Covenant Ballet's Junior Company flourished in The Secret Garden and will continue to bloom at local venues next weekend

This spring audiences were treated to two performances of The Secret Garden at the Leon M. Goldstein Performing Arts Center in Brooklyn. Based on the beloved book by Francis Hodgson Burnett, Covenant Ballet’s original adaptation featured performances by both professional dancers and members of Covenant Ballet’s Junior Company.

The fresh, floral costumes furthered Covenant’s mission of bringing this seasonal tale to life during a rainy spring where flowers had yet to be seen. The dancers looked lovely and their excitement was palpable. Love of the Junior Company was evident in their performance and their words.

“I joined the Junior Company because I wanted to step-up my level of dancing, but the junior company has given me so much more. It has taught me to become a true dancer and performer, and has given me extraordinary experiences. I am so glad that I joined” explained Jasmine Duru - member of the Junior Company.

With the support of Junior Company members Covenant Ballet’s vision of maximum inclusiveness was realized in the The Secret Garden. Every academy student with a desire to perform appeared on stage during this production, many of the younger ones for the first time, but the Junior Company was ever-vigilant in their care of the little ones. No child was left behind, and the on-stage result was genuine diversity and inclusivity in action.

“Allowing students to perform is an important mission of her company, and it’s certainly an admirable one. Some dance enthusiasts may find it dull watching children at various levels of training, and some, like myself, will find it fascinating to witness the great potential of these young dancers.” –Jack Hanley, Indie Theater Now

The Junior Company has been an integral part of Covenant Ballet, a nonprofit serving South Brooklyn for nearly 30 years, since the program was launched in 2010. Junior Company performances help spread the love of dance to New Yorkers, especially those of South Brooklyn. If you can’t wait until Covenant Ballet’s next full-scale production to see its Junior Company, it is still possible to catch them at the following venues;

June 25, 2016 at 12:00 pm (tickets available at the door)

Covenant Ballet Junior Company students will peform with thier classes@ Covenant Ballet Showcase & Fundraiser

St Edmunds Preparatory High School, 2474 Ocean Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11229

· Adult $20.00 includes food and one raffle ticket

· Child 3-12 $5.00 includes food

· Under 3 admitted free

June 27, 2016 (tickets $5.00 available at the door)

Covenant Ballet Junior Company Program

Covenant Ballet Studio, 4119 Avenue T, Brooklyn, NY 11234

*All proceeds go to benefit the Junior Company

Covenant Ballet Junior Company will perform in pieces that they choreographed themselves.

About Covenant Ballet Junior Company: Covenant Ballet’s Junior Company exposes the school’s most dedicated students to a wide range of experiences in choreography and performance. Under the guidance of Kristin Licata members are immersed in a genuine dance internship environment; they perfect technique and unison corps work, learn to choreograph, collaborate with students from local schools (in an effort to reach students with diverse backgrounds from underrepresented communities) and perform at a variety of venues. Past junior company performances include; Orphan Train @NY International Fringe Festival and Dancewave Kids Cafe Festival.