Dancers get to bottom of ocean mystery

Life under the sea is a beautiful place for those in Naperville Park District's dance academy production - until someone starts dumping garbage into the ocean above their home.

It's their mission to find out who is doing the dumping and stop it during this weekend's performances of "S.O.S. Trouble in the Trench."

The Dance Academy performs at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, in the Naperville North High School auditorium, 899 N. Mill St.

"S.O.S. Trouble in the Trench" is an original story by Melissa Sallee and June Wilderman, who are park district employees.

"It is set underwater, which has made it very interesting and challenging to figure out costumes and props and how to bring an underwater story to life onstage," said Avery Sipla, dance academy coordinator.

They'll use lighting to reflect the movement of the ocean and water sounds. Creative costuming aids those effects, such as the jellyfish, which are moms and small children carrying clear parasols with Bubble Wrap as the tentacles.

"It's so cool," said Sallee, who is artistic director of the production. "Onstage, you will forget that they're just costumes. They are going to look like they're little jellyfish."

Additionally, dancers have learned to move on stage to reflect their fish characters. They act out the movement of their type of fish, Sallee said. For example, the angler fish wear little head lamps and move very creepily and low to the ground.

Or the eels, two dancers in wet-looking black unitards, dance around each other and weave in and out acrobatically.

"For the viewers, I think they'll feel satisfied," Sallee said. "There are dark parts, there are mysterious parts, and you don't feel like you know how it's going to end. It does have a very uplifting ending."

From the mob-like killer whale character called "The Boss" to his muscle men- the orange roughy - to the lobster cops and the undercover krill, who play the Secret Service agents for the mayor manatee, there's a position for all 85 people of various ages and backgrounds performing, Sallee said.

The production is the third and largest for the Naperville Park District Dance Academy.

"I really love dance class but you don't always get the chance to be as artistic as you want to be," Sallee said. "This is their chance to make it come to life. I really love that they're going to get to do that. There are so many children, and it helps motivate them as they take their technique classes. They know they're gong to get to use their skills."

Additionally, there are children with special needs who participate just like every other child.

"It's very special that they can be involved without it being a special service," she said. "They're like anybody else in the performance, and they're a gift to the audience."

Tickets are $6 in advance or $8 at the door. For more information, call (630) 848-5000 or visit napervilleparks.org.

If you goWhat: "S.O.S. Trouble in the Trench"When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24Where: Naperville North High School auditorium, 899 N. Mill St., NapervilleCost: $8Info: (630) 848-5000 or napervilleparks.org