Ballet to stage 'Swan Lake,' 'Velveteen Rabbit' Saturday

Dancers with the Columbia County Ballet will take to the stage Saturday to perform a children's story and a romantic ballet.

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"We're doing a program that's really quite varied," said Ron Jones, the ballet's artistic director. "We have something I guess you could say for everybody."

The ballet's younger dancers will stage The Velveteen Rabbit , a story about a young boy who is given a toy rabbit for Christmas. The rabbit eventually becomes real because of the boy's love for the toy.

"When a child really loves you, that's when you become real," Jones said. "It's real warm and fuzzy."

Older performers with the ballet will dance to the second act of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.

"That's one of the most popular ballets in the classical ballet repertoire because it's very romantic," Jones said. "It's just beautiful movement."

In the tale, an evil sorcerer puts a curse on a princess, transforming her into a swan until her prince intervenes.

"True love saves the day," Jones said.

The ballet is based on choreography by the Royal Ballet of England, he said.

The miniclassic performances, combining the efforts of about 50 dancers, will take place at 3 and 7 p.m. at the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center inside the Columbia County Library.

The production will begin with a short piano piece and will close with Great Scott , a work by jazz composer Scott Joplin.

The final piece, Jones said, is dedicated to Columbia County Recreation Director Charlie Beale, who announced his retirement in August. There also will be a short tribute to those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for seniors, active military personnel and students. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the theater.

For details or for tickets, call (706) 860-1852 or visit www.columbia countyballet.com.