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Local Feature  Posted on: 12/24/08 Written by: , email: Little dancers get their big break in ‘Oz’ Danielle Cuzdey’s World of Dance students could hardly contain their excitement. They had read that Proctors in Schenectady was hosting the national tour of “The Wizard of Oz,” and it was looking for local kids to play Munchkins. The girls told Cuzdey’s mom, who was at the front desk at the World of Dance in Colonie, that they would love to try out. Cuzdey thought it was a great idea. She figured that it would be fun for the girls to have their first audition experience with their friends. “I said, ‘Oh my goodness, let’s do it,’” she said. The tour, which kicked off in October in Florida, was looking for 12 kids from an existing dance, choir or theater group. They had to be between 8 and 13 years old and not taller than 5 feet. Cuzdey rounded up a dozen dancers who fit the bill, and they headed for Proctors on Nov. 22. There were more than 70 other kids there, so Cuzdey and her students didn’t get their hopes up. “We went into it not expecting anything,” Cuzdey said. But when the auditions were over, the national tour Munchkin coordinator announced the students from the World of Dance were selected to play the Munchkins. They’ll share the stage with professional actors at Proctors Friday to Sunday, Dec. 26 to 28. Cuzdey wasn’t the only one surprised that the girls landed this opportunity. Caroline Kindlon of Guilderland, whose daughter, Amy, will be in the show, said she never imagined Amy would have the chance to be part of a national production right here in the Capital District. “I thought things like this only happened in New York City or California,” Kindlon said. Kindlon’s daughter has been dancing since she was 4. Kindlon describes it as a “passion of hers.” Amy has been in some dance competitions, which Kindlon reasoned probably helped her battle butterflies during the tryout. “She has had some experience getting over nerves,” Kindlon said. And besides, “The Wizard of Oz” is one of Amy’s favorites. “This is a movie that she loves,” Kindlon said. As Munchkins, the girls will dance and do some singing, including the show’s signature “Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead.” Cuzdey has gotten used to hearing her students sing the song even when they’re not rehearsing for the show. “The kids are having a blast,” she said. “They’re giving me everything they’ve got.” They even managed to get together for rehearsal when the recent ice storm knocked out power to the dance studio. One of the girl’s father’s had built a small dance room in the basement of his house, so Cuzdey and the girls worked on their moves there. Jolie Bell, a fifth-grader at Clarksville Elementary, knows that performing for friends and family is going to be different than dancing in front of thousands at Proctors. A dancer since she was 3, 10-year-old Jolie admitted she’s a little nervous — she’s never taken the stage at someplace as big as Proctors. She’s excited, though, for the chance to meet Toto after the show, and she’s enjoyed working with the professional actors. “They all have been very nice to us,” she said. In addition to Jolie and Amy, the girls playing Munchkins are Chezmin Sheehan, Hannah Valiquette and Allison Goetz of Clifton Park, Mackenzie Quinn of Guilderland, Brooke Colletti of Ravena, Whitney Wilson of Avrill Park, Elizabeth Deyo of Schenectady and Kayleigh McClean, Madison VanCott and Lauren Muia of Colonie. “The Wizard of Oz” will be held on the Mainstage at Proctors on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 26 and 27, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 28, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20, $30, $40 and $50. To buy tickets, call Proctors’ box office at 346-6204 or visit proctors.org. You can contact with any questions. Also, feel free to post comments below. Comments powered by Disqus |
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