Footlight Dance Centre invites the community to their 42nd annual spring performance, a story production of Hansel & Gretel. This beloved fairy tale comes to life through ballet, jazz, modern, tap, and hip hop, performed by Footlight students from age 5 through high school. This year’s production is also the first spring performance under the direction of Mackenzie King, who stepped into her role as the studio’s Director in August.

Hansel & Gretel was last staged by Footlight in 2014, where this year’s graduating seniors were little Breadcrumbs in that original production. More than a decade later, they take the stage in the very story where their dance journey began. This year’s seniors are Catherine Herrera as The Baker, Grace Sauvageau as The Stepmother, and Cora Ward as Queen of the Forest. Additional lead roles are performed by Van Flandro as Hansel, Layla Beacham as Gretel, Charlotte Brickley as the Gingerbread Witch, Kaya Eliason as the Sleep Fairy, and Zoey Kolb as The Woodcutter.

This year’s production features original choreography by Footlight Dance Centre faculty: Mackenzie King, Hilarie Neely, Gabi Bryant, Mia Castro, Robyn Fox, Hayley Henderson, Bronwyn Hanson, Jensen Sutton, Leah Taylor, and Anne Winton. Guest choreographers Megan Rhodes (Company Jazz) and Sienna Watson (Company Hip Hop) contributed choreography for two of the Advanced Company pieces.

Performances take place at the Wood River High School Performing Arts Theater on Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2 at 7:00 PM, and Sunday, May 3 at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at Hank & Sylvie’s in both Ketchum and Hailey, and at Iconoclast Books in Hailey.

Now in its 42nd year, Footlight Dance Centre has offered dance education in the Wood River Valley through classes in ballet, jazz, contemporary/modern, tap, and hip hop. Footlight Dance Centre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to making quality dance education accessible to the community.