July 2, 2018 – Salina Public Library and Ballet Salina, a project of Tamara Howe School of Dance, will bring dance to Oakdale Park with a performance of the family-friendly ballet “Fairy Doll.” Part of the library’s Summer at the Library schedule, the ballet will be staged at 6:30 p.m. July 12 on Eric Stein Stage.

“Fairy Doll” is based on E.T.A Hoffman’s story, “The Sandman.” The story concerns a toy shop into which a wealthy but unsophisticated farmer and his family enter, as well as an English lord and his family. The owner of the toy shop displays all his mechanical dancing dolls and they are purchased. The shop closes, and midnight approaches. The Fairy Doll steps out of her case and summons the other dolls out of theirs. They dance, along with several toys that have come to life. At one o’clock, they all step back into their cases, but the shop-owner has heard a noise and comes into the room with a light. The Fairy Doll’s case lights up, and she steps out of it to confront him. Suddenly, all the lights go up, and he is surrounded by the dolls. The curtain falls.

Ballet Salina is designed to increase exposure to and appreciation for classical performance arts in the community, as well as to provide local youth with opportunities for training that mirrors that of the professional world. Ballet Salina opportunities are open to students ages 7 and older.

Summer at the Library includes family entertainment like “Fairy Doll”; storytimes; art and discovery programs; math, reading and technology classes; and family movies. The library is calling on the community to demonstrate the value of reading by helping to reach the goal of 25,000 books read. Each book read this summer, from May 21 to July 20, can be logged toward the goal. As of July 2, 12,318 books have been logged.

Find out more about Summer at the Library, by calling (785) 825-4624, go online to www.salinapubliclibrary.org/summer or stop by the library, 301 W. Elm.