Dorothy, Toto and some of the ‘Wizard of Oz’ cast. (Photo courtesy of West Hawaii Dance Theatre)

MEDIA RELEASE

West Hawaii Dance Theatre presents “The Wizard of Oz” ballet at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 24 at Kahilu Theatre for one show only.

More than 60 WHDT dance students have been working for four months to perfect their skills and are eager to present their production to a Big Island audience.

Directed by Virginia Holte and Midori Satoh, with additional choreography by academy instructors Jenna Power, Megan Joy Chapman and Claire Hollinger. Megumi Kopp will accompany the dancers and singers on piano and Barbara Pritchard will narrate the story.

“The Wizard of Oz” ballet chronicles the adventures of a young girl named Dorothy Gale in the Land of Oz, after she is swept away from her Kansas farm home in a cyclone.

This original ballet is based on the 1900 Fran Baum novel and inspired by the 1939 Judy Garland movie, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

A silent auction will be held at intermission to support WHDT programs and studio renovations.

Information : (808) 329-8876
Tickets: kahilutheatre.org

West Hawaii Dance Theatre & Academy is a 501(3)c non-profit educational arts organization and is supported in part by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Hawaii Community Foundation, Hawaii Tug and Barge, Vance Wall Foundation, and local businesses and families.