Again this spring season, dancer-director Jacob Rice will be the key male figure on stage in the Central Maryland Youth Ballet's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Slayton House Theatre. He will partner a young ballerina in the showcased classical pas de deux.
But if all goes as planned, Rice will find himself less in demand in coming years, as his current crop of proteges grow into their roles.
Jacob Rice and his wife, Kimmary Williams, started teaching ballet in Columbia in 2005 with a mere six students. They have expanded their dance classes to three locations, and now number 124 dancers in the upcoming spring recital at their home base in Wilde Lake.
"Passing on my love of ballet to my students and seeing the joy in their eyes is special," says Rice, whose professional dance resume could fill this column. "Fortunately, I'm still able to perform. I've been blessed to have such longevity in this art I enjoy so much.
"Parents really appreciate that we are a married couple, for 26 years," he adds with a chuckle. "We are fortunate that both of us have had professional performing careers with major ballet institutions.
"Our goal is to not only develop dancers but to encourage their physical, emotional and artistic souls."
Kimmary Williams shares her husband's passion for dance. This summer, she will be a guest teacher in Michigan and Oregon.
The Central Maryland Youth Ballet has a growing program for adults and teens. It includes both children's and professional division classes, as well as a boys' ballet class for ages 4 through 12.
"We feel it's never too late to learn ballet and experience the joy."
In the spring showcase Elise Weisinger and Kiera Muckenhirn (two adult students from these open classes) will be dancing the roles of Helena and Hermia in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" ballet.
Later this month, Rice will be traveling to Nebraska to perform the role of "Oberon" in the Heartland Youth Ballet version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." He will partner Rachel Vicrey Hartley, repeating the role he performed with her mother, Robin Welch, 27 years ago in Connecticut.
He has been taking classes at local dance studios to brush up on his technique. "Working with dancers of all ages, I continue to learn from them."
The Central Maryland Youth Ballet presents "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Slayton House, Wilde Lake Village Center, Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Summer classes begin June 28 and include a "One-week Dance/Arts Camp" and a "Two-week Ballet Intensive." For details, go to http://www.centralmarylandyouthballet.com.
Dig deep for dance
The "cutting edge" of modern dance comes to the Theatre Project when Nicole A. Martinell and Renee Brozic-Barger begin a two-night engagement this Friday, June 10. Go and restore your faith in modern dance. As one critic put it, "They don't come much more restorative than these dancers."
Blending movement with videography and music, the company's "Deep Vision" challenges the audience to look deep within, while "Inner Palette" follows the journey of a woman sifting through complex layers of the psyche. "People Who Became Verbs" attempts to show the triumph of the individual voice, and "Fractured Spectrum" moves from dark self-absorption into the light of clarity and humanity.
During intermission, invited artists will join in a discussion of creativity and photography in an intimate setting. Guest artists include Angelica Daniele, Gail Langstroth, City Digital Photography and more. Performances will be at the Baltimore Theatre Project this Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 general, $15 for senior citizens and artists, and $10 for students. Call 410-752-8558.