Local Dancers Cast to Perform in 'The Wizard of Oz'

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Twenty-three local dancers, ranging from third graders to college students, were cast to perform alongside American Midwest Ballet (AMB) in the company's touring production of The Wizard of Oz, presented in collaboration with Dubuque's Academy of Ballet, at 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 21, 2023, and 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 22, 2023, in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque. The performance is part of the 10th annual Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series.

Auditions were held in February for the community roles of apple trees, cornstalks, guards, the lollipop guild, the lullaby league, munchkins, and other dwellers of the Land of Oz. Since then, dancers have met multiple times a week for rehearsals in the weeks leading up to the performances of The Wizard of Oz.

The young dancers represent a variety of area dance schools including Dubuque's Academy of Ballet, Almost Famous Dance Studio, Dubuque Dance Studio, Studio 5678, and Vibe Dance Co.

Erika Overturrf, artistic director and founder of AMB, is a product of Dubuque's Academy of Ballet and trained under the tutelage of Tatiana Bechenova and Marina O'Rourke. Founded in 1958 by Bechenova, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet is now under the direction of Bechenova's daughter O'Rourke. The young dancers cast in this production of The Wizard of Oz are being rehearsed and prepared by Emilia Harris and Petra Bergsma, who served as instructors under the guidance and direction of O'Rourke.

Heritage Center dedicates this unique collaboration to the memory and legacy of Bechenova, who passed away 10 years ago, but whose love of ballet and artistic influence continues to inspire new generations of young dancers.

For a complete list of the local cast, please see below:

Ami Bellings, 10th grade, Dubuque Senior High School, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Apollo Bellings, sixth grade, Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Adah Bergsma, 10th grade, homeschool, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Petra Bergsma, homeschool high school graduate, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Sarah Blum, seventh grade, Roosevelt Middle School, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet and Studio 5678
Elliana David, sixth grade, Roosevelt Middle School, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Nora DeHeck, third grade, Bryant Elementary School, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Kylee Dunkel, fourth grade, Epworth Elementary School, Almost Famous Dance Studio
Ethan Gerdes, eighth grade, homeschool, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Madeline Gerdes, 10th grade, homeschool, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Emilia Harris, sophomore, Liberty University, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Ella Keeler, fifth grade, Resurrection Elementary School, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Aurora Lucas, third grade, homeschool, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Annabelle McKeon, 10th grade, homeschool, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Josephine McKeon, seventh grade, homeschool, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Mack McKeon, fifth grade, homeschool, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Michael McKeon, third grade, homeschool, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Hattie Peterson, eighth grade, Roosevelt Middle School, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Alyza Powell, third grade, Carver Elementary School, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet and Vibe Dance Co.
Liam Ripperger, sixth grade, Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Ireland Schrodt, eighth grade, homeschool, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Elise Sheehan, seventh grade, St. Joseph's Catholic School, Dubuque's Academy of Ballet
Ashlynn Steve, fifth grade, Kennedy Elementary School, Dubuque Dance Studio

Choreographed by Erin Alarcon, ballet master with AMB, The Wizard of Oz is an original full-length story ballet that interprets the Oz story and characters through a seamless blend of classical ballet together with other dance styles including tap, jazz, and musical theater. The Wizard of Oz also will feature some 180 costumes designed especially for this production and seven highly-detailed scene environments.

AMB, a 21-member professional dance company in its 13th season, is based in the Omaha, Nebraska, metro area with studios at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

A free 30-minute lecture will precede the Friday performance of The Wizard of Oz at 6:00 p.m. in Straatmeyer Rehearsal Room, Heritage Center.

Before the public performance on Friday, area students will attend a sold-out daytime field trip program of The Wizard of Oz as part of the 2022-2023 Live at Heritage Center SchoolBus Performance Series.

Support for The Wizard of Oz is provided by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by the City of Dubuque Special Projects grant program and the City of Dubuque Department of Leisure Services.

The Salvation Army of Dubuque has graciously provided weekly rehearsal space for the local youth dancers appearing in this production.

Tickets for The Wizard of Oz can be purchased from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 90 minutes prior to events at the Farber Box Office, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque, 2255 Bennett Street; by calling 563.585.SHOW; or by visiting www.dbq.edu/HeritageCenter.

New this season, H-PALS allows people to earn a point for every dollar spent. When patrons reach 200 points, they receive one free ticket (valued up to $)50) for an eligible event of their choice.

Conlon Construction is the presenting sponsor of the 2022-2023 Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series.