Holliston 13 Year Old Performing in Boston Ballet

Sarah Elisabeth Vachon is performing in Boston Ballet's production of George Balanchine's Coppélia at the Boston Opera House, running April 8-18, 2010.  Sarah Beth is a pre-professional student at Boston Ballet.  She got her dancing debut with The Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble in "A Dancer's Christmas" at age four.  Sarah Beth earned a dance role in the 2007 Disney feature, "The Game Plan".  In 2009 she performed with Creationdance in Newton, MA.  For the past five years she has performed various roles in Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker, and more recently was invited to be a teaching assistant at Boston Ballet School.  

The students auditioned in January and began rehearsals for the production in early February, working closely with Balanchine stager Garielle Whittle and Boston Ballet company dancers to prepare for their upcoming performances. Boston Ballet School students have been a vital part of Boston Ballet’s performance season, performing annually in the Company’s production of The Nutcracker and various story ballets including George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Coppélia, a full-length story ballet by George Balanchine, is a rarely-seen work being revived by Boston Ballet. This Company premiere will include refurbished costumes and sets that will bring the April production to life. Simplistic in beauty and light-hearted in comedy, Coppélia is based upon the book by Charles Nuitter, after “Der Sandmann” by E.T.A. Hoffman. This charmingly sentimental tale revolves around the life-size dancing doll created by Doctor Coppélius who becomes the source of love troubles for a village couple. The ballet, first choreographed by Arthur St. Léon, was restaged by Marius Petipa and again by Lev Ivanov and Enrico Cecchetti. Balanchine maintained elements from these versions in Acts I and II, but created entirely new choreography for Act III, which features more than 30 children from Boston Ballet School. Léo Delibes score, called by The New York Times, “a classic of melody, orchestration, rhythm, and storytelling,” is at once lively and accessible.

Participating in a full-length ballet is an important performance opportunity for students, exposing them to aspects of ballet they don't experience in regular classes. The students learn about the hard work and enjoyment that composes a live ballet performance and have the unique opportunity to dance alongside Boston Ballet’s internationally renowned company dancers.

Boston Ballet School is the largest ballet school in North America, operating studios in Boston, Newton, Norwell, and Marblehead. Over 10,000 students participate in Boston Ballet School’s year-round, summer, adult, and outreach programs each year.

Currently a home school student through K12, Inc., Sarah Beth  was a finalist in art and poetry competitions in elementary school.  In 2009 she won a local limbo contest.    Aside from ballet her other activities include playing the flute, reading, and creative writing.  Sarah Beth lives in Holliston with her parents, twin brother, and four older siblings.      

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