To celebrate its new start and honor its past, Ballet Images will present a free performance at Hahnville High School on Sunday, July 20 at 5:30 p.m.
The two dances, “Passages” and “Fairy Garden,” were choreographed by Susan Burke, the founder of River Region Ballet. The organization, which has been a fixture of the parish for 30 years, now has its own studio on Paul Maillard Road and a new name – Ballet Images.
Katelyn Fitts, artistic director for Ballet Images, said the performance reflects where the organization has been and where it’s headed.
“This performance is personal to me,” she said. “River Region Ballet shaped so many lives—including my own—and this performance is a way to honor that legacy with gratitude and respect.”
The performances will include a blend of multimedia, live dance and audience participation.
“Passages” will incorporate vintage video footage from past performances of the dance. In “Fairy Garden,” students from the organization’s summer dance workshop will portray different fairies. Inspired by the poems and illustrations of Cicely Mary Barker, the ballet introduces a world of flower fairies. Poems will be read aloud live on stage, and dancers will invite audience members to join the fairies on stage.
“It’s an interactive, joyful moment that celebrates imagination and connection,” Fitts said.
The performance is family-friendly and young children to adults are welcome to attend. The performance will last about an hour.
“Because it includes a mix of traditional ballet, multimedia elements, and interactive moments, it offers something special for everyone,” Fitts said. “Families with young kids will especially love the Fairy Garden segment, which features playful fairies and audience participation.”
Fitts said former dancers at River Region Ballet and dancers who have performed these two dances in the past were invited to celebrate.
“Seeing familiar faces return to the stage and reconnect with our current dancers is a powerful reminder of the legacy we’ve built and the bright future ahead for Ballet Images in St. Charles Parish,” she said.
Fitts said Ballet Images is planning a fall season of ballet classes for all levels, special workshops and community events designed to welcome new dancers and deepen the experience for returning students.
“We’re also planning outreach performances to bring ballet to local venues and neighborhoods,” she said. “Our goal is to foster a strong, vibrant dance community in St. Charles Parish—one that honors our rich history and embraces the future with creativity and heart.”
