The Little Mermaid to be performed in March

The Little Mermaid scene. Photo credit Richard Calmes Photography

The Appalachian Ballet Company will present The Little Mermaid at the Clayton Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 26th at 7:00 p.m. as part of their 50th Anniversary season. A school matinee will be shown on Friday, March 25th at 10:00 a.m. to area school groups.

Artistic Director Amy Morton Vaughn choreographed her version of the story in 2017 and will reprise the ballet with some additional choreography this spring.

The Little Mermaid is a Danish fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen. The ballet runs an hour and a half and is in three scenes.

During scene one, the story follows the journey of a young mermaid who is willing to give up her life in the sea as a mermaid to gain a human soul. The main character role of the Little Mermaid will be danced by guest artist, Laura Morton La Russa. Ms. La Russa is a professional dancer living in Atlanta, Ga. and was most recently seen in ABC’s The Nutcracker as the Snow Queen and the Arabian Princess. She lives in an underwater kingdom with her father, the Sea King, and her sisters. When a mermaid turns fifteen, she is permitted to swim to the surface for the first time to catch a glimpse of the world above.

When the Little Mermaid's turn comes, she rises up to the surface, and a violent storm hits, sinking the ship, and the Little Mermaid saves the Prince from drowning. Guest artist, James La Russa, will dance the role of the Prince. La Russa was last seen in ABC’s The Nutcracker as Herr Drosselmeyer and the Arabian Prince.

Longing for the Prince and an eternal soul, the Little Mermaid visits the Sea Witch danced by Calista Jones, a Maryville College student and a choreographer for Appalachian Ballet Company. The Sea Witch willingly helps her by selling her a potion that gives her legs in exchange for her beautiful voice and she warns the Little Mermaid that once she becomes a human, she will never be able to return to the sea.

Scene two is set in the village square and the townspeople are in a festive mood in preparation for the upcoming wedding of the Prince and his fiancé. A few rambunctious and funny sailors are there to cheer the Prince as he is in love with the woman who saved his life, not the fiancé he is betrothed to marry.

Scene Three is the wedding scene where the Prince finally declares his love for the Little Mermaid and the royal wedding commences. With beautiful scenery and colorful costumes, the ballet will be lit by Lighting Designer, John Horner.

Tickets are available through appalachianballet.org or the Clayton Center for the Arts.