Ten dancers from the Texarkana Dance Academy have a chance this weekend to share the grace and beauty of ballet on a bigger stage than usual in a performance with the Arkansas Festival Ballet.

The Academy will take to the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre stage Saturday and Sunday in Little Rock as part of performances of “Sleeping Beauty,” a classic in the ballet repertoire with music by Tchaikovsky.

“They’re very excited. It’s a special opportunity for them,” said Traci Walker, the Academy’s director.

Walker said the ballet students take part in Act III, dancing with Cinderella. The Texarkana dancers were auditioned to participate in the production and then selected by the Arkansas Festival Ballet. It’s part of a partnership between the Festival Ballet and Texarkana Dance Academy.

“It’s just part of their mission to outreach to smaller towns that don’t have professional ballet companies,” Walker said, noting some teachers from the Arkansas Festival Ballet have taught classes here in Texarkana for local ballet students.

Dancers are ages 12 to 15.

Walker says “Sleeping Beauty” is a classic that’s still accessible to young dancers. The studio here performed it several years ago.

“It’s fun for the kids to do because it’s a story they can identify with and understand,” said Walker.

Performances are 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. After the Sunday matinee there’s an opportunity to take photos of the cast.



(Ticket information: 501-227-5320. The Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre is at Ninth and Commerce streets in Little Rock. Prices: $20 student, $25 adult. More info: www.arkansasdance.org.)