Even after hearing the choreography described, I was unsure how Fancy Nancy, the dress-up diva of picture book fame, would translate into a ballet. How much, really, is there to say (and dance)?
This weekend, I attended a performance of Evergreen City Ballet's Fancy Nancy at Bellevue's Meydenbauer Center, along with two fancy 6-year-old girls. I discovered that Fancy Nancy makes a perfectly delightful ballet (that's fancy for lots of fun.) In fact, the ballet, based primarily on the book Fancy Nancy: Bonjour Butterfly, has an almost classic story ballet feel to it.
The first part of the 20-minute ballet introduces the character of Fancy Nancy in all of her fanciness, then moves into the story told in Bonjour Butterfly. Nancy's best friend, Bree, is having a completely butterfly-themed birthday party ("Don't you think butterflies are exquisite?" Nancy exclaims.) Nancy is beyond plain-old mad ("furious" is the fancy word) when she learns she can't go because her grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary celebration is the same day, in another town.
Twelve-year-old Alexandra Montgomery was exceptional as Nancy. She did a wonderful job of conveying Nancy's fury at being told she can't go, and she's a lovely dancer. I was told afterwards that she danced Clara in Evergreen City Ballet's production of Nutcracker last year, and I could see that she had the acting and the dancing skill to do a great job in that role as well.
The second scene, at the anniversary party, includes some lovely balletic cha-cha and a chance for Nancy to dance with her grandfather (kind of like in the Nutcracker.) The final scene takes place at the zoo's butterfly garden. My daughter's friend literally gaped open-mouthed at the brilliantly colored butterflies when they fluttered on stage in their toe shoes. Young Fancy Nancy is given her azure butterfly wings as the story comes to and end.
Afterwards, I asked my daughter what she thought, and she said, "It was gorgeous. I liked everything!"
I had told my two young companions that we were going to see Fancy Nancy. This was only partially true. The show, which runs about an hour in total, begins with two other ballets, "Dancing to Disney" and "Sleeping Beauty Fairies." It was fun to watch the dancing to such Disney classics as "Heigh-Ho!" and "Bibbity Bobbity Boo." And the dance to "Baby Mine" (from Dumbo) was probably the most adorable dance in the whole show, with adult dancers carrying little ballerinas on their backs and in their arms to this sweet lullaby. "Sleeping Beauty Fairies" features the fairies who bestow the baby sleeping beauty with gifts in the first scene of the ballet and features the most sophisticated dancing in show. The little girls in the audience (and, of course, there were a lot of them) let out a chorus of "oohs" and "whoas" when the first fairy came on stage in her flower-festooned tutu.
This show is tailor-made for little girls. I searched hard for a little boy in the audience. I think I spotted one, sitting next to what I think was a sister. But, that was it. The young girls, though, were in their element, wearing tutus and boas and fancy dresses. The show makes for a perfect introduction to ballet for the young audience, blending fairy tales, Disney, dress-up and a beloved picture book character.
IF YOU GO
When and Where:
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ECB Black Box Theatre, 2230 Lind Ave. S.W., Renton. Saturday, March 3, and Sunday, March 4, at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
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Auburn Performing Arts Center, 700 E. Main St., Auburn. Saturday, March 24, at 1 and 4 p.m.
Cost: Adults $19, children $12.
Contact: 425-228-6800; www.evergreencityballet.org.
Ruth Schubert is a Seattle-based writer and mom to two fancy girls.
