Dance ensemble to showcase talents at winter gala

Julie Kostelancik, 18, of Palatine has studied classical ballet for 14 years and performed in countless recitals. However, on Sunday she expands her repertoire when she dances the role of Little Red Riding Hood.

"I've had to interpret the mood of a piece before, but I've never played an actual role," says Kostelancik, a Palatine High School senior.

The beloved storybook character is one of a host of whimsical guests involved in the wedding scene during the third act of Tchaikovsky's historic ballet, "Sleeping Beauty."

Kostelancik and other members of the Arlington Dance Ensemble will bring excerpts from the scene to life in the opening act of their annual "Winter Gala."

The evening of dance takes place at 5 p.m. Sunday at Schaumburg's Prairie Center for the Arts.

As part of the scene, fairies open the stage to bless the festivities before dancers launch into traditional waltzes and other court dances. The storybook characters play to the audience more, however, particularly its younger members.

"In the scene, I dance a duet with the wolf," (played by Lauren Hegg of Palatine) Kostelancik says, "and we play off one another's reactions really well."

Kristin Loy, 18, of Arlington Heights plays one of four fairies in the scene and performs some of the variations from the original ballet, first staged in 1890.

"There's a lot of characterization and a lot of personality in the scene," says Loy, a St. Viator High School senior. "I think it will be a real audience pleaser."

The second act features a mixture of all the different dance disciplines, including modern, jazz, tap and ballet, and all set to contemporary music.

Performers in the ensemble all train at McDonald's Dance Academy in Arlington Heights. They are accepted into the performance group after demonstrating a solid dance background and going through an audition process.

The Arlington Dance Ensemble celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and Linda McDonald, director of the academy, searched for a special piece that would mark the milestone, as well as showcase her senior dancers.

"These dancers love to dance, so it's nice to see them featured," McDonald says. "They devote most of their weekends to rehearsals while maintaining their rigorous weekly dance lessons."

The ensemble's six graduating seniors include Colleen Ward, Jennifer Cobb and Loy, all of Arlington Heights; and Leah McClure, Hegg and Kostelancik, all of Palatine.

If you go

What: Arlington Dance Ensemble's winter gala

When: 5 p.m. Sunday

Where: Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg

Tickets: $12

Coming up: Dance benefit March 9 with Wheeling High School, benefiting children and adults with AIDS

Details: (847) 342-1060 or www.McDonaldDance.com