Sonoma Ballet Conservatory's The Snow Maiden

I've been working with Sonoma Ballet Conservatory for almost four months now, and have been impressed with their lovely dancers and fellow staff members and Artistic Director and Owner Patricia O'Reilly.  This weekend the school will perform The Snow Maiden, a traditional Russian folk tale with all the makings of a fantastic ballet: romance, magic, some humor, and good music.  In addition to being a ballet, The Snow Maiden has also been performed as a play and opera, first appearing in 1873 and underwent several revisions and there are still slight differences in plot and characters between the opera, play, and ballet.  Here is the version that Sonoma Ballet Conservatory will be performing this weekend:

There is a legend that says if you build a beautiful snow girl and wish hard enough,

 the Snow Queen will bring her to life.

In a little village in long ago Russia, a childless Old Woman and her spirit, The Domovoi, build a beautiful snow girl every year in the hopes that it will come to life as a Snow Maiden.  One year, during a skating party, a Gypsy Fortune-Teller comes to the village and reads in the Old Woman’s palm that her daughter will meet her future husband that night.  Everyone is upset that the Gypsy is so cruel, and they chase her out of town.  The Domovoi uses its magic to call upon the Snow Queen, who transforms the snow girl into a Snow Maiden.  The  Snow Maiden is warned that if the warmth of love should touch her heart, she will melt and return to the Land Of Snow forever.  The Snow Maiden’s eyes briefly meet those of Lel, the handsome shepherd, as the Old Woman guides her into the hut.

By Spring, the Snow Maiden has made many friends.  The 4 naughty older daughters of the Boyaress entice Lel and the Snow Maiden into dancing together.  He professes his love for the Snow Maiden, and she returns his affection.  But, as warned, the Snow Maiden melts and sadly returns to the Land Of Snow.  The village is despondent, but The Domovoi calls upon the 4 Winds to help Lel rescue the Snow Maiden.  The brassy West Wind appears first and gives Lel a magic axe that will defeat all enemies.  The elegant South Wind brings wine that will warm the coldest heart.  The playful East Wind brings a feather from the Firebird.  The remote North Wind brings a necklace of pearls that will keep the Snow Maiden cool forever and takes Lel to the Land Of Snow.

The Snow Maiden is presented to the court of the Snow Queen.  She is welcomed by the Frost Fairy, the Ice Princess, the Snow Flakes, the Snow Balls, the Icicles, the Ice Crystals and Mama Winter with her Snow Drops.  But even the antics of the Snow Man and Little Jack Frost can’t bring a smile to her face.  When Lel appears, he defeats the Snow Guards with the magic axe and warms the Snow Queen’s heart with the magic wine.  He puts the magic necklace around the Snow Maiden’s neck and uses the feather to call the Firebird.  The Firebird takes them back to the village where the Old Woman and The Domovoi are overjoyed to see them.  Everyone celebrates the love of Lel for his Snow Maiden.

The performances are Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th at 1:00 p.m. at the historic Sebastiani Theatre in downtown Sonoma.  Tickets are $22 for adults and $17 for children and seniors.  Here is the theatre's website,  buy tickets online or at the door!  Check out Sonoma Ballet Conservatory's website here, or their Facebook page here.