This year, Ringwood Ballet is proud to present Coppélia. This light-hearted ballet is the perfect ballet to bring the whole family to see. We can’t wait for you to sit back, be entertained and enjoy the amazing talent of the dancers of Ringwood Ballet.
Coppelia is set in a mid-European town several centuries ago. Swanhilda is an impetuous girl who is very much in love with her fiancé, Franz. She is also intrigued by the beautiful girl who sits on the balcony of the house of Dr Coppelius, who has a reputation of being a magician and the maker of wonderful dolls. Franz, too, is fascinated by the girl and is confronted by Swanhilda after he blows her a kiss. As night falls Dr Coppelius emerges from his house, carefully locking it. Suddenly he is set upon by a group of children, and in his haste, drops his house key without realising. Swanhilda and her friends then discover the key and decide to enter his workshop. As they creep inside, Franz appears with a ladder – he too is determined to get in the house and meet the beautiful Coppelia. Doctor Coppelius returns to discover the front door open…
ACT 2 takes place inside the workshop of Dr Coppelius, where Swanhilda and her friends are amazed at the strange things they find. Swanhilda then discovers the cupboard in which Coppelia sits and realises how silly they have all been; for Coppelia is just a life-like, mechanical doll! Their amusement is short lived as a furious Dr Coppelius suddenly returns chasing them out – all except for Swanhilda who hides in the cupboard with Coppelia. Just then another intruder appears – Franz! Crafty Dr Coppelius makes Franz feel at home and offers him a drink, but the wine is drugged! As Franz falls senseless to the floor the Doctor can now begin his plan to transfer the life-force from Franz into Coppelia, the doll. Unknown to him, Swanhilda has dressed herself as Coppelia, and it is she who pretends to come to life, trying desperately to wake Franz at every opportunity. Dr Coppelius believes he is triumphant when his “doll” starts to breathe and come to life, and he shows her other dolls he has made while they dance for her. Meanwhile, Franz begins to wake and Swanhilda quickly runs to him, and they escape leaving Dr Coppelius to mourn over his life-less doll Coppelia.
The final Act occurs in the midst of town celebrations for the new church tower bell and the wedding of Franz and Swanhilda.