Peoria Ballet Company

⛄️ Also last week was our fan favorite Youth Camp…Frozen! This camp was a blast - full of dancing, games, themed crafts, and making new friends!! Our parents loved the in-studio performance on the last day of camp.

Don’t miss out on all the summer fun! Join us at our evening classes or at our upcoming Youth Camps!

Up next…
Little Mermaid Camp: July 1-2 🧜‍♀️
Moana Camp: July 8-9 🌺

✨ Nutcracker Camp ✨
Last week our young students were immersed in all things Nutcracker!! This annual camp features costume design workshops; learning about the music, orchestra, and history; unique crafts; plus tons of dancing! Our favorite part was the in-studio performance for friends & family that showcased dances from Party Scene, Battle, Angels, Mother Ginger & her Bon Bons, and Waltz of the Flowers! It’s unbelievable what these students learned in 3 days!!

We can’t wait for this year’s Nutcracker performances on December 14-15 at the Peoria Civic Center Theater with live music! Mark your calendar & save the date!!

Looking back on Week #2 of Summer Intensives with guest teacher, Rowan Allegra of Grand Rapids Ballet! Our students were inspired by this amazing artist and talented teacher! The week was full of ballet, pointe, variations, partnering, contemporary, and more!

Week #3 starts tomorrow with guest teacher Braeden Barnes! Stay tuned for highlights from this interesting week of ballet and contemporary!

👑 This week we kicked off our Youth Programs with Cinderella Camp! Dancers learned about different versions of Cinderella around the world, used their imagination with unique crafts, and created their own fairy variation during the choreography workshops. We completed the experience with a in-studio performance for family & friends!

Up next…
Nutcracker Camp (ages 7-10): June 17-19

Camps for ages 4-7:
Frozen: June 20-21
Little Mermaid: July 1-2
Moana: July 8-9

All camps require pre-registration and run 9am-noon. New students welcome. Call or email us to learn more!

☀️ Summer is here! Last week we kicked off our 3-week summer intensive program with guest teacher Richard Villaverde! It was an exciting week of ballet, partnering, contemporary, modern, and more! Richard brought so much energy and excitement to the studio and it is incredible to see the progress our students made in one short week. We can’t see wait to see what the rest of the summer holds!

Week 2 of Summer Intensives with guest teacher Rowan Allegra of Grand Rapids Ballet began today. Call or email today to take part in this incredible training opportunity. All area students (intermediate & advance levels) are welcome! Come dance with us!

👏👏👏 Round of applause to all of our dancers on a beautiful academy performance! We loved seeing family & friends fill the audience to celebrate all of the students’ hard work! What a fun show to wrap up the year!!

📸 by Scott Carnahan

☀️What are you doing this summer?☀️ You could be dancing with us!

Mini camps, full-day intensives, and evening classes for ages 3 & up! Call us or visit our website to learn more! New students welcome…come dance with us!

Mini camps for ages 4-10 include: Frozen, Little Mermaid, Moana, Cinderella & Nutcracker!

Full-day intensives for intermediate & advanced students with a different guest teacher each week: June 3-21. Click below for guest teachers' bio.

Plus drop-in style evening classes. No registration fees & only pay for the classes you can take.

More info at: https://peoriaballet.com/academy/

Thank you to our photographer extraordinaire, Scott Carnahan, for his talents capturing Sleeping Beauty.

There wasn’t a moment missed - the perfect timing of the dancers in action, the energy behind the scenes, and the beauty of the sets & costumes! 👏

“Watching these students go from not knowing how to do a step to being able to do a principal role, you know it brings a tear to your eyes to see what they’ve accomplished,” said Artistic Director, Ian Thatcher.

Check out the full video story here! 25News WEEK, thank you for highlighting our show! ❤️

Peoria Ballet knows what it takes to stage a huge production Sleeping Beauty to be performed at Five Points in Wasington

The cat’s out of the bag! Sleeping Beauty is a must see!!

Only 2 more shows left TOMORROW!
April 27 | Five Points Washington
https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=peori

📸 by Scott Carnahan

A peek from behind the curtain! 📸 😍 We love these sweet moments!

Sleeping Beauty
TONIGHT and Tomorrow at Noon & 4pm
https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=peori

Photography by Scott Carnahan.

We know this look… ✨It’s SHOWTIME!! ✨

Our hour & a half family-friendly performance of Sleeping Beauty is full of vibrant sets & costumes, dramatic moments, and exciting music. A show that is perfect for all ages!

April 26 & 27 | Five Points Washington
https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=peori

📸 by Scott Carnahan

Moments from our first dress rehearsal! 💗

Sleeping Beauty enters an enchanted world of princesses and fairies. Experience the magic with us THIS Friday and Saturday!

