TOPSHAM

It’s a Saturday afternoon in early spring and The Ballet School studio in Topsham is warm and filled with smiling, breathless dancers. They have just finished rehearsing “March — The Awakening,” a scene from their new ballet “Calendaria: Celebrating the Seasons – A Ballet for All Ages.”

“It’s a challenging dance” said the school’s director and former New York City Ballet dancer, Elizabeth Drucker, in a press release. “It begins slowly but ends with big jumps and fast directional changes.”

The piece intentionally challenges Drucker’s dancers; each year she choreographs a new ballet for her students and designs the theme and style of the production based on the makeup and strengths of the school. This year she chose to choreograph a ballet that would not only feature the talents of an especially strong advanced class, but also expand their boundaries.

“Most of our students are very serious about ballet and aspire to take their training to the highest possible level,” Drucker explained. “Our annual spring production needs to not only be a beautiful and meaningful performance for our audiences, but also a tremendous learning opportunity for our students.”

“Calendaria” features an ensemble of The Ballet School’s most elite dancers, including Caroline Gill of Bowdoinham and Isabel Kovacs of Bath who, supported by a large cast of dancers from across the Midcoast region, will lead the audience on a visual journey through the seasons, beginning in summer and ending in spring.

Drucker teamed up with set and lighting designer John Urquhart to transform the Orion Performing Arts Center stage from a lush summer field to a winter wonderland, and describes the ballet as a festive collaboration for all ages featuring talented dancers, vibrant imagery and costumes, and glorious music.

Drucker enjoys choreographing her oldest students alongside her youngest.

“Our graduating senior began dancing with me as a child and I love seeing her share the stage with a five year old who is just starting her training. It’s magical to watch these young boys and girls develop, and we couldn’t ask for better subject matter than a celebration of the seasons to illuminate that transformation.”

“Calendaria” will premiere at the Orion Performing Arts Center, 66 Republic Ave., Topsham on Saturday and Sunday, April 30 and May 1 at 3 p.m. General admission tickets are available at the door at $10 for children and seniors and $12 for adults. For more information, call The Ballet School at (207) 729-6794 or visit theballetschool.com.

Calendaria performances

• “Calendaria: Celebrating the Seasons — A Ballet for All Ages” will premiere at the Orion Performing Arts Center, 66 Republic Avenue, Topsham on Saturday and Sunday, April 30 and May 1, at 3 p.m. General admission tickets are available at the door: $10 for children and seniors and $12 for adults. For more information please call The Ballet School at (207) 729-6794 or visit theballetschool.com.