En Pointe School of Ballet is bringing a touch of whimsy and a lot of laughter to the stage with their latest production, “Alice in Wonderland.” This marks the school’s first brand-new ballet in five years, following their previous original staging of “The Nutcracker.” 

A Creative Labor of Love 

Planning for this ambitious production began two years ago. Under the guidance of Artistic Owner and Director Rachael Ellis, the team has been meticulously crafting every detail, from hand-designed headpieces to elaborate sets. Natasha Ellis, serving as assistant artistic director, choreographed nearly the entire performance, translating the classic tale into a vibrant ballet. 

While the story remains faithful to the traditional narrative—echoing the charm of the Disney version—the school faced the unique challenge of making sense of Lewis Carroll's famously nonsensical world. Their goal is to ensure the audience sees every "nonsensical" element connect into a cohesive, beautiful story.

Comedy and Costumes 

What sets this production apart is its comedic flair. Audiences can expect "funny aspects" and humorous costumes that bring a lighthearted energy to the stage. Highlights include: 

The 40-Foot Caterpillar: A major inspiration for the show, this costume features 40 feet of fabric in a style described as "Chinese dragon meets Arabian." It utilizes Arabian music and requires a male and female dancer at the head, with eleven pairs of legs trailing behind. 

The Color-Changing Cheshire Cat: Costume Director Nikki Allen and assistant Maggi Floyd sourced a special fabric that changes from hot pink to purple under the stage lights—a detail even applied to the dancer's pointe shoes. 

The Dandelion’s Evolution: In a unique sequence, a male dancer interacts with garden flowers as a dandelion, exiting and returning to the stage to showcase different phases of the flower's life with varying headpieces. 

A Community Effort

The production is a massive undertaking involving all 300 students at En Pointe. While younger dancers are split into four casts, the older dancers perform across all four casts to maintain the show's complexity. 

The creation of the ballet has been a true family and community affair. Rachael Ellis works alongside her daughters, including Mariah Shaw, who travels from St. George to assist with sets. Even students, like Asher Pattison, have stepped up to help build props while preparing for their own roles on stage. 

The score for the ballet was uniquely curated by the directors, who spent months selecting the perfect songs from hundreds of Tchaikovsky pieces to fit the mood of each scene. Performances will take place June 8-11 at the Mountain Ridge High School theater (14100 S. Sentinel Ridge Blvd). 

For more information and tickets to En Pointe School of Ballet’s 21st production, visit www.enpointewestjordanutah.com.