Princeton Ballet School presents the full-length comedic ballet, Coppélia, on May 7th at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM at Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton, New Jersey.  The performance will feature two rising stars from the school’s Professional Training Programs, as well as a wide range of students from Princeton Ballet School.  Maria Katarina Rafael, an East Brunswick High School senior and Shaye Firer, a Trainee from Winnipeg, Canada, will tackle the challenging lead role of Swanhilda in the three act ballet directed by Douglas Martin and Mary Pat Robertson.

Born in Singapore, Maria Katarina Rafael moved to East Brunswick at the age of 6 and began her studies at Princeton Ballet School three years later in the school’s New Brunswick studio.  She has since progressed through the school to the most advanced level of the Professional Training Program (American Repertory Ballet Workshop), and was also featured in last year’s spring production of The Sleeping Beauty in the lead role of Aurora.  “The challenge is for me to portray all the sides of Swanhilda - from the fun-loving and flirtatious to the mischievous and less sympathetic,” she says of playing the young and spirited Swanhilda.  “I am excited to be able to play a role that asks more of me as a dancer.”  An all-around talent, Rafael has been accepted to Princeton University, and plans to join the Class of 2015 next fall.  She credits her intense dance training at Princeton Ballet School with many life lessons that have helped her achieve her many accomplishments: “Through the years, my dance training has taught me discipline, time management, and how to accept constructive criticism and frustrations. Most of all, it has taught me the value of perseverance and the importance of working hard to reach my goals.” 

Shaye Firer, who will perform the lead “Swanhilda” in the 7:00 PM performance, was born in South Africa and grew up in Winnipeg, Canada.  She joined the inaugural class of Princeton Ballet School’s Trainee Program last fall and has since performed with the professional company in several productions this season.    American Repertory Ballet Company dancers Marc St-Pierre (Montreal, Canada) and Edward Urwin (Doylestown, PA) will appear courtesy of ARB in the lead role of Franz, and Stephen Campanella (West Windsor), another Company dancer and Princeton Ballet School alum will also make a special guest appearance in the production as Dr. Coppélius.  More than 400 additional students from the school, ranging in age from 5 through adult, will perform in the production.

Described by George Balanchine as “ballet’s great comedy,” Coppélia is a classic love story, originally choreographed and presented by Arthur Saint-Léon in 1870, and set to music by Léo Delibes.  The School’s adaptation includes additional re-staging and choreography by Mary Barton, Maria Youskevitch and other members of the Princeton Ballet School's faculty.

“This performance allows students of Princeton Ballet School to understand the process of putting together a ballet,” explains School Director, Mary Pat Robertson. “For the past six weeks, the students have had rehearsals outside of class to put together this performance. From the beginning student, to the pre-professional student, this experience allows all our students to be part of a professional-level production.”

The performances of Princeton Ballet School’s Coppélia will be held May 7th at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM at the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, One Memorial Drive, Trenton, NJ. Tickets will be available to the public on April 12 for $30.  For more information about tickets, please call Princeton Ballet School at 609.921.7758 ext 10 or visit www.arballet.org.

Photos:

Left: Douglas Martin and Maria Katarina Rafael as the King and Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Spring 2010.  Courtesy of Ron Lessard.

Right: Shaye Firer in ARB's Gala this March.  Courtesy of George Jones

About American Repertory Ballet
American Repertory Ballet's mission is to bring the joy, beauty, artistry and discipline of classical and contemporary dance to New Jersey and nationwide audiences and to dance students through artistic and educational programs.  The organization is comprised of: American Repertory Ballet, the preeminent contemporary ballet company in the state; Princeton Ballet School, one of the largest and most respected non-profit dance schools in the nation; and the Access and Enrichment initiatives, ranging from the long-running and acclaimed DANCE POWER program to the newly launched On Pointe series.  The professional company is a classical and contemporary ballet company committed to presenting ballets from the 19th and 20th century alongside new and existing works by choreographers from today and is directed by Douglas Martin, former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet.  ARB has been designated a "Major Arts Institution" by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts consistently for the past two decades, and has repeatedly been awarded a Citation of Excellence by the Council.  ARB was voted People's Choice for Best Dance Company in 2008.

Princeton Ballet School has gained a national reputation for its excellent dance training since its founding in 1954 by Audrée Estey. Princeton Ballet School currently enrolls approximately 1500 students annually from age three through adult and is directed by Mary Pat Robertson.  Princeton Ballet School has studios in Cranbury, New Brunswick, and Princeton which are equipped with  shock-absorbent floors, non-slip dance surfaces and pianos for live accompaniment.  Many of Princeton Ballet School’s faculty members have performed professionally; others have attained graduate degrees in dance education and have won awards for their teaching.  Students from the school have gone on to dance in professional ballet and contemporary dance companies in the US and abroad. Graduates have danced with such diverse organizations as the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Miami City Ballet, STREB, Complexions, Mark Morris Dance Company, Twyla Tharp, Pittsburgh

The Access and Enrichment wing of American Repertory Ballet reaches out to the community not only through their DANCE POWER and On Pointe programs, but through master classes, residencies, lecture demonstrations and school time matinees throughout the state.