Dancers have ushered in spring’s return with a celebration of “The Roar of Love” for more than three decades.
Based on the C.S. Lewis’ classic work “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” the ballet brings a message of hope and joy to those watching, according to Ron Jones, founder of the Columbia County Ballet. It will be presented this year on May 1.
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“It really is the Easter story,” said Jones, who fell in love with the story as a young dancer. He always knew he wanted to create a production around the work.
“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” is a Christian allegory and one of seven books that make up Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia.”
For many of its 36 years, “The Roar of Love” has been performed at Augusta’s Bell Auditorium. Its expansive stage and intricate pulley system are able to accommodate the production’s multiple backdrops. Having the large space is a plus when Jones has had up to 300 children and adults in his productions.
COVID-19 cancelled the 2020 performance, and with restrictions still in place this year, Jones said it wasn’t logistically possible for the ballet to take place at the Bell Auditorium.
Instead, they will bring a modified production to the Columbia County Amphitheater, where his dancers performed in a performance called Mayfest, he said.
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The backdrops will be missing, as will the artificial lighting, but Jones believes the natural setting will allow people to use their imaginations when seeing the piece.
While ballet is at the heart of the show, it’s choregraphed to music that isn’t traditionally used in classical ballets such as “Swan Lake” or “The Nutcracker.” There are pieces set to Igor Stravinsky’s “The Firebird,” but many of the songs come from a Christian rock band of the 1970s and 1980s called The Second Chapter of Acts, and from Handel’s Young Messiah, according to Jones.
Some movements are classical while others are high energy and fast-paced with a rock edge.
Columbia County Ballet has performed The Roar of Love for 36 years; many of them were at the Bell Auditorium including this performance. Staff photo by Charmain Z. Brackett
“The Roar of Love” will be performed at 5:30 p.m. on May 1.
Jones said tickets from last year’s scheduled show will be honored and other tickets are still being sold. They are available at the Columbia County Ballet’s website, columbiacountyballet.com.
In addition to the show, there will be vendors on site, he said.
“It’s going to be a pretty festive,” he said.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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