LIHU‘E — A good crowd turned out Saturday, March 25, 2023, for a performance by dancers from Garden Island Dance at the Lihu‘e Parish Hall on the campus of Lihu‘e United Church.
Among the performers were Cleopatra Bell-Grey, 11, and Leila Yamamoto, 17, who both have been accepted into a three-week, intensive summer program with Ballet Hawai‘i on O‘ahu.
Among those in attendance Saturday was Sally Stuffman, longtime Kaua‘i resident, fine artist and retired pottery teacher, who was impressed by the young dancers.
“Beautiful and wonderfully real production today,” she wrote in an email to Jennifer Bell-Grey, Garden Island Dance’s teacher.
“The 3-year-old ballerina was steeling the show with her timid stance. Everyone saw how she overcame her stage fright with your guidance and then blossomed in the free dance toward the end. You showed tremendous tolerance and patience, which was quite impressive and remarkable,” she wrote.
“I especially loved Dayo’s musical contributions — so fun, and added interest to the overall performance. Cleopatra was lovely. She was perfection in motion. Loved the three girls in white also, and all the solo performances; so glad I attended,” Stuffman said.
She is referring to a moment of dancing to live music played by Dayo Bell-Grey, 8, who played “Fiddler’s Frolic,” a fun fiddle tune, while ballerinas offered impromptu dances, Jennifer Bell-Grey said.
• Info: jenballet@gmail.com, gardenislanddance.com
