Naperville dancers offer more than typical recital
Call it what you want, but Naperville Park District's Concert Dance Ensemble is not a recital.
Recitals can be boring, said the ensemble's artistic director, Melissa Sallee.
Concert Dance Ensembles are art.
"We're really trying to take this from recreation to craft," Sallee said. "This is purely art. There's no recital in it. Not that a recital is a negative thing. That's just not what this is. This is actually entertainment. This is someone doing exciting art within the dance form."
Sallee is confident people will be impressed with the innovation of her pre-professional dance company featuring 55 girls and boys of all abilities from the Naperville area.
The annual show includes contemporary dance, ballet, hip-hop and bits of modern dance, in addition to excerpts from "Brigadoon."
This year's show debuts a new age group of dancers: the junior company, with 25 dancers between the ages of 9 and 12. They join a group of seniors ranging in age from 13 to 18.
"We're thrilled that now we have junior dancers," Sallee said. "We feel really positive that it's fulfilling a need for the junior girls."
An important aspect of the park district's program, Sallee said, is that it welcomes people of all abilities, regardless of skill.
"We're not just looking for the perfect dancer, we're looking for both the young men and women who really care about the art form," Sallee said. "We'll work with any dancer."
So often, Sallee hears parents saying they miss partaking in endless entertainment options in Chicago and that the expense and travel deters them from taking heir children into the city.
"We're trying to bring more of an urban flair, an urban dance experience to the suburbs and make it very accessible," Sallee said. "We want to make it a very enjoyable evening out for those who enjoy watching movement."
The show takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 13, in the Naperville North High School auditorium, 899 N. Mill St. Tickets are $8 at the door.
For details or to purchase tickets online, visit napervilleparks.org.
<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>What:</b> Concert Dance Ensemble performance</p>
<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>When:</b> 7 p.m. Saturday, March 13</p>
<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Where:</b> Naperville North High School, 899 N. Mill St., Naperville</p>
<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Cost:</b> $8 at the door</p>
<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Info:</b> (630) 848-5000 or <a href="http://napervilleparks.org" target="new">napervilleparks.org</a></p>