Ephrata students take part in 'Sleeping Beauty'

MOSES LAKE — Ephrata ballet students are participating in the Eugene Ballet Company’s performance of “Sleeping Beauty” March 24

The company’s performance starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Wallenstien Theater. Tickets cost $25 for reserved seating, $18 for general seating and $10 for students. Tickets are available at Andrew’s Hallmark in Moses Lake, The Bookery in Ephrata and the Big Bend bookstore.

The ballet tells the story of a princess cursed to fall asleep on her 16th birthday along with everyone around her. The story concludes with the prince waking her and everyone else, and getting married.

Laurie Walker, an Ephrata ballet instructor, said Columbia Basin Allied Arts’ Executive Director Randy Johnstad contacted her about including students in the ballet performance. The ballet company needed students.

“So I contacted the company … they needed a certain height and a certain age,” she said.

The company asked for four to six students 16 years and older, four to six students between 14 to 16 years old and students between 8 to 10 years old, Walker said, adding she had just enough students to fill the two older groups.

The students, who are playing court ladies, the carabosse and fairies, have about three hours to learn their parts before performing, Walker said, adding the parts are easy to learn.

“They’re very excited to be on stage with real ballerinas,” she said.

For more information, contact Columbia Basin Allied Arts at 509-793-2059.