Madeline meets the ballet.

Madeline made the leap from the pages of a book to the theater stage when the Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet performed Madeline Goes to the Circus in March at the Akron Civic Theatre in Ohio. Inspired by the popular children's books written by Ludwig Bemelmans, choreographer Francis Patrelle created the work specifically for the troupe of classically trained dancers ages 8-18 that performs under the direction of Mia Klinger Welch. "It is so important to show young dancers, at just the right age that ballet is not only about a perfect fifth position," says Patrelle, who has collaborated previously with CVYB. "I feel it's about technique, yes, but passion, musicality, and humanity as well".