Ballet Ariel is pleased to present its Spring production, an original rendition of The Toymaker’s Doll, Coppelia this April and May

The production is reimagined by Artistic and Executive Director Ilena Norton with dances by Resident Choreographer Gregory Gonzales. One of the greatest comic ballets of all time is retold through original choreography with a Ballet Ariel twist. Children will love the shenanigans of a dancing doll and mischievous girl while adults will be drawn in by the sophisticated undertones of the Pygmalionesque story of a toymaker falling in love with his creation.

Coppelia was inspired by a story written by E.T.A. Hoffmann, whose novella The Nutcracker and the Mouse King was the inspiration for The Nutcracker. The ballet premiered in Paris in 1870, with music by Leo Delibes and choreography by Arthur Saint-Léon.

“I was excited to create a Ballet Ariel spin on the classic, reimagining Coppelia to be a more lively and entertaining version with a dancing doll Coppelia to the beautiful score by Delibes,” says Ilena Norton, Artistic and Executive Director of the ballet company.

Ballet Ariel brings beauty and charm, family and community to the holiday season with a duo of ballets

See original productions of Little Women accompanied by live music by Gossamer Winds, and the Nutcracker Suite, performed at two locations.

The first ballet of the holiday production is Little Women, based on the 1869 book by Louisa May Alcott. It follows the four March sisters, Amy, Beth, Jo and Meg, from Christmastime and beyond, as they grow up during the Civil War era and find their place in the world.

For this Ballet Ariel debut, Artistic and Executive Director Ilena Norton wrote the scenario for the production and selected the music to accompany it with Gossamer Winds director John Richardson. That includes a blend of traditional holiday music such as “Away in a Manger” and “I Saw Three Ships” with classical pieces including several by Grieg from his “Lyric Pieces,” plus music by French and American composers.

Christmas is featured especially in the first Act, since it begins on Christmas day, and the story emphasizes virtues such as kindness, selflessness and forgiveness. The choreography highlights the special characters of each sister and events that shape their growth from girls to young women.

“We are excited to debut Little Women for the first offering of our 2025 holiday production,” says Ilena Norton, Ballet Ariel’s Artistic and Executive Director. “I enjoyed weaving elements of the classic story with select music accompaniment to create a joyful reminder of what’s important at Christmastime. It’s fresh, heartwarming and delightful.”

The second ballet of Ballet Ariel’s holiday production is Nutcracker Suite, a selection of dances from Tchaikovsky’s ballet, The Nutcracker. The Suite highlights some of the most famous dances from the holiday-themed ballet from Act II in which Clara arrives in the Land of Sweets. There she is welcomed by the Sugar Plum Fairy and treated to dances representative of various nationalities and cultures.

“Back by popular demand is Ballet Ariel’s version of the Nutcracker Suite. It presents the best of the classic with refreshed choreography,” explains Norton.

“I’m happy to bring this duo of beautiful visuals and engaging storylines together for our holiday production. We try to offer something to audiences that they won’t see elsewhere to provide new and additional ways for Coloradans to celebrate the season.”

Spring Production: A Night in Spain – Carmen and El Sombrero de Tres Picos (The Three-Cornered Hat).

See the masterful re-imagining of the classic opera, Carmen, a tale of love, anguish and chivalry by resident choreographer Gregory Gonzales. Carmen is a 20th century tale of great love and great anguish for the chivalrous Don Jose who surrenders his heart to the fiery gypsy only to lose her to the glamorous toreador Escamillo. Also on the program is El Sombrero de Tres Picos (The Three-Cornered Hat), a comedic romance set in Spain of a magistrate who is infatuated with a miller’s wife whom he attempts to seduce despite her desires to remain faithful to her husband. The ballet is set in Spain with elements of Spanish dance woven into classical ballet style. Ballet Ariel Director Ilena Norton has choreographed an original version of the comic ballet, which premiered in 1919, inspired by the classic Spanish story by Pedro Alarcon to the beautiful score written by Manuel de Falla.

April 12 - Cleo Parker Robinson Theatre

April 26—27 – Lakewood Cultural Center