Arts & Entertainment

Cobb Girl in 'The Princess and the Goblin'

Hanae Dillon, 8, will dance with the Atlanta Ballet in Twyla Tharp's creation at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

Many little girls dream of being a ballerina. Northeast Cobb's Hanae Dillon, age 8, is living the dream as one of the children performing in The Princess and the Goblin, which makes its world premiere Friday at the Cobb Energy Centre.

Hanae was one of 13 students handpicked by world-renown dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp from the Atlanta Ballet’s Centre for Dance Education to perform in the ballet. She will play the role of a child in The Princess and the Goblin.

Hanae, a third-grader in the Georgia Cyber Academy homeschool program, is no stranger to the stage. Her big stage debut was at the Atlanta Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker” in December. She was first introduced to the Atlanta Ballet at age 2 in its Mommy and Me program, which teaches movement for toddlers and adults.

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The production of The Princess and the Goblin is history in the making as Atlanta Ballet undertakes one of the most monumental collaborations of its 82-year history: A world premiere, full-evening ballet by choreographic giant Tharp, whose honors include a Tony Award, two Emmy Awards and a Kennedy Center Honor.

Rehearsals began in May. Now 13 students from Atlanta Ballet’s Centre for Dance Education will dance with the full professional company. It's Tharp’s first use of children in a full-length ballet in her almost 50-year choreographic career. She spent 10 weeks working with the Atlanta Ballet over the summer to create the dance, which will include an original score performed live by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra.

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Tharp uses the children as the driving force and moral heart and soul of The Princess and the Goblin. She combines the formality of ballet and the emotional expressiveness and wit of modern dance to tell this magical adventure tale of adult redemption achieved through the trusting innocence and determined love of children.

About The Princess and the Goblin

The ballet is based on the 19th century fairytale by George MacDonald and has been commissioned by Atlanta Ballet and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Tharp’s The Princess and the Goblin is a story of courage and forgiveness.

Arrogant King Papa has let his vanity get the best of him. As he and his courtiers increasingly absorb themselves with frivolous parties and protocols, they remain oblivious that their own children have gone missing.

Unable to make King Papa realize his arrogance and ignorance, young Princess Irene decides to take action. Together with her Great Grandmother, her best friend Curdie, and a little bit of faith, Irene ventures deep into the underworld – the kingdom of the goblins – to rescue the forgotten children.

Proving that faith and goodness can triumph over evil and tyranny, Irene frees the children and teaches the adults a valuable lesson about humility and forgiveness.

The ballet will perform in Atlanta, Feb. 10-19 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, followed by the Canadian premiere in fall 2012.

Tickets start as low as $20. For tickets, call 800-982-2787 or stop by the Cobb Energy Centre box office. To purchase tickets online, visit www.atlantaballet.com or www.ticketmaster.com.


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