Larkin High School stages 'Peter Pan'

Larkin High School's dance focus of the Visual and Performing Arts Academy has a very important question to ask: Do you believe in fairies?

Whether on TV, at the movies, in the book or on stage, most everyone has clapped heartily to this famous question presented in J.M. Barrie's perennial favorite, "Peter Pan."

Luckily, Tinkerbell -- the fairy in question -- is always saved from certain death by audience faith. The dance focus of the academy will present this timeless tale of a boy who never grows up -- and can fly to boot -- in a new choreographed version, that highlights the graduating seniors in the program.

Each year the seniors present "Bring a Book to Life," a choreographed version of a book, in order to shine once more on the Larkin stage.

Kelly Hill, director of the dance program at Larkin High School, and dance teacher Margaret Palmer adopted the classic for the dance stage.

But it was the senior performers that came up with the idea to interpret Peter Pan.

"Last year, when they were juniors, they actually brought it up," said Hill.

"We've all seen the movie," said Irene Folkerts, 18, of Elgin, who plays Peter Pan.

"We watched the live action one put out by Disney, we also watched the cartoon and a couple of us have also read the book," Irene said.

"The more we thought about it, the more we thought that it would be perfect because we have six graduating dancers this year and there's six lead roles," Hill recalled.

Amy VanWagenen, 17, of Elgin only had one role in mind for herself from the time "Peter Pan" was chosen.

"Wendy is my favorite part in the whole play," she said.

"When we were told we were going to do Peter Pan last year, all I could think about is Wendy."

The evil Captain Hook, played by Danielle Murray, 18, of Elgin, is not as glamorous a role as Peter and Wendy -- but Danielle wouldn't choose any other role.

"I've always had a knack for playing villains and bad guys," she said. "Captain Hook has always been my dream role."

"He's really evil but he's just so goofy at the same time," Danielle said. "You can do almost anything and people are going to laugh."

When it came to the Lost Boys, Indians and pirates, the dance focus needed to reach beyond the 19 dancers in the academy to fill the ensemble's needs -- so they did something they hadn't done before.

"We had a dance audition for the rest of the academy," Hill said.

"We auditioned people, mostly from the drama focus; they were the most interested. We have a few singers and musicians that are all dancing.

"So all together, we have a cast of about 45," Hill said.

"It's the biggest cast we ever had."

The music is culled from a variety of sources, including the animated movie.

"We are, of course, using some of the music from the movie like, 'Following the Leader,'" Hill said. "But for our flying scenes we have a variety of flying music; it is so entertaining because we're doing it our own way."

Although the cast is more varied than usual, not a one of the performers could fly -- an essential skill when it comes to Peter and his friends.

So Hill hired Flying by Foy, a company that specializes in making performers airborne.

"Flying is so much fun," raved Irene Folkerts, who will study dance in college next year.

"Flying is difficult but it's the most fun I've ever had doing any kind of dance show," she said

"It's like the best experience I've had in the Academy," agreed Amy VanWagenen, who will attend Iowa State University as a physical therapy and dance major.

Hill also reached out to dance professionals outside Larkin High School.

Jeremy Plummer, owner of C5, a company that choreographs dance and flying sequences, was hired to help on those two fronts.

And Hanna Brictson, a graduate of the Visual and Performing Arts Academy dance focus who now dances professionally with River North Chicago, has come in to work with the dancers.

"It's a huge collaboration," Hill said. "This is the most sets we've ever had.

"We rented most of our costumes because we wanted really authentic pirate and Lost Boys costumes."

"Our costumes are amazing," said Danielle Murray, who will attend Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., where she will double major in equestrian science and criminal psychology. "They fit each role; we didn't expect them to be that good."

"I think our production will be wonderful for people of all ages," Hill said. "The flying element is just unreal. It's very magical to see."

If you go

What: "Peter Pan," a dance adaptation

Where: Auditorium at Larkin High School, at the corner of Larkin Avenue and McLean Boulevard in Elgin

When: 7 p.m. Friday, 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday

Cost: $8 for adults, $5 for students and seniors