By Brian McNally, printed in the June 2025 Issue of The Monocacy Monocle

 

On a picture-perfect weekend, Hope Garden Children’s Ballet Theatre (HGCBT) presented its annual spring production, Fairy Tales in the Park, at the Whalen Commons bandshell. This year’s show celebrated storytelling through dance and marked several exciting firsts for the growing community institution.

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The performance opened with a lively first act featuring original dances inspired by classic fairy tales, including Frozen, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast. Audiences of all ages were swept into worlds of underwater kingdoms, enchanted forests, and palace banquets. Among the highlights was an emotionally-charged jazz-contemporary performance of “Defying Gravity,” choreographed by Lynn Schaeber, capturing the imagination and spirit of young dancers reaching toward their own aspirations.

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HGCBT’s Adult Tap group debuted on the main stage this year, performing to Sara Bareilles’s “Fairytale.” This marked the first time adult recreational dancers performed in the spring production, reminding us of dance’s magic is for all ages.

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After intermission, the audience was treated to a stunning performance of Paquita, a classical ballet that featured advanced students. Staged by Justin Rustle, Audra Johnson, and Claire Jones, the performance transported viewers to a celebratory court scene, complete with pas de deux and vibrant corps de ballet work. Paquita, danced by Kendall Zimmerman, and Lucien, portrayed by Sava Brizhik, delivered a commanding and elegant performance that drew enthusiastic applause. The suite also featured dazzling solo performances by Elizabeth Tchorni, Alarica DeLongchamp, Kate Borman, and Gabriela Stradley, whose artistry and technique shone brightly in the afternoon sun. 

HGCBT board member Joanna Borman thanked the Town of Poolesville for the generous grant that allowed HGCBT to acquire stage curtains. The curtains beautifully framed the stage, enhancing the professional quality of the community production and creating a stunning backdrop for the dancers’ hard work.

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Artistic Director Claire Jones expressed gratitude to the dancers, faculty, volunteers, and sponsors who made the production possible: “This show celebrates the growth of every student, the power of storytelling through dance, and the spirit of our local community. We are so proud of what our performers achieved this spring.”

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HGCBT continues to transform young artists and bring arts and culture to Poolesville through performances like Fairy Tales in the Park. The curtain falls on another successful season, setting the stage for the winter production of A Winter’s Eve on December 6.