The Rockbridge Ballet returns to the stage May 9-10 with a year-end recital entitled “Once Upon a Time.”
All 195 dancers of The Rockbridge Ballet’s school, TheStudio for Dance & the Arts, will perform over 50 dances that will be divided into two shows at the Gillis Theatre at Virginia Military Institute.
The Rockbridge Ballet presented a concert season for 2025-2026 under the direction of new artistic director Evelyn Branscome, with guest artists, innovative choreography, and groundbreaking performances.
This year’s production will feature dancers aged 3 to adult performing short choreographed pieces relating to this year’s theme, “Once Upon a Time,” where each class represents a different book. The studio is also hosting a book drive in conjunction with the performance.
The works were choreographed by the teachers of TheStudio and The Rockbridge Ballet: artistic director Branscome, assistant director Kitty Burke, Meagan Herald, Lorna Horres, Catherine Balkey, Caitlin McAvoy, Mya Phillips, and Caroline Penfield.
Dancers will perform works based on books such as “Matilda,” “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” and “Dracula” in the varied dance styles taught at TheStudio including ballet, tap, jazz, modern dance, hip hop, musical theater and acrobatics.
A highlight of the year-end recital is the chance to recognize and give a special sendoff to the year’s graduating seniors.
The six graduating seniors for 2026 are Ella Cate Brown, Summer Hull, Libby Pearson, Annalee Penny, Ava Perdew and Claire Sigler.
The senior dancers, most of who have danced with The Rockbridge Ballet since elementary school, reflect fondly on their experience as company dancers.
Brown stated, “I think the determination I learned is something that will stay with
