A sneak peek of ‘Coppélia’ by Studio West Dance Theatre
Originally published on The JOLT News on April 28, 2026
After seven years, Studio West Dance Theatre is bringing “Coppélia” back to the Washington Center for the Performing Arts stage, and audiences have much to look forward to.
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to watch a dress rehearsal, and as per normal with this company, everything was stunning.
This show will only be playing from April 30 to May 2. Hurry and get your tickets now before seats sell out!
Rehearsal review
Studio West Dance Theatre sets their own high standard and always manages to exceed it every time I attend a rehearsal or performance.
I do not exaggerate when I say that every dancer in the production has a vibrant facial expression throughout the ballet. It does not matter if the dancer is a lead or a member of the chorus, every dancer maintained a sense of focus and dedication to each moment that inspired me.
Here are some of the performances you can look forward to:
Emma Ehrlander’s depiction of Swanhilda in Cast B. There is something so graceful about the way Ehrlander dances, and her acting abilities are fantastic.
Kate Abbott plays Swanhilda in Cast A. I’ve seen Abbott dance before and she is incredibly talented, and really knows how to bring emotional nuance to every aspect of her performance.
Aaron Zeigler will play Dr. Coppelius. You might recognize him from his depiction of Drosslemeyer from "The Nutcracker" last Christmas. I love watching his facial expressions and seeing the way he supports his fellow dancers.
Watching the rehearsal at their studio, I was able to sit even closer to the dancers than someone would in the front row. From my seat, I was able to truly admire all the details in their costumes. All the sparkles and decorative details were so lovely, and it reminded me of something I would see in one of the animated "Barbie" movies. My inner child truly jumped for joy admiring these dresses.
Admittedly, I made their jobs even harder (without them knowing it) because “Coppélia” is my least favorite ballet — the story is just not my favorite. Good stories are in their heart of the beholder, so please do get a ticket and make up your own mind about this story. Do take my word that even if the story is not your favorite, the incredible talent presented on stage makes this production worthwhile. Oh and the musical score.
Are you familiar with composer Léo Delibes? Perhaps you have heard the Lakmé Flower Duet? If you have not, I insist you stop everything and listen to both the instrumental and vocal versions of that piece right now!
Delibes was a French composer primarily famous for his compositions for ballet and opera. According to Classic FM, “Delibes’ father was in the postal service, and his mother was an able musician, the daughter of an opera singer and niece of the organist Edouard Batiste.”
Nowadays, a mailman and a musician getting married would be normal, but you must remember that this intertwining of classes was uncommon in the 17th century. It is no wonder that Delibes’ works are so romantic, he got to watch a fairy tale unfold in front of his eyes.
Familial history aside, “Coppélia” was his breakout composition allowing him to rise to fame and set the course of history with his lyrical and romantic melodies. This allows me to come to terms with the fact that “Coppélia” continues to be produced locally and nationwide.
Regardless of where you stand with this story, I can guarantee you are going to find four important and worthwhile factors in this production:
Whimsy with a fairy tale essence.
A company of very hardworking, lovable and talented local dancers.
A beauty that cannot help but leave a handprint on your soul, especially during these troubling times.
A deep sense of love and community.
We need all of these things now more than ever.
I read a local spray paint mural earlier recently that said “protect your community.” The message of that stuck with me, and I realized that the best way we can protect our community is by participating in it.
The simplest way we can do that is by buying tickets to local performances. A filled audience will leave dancers feeling loved for years to come. I invite you to be a part of that. Get your tickets now before seats sell out!
https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/a-sneak-peek-of-copplia-by-studio-west-dance-theatre,28973