Ballet company opens dance season

Staff Reports

The Sierra Ballet Theatre Co. opens its third dance season with a dance program of two ballets and a showcase of multiple dance styles, 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at the MontBleu Theater in Stateline.

The show includes the contemporary ballet "Rachmaninoff" and children's ballet "Madeline" based on the book, "Madeline's Rescue," by Ludwig Bemelmans. Also in the program is "Love and Loss," a showcase of jazz styles accompanied by techno, country, hip hop and pop music.

The dance company's choreographers are the mother-daughter team of ballet mistress Irma O'Fallon and artistic director Kelly O'Fallon with professional dancer and actress Elisabeth Brissenden.

"The three of us have collaborated very closely on the creation and conception of this year's performance," said Kelly O'Fallon. "The many months and the hundreds of hours of rehearsals are reflected in the professionalism exhibited by each and every dancer on the stage. They just continue to take their dance and performance skills to a new level."

The Sierra Ballet Theatre Co. is an outlet for serious dancers who want to learn new ballet and jazz choreography at a professional level and who want more performing opportunities throughout the dance season.

"Our philosophy has always been that dance is an art, not a competition," said O'Fallon. "These dancers are dancing for the pure joy of self-expression and love for their craft. Not to compete for a trophy."

The O'Fallons train dancers at both the Gardnerville and Lake Tahoe studios of The Academy of Dance Arts. Many of the 25 company members go on to join other dance companies and college dance departments for their careers.

For ticket information, MontBleu Theater, 588-3515.