Follow the Yellow Brick Road to The Jim Rouse Theatre this weekend to see the Howard County Ballet's take on "The Wizard of Oz." Frank L. Baum's classic tale of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and all the others was a literary sensation before the arrival of movies, and it proves just as sturdy a vehicle for the make-believe world of contemporary dance.

"I particularly enjoy the story of 'The Wizard of Oz,' because it has a beautiful ending in which beliefs overcome great odds," says Kathi Ferguson, director of this ballet rendition. "Kids love the characters, and it's thrilling when the dancing monkeys are airborne."

The monkeys actually give the appearance of flying when they jump from spot to spot. For proof, keep your eyes fastened on 15-year-old Leiland Charles, an Oakland Mills High School sophomore, as he launches himself into the air like a young Baryshnikov.

The ballet opens on a dusty Kansas road where Dorothy is dashing away with her dog, Toto. Moments later, they are transported to the Wonderful Land of Oz where they meet the "good witch" Glinda, performed here by Ashlei-Rene Yancich, a native of Howard County who most recently spent one year with the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Oregon.

While searching for the only person who can help her return to Kansas, Dorothy encounters the Scarecrow in the form of Lauren Sharp, a dance major at Elon University, in North Carolina.

Talented Mary Dzwoncyk is sharing the role of the lovable Lion with Rashidah Akbar, a performer with extraordinary stage presence, and Shayla Rene Little shines as Tin Woodsman, the character in search of a heart. Together the quartet visits the land of the Munchkins, where some two dozen dancers whip up "a dancing snowstorm," among other perils and amazements.

Pretty ballerina Jill May takes on the demanding dual role of the Grand Lady of Emerald City and the Wicked Witch of the East, dispatched early on in the tornado scene. Still, nobody can top 16-year-old Noel Marsh as the villainous Wicked Witch of the West. With her sinister mime gestures and a face that is literally green with envy (thanks to some innovative makeup), her well-trained, stylized moves remind one of those late-19th-century villains in Russian storybook ballets.

The Howard County Ballet presents "The Wizard of Oz" and excerpts from "The Nightingale" at The Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School this Saturday, May 17 at 2:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 18 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $22 general, $15 for students, available via PayPal or by going to www.HowardCountyBallet.org.

Romance is moonlit fantasy

While "Les Sylphides" is in the repertoire of most major ballet companies, it is performed so infrequently that dance lovers should jump at any chance to see it -- even if it means a drive to Baltimore.

The 1909 ballet, also known as "Chopiniana," has no plot, but is comprised of a suite of dances set in a moonlit park. No less a dance pioneer than Isadora Duncan inspired Michel Fokine to create this original "ballet blanc," which paved the way for more neoclassic works to come, such as George Balanchine's "Serenade," the first ballet created for his New York City Ballet.

Artistic director Cem Catbas, a prized dancer-choreographer who teaches at the Baltimore Ballet center in Cockeysville, takes on the role of the roving poet who partners with various magical apparitions in search of the ideal. The Turkish-born dancer will be joined by three female soloists from the Baltimore Ballet in this ultimate romantic ballet, accompanied by some 20-plus student "sylphs" in white, mid-length tutus.

"Les Sylphides" will be performed by the Baltimore Ballet this Sunday, May 18 at 5 p.m. at Goucher College's Kraushaar Auditorium, and will be followed by a school recital. Seats are limited and priced at $20 general, $10 for children under 12. For more information, call 410-667-7974 or go to www.baltimoreballet.org.

Other dance diversions

If you are looking for a delightful evening of entertainment, a chance to support a good cause, and an exposure to the latest craze in dance, check out "Maryland Comes Together and Dances for Cystic Fibrosis" at The Jim Rouse Theatre this Saturday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m. Five area dance companies will perform works reflecting a broad range of dance, all with live music by the Howard County Ballet Orchestra.

"Working together we can create a larger impact for cystic fibrosis. Dancing together we can raise the level of interest in fighting this debilitating disease," says Kathi Ferguson, host for the benefit concert.

And what a lineup it is: Ballet Theatre of Maryland, our state's premier ballet company, will share the program with Kinetics Dance Theatre, a hit with crowds at the Baltimore Museum of Art last weekend, and the newly formed Misako Ballet, which mixes Oriental style with classical ballet technique. Rounding out the offerings will be the Cindee Velle Dance Company, with its blend of jazz, ballet and modern modes, and the Howard County Ballet, reprising selections from "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Nightingale." Call 410-465-9414 for information.

For authentic Russian dancing, don't miss the L'Etoile Ballet Academy's open house and demonstration class at the Ellicott City studio, on Corporate Drive just off Route 40, this Thursday, May 15, starting at 6 p.m. A full performance is scheduled in early June. Directors Svetlana Cravtova and Vadim Pijicov are both exceptional dancers and teachers. Call 443-393-1197 or send an e-mail to etoileballet@yahoo.com.

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