Hansel and Gretel Ballet to Benefit Loaves and Fishes Community Meal
On April 29 and 30, Ballet Aligned, in partnership with the Utah Festival Conservatory, will present the ballet, Hansel and Gretel at the Utah Theater.
This is the second year in a row this ballet has been presented. Steffanie Casperson, director of Ballet Aligned said, "Originally the thought was to introduce a new ballet in the 'Once Upon a Storytime' series. But our repeat of The Night Before Christmas was such a success as we built on all the skill we'd developed in the cast and crew, and the audience noticed, so we thought we'd hold off on the new work for another year and let everyone sink their teeth into making this year's Hansel and Gretel even better!"
In 2023, Hansel and Gretel sold 448 tickets and raised $1000 for The Family Place. This year, proceeds will be donated to the Loaves and Fishes Community Meal, an organization that provides a hot meal to people of all faiths and backgrounds on the first and third Saturdays each month at the First Presbyterian Church in Logan. "The community meal has been one of my family's favorite Saturday traditions for years. Ballet Aligned seeks to build and serve in the community, and that is exactly what Loaves and Fishes is all about - bringing people together to strengthen the community."
Casperson hopes to double the funds raised by the ballet this year. "I first attended the community meal as a volunteer, when I was pregnant with my fourth child. He is now 12 and will be performing as Hansel in this year's benefit. There's something about that that feels so right, so full-circle," she said.
The "Once Upon a Storytime" series was created as an introduction to ballet for a young or uninitiated audience. The show features dancers of all abilities, from beginning to advanced. Its total run time is 45 minutes and tickets are just $12. Information about the show, the benefit, and a link for ticket purchases are at BalletBenefit.com.