For the past nine years, students from Blanco Ballet and Creative Dance School have been showcasing their deep love of dance and joy of expression through annual recitals, where they are able to present the results of the year’s work to their parents, friends and community at large.

This year’s performance was a balletic rendition of J.M. Barrie’s novel, Peter Pan. The beloved classic follows the adventures of Peter, the mischievous young boy who will never grow up, and his adventures with the Darling children in Neverland. In Blanco Ballet’s performance, the audience was taken on this magical adventure filled with fairies, mermaids, forest warriors, lost girls and pirates celebrating the internal child, innocence and adventure.

“This year has been an incredible adventure, and I think that every moment taught me something new,” said Rose Garrett, who played Captain Hook in the performance.

“I liked being involved with the dancers in my group,” said Adalyne Burke, who was a Lost Girl.

Preparations for this year’s performance, which occurred this past Friday and Saturday, began in November, where the 25 dancers who have taken a Cecchetti Ballet Exam auditioned for placement in the production.

Beginning in January, rehearsals occurred every Saturday, during which the dancers would learn and rehearse their dances. Overall there were 28 dances. Since the beginning of April, full cast rehearsals occurred almost every week, during which the hour and a half production would be run with all 50 dancers.

“Learning to master a skill, like ballet, develops our sense of discipline and perseverance, at Blanco Ballet, we are also striving to create joy through our creativity, joy through our cooperation, and joy through our expression. I truly believe that we accomplished this sense of joy in Peter Pan,” said Lesley Erin Rice-Oyler, the founder and main instructor at Blanco Ballet.

“Watching the performance on Sunday made me so happy,” Libbey Aly, who adjudicated the auditions in November. “The ability to have an outlet for artistic expression is so very important for our youth. I have had the pleasure to see this group in their classes and the love and attention that they pay to their teacher Erin Rice-Oyler comes through in the obvious amount of discipline it takes to bring a production of this scale to performance. It gives me hope to know that the arts are alive and well in Blanco.”

All of the dancers in Blanco Ballet participated in the performance. They ranged from ages five to 17.

The props were all made by one of the father of one of the dancers, George Darley.

Blanco Ballet’s summer classes begin June 3, and details can be found at ww.blancoballet.com.