Coastal City Ballet’s Hansel and Gretel makes its debut

It’s rare to see a new ballet company spring up in these parts; it’s rarer still to see one pushing such high standards. Here’s your chance, then, to check out Coastal City Ballet’s Hansel and Gretel, the half-year-old pre-professional troupe’s first full-length work. It comes with a pedigree: it’s choreographed by Irene Schneider, former artistic director of Germany’s Magdeburg Ballet, and two of its dancers were finalists in the insanely competitive Youth America Grand Prix. Coastal City has crafted a storybook look for the work in costumes and sets, and it promises to be a charming premiere for artistic director Li Yaming. Hansel and Gretel debuts Saturday (May 5) at Maple Ridge’s ACT Theatre and Sunday (May 6) at North Van’s Centennial Theatre.