Twice a year, the dancers from Ballet Arts Company, Bergen County's premier professional dance troupe based out of Oradell takes to the stage at River Dell Middle School. While the winter performance is always the same, "The Nutcracker", it is the spring show that brings something new to audiences.

This weekend, the troupe is presenting “Coppélia”, a ballet in three acts on Friday, 7:30pm and Saturday, 2pm at the Regional Middle School, Woodland Avenue, River Edge. 

“Coppélia” (pronounced Co-pale-ya) is an engaging story filled with magic, mischief and high jinks. The ballet combines the romance between two young lovers, Swanilda and Franz, and their amusing encounter with the exquisite mechanical doll Coppelia. It is a lighthearted comedic fantasy, danced in colorful costumes amid beautiful scenery. The ballet is full of youthful characters and pantomime. “Coppelia” is a ballet from the mid 1800’s with beautiful music by Léo Delibes, filled with national dances from Poland and Hungary.

Set in the center of a small village square, bustling with millers, threshers, weavers and a variety of quaint shops, this classic ballet tells the tale of a puppet-maker, Dr. Coppelius, whose greatest dream is to create a doll which comes to life. Lovers Svanilda and Franz enliven the plot, which involves jealousy and vanity but also love and forgiveness. Of course, it all has a happy ending - which is one reason (but not the only one) that this performance is also appropriate for children.

The costumes for this charming fairy tale ballet are all individually hand made and crafted with the finest fabrics, resulting in an explosion of color and light that fills the stage as the dancers perform.

This spring’s performances welcome Australian ballet dancer Ryan Rankin. Mr. Rankin has had several roles in youth companies and school in Australia before being selected in 2011 to train with the Joffrey Ballet in New York, after dancing classical ballet for just three years.

Oradell resident Jacqueline Betro and Westwood resident Chiara Ferrari-Wong will alternate the role of Swanhilda. This will be the last performance with Ballet Arts for Miss Betro along with Oradell residents Erin Cameron, Tori Hughes and Nora Wiegand.

Prominent surgeon Dr. Fred Fakharzadeh again joins Ballet Arts to play the role of toymaker, Dr. Coppelius.

Ballet Arts Company was founded in 1976 by Diana Turner Hauser, formerly with American Ballet Theatre and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet Company. She trained in London at the Royal Ballet School and in New York at Ballet Arts, Carnegie Hall. Madame Hauser has entertained and enchanted audiences for over 25 years with beautiful full-length ballets at affordable prices.

Tickets are $15 at the door.