Date: Fri 11-Jun-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Lathrop-Marsha-Ismailoff

Full Text:

A Full Weekend Of Dance Recitals Produces Many Memories And Few Missteps

(with photos)

BY SHANNON HICKS

The toes of many Newtown dancers are probably still a little sore this week,

following a full weekend of dance recitals in town that left spectators of all

ages breathless.

At Edmond Town Hall, the auditorium's stage was home once again to the annual

recital of Lathrop School of Dance. Ginny Lathrop's institute presented its

47th annual "Stardust Revue," with five performances between Friday evening

and late Sunday afternoon.

At the meadow of the studio and home of Marsha Mark, the Marsha Ismailoff Mark

School of Ballet and Malenkee Ballet Repertoire Company presented its annual

outdoor recital, "Ballet in the Meadow."

One might assume that after putting on a recital for a number of years, a

dance school's faculty would have trouble keeping its presentations fresh and

appealing. This was not the case for either of the Newtown-based schools last

weekend, however. Both the June 4-6 "Stardust Revue" presentations and the

June 5-6 "Ballet in the Meadow" shows were thoroughly entertaining and

enjoyable.

Lathrop School's dancers performed five shows last weekend. The Friday evening

show was a benefit for Danbury Hospital, the 29th time the school has danced

for the hospital's children's ward. The program was repeated twice on

Saturday, with afternoon matinee and evening presentations.

On Sunday, the dancers again had two recitals, both during the afternoon. The

earlier show, at 2 pm, was also a benefit, this one for the Newtown High

School Scholarship Fund.

NHS has been the high school of many of Lathrop's students over the years,

school director Ginny Lathrop pointed out in her letter for the recital's

program. Mrs Lathrop established the fund in the name of her late husband and

dance partner Mack over a decade ago.

One of the dances in this year's program, coincidentally, was a special

tribute to Mr Lathrop, called "A Tribute to Mack -- With Love." Ten Lathrop

School dancers are graduating from high school this month.

Dancers of all ages were on the Edmond Town Hall stage representing Lathrop's

talents, from the youngest girls barely able to memorize the steps for an

entire routine but who stole the show anyway, to the Stardust Dancers, Jr

Stardusters, Lathrop Dancers and configurations of all age groups and ability

levels in between.

In following its traditional two-hour (approximately) format, Lathrop

presented a program this year that, in two acts, offered each audience over 40

dance numbers. In addition to the groups that danced on stage, two of the

show's highlights this year were the solos done by dancers Jill Harrison in

the first act and Cindy LeRoy in the second.

Ms Harrison performed to the song "I've Finally Found Someone" and Ms LeRoy

performed to "After You've Gone." Both ladies were afforded the opportunity

for an individual number in celebration of their 25th year with the dance

school.

One of the things that keeps Lathrop's recitals so fresh year after year is

the continued recognition and inception of new music and dance styles into the

school's curriculum. Among the examples of the longstanding school remaining

current were the performances of numbers like "Hot Stuff," which included very

modern hip-hop dance.

Ballet In The Meadow

At times, it was difficult to decide which was more entertaining Saturday

afternoon: The dancers on the stage at Marsha Mark's annual "Ballet in the

Meadow," or Mrs Mark herself. The dance teacher, who is celebrating the 30th

anniversary of her ballet school's existence this year, floated around the

grounds of her outdoor dance studio to keep an eye on a little bit of

everything during the production late Saturday afternoon.

This year's program was also in two acts. The first half of "Ballet in the

Meadow" offered performances of variations to works by Lyadov ("From the

Dolls: Balloon Variation"), Menken, Brahms and Hertl ("La Fille Mal Gardee,"

done in two variations).

The second half of the recital was a performance of Verdi's Four Seasons ,

which began with Winter and moved in order through the remaining seasons. This

was where the excitement of watching very talented performers also turned into

a joyous experience of simple encouragement for younger dancers. During the

"Fall" portion of Seasons , the young dancers performing the roles of

Squirrels simply stole the show.

Dana Fischetti, Alex Lucas, Savannah Palm, Justin Saint, Melissa Satmary and

Jane Sclafani were the young Squirrels. The scene began with the entrance of

Fall, performed by Simone Jamison. Four Deer -- each perfectly animated by

Jennifer Agius, Bernadette Jamison, Gillian Omalyev and Emily Snyder -- then

took the stage and performed for a few minutes, before bounding right through

the center aisle of a surprised audience.

Next came the autumnal Tree, played by Monica DiNardo, and the Squirrels.

After trying to grasp an apple from the branches of the tree, the squirrels

were to lie down on stage and "take a nap."

It was here that Mrs Mark, who was carefully watching every step and facial

gesture of her dancers, became her most animated. She smiled with worry --

what if the young dancers didn't all "fall asleep" at the same time, or missed

their cue to "wake up"? Her face was a mixture of tension and pride as she

watched her young charges work their way through their scene with very few

missteps. Mrs Mark, and the entire audience in the meadow that afternoon,

erupted in proud applause as the children left the stage.

The entire production of "Ballet in the Meadow," like the Lathrop shows, was

an enjoyment from start to finish. The dancers for the most part made their

steps look so effortless, it was a joy to watch the kind of talent that

continues to be found and refined in this area.