North Pointe Ballet to present Beauty and the Beast April 21-23. North Pointe Ballet (NPB) is pleased to return to the historic Lorain Palace Theatre to present Beauty and the Beast. NPB will premiere its new ballet interpretation of the story of Belle, the book-loving daughter of a merchant. *NPB’s signature live verbal and sign language narration will guide audience members through the tale where enchanted objects come to life, drama unfolds through exceptional artistry, and loveable characters show that you can’t judge a book by its cover.*
From Friday, April 21 through Sunday, April 23, audience members will be captivated by NPB professional dancers performing alongside students from local dance studios.
During a special Sensory-Friendly matinee on Saturday, April 22, participants from NPB’s partner site Murray Ridge School <https://www.murrayridgecenter.org/services-for-children/school-age/> as well as NPB’s A Chance to Dance program will join the cast. NPB’s A Chance to Dance program gives dancers with diversabilities meaningful dance experiences that allow them to work alongside dancers in the professional company as well as their typical peers. This performance will also be live streamed via NPB’s YouTube channel <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ4WsACnXd1VLqia3liHO8g> at no cost to viewers in further effort towards accessibility. Sensory-Friendly performances provide accommodations to reduce loud sounds and adjust dramatic lights, provide a space for taking a sensory break, and allow for a relaxed theater environment. Ms. Dziak hopes to convey an important message through this ballet: “We all have a story - our own lived experiences contribute to our attitudes and our behaviors. Those who are considered villains to some are considered heroes to others; and what seems ‘normal’ to some is considered ‘crazy’ to others. Taking time to get to know someone and understand another's story can create that empathy that we all hope for in our own lives.” TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased via NPB’s website: northpointeballet.org/beauty-and-the-beast or by phone via the Lorain Palace Theatre: 440-245-2323. Ticketing questions can be directed to kayla@lorainpalace.com. *Leanna Ruegg* Community Engagement & Operations Manager, North Pointe Ballet 515-460-3695 mobile *Making Classical Ballet Accessible to Our Community* Website <https://northpointeballet.org/> | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/northpointeballet> | Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/northpointeballet/>