AOCBallet Thumbelina 2022

Based on the Story by Hans Christian Andersen
Choreography: Crystal Petzel
Music: Adolphe Adam, Benjamin Britten, Gabriel Fauré, Cesar Frank, Alexander Glazunov, Charles Gounod,
Dmitry Kabalevsky, Aram Khachaturian, Maurice Ravel
The Story of Thumbelina
A tiny girl named Thumbelina emerges from a beautiful garden of Tulips adorned with flitting Butterflies while a lovely Swallow soars overhead. The generous and caring Woodland Fairy makes it her responsibility to watch over the vulnerable Thumbelina.
One evening, while dancing in the glade with her winged friends, she is carried off by a grumpy Toad. The Toad takes Thumbelina to a pond on a walnut shell boat. There The Toad, along with a chorus of Frogs, want the miniature maiden as their playmate. The mischievous Frogs play with Thumbelina, The Toad, and a friendly school of Goldfish. Thumbelina tiptoes on the Water Lilies and drifts along until landing ashore in a field of flowers.
As the seasons change, Thumbelina realizes she is alone and far from home. She does her best to protect herself from the elements, but she becomes lost and is suddenly in danger. Her friend The Swallow tries to save her, but they both are overcome by The Storm and are left alone in the darkness. Thumbelina finds The Swallow frozen. Thumbelina summons all her courage to fight off the darkness and then nurses The Swallow back to health. Thumbelina stays safe during the remainder of the harsh winter in a burrow belonging to a family of Field Mice. The Field Mice come to the burrow looking for the beautiful Thumbelina they have heard so much about, but she has already flown to a far off land with the grateful Swallow.
As the snow starts to melt and the flowers begin to bloom again, the spring ushers in a cluster of Ladybugs. Thankful for their safe return from The Storm, everyone joins in the celebration of Thumbelina's safe return home. Thumbelina is given her own pair of wings from the gracious Woodland Fairy to help her travel from flower to flower. Thumbelina is now happy and finally free.