Ballet fans take the stage with professional ballerinas for fairytale afternoon
The Sarasota Ballet’s youngest supporters got a unique insider look at the Sarasota Ballet School at Tea and Tutus on Oct. 7 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
By
Niki Kottmann
| 1:37 p.m. October 8, 2017
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Imagine the ultimate girly girl birthday party. Now throw in professional ballet dancers (or “princesses,” as they were called) in elaborate tutus.
The result is the pink froo froo wonderland created by The Sarasota Ballet that dazzled guests at Tea and Tutus on Oct. 7 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
Young ballet-lovers and their mothers and grandmothers (and don’t forget the sole father in the crowd — a brave soul) began the afternoon with some poses in the photobooth and a trip to the bar for some juice or a Shirley Temple.
Next, guests made their way inside the Mertz Theatre for a series of demonstrations led by Christopher Hird, director of education at Sarasota Ballet. Eight students from the Sarasota Ballet School demonstrated the series of warmups they do at the barre and across the floor at the start of every class, along with a pas de deux (short duet between a male dancer and a female dancer) and a big finale with all of the dancers.
The sound of little feet scurrying across the stage ended the performance as Hird invited guests onto the stage to learn first position, swan arms and a few other moves by three Sarasota Ballet “princesses” in ornate tutus.
After their five minutes of fame, guests went upstairs to the mezzanine and took a seat at their princess-themed tables for tea.
Stevie Schlossberg with mother and Co-Chairwoman Michele Pishalski-Schlossberg
Alexandra and Jennifer Rains
Every child's table setting was adorned with a crown at Tea and Tutus on Oct. 7 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
Natalie, Meredith and Elizabeth Zarycki with Patricia Wermuth
Natalyn and Donna Xynidis
The chairs were adorned with ribbons and tulle to resemble tutus at Tea and Tutus on Oct. 7 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
Sarasota Ballet Director of Education Christopher Hird, Izzy Wieand and Sarasota Ballet Board Chairwoman Hillary Steele
Tiger and Angel Keelen
The tables were adorned with colorful floral centerpieces in teacups at Tea and Tutus on Oct. 7 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
Anne Agee and her granddaughters Anna and Emily Agee
Kaylin Humerickhouse with Claire and Rebekah Bragg
Students from the Sarasota Ballet School show off their barre work at Tea and Tutus on Oct. 7 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
Liz and Mila Sandburg pose in the photobooth at Tea and Tutus on Oct. 7 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
Aslin and Emery Bikfalvy
Students from the Sarasota Ballet School perform at pas de deux at Tea and Tutus on Oct. 7 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
(Back-front) Andrea Paul, Sarasota Ballet Board Chairwoman Hillary Steele and Melissa Morsli with Lila Paul, Izzy Wieand and Zila Morsli
Sally and Victoria Cox with grandmother Vicki Cox and Renee Hamad
Guests sat at ornately decorated tables at Tea and Tutus on Oct. 7 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
Guests tried their hand at some ballet exercises under the guidance of Sarasota Ballet School students at Tea and Tutus on Oct. 7 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
Hermione Gilpin and Peter Miller
Guests donned tiaras during tea time at Tea and Tutus on Oct. 7 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
