Final weekend for Hot Springs Children’s Dance Theater’s ‘Coppelia’ production
Hot Springs Children’s Dance Theatre Company will present the final weekend of the production “Coppelia”at 7 p.m. Friday and 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday at LakePointe Church, 1343 Albert Pike Road.
The dance theater will welcome back to the stage Constanza Murphy as Swanhilda. She played the role of Tinkerbell in last season’s performance of “Peter Pan.” Joining her will be her husband, Paul Murphy, and Carlos Narvaez, a fellow Bay Pointe Ballet company dance member.
Paul will perform the role of Dr. Coppélius, a rather mysterious inventor, who has made a lifesize dancing doll so lifelike that Franz, a village youth, played by Narvaez, becomes infatuated with it and sets aside his true heart’s desire, Swanhilda. She shows him his folly by dressing as the doll, pretending to make it come to life and ultimately saving Franz from an untimely end at the hands of the inventor.
Having studied intensively with the Boston Ballet and the School of American Ballet and spending numerous years performing in musical theater productions, Paul was a highly accomplished dancer and performer at an early age, a news release said. He went on to study with the Houston Ballet Academy and became an apprentice with the Boston Ballet. Paul has been a member of the Omaha Ballet, the Komische Oper Ballet Berlin, Ballet South, and Ballet West. He was the resident choreographer with Mountain West Ballet for four years before becoming the director, during which time he choreographed seven original full-length ballets.
Constanza trained at North Star Ballet in Fairbanks, Alaska, where she first performed as Swanhilda in 2004. She has worked as a freelance dancer in several classical, contemporary, and modern companies across the country, including Oakland Ballet, Ballet San Antonio, and Missouri Contemporary Ballet. A soloist with Bay Pointe Ballet in San Francisco, her signature role is Tinkerbell. Her graceful and fun execution of the role of Swanhilda enhances this performance.
Narváez began his training at the Academy of Ballet San Francisco where he danced with Chamber Dance SF. He was a member of Peninsula Ballet Theatre and has performed extensively as a guest artist with Bay Area ballet schools. He is a member of Bay Pointe Ballet in San Francisco. Carlos is a devoted, artistic, and powerful performer which adds to the high energy and enjoyment of his role as Franz.
Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at http://www.hscdtc.org.