Hope Garden Children's Ballet Theatre is supported in part by funding from the Montgomery County Government and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.
Hope Garden Staged a Magical A Winter’s Eve Performance
“It’s magic,” came the quiet conclusion from a young boy in the audience, his whisper carrying more weight than any review. For Hope Garden Children’s Ballet Theatre (HGCBT), that simple reaction captures the heart of A Winter’s Eve—a production that returned this season with an expanded celebration of global traditions.
Produced by the Poolesville-based nonprofit and performed by children and teens training at Essence Studios, A Winter’s Eve remains a two-act journey designed for families. The format builds on the previous year’s warmly-received production, which blended storytelling, cultural exploration, and classical ballet into an accessible holiday experience for audiences of all ages.
Act I invited the audience to join a child, played by the gifted Lily Petrella, as she is led by her magical snowman, HGCBT Artistic Director Claire Jones, on an exploration of winter celebrations from various parts of the world.
Act II transitions into the familiar sparkle of The Nutcracker, focusing on the elegance and discipline of classical ballet. Audiences saw featured performances by a graceful Flower Queen (Alarica DeLongchamp), a gallant Cavalier (Sava Brizhik), and precise, yet ethereal Sugar Plum Fairies (matinee: Kate Borman; evening: Kendall Zimmerman).
Ms. Jones has described A Winter’s Eve as a production built to welcome newcomers while still delighting seasoned ballet audiences—a balance that has helped the show become a seasonal tradition for many local families.
HGCBT Brings “A Winter’s Eve” Cultural Dances to Poolesville Elementary’s Heritage Night
In December, Hope Garden Children’s Ballet Theatre (HGCBT) was proud to participate in Poolesville Elementary School’s Heritage Night—an evening dedicated to celebrating the many cultures that make up the school community. Through classroom learning, family-led displays, and shared performances, students and families explored traditions from around the world in a setting that emphasized connection, curiosity, and pride.
As a community-rooted non-profit organization, HGCBT believes performing locally is central to our mission. Bringing dance directly into schools and community spaces allows us to share high-quality performance while meeting children where they are—inviting them to experience the arts as something personal, accessible, and reflective of the diverse world around them.
Heritage Night also aligns closely with HGCBT’s educational mission. By performing for elementary school students, our dancers help introduce young audiences to cultural traditions beyond their own, while also demonstrating dance is not something distant or reserved for professionals—it is a living, local art form that students themselves can be part of.
For Heritage Night, HGCBT dancers performed two cultural works also featured in A Winter’s Eve 2025, our winter production designed to honor global traditions through dance and storytelling.
Kwanzaa: African/Modern
The Kwanzaa dance blends modern technique with African-rooted movement, emphasizing rhythm, strength, and collective joy. Developed in collaboration with guest choreographer Heinz Adjakwah, the piece celebrates community, resilience, and shared values—core themes of Kwanzaa—while remaining engaging and accessible for young audiences encountering these traditions through dance.
Hanukkah: Traditional Israeli
Our Hanukkah dance draws from traditional Israeli style, featuring buoyant, rhythmic movement that reflects celebration, unity, and light. Choreographed with guidance from guest artist May Kesler, the work was created to feel authentic and communal, honoring the cultural roots of the dance while welcoming students who may be seeing these traditions for the first time.
Building Community Through Dance
Participating in Heritage Night reflects HGCBT’s belief that dance can educate, inspire, and build bridges across cultures. When children see dancers from their own community performing stories from around the world, they not only learn about others—they begin to imagine themselves as part of a local creative community where everyone is welcome.
WHO WE ARE
Hope Garden Children's Ballet Theatre is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Poolesville Maryland. Founded in 2008, Hope Garden Children’s Ballet Theatre is rooted in the idea that dance and the performing arts can give a voice and place of community to all. HGCBT offers unique access in an arts-deprived region to participate in the creation and performance of excellent dance, resulting in the production of professional-level performances. HGCBT provides these opportunities for community members of all ages and abilities, as well as all socio-economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. We hope to enrich the Northwestern Montgomery county region through this transformational art.
OUR WORK
Bringing artistic excellence to Poolesville Region
Public and accesible Performances in Northwest Montgomery County
Dance performance opportunities for youth
Hope Garden Children's Ballet Theatre
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