PORT TOWNSEND — “Seeking,” “Grand Waltz,” “Celtic Groove”: These are three of the 12 ballet and modern dance works in the Ling Hui Dance studio’s annual showcase this weekend.
The concerts, titled “Between Dreams,” bring together a rich program of music: Tchaikovsky, Philip Glass, Jack Johnson and beyond.
The performers, who range from elementary school age to adult, come from ballet, contemporary and creative dance classes with Ling Hui at her school on Polk Street downtown.
Lovers of dance have three opportunities to see Ling Hui’s troupe in the Wheeler Theater at Fort Worden State Park, 200 Battery Way: at 7 p.m. Saturday and then at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets are $15, or $10 for children 12 and younger. They’re available now at the Food Co-op, 414 Kearney St., and will be sold at the door before each show.
The concerts will open with a signature ballet, “Grand Waltz,” featuring 13 junior and intermediate dancers, and then move into “Aquarium,” with Ling Hui’s Creative Dance II students dancing to music by Camille Saint-Saens.
Also on the program are pieces titled “Once Upon a Lime,” “Snowflakes” and “Separation,” a narrative dance about boarding an airliner, taking off and flying.
In it, the junior contemporary and ballet students wear costumes fringed in blue and hot pink as they navigate the volatile music of Robert Miles.
In “Nightshade,” the dancers match the fast beat of the band Autopilots. In “Seeking,” the piece Ling Hui said is one of the most advanced, they interpret Glass’ music.
‘Challenge the dancers’
“My philosophy has always been to challenge the dancers,” she added.
“They gain confidence and satisfaction from mastering what may appear at first too difficult.”
Also on the program is “The Path,” presented by intermediate and advanced contemporary dancers to sensual, moody music by Zoe Keating.
The featured piece of the concert, “Between Dreams,” danced in three parts by teenage students, “is very hip and jazzy,” Ling Hui noted.
“In part one, the group demonstrates the pure joy of dance, executing very cool steps and playing off each other as though at a party.”
Part two goes the other direction: It’s cooled down and intentional, with several solos.
“The final part returns us to that flash and joy of part one, with plenty of coquettish elements,” Ling Hui said.
Doors of the Wheeler Theater will open 30 minutes before each performance.
For details, phone the Ling Hui Dance School at 360-774-2373 or visit www.LingHuisDance.com.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
