RKB Dance Students in Performance Photo by Todd Bissonette
The Lake Placid Center for the Arts (LPCA) is vibrant this evening with patrons of dance. Tonight is the performance of Rebecca Kelly Ballet’s (RKB) Onstage. The program has been providing dance training, rehearsing, and performance since 1989 at the LPCA.

The course offered here is a two-week program which culminates in tonight’s performance that features 6 to 19 year-olds as well as the members of the ballet company from New York City who have been working with these dedicated young dancers for the past two weeks.

It is an intensive program but the moms I am speaking with tonight before the performance say their daughters love it and wish that it was not ending so soon.

The performances are stellar. I have no child in the student portion but I still find it entertaining and quite lovely.

Adagio from Carmen Photo by Todd Bissonette
The adult dancers are captivating as well. Two of the stand-out pieces are the Adagio from Carmen and Turbulence.

This is the second time I have had the pleasure of seeing Turbulence performed. The first time, at a benefit at The Strand Theatre in Plattsburgh, Rebecca explained that she does not like to fly and the concept emerged while she was on a flight and hoping that there would not be much turbulence. Her ballet captures the essence of that feeling of turbulence in the air.

RKB performs Turbulence Photo by Todd Bissonette
The North Country is fortunate that choreographer Rebecca Kelly and her partner, Craig Brashear, have chosen to live and work part of the year in our region. And tonight's audience shows their appreciation with thunderous applause and rousing cheers.

By their own definition, the ballet company uses dance to celebrate the beauty of the moving form, while observing and exploring human challenges and social issues. In a repertoire of over 70 ballets, RKB presents a mix of lyrical classicism within a contemporary repertoire, featuring dancers beautifully versatile in modern and classical ballet technique. 

In addition to the NYC ballet experience, the couple also heads up the Tahawus Center in AuSable Forks which offers classes in everything from dance to science for a wide range of ages. To find out more about either endeavor click through to the Company web site or the Tahawus web site. For more arts events in the Lake Placid Region click through to the Region web site.

Featured image by Todd Bissonette.

 Kathleen Recchia has been enjoying the arts in the Adirondacks for about 20 years—both as observer and participant (acting, directing, and producing). She also enjoys cross-country skiing, swimming, juggling, and hosting visitors to the area at her bed & breakfast in Jay.