Copious Notes

Lexington Ballet artistic director Luis Dominguez found inspiration for Saturday afternoon’s show in his 5-year-old’s library.

Dominguez was aware that other companies had staged stories by celebrated children’s author Beatrix Potter as ballets, and it seemed like a good idea for a spring family show.

“I have a 5-year-old, Alex, and he has the books, and I went and read the books, and I thought, ‘Why not? Let’s do it,’” Dominguez says.

“Beatrix Potter came about because we wanted to have a ballet that would appeal to adults and kids alike, and that would have resonance because it was an old tale.”

Dominguez’s original version of The Magical Tales of Beatrix Potter will top off a big weekend for the company. Friday night, Lexington Ballet hosts and opens for Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble. That brings the artistic director’s old company to his current stage.

The back-to-back performances make life hectic for Dominguez, getting his dancers ready for Saturday while also preparing to welcome an internationally acclaimed touring ensemble to town. He says the events coincided because the ballet was already planning to present Beatrix Potter when the opportunity to present Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble emerged. Dominguez says it worked perfectly because the theater was already booked.

So Friday night will be all about world-class dance, and Saturday afternoon will be all about emerging dancers in the Bluegrass.

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