Fancy Nancy Returns (+ Ticket Giveaway!)

You might remember from THIS post, Adalyn and I attended Fancy Nancy & The Mermaid Ballet at Meydenbauer Center a few weeks ago.  It was a magical night full of wide eyes and whimsy – memories we both will cherish as it was her very first ballet.  And definitely not her last – already planning to attend their Nutcracker performance during the holidays.  ♥

In this post I’ll be sharing photos from the evening with you – and in case you missed the show – Fancy Nancy will be returning on April 16th to the Auburn Performing Arts Center for an encore performance! I will also be giving out tickets for the upcoming Bridgestone events  to some lucky winners. And if you have little ones, I highly recommend going to the Auburn Performing Arts Center – it is perfectly tailored to a young audience and is a great way to introduce them to the art of dance.

On Opening Night (when we attended) there was a backstage bash for the littles and a cocktail party at Neiman Marcus for the adults prior to the show.  Here’s a glimpse into our fabulous evening…

The kids started their night off with dance parties and dress up with the ballet performers, followed by a dinner just for them.

Then they had special guest appearance from Fancy Nancy Illustrator, Robin Priess Glasser…

And there’s my girl in the leopard top & tutu skirt…

While the kiddos played their little hearts out, we were being spoiled with champagne and good company at the Neiman Marcus celebration…

During the party, we spoke with Kevin Kaiser, Artistic Director of the Evergreen City Ballet – one of the most genuine and passionate people – it was a true pleasure hearing his pride for the company and how he believes every child should have the opportunity to dance.  One of his new programs, Dance Beyond Boundaries, will offer dance classes to children with Autism and Down Syndrome.

And then one of my favorite moments of the evening was a beautiful speech by Sharonda Young, Outreach Coordinator for the Evergreen City Ballet.  She leads Dance Alive! – A free program that has reached over 35K children, a majority (70-80%) of which are minorities.  By teaching elementary-age kids, she is providing the power of dance and it’s relation to confidence.  It is an incredibly successful program with the proof that kid’s are extremely receptive to dance, music and art.

With both a silent and live auction (presented by Jim Dever – Evening Magazine), the Evergreen City Ballet was able to raise funds for their scholarship and outreach programs.  It was fantastic watching the community support and value the fine art of dance.  If you are interested in learning more about their programs or classes for young children – contact – info@evergreencityballet.org.

♥

After the party, I joined Adalyn for the performance at Meydenbauer Center, which we both thoroughly enjoyed!  No cameras were allowed inside so you’ll have to catch the next show to see for yourself!

…And here are the details:

Evergreen City Ballet Presents: Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet

Performances sold out last season so get your tickets early!

Come see the incredible sets and costumes that make you feel like you have stepped inside the book! See Nancy’s back yard Mermaid Mansion, her ballet studio and the Mermaid Ballet “Deep Sea Dances” come to life. This one-hour family friendly ballet production is sure to enchant all ages. Watch your child’s eyes light up from the minute you walk into the theatre!

Synopsis: Nancy has her heart set on being the star. But when another ballerina wins the coveted part of the mermaid, Nancy is determined to make the most of her own role as a weeping willow—with lots of glamour, of course! Her dazzling costume and primo port de bras promise to make Nancy the most sensational willow tree ever to grace the stage. But if Nancy steals the show, will it be the best ballet it can be?

XoXo

Portia

*All photos provided by the Evergreen City Ballet.