SOUTH MONTEREY COUNTY — The curtain is set to rise once again on a beloved local production as the Monterey County Dance Foundation presents the “Beauty and the Beast Ballet” on April 25-27 at the Robert Stanton Theater in King City.
This unique, medieval-themed adaptation is a narrated ballet choreographed and restaged by Janette Harkness, featuring a vibrant cast of 90 performers.
Originally premiered in 2013, the ballet returns to the stage with student dancers from Monterey County Dance Theatre, under the direction of Harkness. Unlike the Disney version, this production draws from the original 18th-century stories by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont.
“I am very excited to be bringing back ‘Beauty and the Beast,’” Harkness said. “We last did it in 2013. The student company is amazing and filled with talent. Thanks to the Monterey County Dance Foundation, we are able to bring the arts through dance into our communities.”
The story follows a cursed prince, played by Shadrach Brown, whose court is transformed into animals by a vengeful sorceress (Sara Godinez). The tale begins when a father, portrayed by Kent Robinson, steals a rose and sets off a chain of events that leads to an unexpected love story between his daughter Beauty (Anahi Cervantes) and the Beast. Beauty’s sisters (Kali Jimenez and Sheccid Salas) and their mother (Alicia Quintana) provide comic relief amid the magic and mystery.
Sword fights, fairies, enchanted roses and a stirring Tchaikovsky score drive this fast-paced, 90-minute performance. Narration will be provided by Tom Brown.
Ginnie Guidotti, president of the Monterey County Dance Foundation, emphasized the significance of the production for the community.
“This enchanting production is months in the making and features an incredibly talented cast of South Monterey County youth dancers,” she said. “Audience members will find themselves awestruck by a performance that is both eerie and enchanting. It is not the Walt Disney rendition that people are familiar with. Rather, this ballet is more reminiscent of a ‘Grimms’ Fairy Tale.’”
The Foundation, a nonprofit organization, fully funds the production and will provide 150 complimentary tickets to local schoolchildren.
“Monterey County Dance Foundation is grateful to continue to support our local youth dancers by covering all production costs for ‘Beauty and the Beast,’” Guidotti said. “It is our mission to ensure that all of our dancers have the opportunity to shine on the stage.” She added, “None of this would be possible without our generous volunteers, donors and sponsors.”
Performances will be held Friday, April 25, at 7 p.m., with matinees on Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27, at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or online through Eventbrite. The production is recommended for children ages 4 and up. The box office opens one hour before showtime.
