Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet & Voice (NCCB) presented its spring performance on Sunday, June 12, at Edmond Town Hall.

The studio’s advanced students presented the classical ballet Les Sylphides, with choreography by Michel Fokine, to two audiences. Dancers ages 3-17 then participated together in performances of Four Seasons, choreographed by former longtime Newtown resident and previous studio owner Marsha Ismailoff Mark.

Current Director Tory Gozzi enjoys presenting this ballet every four or five years to keep the traditions and rich history of the school alive. Students who started as squirrels or rosebuds move on to roles such as the baby deer and daisies in their intermediate levels of study and then finally to the leads of the seasons by the time they graduate.

“It’s a wonderful time capsule to see pictures of the children a few years ago and now how they’ve grown and matured into these new roles,” Gozzi said. “This year we double cast much of both shows so that more students would have the opportunity to explore and enrich their artistry and technique in the lead roles, especially the several pas de deux — or partnering — opportunities in the ballet Les Sylphides.

“The seriousness of the tableaux of the Les Sylphides ballet pairs well with the whimsical nature of many of the elements in Four Seasons, from a baby deer getting lost — and found again! — to the baby squirrels trying desperately to catch the acorn, and a favorite moment of this year, all the seasons competing in rehearsal for who could yawn the best as the seasons get put back to sleep in the winter.

“The kids worked incredibly hard over the last 3½ months of preparing and their efforts were richly rewarded on stage!”