Dancing down the Yellow Brick Road
Munchkin Land will be lined with some familiar local faces when "The Wizard of Oz" touches down in Columbia this week.
A dozen performers from The Southern Strutt dance studios will join NETworks Presentations national touring company for the classic family musical that runs Monday and Tuesday at the Koger Center for the Arts.
"It's been a lot of work, but my daughter really wanted them to do this," Southern Strutt owner and artistic director Nancy Giles said of her studio's involvement.
"The Wizard of Oz" is based on the Royal Shakespeare Company's celebration of the 1939 MGM movie and features the classic songs "Over the Rainbow," "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead" and "If I Only Had a Brain."
At every stop along the current tour, NETworks Presentations has incorporated the talents of youth from area dance studios.
"We were recommended as a studio that was prepared to do something of this caliber," Giles said. "They called me and asked if I would like to participate."
Giles said when the invitation came shortly before the holidays she was reluctant, knowing the energy that would be required in such a short time. But she was convinced largely by her daughter Tawney Giles, a former Southern Strutt member who had performed several years with the Radio City Music Hall touring ensemble.
"My daughter is very passionate about this and wanted the kids to have the opportunity," she said.
The younger Giles has been running the rehearsals with the help of Jessika Harlin, a former Southern Strutt dancer who remains involved at the studio.
Nancy Giles said that once she agreed to be involved, the production company provided the age, height and weight requirements needed for the show. About 100 children auditioned for the 12 roles.
"When it came down to it, we had to pick the kids that were going to be the most animated (and who were be available for rehearsals during the holidays)," she said.
The local performers include J'Mya Brown, Carly Comalander, Riley Deadwyler, Chandler Harper, Lindsey Hefner and Regan Hendrix.
Rounding out the group are Eliza Hiller, Morgan Paschal, Jillian Rowe, Hayley Olecheck, Rebekah Smith and Hallie Wenger.
The dancers will conclude several weeks of long rehearsals with a run-through Monday with the full cast before that night's opening show. But long hours are not new for Southern Strutt, which Dancer Magazine recently voted the No. 2 Most Competitive Studio in North America.
Giles said while much work has gone into getting the performers ready, the effort has been worth the time. And she's aware that some of the performers could one day see greater benefits along their own yellow brick roads.
"I think a lot of their dreams are to do something professionally," Giles said. "We prepare them to do that so it has been a good opportunity."
IF YOU GO
"The Wizard of Oz"
Where: Koger Center for the Arts
When: 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
Who: NETworks Presentations national touring company, featuring appearances by members of The Southern Strutt dance studios in Irmo
Cost: $56, $51 and $46.
Tickets: Available at the Carolina Coliseum box office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., by phone at the Capitol Tickets charge line at (803) 251-2222 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or online at http://www.BroadwayinColumbia.com.
This story was originally published January 10, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Dancing down the Yellow Brick Road."