April 26 & 27 | Five Points Washington
https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=peori

📸 by Scott Carnahan

We are moved into the theater and our backstage crew is hard at work!

Shining a light on these behind the curtain superstars! It takes 20+ people to make the magic happen, and our team is comprised of volunteers who are skilled beyond belief from costuming to sets, props, stage management, lighting, quick change…and many more.

Fun fact: These volunteers have engineered pieces from scratch - carpentry to painting to final decorative touches.

📸 by Scott Carnahan

Did you catch our preview of Sleeping Beauty on WMBD/WYZZ this morning?

Anchor, Kyreon Lee, sat down with Peoria Ballet’s Artistic Director, Ian Thatcher, for a behind the scenes look into what it takes to bring this production to the stage.

Plus!! Our students brought the theater to the news room performing a snippet of the dancing you’ll see this weekend!

Check out the full story on their website here: https://trib.al/SWunLuh 👏👏👏

We are all smiles heading into tech week at the theater! See you at Sleeping Beauty THIS Friday & Saturday! 🤩

April 26 & 27 | Five Points Washington
https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=peori

📸 by Scott Carnahan

Princess Aurora is a vision in pink with her elaborate tutu and dazzling tiara! 👑💖🩰

We are so excited to bring this beautiful story to the stage NEXT weekend, alongside Disney celebrating the 65th anniversary of the animated version of this classic fairy tale!

April 26 & 27 | Five Points Washington
https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=peori

📸 by Scott Carnahan

Thank you to ArtsPartners of Central Illinois for having us! We love being guests on “Out and About”.

Check out our Artistic Director & Executive Director talk about all things Sleeping Beauty!

This week on "Out and About," WCBU's Jody Holtz sits in to chat with Wendy Thomasson and Ian Thatcher of the Peoria Ballet about their production of "Sleeping Beauty," taking place at Five Points Washington on April 26-27. The academy dancers and Peoria Ballet faculty will bring the magical story to life through dance — perfect for all ages! Be enchanted by elaborate costumes, lively music, and a full cast of fairy-tale characters. Listen here: https://www.wcbu.org/podcast/out-and-about/2024-04-18/peoria-ballets-sleeping-beauty-brings-the-classic-tale-to-life-through-dance

See the fairies sparkle on stage NEXT weekend! ✨🧚‍♀️

Our hour & a half family-friendly show of Sleeping Beauty is filled with excitement and perfect for all ages. Get your tickets now to experience the magic close up!

April 26 & 27 | Five Points Washington
https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=peori

📸 by Scott Carnahan

Two of the whimsical fairytale characters you will meet at Aurora’s wedding: Princess Florine and Bluebird 💙🐦

Don’t miss out on your chance to join the celebration!

✨ Sleeping Beauty ✨
April 26 & 27 | Five Points Washington
Get your tickets now, here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=peori

📸 by Scott Carnahan

What a fun night at the studio for our Friends of Aurora party. We loved kicking off Sleeping Beauty with a sneak peek of the dancing, plus cocktails & hors d’œuvres and behind-the-scenes stories from Ian Thatcher, Artistic Director.

Thank you to all of our donors - it is because of your support that these productions come to life.

📸 by Scott Carnahan

Sleeping Beauty | April 26 & 27 | Five Points Washington

Did you know it takes 100 hours to make one tutu? Our costume shop full of volunteers have been hard at work for months designing, sewing and decorating these handmade costumes.

Prepare to be mesmerized by Princess Aurora’s birthday party tutu, along with 100+ other beautiful costumes, when Sleeping Beauty takes the stage! ✨💖

April 26 & 27 | Five Points Washington
Get your tickets now here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=peori

📸 by Scott Carnahan

Behind the scenes look into our rehearsals for Sleeping Beauty! Our ballet mistress, Molly Daly, is working with Aurora to perfect her dancing and add the finishing details that make the performance magical & captivating for the audience!

Get your tickets now! Online at link below, at Peoria Ballet studio, or over the phone.
https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=peori

Sleeping Beauty | April 26-27 | Five Points Washington

Meet & Greet after both shows April 27. Children come up on stage - meet the dancers & take photos! Tickets: $10/child

Five Points Live

✨Sleeping Beauty✨

With great excitement, Peoria Ballet presents this magical story of a beautiful princess brought to life through dance. Be enchanted by elaborate costumes, lively music, and a full cast of fairytale characters! 💖👑

Five Points Washington
April 26 at 7pm
April 27 at 12pm & 4pm

Tickets online here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=peori, also available at Peoria Ballet and over the phone.

Five Points Live

Happy Valentine’s Day!! ♥️