‘Dance to the Music’ comes to CCP
“Dance to the Music” showcases leading ladies Weslie Webster and Nicole Begue, leading cat-about-town Britt Hancock and Russian ballerina Lilia Valieva with her personal premiere danseur Eldar Valiev, director of the Playhouse’s renowned Triple Threat Dance and Musical Theater Education Program.
Musical theater director/ choreographers Michele Colvin of “Big River, “Les Miz” and Renee McKinney of “CATS” team up with young “CATS” professionals Chelsea Nye, Leila Nelson and Blake Davis to create song and dance selections from “West Side Story,” “Hairspray,” and “Fame.” Vocalists and featured dancers include Lauren Tranberg, Elizabeth Wood, Austin Price, Cady Kington, Katie Papi, Johnny Krause, and professional company member Bryce McDonald, the Playhouse’s company manager.
The annual dance performance is the time to show off the development children and teens have made since coming to the well known Playhouse Triple Threat Dance and Theater Education Program. “It is enormously exciting to the children because our professional scenic, lighting, and costume staff work as hard on this as they do on any show,” said Jim Crabtree, producing director.
Seats have already begun filling up for the four performances at 7:30 May 5, 6, 7 and 2:30 May 8. The annual recital is always one of Cumberland and the surrounding counties most sought after shows.
“All of the students work so hard all year,” said Eldar Valiev, dance director. “They want so much to please Lilia and me and our professional dance staff. It is obvious how much they want to grow, individually. We see it every day. “Dance to the Music” is a very special chance to show how exceptional our Triple Threat Dance and Theater Education Program is here at the Playhouse and how strong our dancers become,” said Valiev. “Parents in this area are wonderful to work with and are so dedicated to their children and our program. They put in as many hours as the children in one way or another,” he said.
Dance director Eldar Valiev and his wife Lilia Valieva are permanent residents of the United States. Valiev and Valieva danced and taught in dance companies in Iceland and South Carolina after their years in Russia. They toured extensively throughout Europe with “The Stars of the Bolshoi and the Kirov Ballet.” They have partnered and soloed in some of the world’s most famous ballets. And they have found a home in Crossville. Both have taught and occasionally performed at the Playhouse for six years. Eldar assumed leadership of the dance program in 2003. “Eldar and Lilia are two of the most uniquely qualified professionals in the nation to teach the foundation skill for all dance training, which is ballet,” said Crabtree.
“When I travel to New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago and other places,” said Crabtree, “the Playhouse is always complimented for its exceptional dance and theater training programs. Critics who come to review our musicals and recitals always comment on our “homegrown” talent as well as our imported professional talent.”
“This is such an exciting time for the students and for us,” said Lilia Valieva. “Our performance is professionally mounted by the Playhouse technical support staff. Most children are used to their annual dance recitals being held in school auditoriums and gymnasiums. This is one of the clear advantages of having your child enrolled in the Playhouse program.
Our children come to accept that dance is important enough to merit the best the Playhouse has to offer for their annual recital. I hope you get your tickets early and get a seat,” she said. “You will never forget what you see here,” said Valieva.
Tickets for “Dance to the Music” are $16 adults; $14 seniors (62 & over); $13 groups (20 or more); $8 children and students. For more information call 931-484-5000 or E-mail to www.ccplayhouse.com.
For students of all ages who are interested in enrolling in the Playhouse’s Summer Intensive Dance and Theater Program that runs June 20 through July 1, please call dance master Eldar Valiev at 931-484-8710, ext 246. Registration is April 30, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the lobby of the Playhouse and also May 28, 10 a.m.-noon in Studio A at the Playhouse.