Small children and classic ballet may seem an unlikely pairing, unless a boy hero and a big bad wolf are in the picture.
Olympic Ballet Theatre’s “Peter and the Wolf” is a child’s perfect introduction to dance and classical music. Generations of kids have learned the sounds of an orchestra by listening to Sergei Prokofiev’s tale of Peter and a host of critter characters, each associated with an instrument.
The company brings the story to life with performances on Saturday at Byrnes Performing Arts Center in Arlington and on Feb. 23 at Edmonds Center for the Arts.
“It’s a timeless tale of a little boy’s prowess,” said Helen Wilkins, Olympic Ballet’s artistic director and, along with her late husband, John Wilkins, co-founder of the Edmonds company.
Peter, the hero, “defies Grandpa, but succeeds in catching the wolf,” Wilkins said. “His animal friends make the story accessible and add the color.”
They also train young ears in music. Peter is represented by strings, the bird is a flute, the cat’s a clarinet, the duck is an oboe, the grandfather’s a bassoon, and the wolf is signified by French horns.
Faithful to John Wilkins’ choreography, “Peter and the Wolf” ends with the boy catching the wolf and taking him to the zoo. It’s child-friendly, appropriate for kids age 3 and up, said Tracey Pierce, arts administrator with Olympic Ballet Theatre.
Wilkins is happy to bring ballet to Arlington’s new Byrnes Performing Arts Center, on the Arlington High School campus. Late last year, the company sold out its “Nutcracker” performance there.
This week’s production includes a second ballet for children, “Carnival of the Animals,” a musical suite in 14 movements by French composer Camille Saint-Saens. Seattle costume designer Bradley Reed lends whimsy to a collection of creatures and artifacts, including a lion, a rooster and fossils. Reed also designed masks for “Peter and the Wolf.”
” ‘Carnival of the Animals’ is a true carnival. We have a crazy time with it,” Wilkins said. “At about a minute for each animal, it’s quick and fun. ‘Peter and the Wolf’ takes a little more patience.”
Children are helped through the process by a third part of the show, a behind-the-scenes “Introduction to the Magic of Theatre.”
“It’s a Helen Wilkins invention, a demonstration of scenery, lights and props,” Pierce said. “Instead of the curtain going down between each of the performances, the curtain comes up. It gives everyone a look at what goes on.”
Wilkins talks with audience members for about 10 minutes. “Helen really tries with her company to introduce people to the love of ballet. It’s geared toward families,” Pierce said.
“We’re very proud, we pioneered this backstage time,” Wilkins said. “Some families have said that was their favorite part, watching the scenery go together and the lights come on and off.
“It’s an introduction to the mask; we introduce the wolf. Children might be afraid — and they are — but then they meet the dancer and see the real person,” Wilkins said. “Kids love it.”
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