The Downtown Dance Conservatory debuts an entirely original and newly written ballet as its 11th annual year end production.
Loosely based on the legend of Lady Catherine Gordon, a Scottish born noble woman during war torn Scotland, the Princess of the Highlands was written by artistic director of the DDC, Linze Rickles McRae. The production takes place for two evenings in Gadsden’s Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center and includes cast of 450 students currently training in dance education at the Conservatory. The show features six hand painted backdrops and a host of wildly original costuming and scenery. Performance dates are set for May 29 and 30 at 6 p.m.
Set in the mysterious highlands of Scotland, The Princess of the Highlands, is an imagined journey of a young and free spirited princess named Isolde. She prefers the comforts of her bow and arrow and the surrounding forest rather than the cold walls of political turmoil in her country. As the clans turn the tide to claim victory over the English armies, Isolde’s life of freedom comes crashing down when her mother and father are tragically killed fighting in the wars for Scottish independence, and it is revealed that she is heir to become the first queen of the now independent Scotland.
Isolde has no intention of following the ambitions of the nobles. She prepares her horse and gallops off into the mountains to find sanctuary. The land is dark and cold, and the night is filled with creatures who watch her through the veil of the mist and moonlight. Isolde is pulled into the Netherworld of the Fae, where she must keep her wits sharp as she discovers the bravery that was in her heart all along. She must escape and return to her people as the Pale Rose of Scotland, or remain lost in the lands of Queen Elphame’s Netherworld forever.
Tickets went on sale to the public on May 4 at noon. They can be purchased at the front desk of the Mary. G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts or online at www.wallacehall.org.