CELEBRATING 30 YEARS

All 24 Barrington Dance Ensemble (BDE) dancers, ages 13 to 18, have been rehearsing a new work since February, and they’re ready to take the stage. Channeling Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, this year’s BDE gala presents the premier of “Staging Sinatra,” choreographed by former Joffrey Ballet dancer Jacqueline Moscicke. BDE Founder and Artistic Director Mary Brennan describes the dance as “classical ballet with a twist.”

Hosted once again in the stunning Place de Musique at the Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington Hills, the annual event gives guests a chance to help support the esteemed, local not-for-profit dance company.

Performing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in BDE’s Nutcracker last season, Moscicke was a standout and is excited to work with BDE again. “It was the perfect opportunity to have Jacqueline back, as the dancers were already comfortable with her,” says BDE Assistant Artistic Director Elizabeth Francesconi. “She was so kind to our students and so welcoming, and the students are loving it.”

After a brainstorming session, Moscicke and Brennan selected a medley of five Frank Sinatra songs, all focused on leaving the audience feeling “happy and fulfilled, looking towards the future,” Moscicke says. Even if the students originally had no idea who Sinatra was.

“It was kind of funny at the beginning, because many of the dancers were not very familiar with these songs,” Francesconi says. “But now they know all the words, and they’re grooving along with the music and getting into that cool kind of style.”

While the dancers will wow with their beautiful technique, Moscicke notes, “I also wanted them to have a lot of fun.” One of Moscicke’s favorite moments is a pas de deux between two of the younger dancers, set to the perfectly ironic song, “I Won’t Dance.” The same young teen who has been with BDE since he was six years old has been supported through the Rusty Hernandez Scholarship for Boys with a full training scholarship.

The gala helps raise funds for the Rusty Hernandez scholarship as well as the Barrington Dance Ensemble Scholarship for Financial Need, the Patricia Whitmore Scholarship for professionally bound students, and the organization’s many community outreach programs.

A special fundraising goal this year is to complete a full facelift of their Nutcracker set, just in time for the company’s 30th anniversary season of the holiday performance. “Every single part of this set is going to be redesigned, rebuilt or refurbished,” Brennan explains. “In the past, the pieces were built very solidly. However, it was very heavy and hard to move. Now it’s going to be more user-friendly because it’s lighter, while retaining the original artwork, which was very important to me.”

The fundraiser will also include live and silent auctions, live music by popular musician Erik Donner, and dinner and dancing. Come dance with the BDE and help them continue to bring the community their own classic style with a twist.

The event will be held Saturday, October 7 at 5:00 p.m. To make your reservations call 847-382-6333 or visit barringtondance.org. Silent auction online bidding starts Friday, September 29.