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Ballet quest: in what might be the only project of its kind in ballet history, the birth of Compania Ballet Clasico de Costa Rica is a north-south effort involving artists from two countries--Canada and Costa Rica.

Article Excerpt
When Quebec's Ballet Ouest director-choreographer Margaret Mehuys announced to dignitaries of Costa Rica that her Montreal group would help this Central American country build its own professional ballet company, she gave local children permission to dream of classical careers.

Until that moment, such hopes had been squelched by prudent parents, because there was no Costa Rican ballet company to aspire to. But thanks to Mehuys and another Montrealer, Fury Darlington, Compania Clasico de Costa Rica was incorporated in late fall 2002. Its stage debut is planned for 2006.

The idea of a Costa ballet company has earned kudos from some quarters. At the September 2002 opening of the visiting Ballet Ouest's Nutcracker, a delighted Guido Saenz, minister of culture, posed proudly for photographs with adoring dancers and proclaimed that he would give "total support" to make the resident company happen. He has been as good as his word. He has formed a board of directors, encouraged sponsors, and, blessing the venture with the status of a foundation, made it eligible for tax deductions.

In what might be the only project of its kind in ballet history, the birth of Compania Ballet Clasico de Costa Rica...

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