Introducing The Ugly Duckling: Why fit in when you can stand out?
Written by Leilani Tian
He looks different. He is made fun of all his life, even called ugly. What no one expects is the full realization of his beauty in swan form. Sound familiar? You may have heard of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling, a fairy tale that celebrates the beauty of standing out.
Now you have the chance to see this fairy tale on stage in Jimmy Orrante’s 50-minute The Ugly Duckling ballet featuring Ballet Austin II!
Through Jimmy Orrante’s whimsical choreography, staging by Ballet Austin II rehearsal assistant Alexa Capareda, and vibrant costumes created from scratch by Emily Cawood and Benjamin Taylor Ridgeway, Ballet Austin II and dancers from Ballet Austin’s Butler Fellowship Program will bring this well-loved story to life in Ballet Austin’s in-house AustinVentures StudioTheater for the enjoyment of kids and adults alike. This season’s Ballet Austin II consists of a group of ten apprentice dancers who have had a variety of performance experience. (Stay tuned to get to know this season’s Ballet Austin II dancers and what performing this ballet means to them.)
In a society that is becoming increasingly divisive, cultivating empathy is more important than ever. As a kid-friendly ballet, this production is especially relevant in helping children to understand what it means to include or exclude someone. (Follow later posts for more info on pre-show The Ugly Duckling curriculum for elementary students.)
Whether you want your children to reap the benefits of the educational and social aspects of performing arts or you’re looking for an affordable way to spend quality family time, The Ugly Duckling, featuring Ballet Austin II, is a must-see.
Performance Dates: OCT 20–21, 27–28
Location: AustinVentures StudioTheater @ Ballet Austin (501 W. 3rd Street, downtown Austin)
Buy tickets here: https://balletaustin.org/performances/theuglyduckling2018
Parking information here:
https://balletaustin.org/parking
