The last dance
Aaron Ornelas (Prince Ivan) and Lacey Swanson (Princess Vasilissa) embrace in a scene from the "The Firebird" Ballet performed Saturday by the Ballet Academy of Moses Lake. In the ballet, Ornelas' character falls in love with Princess Vasilissa and decides to try and free her and the other princesses held captive by the evil character Kostchei played by Catherine Polito. This was BAML director, Robyn Wenrich's last performance in Moses Lake before she will be moving to Indiania with her family. <br>Aimee Hornberger/Columbia Basin Herald
'The Firebird' final performance for BAML director in ML
MOSES LAKE — Saturday was a culminating point for director Robyn Wenrich and her students in an evening that brought together the work of the past seven years in a performance that was probably one of, if not the most, difficult pieces the Ballet Academy of Moses Lake has debuted.
As Wenrich has announced that she and her family will be moving to Indiana later this year, the Academy's performance of Igor Stravinsky's "The Firebird" on Saturday was a chance to celebrate and say good-bye to Wenrich, whose efforts to keep the art of ballet alive in Moses Lake will not soon be forgotten.
"It's hard to imagine a Moses Lake without Robyn," said dancer Naomi Talbot after the performance.
Talbot played the lead role as the Firebird, a magical creature that resides in an enchanted garden that is under the control of the sorcerer Kostchei, played by Catherine Polito.
Combined with a mixture of continuously changing rhythms and challenging dance moves, "The Firebird," which was first performed in Paris in 1910, had been a ballet Wenrich shied away from doing until now.
"This year was just the right year to take on something like that," Wenrich told the crowd.
Aaron Ornelas, who played the part of Prince Ivan, agreed.
"It was really solid," said Ornelas, who praised Wenrich for her ability to work well with students of all ages.
From the younger dancers who flowed around the stage Saturday in their red and yellow tutus, to more seasoned performers like Talbot, who has been taking dance from Wenrich for several years, parents say the academy has been a place for children to grow and overcome their challenges.
"You see the kids enjoying it," said parent Bill Vienhase.
"It's been a real confidence builder," said Deanna Morgan, of the Academy's influence on her daughter Katie.
Parent Becky Earl, who has had at least two daughters go through the academy with Wenrich, complimented Wenrich on her ability to not only teach technique, but to teach with a heart for children.
"She's patient; she teaches them with kindness," said Earl.
After the performance, the cast presented Wenrich with a bouquet and parent Chris Rosborough publicly thanked Wenrich and her family for their commitment to the Moses Lake community.
If "your son or your daughter has performed beyond your beliefs, it is because of this woman," said Rosborough, also giving thanks to Wenrich's husband Mo for his continued support of his wife and to the Academy. "It is not often that you find someone that committed to supporting their wife's career."