- May 11, 2026
Ormond Ballet will present its spring gala at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 16, and 3 p.m. Saturday, May 17, in the Gillespy Theater at the News-Journal Center in Daytona Beach.
The mixed repertory performance will feature the Kingdom of the Shades scene from Act III of "La Bayadère," Jardin Animé from Act III of "Le Corsaire" and the original contemporary ballet "Dyad 1909," choreographed by Jeremiah Garner, according to a press release.
Ormond Ballet positions itself as a "pre-professional youth company with conservatory standards," the press release states. The spring gala will showcase their commitment to Vaganova-based classical training, contemporary cross-training, musicality, dramatic artistry and professional development.
“Our goal extends beyond technical training,” said Michelle Boutros, Artistic Director of Ormond Ballet. “We view dance as a vehicle for developing discipline, resilience, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and professionalism. Whether our students pursue careers in dance or other professions, the process of working at a high artistic level prepares them to navigate demanding environments with confidence and integrity.”
The performance will open with the Kingdom of the Shades scene from "La Bayadère," featuring 20 corps de ballet dancers alongside featured artists Summer Euson, 15, as "Nikiya" and Luke Keeley, 22, as "Solor." The Shades Pas de Trois will be performed by Sabrina Bobeck, Angelica Butakova, and alternating artists Madeline Fleming and Mia Esguerra.
The gala continues with an adaptation of Jardin Animé from "Le Corsaire." It will feature 16 corps de ballet dancers and 10 flower girls from Ormond Ballet’s early training divisions. The featured artists include Mia Esguerra and Madeline Fleming alternating in the role of Medora, Sabrina Bobeck as Gulnara, and Madison Morgan, Dallas Kinsley, and Emma Doster in the Odalisque Pas de Trois.
The program will conclude with "Dyad 1909," an original contemporary ballet inspired by Ólafur Arnalds’ melancholic album of the same name. It was choreographed by Jeremiah Garner, Ormond Ballet co-director. The work follows a progression through life stages, featuring Lainey Hall as "Innocence," Emma Doster as "Curiosity," Madeline Fleming as "Anxiety," Eliza Dent as "Experience," and Luke Keeley as “The Constant.”
