Free ballet production ends season

The Columbia County Ballet will end its season with a free outdoor production Saturday followed by a recognition of its students.

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"It's a celebration," said Ron Jones, the ballet's artistic director. "It's the end of the school year. It's the end of the ballet season."

The ballet school's performing company will present "May-fest" for a second consecutive year 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Columbia County Amphitheater.

After the performance, students from the Martinez ballet school will be asked to cross the stage and receive a flower, courtesy of Ladybug's Flowers and Gifts.

Though the performance is expected to last about an hour, Jones said the ceremony that honors the school's students will take additional time.

Last year, Jones said the atmosphere was casual.

"We had a lot of good reports and a lot of smiles," he said. "It was just a lot of good feedback from the parents."

The ballet presentation will begin with a selection by composer Philip Glass, followed by a piece that Jones described as rich and romantic.

The finale will feature a scene from the children's book series Madeline .

Free popcorn and soft drinks also will be available.

"Because it's outdoors, it's just more casual," Jones said. "People just have more of a sense of freedom, because they're not confined to their chair if they don't want to be."

Jones said the performance gives the school's students a chance to relax and enjoy their role as audience members, while the performing company loves to dance in the May ballet.

"We're just giving back to the community, so it's not something that people are paying to come and see," he said. "They're just coming to enjoy the evening on their own terms."