Making ballet dreams come true

Little girls’ dreams come true at Ballet iZ Fun Dance Studio in Sisters, where they learn one of the most vibrant of all classical art forms. The dream fulfillment was captured in a performance on Saturday by 14 young ballerinas from the studio, climaxing months of disciplined practice and skill development.

The girls, ranging in age from four to eight, performed classical movements in bright-colored tutus, with faces brightened by smiles and make-up.

Teacher Wendy Gabbert (known as “Miss Wendy” to the girls) conducts the studio’s dance classes at Cascade Fitness in Sisters.

Gabbert herself began dancing at age three, taking lessons in Portland from celebrated ballet instructor Madame Marcelle Renoux. She later danced with Spring City Ballet in Colorado Springs and taught at Sun Dance Studio in Colorado before bringing her love of ballet to Central Oregon. She began her first season of classes with Ballet iZ Fun last fall.

Noting how the dream to dance is “in the heart of every little girl,” Gabbert explained how much actually goes into fulfilling those dreams when it comes to this particular dance form.

“Ballet offers more than just the physical benefits of poise, flexibility, grace, strength, and coordination,” she said. “It’s also very good for social interaction, teamwork, learning to pay attention, discipline, and plain old-fashioned good manners that are expected in a ballet class. And of course, fun must be included as well.”

The girls also get their vocabulary expanded. Mention to them a classical ballet term like arabesque, tendu, plié, or chassé and they’ll show you what it means.

A performance like Saturday’s recital brings to the girls the satisfaction of displaying new skills before an audience.

Though their accomplishment in ballet is impressive, it’s obvious they’re still little girls.

“Once they’re on stage,” Gabbert said, “you never know what to expect. They may stand still, not moving a single toe. Or they may tickle the itch in their nose. Sometimes the word performance takes on a whole new meaning; it may have nothing to do with the dance, but they are performing.”

Gabbert also acknowledges the appreciation of ballet in an arts-oriented community like Sisters.

“What matters is the love of dance and keeping the love of dance before the public, keeping it alive,” she said. “It’s all about the experience.”

In Saturday’s recital, the dance numbers “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and “Dancing Daisies” were performed by Josie Aylor, Abigail Manley, Chloe Marks, Sydney Rawlins, Tate Ricker, and Brooke Robillard.

Performing “My Girl” and “I’m a Mermaid” were Lilly Boraas, Emily Boraas, Harleigh Huitt, Alana Lukens, Maya McCurdy, Delaney Newport, Sydney Salomone and Rylee Weber.