Video: Tupelo Civic Ballet Prepares For Performance

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Dancers with Tupelo’s Civic Ballet have put the leg work in to an upcoming performance.

“The middle of September is when we started to rehearse for this,” said Artistic Director Jan Dijkwel.

This production will take audience members around the world.

“We’re going to have a piece from, influenced by Irish music, Hungarian music, Spanish and also German, etcetera,” he said.

Plus, the performance will feature Act Three of the Russian classic, “Paquita”

“The challenge is to make it as authentic as possible , and at the same time really bring out the character as we interpreted it,” Dijkwel said.

For the dancers with the Tupelo Civic Ballet, staging the production takes extra hours of work, dedication and patience, but they say it’s all worth it.

“I like the dedication it takes, it’s not something you can just pop in once a week, I encourage you to come in everyday and work your hardest, that’s what I like, I like the challenge, I’m a perfectionist, ballet is perfect, but I will never be perfect, that’s kind of an oxymoron,” said Michelle Hodges.

“ I really like being able to express myself , during dance because you are not really focused on anything but dance classes and any emotions you held in during the day you can let it all out,” said Rachel Williams.
Staying on your toes for several hours certainly takes a toll.

“The hardest point about Paquita is probably the Point Shoes. We buy so many point shoes. You have to buy them, at least for our show, every week,” said Hodges.

So after many pairs of point shoes, and hours of practice, Paquita will come to the civic center Saturday evening.

Tickets are $12 and $25.  For more information go to www.civicballet.org