“The Nutcracker” and “Coppélia.” They are the bookends of the classical ballet canon, both de rigueur for any serious dancer’s portfolio. While dance companies throughout Kitsap County regularly stage “The Nutcracker” during the Christmas holiday season, fewer take on “Coppélia,” although it is just as captivating.

The Bainbridge Dance Center is celebrating its 25th year of training dancers, who will be showcased in the Annual Student Performance this weekend at The Playhouse. The event will feature a 40-minute version of the French ballet, “Coppélia Suite,” performed by the advanced ballet repertory class.

“It’s a really charming ballet,” said Susan Thompson, Bainbridge Dance Center director.

The ballet is based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s darker tale, “Der Sandmann,” but was “lightened up” by Charles Nuitter. Leo Delibes composed the score. It was originally staged at the Paris Opera in 1870, for an audience which included the Emperor Napoleon III and the Empress Eugénie.

The story centers around a group of young villagers who break into a toy store and play with a life-like doll, believing her to be real. When the toymaker, Dr. Coppélius, arrives he is angry with the teens, who spend the rest of the ballet making up to him.

Thompson said the Dance Center is fortunate to have an accomplished actor from Bainbridge Performing Arts, Tim Davidson, playing the non-dancing role of Dr. Coppélius.

Davidson has appeared in many BPA plays, most recently in the starring role of Seymour in the musical “Little Shop of Horrors.”

The Dance Center often calls on BPA when they need actors.

“It’s a great feeling to use actors from BPA,” Thompson said. “We’ve done a lot of mutual productions. Tim was the perfect choice — he’s a darling Dr. Coppélius.”

She said it’s also advantageous for the dancers to experience working with actors.

“They learn to act by interacting with them,” she said. “We talk about how dancing is actually telling a story, and people love a good story.”

She explained that while there are standard ballet pantomimes, such as hands on the heart to symbolize love, or outstretched arms to denote longing, the expression of the dance has to come through as well.

The annual production includes dancers ages 4-18 performing pre-technique, ballet, modern, jazz and tap, with original works choreographed by the nine Dance Center instructors.

Four graduating seniors, Rebecca Armitage, Rosie Edholm, Arianne Herman and Katie Morton will be highlighted throughout the program in modern, jazz and ballet advanced works.

This final performance marks years of technical training for these young women, but Thompson said it shows their personal growth as well.

“I’ve always tried to have a balance between depth of professional training and development into a whole human being,” she said.

Many dancers have gone on to study dance in college and several have gone on to professional careers.

Thompson has been with Bainbridge Dance Center for 17 years and still enjoys sharing her love of dance with her young charges.

“I genuinely care about the children and about sharing my passion for dance,” she said. “I believe that dancing should connect heart, mind and soul. That’s what we try to do here.”

The Bainbridge Dance Center 25th Annual Student Performance takes place June 22-25 at The Playhouse, 200 Madison Ave. N, Bainbridge Island. Shows are 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets are $16 adult, $10 senior and youth, available at The Playhouse box office, by phone at (206) 842-8569 or online at www.theplayhouse.com.

Irene’s School

of Dance presents ‘Reach for the Stars’ June 23-25.

By Marcie Miller

What’s Up writer

Other kids may have been outside playing, or indoors watching TV last week, but a dedicated little troupe of tu-tued dancers in Silverdale was watching their instructor intently, obeying her every command — to the best of their 6-year-old ability.

Arms went up, mostly in unison; they twirled to the left, or maybe the right; they jumped in the air with varying success but uniform enthusiasm.

What these kindergartners had not yet achieved in technique they more than made up for in energy. After all, they were practicing for their first public performance, which would be rife with camera-toting parents and grandparents.

They will be joined by other students of Irene’s School of Dance in Silverdale, who will showcase their moves in the annual spring dance recital, “Reach for the Stars,” to be presented June 23-25 at the Bremerton High School Performing Arts Center.

The approximately two-hour long variety show will feature dancers from age 3 through adult, dancing ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, tap, modern, musical theater and baton.

Performances are 7 p.m. June 23 and 24 and 2 p.m. June 25. Tickets are $5 at the door.