Evening of dance will fund Barrington Youth's 'Nutcracker'

The Sanfilippo estate in Barrington Hills is home to an extensive collection of antique music machines, theater organs and its spectacular European salon carousel.

On Saturday, these restored fine art pieces will serve as a backdrop for classically trained ballet students, and their supporters, who gather for the Barrington Youth Dance Ensemble's fall gala.

The "Razzle Dazzle" event opens at 6 p.m. with docent led tours of the estate's music collection, leading up to the world's largest theater pipe organ, which serves as the focal point of the two-story music room.

After that, guests will make their way to the nearby Eden Palais, for the evening's dinner and auction.

There they will take in the ornately painted salon carousel, which dates back to 1890 and includes life-size carved horses, giant art glass butterflies, and a recreation of a painting that hangs in the Louvre.

At the same time, the carousel house also will convert into an intimate dance studio, as members of the Barrington Youth Dance Ensemble Company perform a pair of original dances for their guests.

Drawing on the 'Roarin' 20s' theme, the 21 company members will perform an original number choreographed by ballet teachers Roberta Pfeil Begley and Michelle Holzman, called "Ragtime Dances," before select members return to the stage for a Russian ballroom dance.

Proceeds from the gala will help company members mount the full-scale production of the Nutcracker, complete with 80 dancers from throughout the Barrington area, and Northwest suburbs.

The 14th annual production returns to Barrington High School at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.

"Without this gala being successful, we couldn't produce the Nutcracker," says Artistic Director Mary Brennan, "but the proceeds also benefit our outreach programming and scholarships."

For tickets to the gala, call the Barrington Dance Academy, at 847-382-6333, or visit: www.BYDE.org.