Anastasia with MarLo Dance Studio

MarLo Dance Studio is back in the swing with Anastasia, presented at the Sprague Community Theater. The lavish dance production opened May 13, delighting audiences with an adventurous and heartwarming tale told through ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and hop-hop dance.

Tickets are still available for shows on May 20, 21, 22. To purchase tickets in advance, visit MarLoDance.com, or call 706-550-1416.

Creative costuming, lights and drops transport the dancers and audience to a storybook setting– Anastasia is based on the legend of a young girl named Princess Anastasia who survives the 1917 Russian revolution. Separated from her grandmother, the Dowager Empress, Anastasia spends the remainder of her childhood in an orphanage. As a young woman, Anya has only one possession, a music box, given to her by the grandmother she doesn’t remember. She is discovered by two con men hoping to cash in on a reward for finding the missing Princess Anastasia. The three set off for a Paris adventure with the evil witch Rasputin in pursuit.

In this production, the role of Anastasia is played by Hallie Minkler, the Dowager Empress by Mel Garrett, and the evil witch Rasputin by Hadassah Slater. Choreography was created by Maria Merriam, Hallie Minkler, Faith Slater, Gracie Slater and Hadassah Slater.

Under the direction of Maria Merriam, MarLo Dance Studio is celebrating its 23rd season serving the greater Bandon area. The 90+ performing students travel from as far as Gold Beach, Coos Bay, and Myrtle Point to be part of MarLo’s unique program that focuses on a solid ballet foundation with jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop, and ballroom genres made available to both youth and adults. As a performing arts school, studio specializes in providing a dance education along with opportunities to express dance theatrically in story productions. Past events include sold-out productions of Peter Pan, The Nutcracker and Pinocchio.

In support of the studio’s artistic work, the Coos County Cultural Coalition provided a grant to fund the rental of two backdrop sceneries for the presentation of Anastasia.

Featured photo by Annetta Adams Photography, courtesy of MarLo Dance Studio.