Two Traditions On One Halloween Stage

Beth Blake
contributing writer

There are many special traditions to be found in Cache Valley in the fall: Center Street’s Giant Pumpkin Festival, Boo at the Zoo, and the Historic Downtown Logan Ghost Tour, to name a few. This year, Valley Dance Ensemble and Cache Valley Civic Ballet (CVCB) are combining two of their own traditional performances for a brand-new Halloween experience.

Valley Dance Ensemble’s beloved Under the Bed production was originally a tale about a child afraid to go to sleep for fear of what monsters might lurk under the bed. The child eventually decides to confront that fear head-on and discovers a land of friendly monsters and other creatures. Under the direction of Katie Anderson, current executive director, the story has morphed over the years into more of a Halloween theme, with classic characters such as witches and goblins instead of monsters.

Under the Bed is performed by children from kindergarten on up, with some pieces featuring Valley Dance Ensemble’s adult company as well. It has been a Halloween tradition for the ensemble for many years.

The performance will have a special second act this year, when CVCB takes the stage for its performance of Dracula. Vivian Taylor, the CVCB’s Associate Director of Adult Ballet and the Ensemble Company, is excited to bring back the production, as she performed in it herself years ago.

“We have historically done Dracula, I believe, four or five times in the past, but it hasn’t been done in about nine years,” Vivian said. “It’s been highly requested by the public and by company members alike but is always so difficult to fit in with our Nutcracker rehearsals. Assigning that to our Ensemble Company came naturally because of the maturity level needed to dance the roles in Dracula.”

CVCB was founded in 1982 by Sandra Emile. The Ensemble Company is a new division of the ballet as of this year and is for dancers ages 18 and older. It provides performance opportunities and master classes for adult dancers, while also expanding the number and variety of performances CVCB presents each year.

While it is perhaps best known for its annual Nutcracker performances, CVCB offers two to three productions each year and is divided into four divisions — the Apprentice, Junior, Senior, and Ensemble Companies. The CVCB- School provides classical ballet training for aspiring dancers ages 3 through adult.

Vivian is excited about the collaboration with Valley Dance Ensemble and the opportunity for the two organizations to perform together.

“I’ve always admired Valley Dance Ensemble and their inclusion of adult dancers within their company,” Vivian said. “Wanting to perform in a venue together and collaborate came naturally.”

Tessa Evans, artistic director for Valley Dance Ensemble, is also enthusiastic about the two companies working together.

“We’re really excited about this collaboration,” Tessa said. “We’re incorporating the CVCB Apprentice Company into Under the Bed as part of our story, and then they’re incorporating our adult company into their telling of Dracula. It will be a great collaboration between two very distinct styles that complement each other very well.”

Founded by Marion Anderson in 1983, Valley Dance Ensemble is Cache Valley’s only modern dance company. It began as an adult performing company and eventually branched out into a school for all ages.

“Our company is really founded on the idea that dance is for everyone, that every body is capable of expressing itself through movement, and that dance can be a beautiful form of expression for everyone,” Tessa said. “We really strive to make that realistic and possible for people who don’t feel like they’re dancers or don’t feel that their bodies are the typical body of a dancer. We try to offer a range of performance opportunities or just opportunities for taking a class.”

The two companies have also engaged in a guest teacher swap this year, and it was Vivian who suggested the collaborative effort for the fall show.

“It was something that Vivian suggested as a way to help both small nonprofits put on a bigger show,” Tessa said. “I was really excited because I love ballet.”

The performances will be Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24, at the Ellen Eccles Theatre. Tickets are available at cachearts.org or cvcballet.org.

“I may be biased, but there’s nothing like being able to go to the beautiful Ellen Eccles Theatre and enjoy a live performance,” Vivian said. “It's a beautiful, historic building, with companies who have been involved in the valley and performing here for 35-45 years ... what a treat.”

For more information about either company, visit cvcballet.org or valleydanceensemble.org.