A Timeless Tale

Stepping gracefully onto the Top End stage this month, Leisa’s School of Dancing from Darwin and Duprada Dance Company from Alice Springs present Coppélia, a three-act comedic performance showcasing Territory dancers.

^{By Jenna Kirkham}

REHEARSING SINCE LATE July, dancers from both companies take to the stage for their annual end-of-year full school performance.

Regarded as one of ballet’s greatest comedies, Coppélia tells the tale of Dr Coppélius, an eccentric alchemist who lives in a two-storey house with his mysterious daughter, Coppélia. Chaos ensues as Dr Coppélius fools Franz, engaged to Swanhilda, into thinking he is in love with Coppélia.

“Coppélia is a good story ballet. It has a lot of toys and it’s quite funny because there is a bit of an argument in the first act,” says Director Leisa Jackson.

“It’s all caused by a single kiss blown to a doll – which [Franz] doesn’t know is a doll at the time – seen by his fiancé, so now he’s in trouble and they’re having an argument for the first act.”

Traditionally for an older audience, Jackson says that they’re not shortcutting the performance by any means by including their young dancers, and loved ones can find their little ones as young as three on stage as part of the storytelling.

“It really builds their confidence to be able to be something, and I think the kids really like to get a hold of a character and be totally not themselves, so they have to transform into something else and that gives them a little bit of artistic integrity.”

Joined by principal dancers William Laherty and Tiffanie Hughes from Alice Springs as the feuding couple, Coppélia is the culmination of a year of hard work and remarkable technique, wrapped up in a hilarious tale for all ages.

Coppélia
WHEN SAT 2 NOV | 6.30-8.45PM 
AT DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
COST $40 | $37 MEMB/CONC | $32 CHILD (3-15)
INFO yourcentre.com.au