bobby pins and spray flyaways with hairspray. Please direct any questions about headpiece placement to your child’s instructor, or our costume manager during tech week.
Makeup: Stage makeup may be worn for dress rehearsal and performances. Check out makeup tutorials for younger dancers, intermediate dancers, and advanced dancers. Thank you to Radiant Skin for help with these tutorials!
Tech Week Schedule
All rehearsals are held at Danville Community High School (100 Warrior Way). No classes at the studio during Tech Week.
Please arrive promptly for your call time.
Monday, May 15 (blocking rehearsal)
5:00-5:20 Dryads {Wed. 4:15 class}
5:20-5:45 Fireworks {Wed. 5:30 class}
5:45-6:10 Advanced Charm School Students {Wed. 7:00 class}
6:10-6:30 Firebirds {Mon. 4:15 class}
6:30-6:50 Noble Girls (ready for bed scene) {Mon. 5:30 class}
6:50-7:30 Ball Dances {Sat. classes}
7:30-8:00 Soloists
Tuesday, May 16 (blocking rehearsal)
5:00-5:15 Bumblebees {Tues. 4:00 class}
5:15-5:30 Mice/Cat {Tues. 5:00 class}
5:30-5:45 Sheep {Tues. 6:00 class}
5:45-6:00 Maids {Wed. 7:00 class}
6:00-6:15 Wildflowers {Wed. 6:00 class}
6:15-6:30 Dust Bunnies {Thurs. 4:00 class}
6:30-6:45 Dewdrops {Thus. 5:00 class}
6:45-7:00 Spiders {Wed. 5:00 class}
7:00-7:15 Garland Dancers {Thurs. 6:00 class}
7:15-7:35 Fairies/Butterflies {T/Th 7:00 class}
7:35-8:00 Charm School Students/Naiads {T/Th 8:00 class}
Wednesday, May 17 (full cast rehearsal)
Students will sit with their class in the auditorium. You may leave when your class is cleared by Miss Emily.
5:00-6:30 pm* Tech/Run Act I: Woodland Sisters/Imp, fairies, Charm School Students, Raven, Advanced Charm School Students, Fireworks, Professor, Spiders, Noble Girls, Maids, Dust Bunnies, Mice, Sheep *Spiders done by 5:45
6:30-8:00 pm* Tech/Run Act II: Woodland Sisters/Imp, Butterflies, Dryads, Bees, Naiads, Dew Drops, Wildflowers, Garland Dancers, Woodland Fairy, Fairies, Firebirds, all Ball Dancers) *Butterflies, Bees, Naiads, Dew Drops, Wildflowers, Garland Dancers done by 7:30
Thursday, May 18 (dress rehearsal)
Dress rehearsal will be closed. Please arrive in costume with hair and makeup ready by 5:15 pm. Students will be dropped off, supervised backstage and have portraits taken during dress rehearsal. Please bring a water bottle, blanket, and an activity your dancer may want.
4:30-5:15 pm Warm-up Class (for dancers who take 2x or more per week)
5:30-7:30 pm Dress Rehearsal
Friday, May 19 :: Performance
5:15 pm All students in two or more classes per week
6:45 pm All students in one class per week
5:30-6:15 pm Warm-up Class (for dancers who take 2x or more per week)
7:00-9:00 pm Performance
Saturday, May 20 :: Performance
12:45 pm All students in two or more classes per week
2:15 pm All students in one class per week
1:00-1:45 pm Warm-up Class (for dancers who take 2x or more per week)
2:30-4:30 pm Performance
PICK UP PROCEDURE
Thursday, Friday, Saturday pick up will be in the high school cafeteria. Please look for the signs above the doors for your dancer’s class.
Volunteers
Interested in helping volunteer during tech week?
