The gala event will be preceded by an opening reception at the historic Southern Pines Train Depot just across the street from the theater.
Featuring a performance of one of the great classics of children’s ballet, “Peter and the Wolf,” the evening showcases the talents of five Carolina Ballet dancers, including principal Timour Bourtasenkov. He will perform the pas de deux from “Coppelia” with Margot Martin.
Kimberlyn Cook and student Sullivan Williams will also be featured in an excerpt from “Coppelia,” choreographed by Robert Weiss, artistic director of The Carolina Ballet. The exciting coda from “Le Corsaire” will be danced by Margaret Severin-Hansen and Vadim Burciu. Both will appear in “Peter and the Wolf” as well.
The delightful story of “Peter and the Wolf” was chosen as the centerpiece of the production by Carolina Performing Arts Center dance director, Lori Christman Bourtasenkov who, with her husband, leads a staff of five teachers overseeing the dance education of more than 50 pupils.
Lori Bourtasenkov staged the ballet based on the original choreography, with the assistance of a fellow teacher, Debra Sayles Senchak.
Three performances of “Peter and the Wolf” will be given for local school groups on Friday morning, May 26, in addition to a school recital featuring the ballet being held on Friday evening.
The Thursday night gala event incorporating the reception at the Train Depot is the first such occasion to take place at the refurbished railroad station. Leased from the town by the Southern Pines Business Association as a welcome center, the depot has been recently made available for such events as a library book sale and an artist’s exhibition.
The festivities will start at 5:30 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres catered by the Coach Light Cafe and other area restaurants, and then move to the Sunrise Theater for the gala performance at 7 p.m.
Individual tickets for the gala event are $40 or $75 per couple for both the reception and the performance and may be obtained at the Arts Council’s location at the Campbell House or at The Country Book Shop in Southern Pines, or at the Gentleman’s Corner in Pinehurst.
