Coppélia - Idaho Ballet Theatre

IBT’s

SPRING

PERFORMANCE

OF COPPÉLIA

IIdaho Ballet Theatre is bringing to stage, this family friendly classical ballet, Coppélia. This spring around 80 dancers from our community ages 3-17 will participate in this whimsical ballet featuring new choreography under the artistic direction of, Abbey Lasley and Joni McDonald.

Just as Giselle is ballet’s great tragedy, so Coppélia is its great comedy.
George Balanchine

Considered one of the greatest comic ballets of the last century, Coppélia remains one of the be-loved classical ballet works. Set in an Austrian village, the doll maker, Dr. Coppélius has made a beautiful mechanical doll that he has named Coppélia, where she sits on his balcony reading her book. However, she is so realistic that everyone mistakes her for a young girl, possibly Dr. Coppélius’s daughter. The young Franz even falls in love with her, much to the annoyance of his fiancée, Swanhilda.

Determined to discover the secret behind the mysterious Coppélia, Swanhilda and her friends sneak into Dr Coppélius’s house, only to discover that her rival is nothing more than a mechanical doll. When Dr. Coppélius returns, the girls flee, but Swanhilda hides with Coppélia and disguises herself as the doll. At the same time, Franz sneaks in to meet Coppélia, but Dr. Coppélius catches him and puts him to sleep so he can use him to magically bring his beloved doll to life.

He believes he has succeeded when Coppélia seemingly springs to life, but it is actually Swanhilda dressed up as the doll. When Franz wakes up, Dr. Coppélius realizes he has been tricked and that Coppélia is still just a doll. Swanhilda forgives Franz and the two leave the house together as Dr. Coppelius begins work on new creations. These lovable characters will have you laughing throughout this charming and timeless ballet.

Coppélia will run Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 at the Colonial Theatre in Idaho Falls.