For over 30 years The New York City based Rebecca Kelly Ballet has made the Adirondacks its summer home, blending contemporary and classical dance with social and environmental commentary. In an ongoing series of works inspired by the environment, Rebecca Kelly Ballet is bringing parts of the Adirondack Elemental suite to the Lake Placid Center for the Arts for one show only.

“I have many ballets with an environmental theme, “says Rebecca Kelly Ballet founder and choreographer Rebecca Kelly. “This specific suite of shorter ballets takes a specific element in nature that we love about the Adirondacks. SNOW will premiere on Thursday at The Lake Placid Center for the Arts.”

Kelly gains inspiration from the ebb and flow of nature. Adirondack Elemental focuses on climate change with each element: Air, Earth, and Waters. Now Snow will be added to this ongoing work. Other examples of environment impact on Kelly’s work include Tear of the Clouds regarding acid rain and deforestation, The Paper Chase focusing on recycling as well as A Delicate Balance regarding endangered animals. The Lake Placid performance will only include some of those ballets while Kelly showcases a balance of her work to the audience.

“In our 30 years in the Adirondacks we know nature is ever changing and inspiring,” says Kelly. “One thing the Adirondacks teaches you is to roll with it. We are grateful when it snows. It impacts business. When I see that fresh snow from my window, I’m in awe and thankful.”

In addition to her significant body of work highlighting environmental concerns, Rebecca Kelly and her husband Craig Brashear formed The Tahawus Center in 2009, part of the Appleby Foundation, Inc, in AuSable Forks to provide a cultural and educational center. After years of renovations and community involvement, The Tahawus Center is a vibrant art center providing youth STEM programming, a dance studio, gallery space, documentary film series, and more.

The Rebecca Kelly Ballet’s only Lake Placid public performance is Thursday, July 20 at 8 pm at The Lake Placid Center for the Arts. Advanced tickets are $22/adult, $18/student, $15/children. Ticket prices increase the evening of the performance. Friday, July 21, also concludes The Rebecca Kelly Ballet’s two-week youth Onstage dance intensive. The Onstage performance is at 10:30 am at the LPCA with $10 tickets available at the door.

Erin Ginn performs SNOW as part of the Rebecca Kelly Ballet suite Adirondack Elemental.

Diane Chase

Diane Chase is the author of the Adirondack Family Activities guidebook series, Adirondack Family Time. She writes about ways to foster imaginative play through fun-filled events and activities in the Adirondack region.

From her home in Saranac Lake, Diane also writes a weekly family-oriented newspaper column for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and keeps her own blog Adirondack Family Time. Her writing and photography has appeared in numerous newspapers, magazines, marketing companies and advertising agencies.

She even finds time to assist her husband with Adirondack Expeditions guiding families and young adults in the High Peaks.

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