www.gwinnettdailypost.com

By: Holley Calmes

Published: February 25, 2015

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Audiences from Gwinnett and beyond will find Southern Ballet Theatre’s next production somewhat familiar and very appropriate, considering the weather this week. SBT will be presenting “Frozen: A Tale of the Ice Queen” at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center in Duluth March 6-8.

Based on Hans Christian Anderson’s story “The Snow Queen,” a cast of over 50 dancers will bring the tale to life. The performances will be Friday, March 6, at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 7, at 2:30 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 8 at 2:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $16.50 for adults, $14.50 for students and seniors and $11.50 for groups of 10 or more. Tickets at the door are $18.50 for adults, $16.50 for students and seniors and $11.50 for groups of 10 or more. They can be obtained through the Gwinnett Center Box Office, by visiting gwinnettcenter.com or by calling 888-929-7849.

“We are excited to debut this ballet,” Alicia Chitwood, Co-Artistic Director for SBT, said. “The sets and music are so magical. Michele Deedy has done a wonderful job on costumes, and they are just beautiful.”

Caroline Deedy, a senior at Greater Atlanta Christian, will perform the lead role of Elsa. The character of Anna will be danced by Alyssa Watkins, a junior at Central Gwinnett High School. Olaf will be performed by Faith Candino, a junior at Grayson High School. The younger lead roles of Little Elsa and Little Anna will be performed by Emma Hamrick and Nina DeLafosse respectively.

Guest dancers from SBT’s school, Southern Performing Arts Academy, will be performing the roles of Little Olafs, Kingdom Children and Little Ice Men. The cast also includes local young men performing with the dancers in the ballroom scene.

Big plans are in the works for summer dancing fun at SBT. One of the favorite events of the year at the studio is the L.A. Intensive for intermediate and advanced dancers.

“We bring in the magic of Los Angeles and New York to the studio for three days of non-stop classes in hip hop, jazz and contemporary,” Chitwood said. “Past teachers have included Twitch, Joshua Allen, Tracie Stanfield, Lauren Froderman and Adechike.”

The L.A. Intensive will take place June 18-20, and dancers must be ages 10 or up.

The summer also includes an Enchanted Princess Camp for ages three to five and ages six to nine where little dancers become a different princess every day. Ballet, arts, crafts and snacks are a part of the camp. Dates are July 6-10 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. and July 13-17 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

There is also a Broadway Camp for ages six to nine on July 13-17 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Ballet intensives include a Rising Star Ballet Intensive for ages nine to 12 on July 27-31 and intensives for ages 11 and up on June 22-25.

For more information about “Frozen,” L.A. Intensive and any summer camp at SBT, visit southernballettheatre.com or call 678-682-9238.

Holley Calmes is a freelance writer and public relations consultant specializing in the arts. E-mail her at hcalmes@mindspring.com