Ballet Hawaii marks 50 years, next generation prepares to take the stage

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A ballet studio is celebrating 50 years of bringing dance to the islands and nurturing the next generation of performers with a special concert happening next month.

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Ballet Hawaii executive director Richard Vida, choreographer David Weaver, and alumna performer Charli Ahlgren-Folkert joined HNN’s Sunrise Weekends to talk about their summer concert, “Forces of Nature,” at Leeward Community College Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 1, at 4 p.m.

The show is made up of students enrolled in Ballet Hawaii’s summer intensive session along with guest artists from Pacific Northwest Ballet, Carolina Ballet, and Sacramento Ballet.

“Every summer we do this incredible summer intensive or ballet boot camp. Students come from Japan, the continent and all over Hawaii and they study from 8 in the morning until 6:30 at night,” Vida said.

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Weaver said he is choreographing a piece called “Volcanic Etudes,” centered on how the power and beauty of the islands were created by forces of nature.

Ballet Hawaii is a ballet training school that teaches, produces, presents and promotes dance in Hawaii, with more than 300 students of all ages. The organization has two studios, in Honolulu and Waipahu.

This fall, Ballet Hawaii is offering classes for all ages and levels, including musical theater and Sunday contemporary classes at their Honolulu studio.

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Upcoming performances of The Nutcracker run in December.

For tickets to “Force of Nature,” use promo code FORCES20 for a 20% discount.

To learn more about classes or upcoming show click here.