Local ballet company, Centennial State Ballet, or CSB, is finding a new and COVID-friendly way to bring comedy to patrons in its Spring Gala.
On Apr. 24 and 25, CSB, will bring to life the story of Coppélia, classical ballet’s greatest comedy, as part of the company’s Spring gala performance, virtually for the first time.
The comedic love story is of Swanilda who tries to win back the heart of Franz after he’s fallen in love with an automaton. The ballet is staged at the Longmont Museum’s Stewart Auditorium and the city of Longmont's Callahan House, and filmed for the comfort and safety of its performers and participants, according to Laura Malpass, CSB’s community coordinator.
The Longmont-based nonprofit is a youth ballet performance company that has been choreographing live shows for almost a decade, bringing children from kindergarten to 12th grade together to participate in three annual main stage performances.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Longmont company has had to find ways to adapt to continue bringing its art to its dancers and the community at large.
“This year has been completely different,” Malpass said. “Because theaters were closed for most of (the) year, we had to look for other venues. We’ve got to find places that are large enough and where we can bring large groups to.”
Since 2020, CSB has partnered with local businesses and organizations to use their spaces to film performances.
“We wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to make this season feel a lot more personal to the Longmont community by showing local spots,” she said. “It was amazing to reach out and speak to local business owners … (and it was) great to feel the support of the community and for people to be on board to offer spaces and be a part of what we had going on. It was a fun way to engage during this time.”
One such place was Cheese Importers, a local artisan cheese, specialty food and retail store founded in Longmont in 1976 that caters to restaurants and resorts across the state.
Samm Wight, owner of the business, partnered with CSB during the final months of last year to lend the Cheese Importers’ space for filming the ballet company’s staple holiday season show, The Nutcracker.
“We’ve done some collaborations in the past to partner with them (CSB) and allowed some scenes to be filmed for The Nutcracker,” he said. “It was a way for us to take part in the arts and also maybe (for the space) to be recognized a little bit … Also show other businesses and people that they can do that, especially parents of a lot of the kids that were dancing, they took away that feeling and that idea, being a selfless promoter of beauty.”
Around Christmas time, Wight’s space tends to be at its busiest, he said, which made him feel nervous to have children dressed up as mice running around a shop filled with cheese and breakable items, but it also helped open up possibilities.
“There was the possibility of some trouble and danger, but it helped me be a little vulnerable and helped me with some not so obvious opportunities for letting my business promote someone else's well being,” he said.
Last year, Wight also partnered with CSB by putting picnic baskets together for families and audience members who savored cheese and crackers while watching virtual performances or participated in last summer’s garden party and senior celebration
“It keeps promoting for Cheese Importers what we are and what we are about … to enjoy the beauty of life and not just struggle to live. I don't want to live to work but work to be able to live,” he said. “Anything we can do to promote that joy and beauty through ballet and dance and music, is a great (partnership).”
For many of the dancers, the on-site performance and use of film has been a first.
Helen Ambrose, a senior at Niwot High School, has been performing with CSB for the last 13 years and this will be the last season dancing with the company.
She is most grateful to have had the opportunity to dance during her last year, even in such unusual circumstances, she said.
“Last April we were in lockdown and were unable to have our Spring Gala like we usually do,” she said. “I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to dance for my senior season even if it was on film and for the opportunity to be on the stage at The Stewart Auditorium.”
Ambrose played the Snow Queen in CSB’s The Nutcracker in 2020 and will play Swanilda in the upcoming Coppélia.
“It was very interesting to have my final season be on film because I have done in-person performances for many, many years and to have a few opportunities to be able to watch (myself), and dance for the camera rather than just perform … it gives the full view as if someone in the audience is watching,” she said.
Not only have local businesses and organizations supported the CSB throughout a year of pandemic, parents and other community members have jumped at the chance to help the company and its dancers to continue to bring this art to life.
“You realize how many people it takes to put together something like a performance. You have to go through all the costumes, the fittings, there’s the stage, the sets, volunteers,” she said. “What is so unique about this company is how supportive everyone is, not just the parents, but all within the company, the choreographers, the artistic director. It’s such a positive environment … We are not just doing it for ourselves, but we tell the stories to everyone else”
To learn more about and purchase tickets for CSB’s gala performance, Coppélia, click here.
