Each year, the UI Youth Ballet and Community Dance School’s spring concert reflects the shared efforts of students, faculty, and staff across our program. This season’s original production, The Wizard of Oz, brings the beloved cinematic tale to life through new choreography set to live piano, featuring a fresh arrangement of the film’s iconic score by Douglas Baker. Audiences will follow Dorothy’s journey through Oz as she meets unforgettable friends and finds her way back home. The evening also features a performance of the romantic ballet Pas de Quatre, presented by our Level 5 Ensemble dancers.

Unlike a traditional recital, the spring concert offers a cohesive theatrical experience—one in which the entire school contributes to the arc of a larger story. This expanded approach has taken shape under the guidance of Juliet Remmers, Artistic Associate, whose leadership continues to elevate the concert’s continuity, purpose, and interconnection across levels and pieces. Her close collaboration with Douglas Baker, Lead Accompanist, has shaped the musical arc of the performance. Through this process, student performers perform dances shaped to match their level of development as they progress from Pre-Ballet through upper-level Ensemble.