OGDEN -- Sneak away to "The Secret Garden" with Mary Lennox and her friends in a ballet version of the classic tale.
Imagine Ballet Theatre dances the story at 7:30 p.m. April 15, and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. April 16, at Peery's Egyptian Theater.
Mary will be portrayed by three different dancers, beginning with Ashleigh Richardson, 13, of Ogden, on April 15. Emma Duffin, 12, of Roy, will perform at the matinee on April 16 and Catherine Aoki, 12, of Ogden, dances in the April 16 evening show.
Having young artists perform a classic children's story is compelling, said artistic director Raymond Van Mason, who choreographed "The Secret Garden" in 2005.
The novel was written by Frances Hodgson Burnett and first published in 1910. Over the years, the story has been retold in film and musical stage productions, but a dance version adds another dimension.
"Sometimes dance allows us to communicate on a level that we can't communicate with words," said Van Mason, founder of the company for young artists and a former principal artist for Ballet West.
The production follows the story of Mary, a spoiled child who loses her family in India after a cholera outbreak. She goes to live with her uncle and cousin in England, where she discovers a locked garden and forges new friendships.
Utah composer Kurt Bestor wrote the musical score for the ballet and will conduct the live orchestra at the performances.
Tickets are $12 to $25 and are available through the theater box office, 801-689-8700, or Smith's Tix.
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