Yellowstone Ballet Company presents The Little Mermaid on Thursday, June 18th. The single-night performance comes to the Willson Auditorium at 6:30pm. Kathleen Rakela, YBC Artistic Director and recipient of a prestigious Montana Arts Council Fellowship in the Performing Arts, has created an enchanting multi-media production that will delight all ages with magical costumes, delightful choreography, and projected ocean images.
Daniel Parker, former conductor of the Hartford Ballet, composed the compelling score interwoven with moving narration of the Hans Christian Anderson fairytale (not Disney version) by orator Robert Worobec.
The title role of the “Little Mermaid” will be danced by Fiona Lee of the world renown Royal Danish Ballet. Ms. Lee started training at the Yellowstone Ballet Academy at age five and danced at the school for nine years. She then received a full scholarship for the School of American Ballet’s summer program in New York City and was invited to continue at the school year round. She packed her bags, left her carefree Montana childhood behind and moved to the Big Apple to learn the rigorous Balanchine-style ballet technique. During the pandemic she auditioned for the Royal Danish Ballet and was accepted into the world famous company.
The role of the “Prince” will be performed by Marko Micov. Mr. Micov began his ballet education at the State Ballet School in Skopje and was awarded the Special Prize at the International Ballet Competition. In 2011, Micov danced as a guest artist with Croatia Ballet in a co-production with the Madrid Ballet on an international tour in South America. In 2012, he was invited by the legendary Gelsey Kirkland to join her company, where his performances were noticed by major publications, including The New York Times, Huffington Post and Ballet. In 2016, Micov joined Ballet San Antonio where he was promoted to Soloist. He then joined Milwaukee Ballet and received the national award, Menada, for Young Artist of the Year.
One child goes free with every adult ticket purchase and all children receive a free seashell. After the performance, parents may take pictures of their child with Fiona Lee. The company will supply various costumes such as Little Nemo, jelly fish, gold fish and a starfish.
Reserved seating tickets for The Little Mermaid range $30–$80. Please do not purchase tickets from third parties who charge more than our box office prices and may sell seats that do not exist. Real priced tickets can only be purchased online at www.YellowstoneBallet.info or at the door, as availability allows. For more information or group rates, email yellowstoneballetco@gmail.com. •
