PROJECT DETAILS
CHOREOGRAPHER: Roman Mykyta, with selected sections created in collaboration with faculty for the original production
COMPOSER: Léo Delibes
PREMIERE: June 12, 2016 | Laurel High School, Laurel, MD | Performed by Turning Point Dance Academy
SYNOPSIS:
Coppélia is a comedic ballet in three acts inspired by the beloved classic set to the music of Léo Delibes. In a Galician village near the Carpathian Mountains, the spirited Swanilda must win back the affections of her fiancé Franz after he becomes captivated by the beautiful Coppélia, unaware that she is only a mechanical doll created by the eccentric Dr. Coppélius.
Blending humor, romance, and theatrical charm, the ballet explores the enduring distinction between outward perfection and genuine humanity. As illusion gives way to truth, Franz discovers that love cannot be manufactured, and that the warmth, soulfulness, and forgiveness embodied by Swanilda possess a beauty no artificial ideal can ever replace.
THE GREAT COMIC BALLET
Premiering at the Paris Opéra in 1870, Coppélia is one of the oldest and most beloved ballets still performed today. Set to Léo Delibes’ groundbreaking score, it is celebrated as ballet’s great comedy.
BACKGROUND & INSPIRATION
TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITY
This production views Coppélia through a contemporary lens. Franz’s fascination with a lifelike mechanical doll reflects humanity’s attraction to manufactured ideals, while the ballet affirms that genuine love and soulfulness remain irreplaceable.
A LIVING TRADITION
Drawing inspiration from the classical tradition, this staging offers an original interpretation that emphasizes theatrical storytelling, village life, and the emotional growth of its characters through humor, forgiveness, and reconciliation.