From left, Nicole Luz, Sophie Fouladi and Kiana Khoshnoud, who will perform in the Haddad Ballet Studio’s "Down Memory Lane" Saturday, May 11. Photo by Alex McVeigh.
Great Falls — After dancing and teaching ballet in four countries over the past five decades, Margaret Haddad’s Studio of Classical Ballet will look back on some of her favorite shows with "Down Memory Lane."
Haddad was the first English student accepted to the Legat School of Russian Ballet, and after teaching and choreographing shows in England, Lebanon and Kenya she opened her studio in Great Falls more than 25 years ago.
"For the show, I tried to choose pieces that the children would enjoy dancing to, and that would incorporate a variety of music that the audience will like," Haddad said. "It will feature about 60 dancers, from age 4 to some who have graduated college."
Songs include "Dance of the Little Swans" from "Swan Lake," "Les Patineurs" and more.
"Some of the dances are ones that I did myself while in Russian ballet school, and are still ones that the dancers at my summer camp learn," Haddad said.
The production features 218 different costumes that will be worn by the dancers, and parent Rita Parks ironed and prepared all the costumes during practice sessions.
"I couldn’t put on a show like this without the people that help me. Rita did an amazing job preparing the costumes, and Mandy Sugar and Patty Pleasant have helped with almost every show I’ve done over the years coordinating costumes changes backstage," Haddad said. "And Adriaane Verheul has done a wonderful job working on the music, even to the point of re-recording everything from old cassette tapes."
The Haddad Studio will perform "Down Memory Lane" at the Madeira School, 8328 Georgetown Pike, in McLean on Saturday, May 11 at 2 and 7 p.m. For ticket information, call 703-759-3366.